Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Kyle Pitts vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.8 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyle Pitts is the better play on a neutral week. 9.8 PPG with 928 yards gives a reliable baseline. T.J. Hockenson at 5.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Kyle Pitts higher, but do not fade T.J. Hockenson entirely.

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

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TEAtlanta Falcons#6PPG LEADER

Kyle Pitts

PPG

9.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

928

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 11

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Kyle Pitts

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

9.8 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Kyle Pitts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #6 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Kyle Pitts is producing at 45% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means Kyle Pitts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Kyle Pitts vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Kyle Pitts and T.J. Hockenson is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Atlanta Falcons tight end put up 9.8 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings averaged 5.8 in 15. A 4.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.0 points favors Kyle Pitts, 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.

Kyle Pitts is the volume tight end in this matchup with 88 receptions for 928 yards, while T.J. Hockenson profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 51 catches). In weeks where T.J. Hockenson finds the end zone he out-scores Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.

Kyle Pitts has his bye in Week 11, and T.J. Hockenson rests in Week 6. 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

Kyle Pitts is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. T.J. Hockenson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Kyle Pitts (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Kyle Pitts outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Pitts played 17 games in 2025 compared to T.J. Hockenson'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

Kyle Pitts vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Kyle Pitts	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	5.8
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	167	87
Receptions	88	51
Rec/Game	5.2	3.4
Receiving Yards	928	438
Rec Yds/Game	54.6	29.2
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	118	66
Target Share/Game	6.9	4.4
Age	25	28
Experience	4 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

9.8 PPG for Kyle Pitts versus 5.8 for T.J. Hockenson in 2025. The baseline favors Kyle Pitts, 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 Kyle Pitts or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyle Pitts has the edge at 9.8 PPG compared to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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 Kyle Pitts and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Kyle Pitts and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts (ATL) has a bye in Week 11, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Kyle Pitts or T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts outscored T.J. Hockenson by 4.0 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.