Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jake Ferguson vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jake Ferguson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jake Ferguson is the better fantasy play this season.

Jake Ferguson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (8.7 to 5.8), and Jake Ferguson's 8 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.

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TEDallas Cowboys#14PPG LEADER

Jake Ferguson

PPG

8.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

600

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 14

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jake Ferguson

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

8.7 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Ferguson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #14 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, Jake Ferguson is producing at 40% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means Jake Ferguson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jake Ferguson vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Jake Ferguson and T.J. Hockenson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jake Ferguson averaged 8.7 PPG across 17 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while T.J. Hockenson posted 5.8 PPG in 15 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Jake Ferguson 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.

Jake Ferguson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 600 yards, while T.J. Hockenson profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 51 catches). In weeks where T.J. Hockenson finds the end zone he out-scores Jake Ferguson, but the floor gap is real.

Jake Ferguson has his bye in Week 14, 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: Jake Ferguson (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?

•Jake Ferguson outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jake Ferguson played 17 games in 2025 compared to T.J. Hockenson's 15. That durability gap means Jake Ferguson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Ferguson scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jake Ferguson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jake Ferguson vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jake Ferguson	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	5.8
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	148	87
Receptions	82	51
Rec/Game	4.8	3.4
Receiving Yards	600	438
Rec Yds/Game	35.3	29.2
Receiving TDs	8	3
Targets	102	66
Target Share/Game	6.0	4.4
Age	27	28
Experience	3 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Jake Ferguson outscored T.J. Hockenson by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (8.7 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jake Ferguson or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jake Ferguson has the edge at 8.7 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 Jake Ferguson and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Jake Ferguson averaged 8.7 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 2.9 points per game.

When are Jake Ferguson and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jake Ferguson (DAL) has a bye in Week 14, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jake Ferguson or T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jake Ferguson outscored T.J. Hockenson by 2.9 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.