Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jonnu Smith vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.2 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy play this season.

Jonnu Smith has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.5-PPG advantage is real (8.2 to 4.7), and Jonnu Smith's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Mayer is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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TEMiami Dolphins#99PPG LEADER

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Jonnu Smith

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

8.2 PPG4.7 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Jonnu Smith is producing at 37% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Michael Mayer carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jonnu Smith vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jonnu Smith (Miami Dolphins) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.2 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Michael Mayer (Las Vegas Raiders) came in at 4.7 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jonnu Smith carries a 3.5-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.

Jonnu Smith is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 562 yards, while Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer finds the end zone he out-scores Jonnu Smith, but the floor gap is real.

Jonnu Smith has his bye in Week 6, and Michael Mayer rests in Week 13. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonnu Smith at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Michael Mayer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Jonnu Smith outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 59 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonnu Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. That durability gap means Jonnu Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonnu Smith scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jonnu Smith saw 68 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 Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonnu Smith	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.2	4.7
Games Played	15	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	56
Receptions	52	35
Rec/Game	3.5	2.9
Receiving Yards	562	328
Rec Yds/Game	37.5	27.3
Receiving TDs	4	1
Targets	68	50
Target Share/Game	4.5	4.2
Age	-	24
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jonnu Smith holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.2 points per game. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 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 Jonnu Smith or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonnu Smith has the edge at 8.2 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Jonnu Smith and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith (MIA) has a bye in Week 6, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jonnu Smith or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith outscored Michael Mayer by 3.5 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.