Ja'Tavion Sanders vs Tyler Warren: The Full Breakdown
Ja'Tavion Sanders and Tyler Warren are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Ja'Tavion Sanders averaged 4.2 PPG across 14 games with the Carolina Panthers, while Tyler Warren posted 8.9 PPG in 17 appearances for the Indianapolis Colts.
A 4.7-PPG gap gives Tyler Warren 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.
Tyler Warren is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 817 yards, while Ja'Tavion Sanders profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 32 catches). In weeks where Ja'Tavion Sanders finds the end zone he out-scores Tyler Warren, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Ja'Tavion Sanders sits Week 11 while Tyler Warren is off Week 13. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
