Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Juwan Johnson vs Mike GesickiWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Mike Gesicki's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Juwan Johnson is the better play on a neutral week. 8.3 PPG with 889 yards gives a reliable baseline. Mike Gesicki at 4.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Juwan Johnson higher, but do not fade Mike Gesicki entirely.

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

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TENew Orleans Saints#17PPG LEADER

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

TECincinnati Bengals#36

Mike Gesicki

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Juwan Johnson

Mike Gesicki

Head to Head

8.3 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Mike Gesicki: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Juwan Johnson is producing at 38% of elite pace and Mike Gesicki at 21%. That ranking gap means Juwan Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Juwan Johnson vs Mike Gesicki: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Juwan Johnson and Mike Gesicki is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New Orleans Saints tight end put up 8.3 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Mike Gesicki of the Cincinnati Bengals averaged 4.7 in 12. A 3.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.6 points favors Juwan Johnson, 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.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 yards, while Mike Gesicki profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 28 catches). In weeks where Mike Gesicki finds the end zone he out-scores Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Juwan Johnson sits Week 8 while Mike Gesicki is off Week 6. 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

Juwan Johnson is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Mike Gesicki is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Mike Gesicki (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Mike Gesicki by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Mike Gesicki's 12. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Juwan Johnson scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Juwan Johnson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Juwan Johnson vs Mike Gesicki: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Juwan Johnson	Mike Gesicki
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.3	4.7
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	141	56
Receptions	77	28
Rec/Game	4.5	2.3
Receiving Yards	889	307
Rec Yds/Game	52.3	25.6
Receiving TDs	3	2
Targets	102	42
Target Share/Game	6.0	3.5
Age	29	30
Experience	5 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 6

Summary

8.3 PPG for Juwan Johnson versus 4.7 for Mike Gesicki in 2025. The baseline favors Juwan Johnson, 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 Juwan Johnson or Mike Gesicki in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 PPG compared to Mike Gesicki'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 Juwan Johnson and Mike Gesicki average in 2025?▾

Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Juwan Johnson and Mike Gesicki's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Mike Gesicki (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Juwan Johnson or Mike Gesicki a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Mike Gesicki by 3.6 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.