Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jake Tonges vs James ConnerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Jake Tonges's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, James Conner (11.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Jake Tonges (8.5 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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TESan Francisco 49ers#15

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jake Tonges

James Conner

Head to Head

8.5 PPG11.0 PPG

9 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 at the position). James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

Jake Tonges vs James Conner: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jake Tonges (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 9 games, while James Conner posted 11.0 PPG across 14 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Jake Tonges has his bye in Week 8, James Conner in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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 Tonges (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Jake Tonges by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Conner played 14 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means James Conner contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•James Conner scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jake Tonges vs James Conner: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jake Tonges	James Conner
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	11.0
Games Played	9	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	154
Rushing Yards	0	752
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	53.7
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	34	28
Receiving Yards	293	218
Targets	46	0
Total TDs	5	6
Age	26	-
Experience	3 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Conner holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.0 points per game. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jake Tonges or James Conner in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Jake Tonges's 8.5 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 Tonges and James Conner average in 2025?▾

Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Jake Tonges and James Conner's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jake Tonges (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.