Jake Tonges vs Theo Johnson: Who Should You Start?
Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jake Tonges (San Francisco 49ers) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.5 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Theo Johnson (New York Giants) came in at 7.0 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Theo Johnson carries a 2.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Jake Tonges had 34 catches for 293 yards; Theo Johnson posted 45 for 528. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jake Tonges sits Week 9 while Theo Johnson is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
