Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy play this season.

Jake Tonges is the better play on a neutral week. 8.5 PPG with 293 yards gives a reliable baseline. T.J. Hockenson at 5.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jake Tonges higher, but do not fade T.J. Hockenson entirely.

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

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TESan Francisco 49ers#15PPG LEADER

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jake Tonges

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

8.5 PPG5.8 PPG

9 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 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 Tonges is producing at 39% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means Jake Tonges carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

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

Deciding between Jake Tonges and T.J. Hockenson is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The San Francisco 49ers tight end put up 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 9 games; T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings averaged 5.8 in 15. A 2.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.7 points favors Jake Tonges, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

T.J. Hockenson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 51 receptions for 438 yards, while Jake Tonges profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (5 scores on 34 catches). In weeks where Jake Tonges finds the end zone he out-scores T.J. Hockenson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Jake Tonges is off Week 8 and T.J. Hockenson Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jake Tonges outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•T.J. Hockenson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means T.J. Hockenson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Tonges scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 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

Jake Tonges vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jake Tonges	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	5.8
Games Played	9	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	87
Receptions	34	51
Rec/Game	3.8	3.4
Receiving Yards	293	438
Rec Yds/Game	32.6	29.2
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	46	66
Target Share/Game	5.1	4.4
Age	26	28
Experience	3 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 6

Summary

8.5 PPG for Jake Tonges versus 5.8 for T.J. Hockenson in 2025. The baseline favors Jake Tonges, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Based on 2025 season averages, Jake Tonges has the edge at 8.5 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 Tonges and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

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

Jake Tonges (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Jake Tonges outscored T.J. Hockenson by 2.7 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.