Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Travis Kelce vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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. Tyler Higbee at 6.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Travis Kelce higher, but do not fade Tyler Higbee entirely.

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

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TEKansas City Chiefs#10PPG LEADER

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Travis Kelce

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

9.1 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Travis Kelce is producing at 41% of elite pace and Tyler Higbee at 30%. That ranking gap means Travis Kelce carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Travis Kelce vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Travis Kelce and Tyler Higbee is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end put up 9.1 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Tyler Higbee of the Los Angeles Rams averaged 6.5 in 9. A 2.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.6 points favors Travis Kelce, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Travis Kelce is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 851 yards, while Tyler Higbee profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Tyler Higbee finds the end zone he out-scores Travis Kelce, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Travis Kelce sits Week 5 while Tyler Higbee is off Week 11. 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: Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Travis Kelce outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Travis Kelce vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Travis Kelce	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.1	6.5
Games Played	17	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	59
Receptions	76	25
Rec/Game	4.5	2.8
Receiving Yards	851	281
Rec Yds/Game	50.1	31.2
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	108	36
Target Share/Game	6.4	4.0
Age	36	33
Experience	12 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 11

Summary

9.1 PPG for Travis Kelce versus 6.5 for Tyler Higbee in 2025. The baseline favors Travis Kelce, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Travis Kelce or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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 Travis Kelce and Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Travis Kelce and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Tyler Higbee (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Travis Kelce or Tyler Higbee a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Tyler Higbee by 2.6 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.