Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Tee Higgins vs Troy FranklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Troy Franklin's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy play this season.

Tee Higgins has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.6-PPG advantage is real (12.1 to 8.5), and Tee Higgins's 11 touchdowns show scoring upside. Troy Franklin 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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WRCincinnati Bengals#13PPG LEADER

Tee Higgins

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

846

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

WRDenver Broncos#44

Troy Franklin

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

709

Rec TDs

Targets

104

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Tee Higgins

Troy Franklin

Head to Head

12.1 PPG8.5 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Tee Higgins: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #13 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Tee Higgins is producing at 55% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. That ranking gap means Tee Higgins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Tee Higgins vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos) came in at 8.5 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Tee Higgins carries a 3.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Tee Higgins turned 98 targets into 846 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Troy Franklin converted 104 looks into 709 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Tee Higgins is off Week 6 and Troy Franklin Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Tee Higgins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Troy Franklin is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Tee Higgins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Tee Higgins outscored Troy Franklin by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tee Higgins's 15. That durability gap means Troy Franklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tee Higgins scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Troy Franklin saw 104 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Troy Franklin is 4 years younger than Tee Higgins (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Tee Higgins vs Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Tee Higgins	Troy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	8.5
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	145
Receptions	59	65
Rec/Game	3.9	3.8
Receiving Yards	846	709
Rec Yds/Game	56.4	41.7
Receiving TDs	11	6
Targets	98	104
Target Share/Game	6.5	6.1
Age	27	23
Experience	5 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Tee Higgins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Tee Higgins or Troy Franklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tee Higgins has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Troy Franklin's 8.5 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 Tee Higgins and Troy Franklin average in 2025?▾

Tee Higgins averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Tee Higgins and Troy Franklin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Tee Higgins (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Troy Franklin (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Tee Higgins or Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Tee Higgins outscored Troy Franklin by 3.6 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.