Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Pat Freiermuth vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy play this season.

Travis Kelce is the better play on a neutral week. 9.1 PPG with 852 yards gives a reliable baseline. Pat Freiermuth at 6.2 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Travis Kelce higher, but do not fade Pat Freiermuth entirely.

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

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#28

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

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

Pat Freiermuth

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

6.2 PPG9.1 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Pat Freiermuth is producing at 28% 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.

Pat Freiermuth vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Pat Freiermuth and Travis Kelce for your lineup, you are not alone. Pat Freiermuth finished the 2025 season at 6.2 PPG for the Pittsburgh Steelers (15 games), and Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 for the Kansas City Chiefs (17 games).

That 2.9-point weekly advantage for Travis Kelce is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Travis Kelce is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 851 yards, while Pat Freiermuth profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 41 catches). In weeks where Pat Freiermuth finds the end zone he out-scores Travis Kelce, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Pat Freiermuth sits Week 9 while Travis Kelce is off Week 5. 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

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: Pat Freiermuth (age 27) 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 Pat Freiermuth by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Pat Freiermuth's 15. That durability gap means Travis Kelce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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.
•Pat Freiermuth is 9 years younger than Travis Kelce (27 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Pat Freiermuth vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Pat Freiermuth	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.2	9.1
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	93	155
Receptions	41	76
Rec/Game	2.7	4.5
Receiving Yards	486	851
Rec Yds/Game	32.4	50.1
Receiving TDs	4	5
Targets	54	108
Target Share/Game	3.6	6.4
Age	27	36
Experience	4 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Travis Kelce at 9.1 PPG, 2.9 points per game above Pat Freiermuth's 6.2. 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 Pat Freiermuth or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 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 Pat Freiermuth and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are Pat Freiermuth and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Pat Freiermuth or Travis Kelce a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Pat Freiermuth by 2.9 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.