Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Mike Gesicki vs Theo JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.0 PPG to Mike Gesicki's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Theo Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.3-PPG advantage is real (7.0 to 4.7), and Theo Johnson's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Mike Gesicki 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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TECincinnati Bengals#36

Mike Gesicki

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TENew York Giants#24PPG LEADER

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Mike Gesicki

Theo Johnson

Head to Head

4.7 PPG7.0 PPG

12 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Mike Gesicki: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #36 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Mike Gesicki is producing at 21% of elite pace and Theo Johnson at 32%. That ranking gap means Theo Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Mike Gesicki vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Mike Gesicki and Theo Johnson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 PPG across 12 games with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Theo Johnson posted 7.0 PPG in 15 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 2.3-PPG gap gives Theo 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.

Theo Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 45 receptions for 528 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 Theo Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Mike Gesicki is off Week 6 and Theo Johnson Week 8. 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: Mike Gesicki (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Theo Johnson outscored Mike Gesicki by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Theo Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Mike Gesicki's 12. That durability gap means Theo Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Theo Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Theo Johnson saw 74 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Theo Johnson is 5 years younger than Mike Gesicki (25 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Mike Gesicki vs Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Mike Gesicki	Theo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.7	7.0
Games Played	12	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	56	105
Receptions	28	45
Rec/Game	2.3	3.0
Receiving Yards	307	528
Rec Yds/Game	25.6	35.2
Receiving TDs	2	5
Targets	42	74
Target Share/Game	3.5	4.9
Age	30	25
Experience	7 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 8

Summary

Theo Johnson outscored Mike Gesicki by 2.3 PPG in 2025 (7.0 to 4.7). 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 Mike Gesicki or Theo Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Theo Johnson has the edge at 7.0 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 Mike Gesicki and Theo Johnson average in 2025?▾

Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

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

Mike Gesicki (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Theo Johnson (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Theo Johnson outscored Mike Gesicki by 2.3 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.