Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Hayden Hurst vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

T.J. Hockenson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.8 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

T.J. Hockenson is the better fantasy play this season.

T.J. Hockenson is the better play on a neutral week. 5.8 PPG with 438 yards gives a reliable baseline. Hayden Hurst at 3.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft T.J. Hockenson higher, but do not fade Hayden Hurst entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

TEMinnesota Vikings#30PPG LEADER

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Hayden Hurst

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

3.7 PPG5.8 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Hayden Hurst is producing at 17% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means T.J. Hockenson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Hayden Hurst vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Hayden Hurst and T.J. Hockenson for your lineup, you are not alone. Hayden Hurst finished the 2025 season at 3.7 PPG for the Los Angeles Chargers (14 games), and T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 for the Minnesota Vikings (15 games).

That 2.1-point weekly advantage for T.J. Hockenson is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

T.J. Hockenson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 51 receptions for 438 yards, while Hayden Hurst profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Hayden Hurst finds the end zone he out-scores T.J. Hockenson, but the floor gap is real.

Hayden Hurst has his bye in Week 5, and T.J. Hockenson rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•T.J. Hockenson outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•T.J. Hockenson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Hayden Hurst's 14. That durability gap means T.J. Hockenson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•T.J. Hockenson scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•T.J. Hockenson saw 66 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Hayden Hurst vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Hayden Hurst	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.7	5.8
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	52	87
Receptions	25	51
Rec/Game	1.8	3.4
Receiving Yards	238	438
Rec Yds/Game	17.0	29.2
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	35	66
Target Share/Game	2.5	4.4
Age	-	28
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor T.J. Hockenson at 5.8 PPG, 2.1 points per game above Hayden Hurst's 3.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Hayden Hurst or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, T.J. Hockenson has the edge at 5.8 PPG compared to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Hayden Hurst and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Hayden Hurst and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Hayden Hurst or T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

T.J. Hockenson outscored Hayden Hurst by 2.1 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.