Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

T.J. Hockenson vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Zay Flowers (11.8 PPG) is the higher-floor play. T.J. Hockenson (5.8 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track T.J. Hockenson and Zay Flowers in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

T.J. Hockenson

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

5.8 PPG11.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR in most league formats.

T.J. Hockenson vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Comparing T.J. Hockenson (TE, Minnesota Vikings) against Zay Flowers (WR, Baltimore Ravens) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while Zay Flowers posted 11.8 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

T.J. Hockenson has his bye in Week 6, Zay Flowers in Week 13. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Zay Flowers at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. T.J. Hockenson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Zay Flowers outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 102 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to T.J. Hockenson's 15. That durability gap means Zay Flowers contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zay Flowers scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Zay Flowers saw 118 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

T.J. Hockenson vs Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	T.J. Hockenson	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.8	11.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	87	201
Receptions	51	86
Rec/Game	3.4	5.1
Receiving Yards	438	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	29.2	71.2
Receiving TDs	3	5
Targets	66	118
Target Share/Game	4.4	6.9
Age	28	25
Experience	6 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zay Flowers holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.8 points per game. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on T.J. Hockenson vs Zay Flowers

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on T.J. Hockenson vs Zay Flowers

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start T.J. Hockenson or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 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 T.J. Hockenson and Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.0 points per game.

When are T.J. Hockenson and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.