Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Theo Johnson vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Theo Johnson's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy play this season.

Travis Kelce has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.1-PPG advantage is real (9.1 to 7.0), and Travis Kelce's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Theo Johnson 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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TENew York Giants#24

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

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

Theo Johnson

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

7.0 PPG9.1 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Theo Johnson is producing at 32% 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.

Theo Johnson vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Theo Johnson (New York Giants) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.0 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) came in at 9.1 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Travis Kelce carries a 2.1-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.

Travis Kelce is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 851 yards, while Theo Johnson profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (5 scores on 45 catches). In weeks where Theo Johnson finds the end zone he out-scores Travis Kelce, but the floor gap is real.

Theo Johnson has his bye in Week 8, and Travis Kelce rests in Week 5. 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

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: Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. 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 Theo Johnson by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Theo Johnson's 15. That durability gap means Travis Kelce 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.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Theo Johnson is 11 years younger than Travis Kelce (25 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Theo Johnson vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Theo Johnson	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.0	9.1
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	105	155
Receptions	45	76
Rec/Game	3.0	4.5
Receiving Yards	528	851
Rec Yds/Game	35.2	50.1
Receiving TDs	5	5
Targets	74	108
Target Share/Game	4.9	6.4
Age	25	36
Experience	1 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Travis Kelce holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.1 points per game. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 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 Theo Johnson or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Theo Johnson's 7.0 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 Theo Johnson and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 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 2.1 points per game.

When are Theo Johnson and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Theo Johnson (NYG) has a bye in Week 8, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Theo Johnson or Travis Kelce a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Theo Johnson by 2.1 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.