Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Hunter Henry vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Hunter Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.8 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Hunter Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Hunter Henry has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.0-PPG advantage is real (8.8 to 5.8), and Hunter Henry's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. T.J. Hockenson is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Hunter Henry and T.J. Hockenson in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TENew England Patriots#13PPG LEADER

Hunter Henry

PPG

8.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

768

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Hunter Henry

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

8.8 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Hunter Henry: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #13 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, Hunter Henry is producing at 40% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means Hunter Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Hunter Henry vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Hunter Henry and T.J. Hockenson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Hunter Henry averaged 8.8 PPG across 17 games with the New England Patriots, while T.J. Hockenson posted 5.8 PPG in 15 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 3.0-PPG gap gives Hunter Henry the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Hunter Henry had 60 catches for 768 yards; T.J. Hockenson posted 51 for 438. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Hunter Henry has his bye in Week 11, 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

If you can acquire Hunter Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. T.J. Hockenson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Hunter Henry (age 31) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Hunter Henry outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Hunter Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to T.J. Hockenson's 15. That durability gap means Hunter Henry contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Hunter Henry scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Hunter Henry saw 87 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Hunter Henry vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Hunter Henry	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.8	5.8
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	150	87
Receptions	60	51
Rec/Game	3.5	3.4
Receiving Yards	768	438
Rec Yds/Game	45.2	29.2
Receiving TDs	7	3
Targets	87	66
Target Share/Game	5.1	4.4
Age	31	28
Experience	9 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

Hunter Henry outscored T.J. Hockenson by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (8.8 to 5.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Hunter Henry vs T.J. Hockenson

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Hunter Henry vs T.J. Hockenson

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Hunter Henry or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Hunter Henry has the edge at 8.8 PPG compared to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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 Hunter Henry and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Hunter Henry averaged 8.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Hunter Henry and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Hunter Henry (NE) has a bye in Week 11, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Hunter Henry or T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Hunter Henry outscored T.J. Hockenson by 3.0 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.