Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

David Njoku vs Jonnu SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.2 PPG to David Njoku's 6.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy play this season.

Jonnu Smith has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.9-PPG advantage is real (8.2 to 6.3), and Jonnu Smith's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. David Njoku is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TECleveland Browns#26

David Njoku

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEMiami Dolphins#99PPG LEADER

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

David Njoku

Jonnu Smith

Head to Head

6.3 PPG8.2 PPG

11 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

David Njoku: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #26 at the position). Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, David Njoku is producing at 29% of elite pace and Jonnu Smith at 37%. That ranking gap means David Njoku carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Njoku vs Jonnu Smith: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.3 fantasy points per game in 11 games. Jonnu Smith (Miami Dolphins) came in at 8.2 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jonnu Smith carries a 1.9-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.

Jonnu Smith is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 562 yards, while David Njoku profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 33 catches). In weeks where David Njoku finds the end zone he out-scores Jonnu Smith, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: David Njoku is off Week 11 and Jonnu Smith Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: David Njoku (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jonnu Smith outscored David Njoku by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonnu Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to David Njoku's 11. That durability gap means Jonnu Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Njoku scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jonnu Smith saw 68 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Njoku vs Jonnu Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Njoku	Jonnu Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.3	8.2
Games Played	11	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	69	123
Receptions	33	52
Rec/Game	3.0	3.5
Receiving Yards	293	562
Rec Yds/Game	26.6	37.5
Receiving TDs	4	4
Targets	48	68
Target Share/Game	4.4	4.5
Age	29	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jonnu Smith holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.2 points per game. David Njoku averaged 6.3 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 David Njoku or Jonnu Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonnu Smith has the edge at 8.2 PPG compared to David Njoku's 6.3 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 David Njoku and Jonnu Smith average in 2025?▾

David Njoku averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.9 points per game.

When are David Njoku and Jonnu Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Njoku (CLE) has a bye in Week 11, and Jonnu Smith (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Njoku or Jonnu Smith a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith outscored David Njoku by 1.9 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.