Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Trey McBride vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Trey McBride is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.9 PPG and 1,239 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Tyler Higbee (6.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Trey McBride as the starter and Tyler Higbee as depth.

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

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TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 14

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Trey McBride

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

14.9 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Trey McBride is producing at 68% of elite pace and Tyler Higbee at 30%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Trey McBride vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Trey McBride and Tyler Higbee are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Arizona Cardinals tight end averaged 14.9 PPG in 2025, a full 8.4 points per game ahead of Tyler Higbee's 6.5 with the Los Angeles Rams. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Trey McBride carries a 8.4-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.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 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 Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

Trey McBride has his bye in Week 14, and Tyler Higbee rests in Week 11. 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

If you can acquire Trey McBride at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Tyler Higbee is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 143 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Trey McBride is 7 years younger than Tyler Higbee (26 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Trey McBride vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Trey McBride	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	6.5
Games Played	17	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	253	59
Receptions	126	25
Rec/Game	7.4	2.8
Receiving Yards	1,239	281
Rec Yds/Game	72.9	31.2
Receiving TDs	11	3
Targets	169	36
Target Share/Game	9.9	4.0
Age	26	33
Experience	3 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Trey McBride holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.9 points per game. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 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 Trey McBride or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Trey McBride and Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Trey McBride averaged 14.9 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 8.4 points per game.

When are Trey McBride and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 14, and Tyler Higbee (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Trey McBride or Tyler Higbee a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Tyler Higbee by 8.4 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.