Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Juwan Johnson vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Travis Kelce and Juwan Johnson are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.8-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

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

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TENew Orleans Saints#17

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

TEKansas City Chiefs#10PPG LEADER

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Juwan Johnson

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

8.3 PPG9.1 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Juwan Johnson is producing at 38% of elite pace and Travis Kelce at 41%. That ranking gap means Travis Kelce carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Juwan Johnson vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

This is a genuine coin flip on paper. Juwan Johnson finished the 2025 season at 8.3 PPG over 17 games with the New Orleans Saints, while Travis Kelce clocked in at 9.1 across 17 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs. A 0.8-point gap means any given week could go either way.

With a margin this thin, season averages are not the deciding factor. Weekly variables like opponent defense, game script, and injury status carry more weight than a fraction of a PPG. The right start in Week 6 might be the wrong start in Week 14.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Juwan Johnson had 77 catches for 889 yards; Travis Kelce posted 76 for 851. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One scheduling note: Juwan Johnson is off Week 8 and Travis Kelce Week 5. 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: Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Travis Kelce outscored Juwan Johnson by a projected 14 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Juwan Johnson is 7 years younger than Travis Kelce (29 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Juwan Johnson vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Juwan Johnson	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.3	9.1
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	141	155
Receptions	77	76
Rec/Game	4.5	4.5
Receiving Yards	889	851
Rec Yds/Game	52.3	50.1
Receiving TDs	3	5
Targets	102	108
Target Share/Game	6.0	6.4
Age	29	36
Experience	5 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Travis Kelce at 9.1 PPG, 0.8 points per game above Juwan Johnson's 8.3. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Juwan Johnson or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 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 Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.8 points per game.

When are Juwan Johnson and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Juwan Johnson or Travis Kelce a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Juwan Johnson by 0.8 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.