Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Juwan Johnson vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Juwan Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (8.3 to 6.5), and Juwan Johnson's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Tyler Higbee 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.

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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

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Juwan Johnson

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

8.3 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Juwan Johnson is producing at 38% of elite pace and Tyler Higbee at 30%. That ranking gap means Juwan Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Juwan Johnson vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Juwan Johnson and Tyler Higbee are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG across 17 games with the New Orleans Saints, while Tyler Higbee posted 6.5 PPG in 9 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 1.8-PPG gap gives Juwan Johnson 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.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 yards, while Tyler Higbee profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Tyler Higbee finds the end zone he out-scores Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Juwan Johnson is off Week 8 and Tyler Higbee Week 11. 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. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. 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.
•Juwan Johnson is 4 years younger than Tyler Higbee (29 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Juwan Johnson vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Juwan Johnson	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.3	6.5
Games Played	17	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	141	59
Receptions	77	25
Rec/Game	4.5	2.8
Receiving Yards	889	281
Rec Yds/Game	52.3	31.2
Receiving TDs	3	3
Targets	102	36
Target Share/Game	6.0	4.0
Age	29	33
Experience	5 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

Juwan Johnson outscored Tyler Higbee by 1.8 PPG in 2025 (8.3 to 6.5). 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Juwan Johnson or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 PPG compared to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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 Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Juwan Johnson and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Tyler Higbee (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Juwan Johnson or Tyler Higbee a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Tyler Higbee by 1.8 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.