Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jonnu Smith vs Kyle PittsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.8 PPG to Jonnu Smith's 8.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyle Pitts has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.6-PPG advantage is real (9.8 to 8.2), and Kyle Pitts's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jonnu Smith is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEMiami Dolphins#99

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TEAtlanta Falcons#6PPG LEADER

Kyle Pitts

PPG

9.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

928

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jonnu Smith

Kyle Pitts

Head to Head

8.2 PPG9.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Kyle Pitts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Jonnu Smith is producing at 37% of elite pace and Kyle Pitts at 45%. That ranking gap means Kyle Pitts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jonnu Smith vs Kyle Pitts: The Full Breakdown

Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 PPG across 15 games with the Miami Dolphins, while Kyle Pitts posted 9.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Atlanta Falcons.

A 1.6-PPG gap gives Kyle Pitts 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.

Kyle Pitts is the volume tight end in this matchup with 88 receptions for 928 yards, while Jonnu Smith profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 52 catches). In weeks where Jonnu Smith finds the end zone he out-scores Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jonnu Smith sits Week 6 while Kyle Pitts 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.

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: Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Kyle Pitts (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Kyle Pitts outscored Jonnu Smith by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Pitts played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jonnu Smith's 15. That durability gap means Kyle Pitts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyle Pitts scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Kyle Pitts saw 118 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jonnu Smith vs Kyle Pitts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonnu Smith	Kyle Pitts
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.2	9.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	167
Receptions	52	88
Rec/Game	3.5	5.2
Receiving Yards	562	928
Rec Yds/Game	37.5	54.6
Receiving TDs	4	5
Targets	68	118
Target Share/Game	4.5	6.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

Kyle Pitts outscored Jonnu Smith by 1.6 PPG in 2025 (9.8 to 8.2). 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jonnu Smith vs Kyle Pitts

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Jonnu Smith vs Kyle Pitts

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jonnu Smith or Kyle Pitts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyle Pitts has the edge at 9.8 PPG compared to Jonnu Smith's 8.2 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 Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts average in 2025?▾

Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Kyle Pitts (ATL) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jonnu Smith or Kyle Pitts a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts outscored Jonnu Smith by 1.6 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.