Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

David Njoku vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Njoku is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.3 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Njoku is the better fantasy play this season.

David Njoku has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.6-PPG advantage is real (6.3 to 4.7), and David Njoku's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Mayer 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#26PPG LEADER

David Njoku

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

David Njoku

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

6.3 PPG4.7 PPG

11 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

David Njoku: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #26 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, David Njoku is producing at 29% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means David Njoku carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Njoku vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

David Njoku and Michael Mayer are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. David Njoku averaged 6.3 PPG across 11 games with the Cleveland Browns, while Michael Mayer posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 1.6-PPG gap gives David Njoku the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. David Njoku had 33 catches for 293 yards; Michael Mayer posted 35 for 328. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: David Njoku sits Week 11 while Michael Mayer is off Week 13. 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: David Njoku (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•David Njoku outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Mayer played 12 games in 2025 compared to David Njoku's 11. That durability gap means Michael Mayer 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.
•Michael Mayer saw 50 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Michael Mayer is 5 years younger than David Njoku (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Njoku vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Njoku	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.3	4.7
Games Played	11	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	69	56
Receptions	33	35
Rec/Game	3.0	2.9
Receiving Yards	293	328
Rec Yds/Game	26.6	27.3
Receiving TDs	4	1
Targets	48	50
Target Share/Game	4.4	4.2
Age	29	24
Experience	8 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

David Njoku outscored Michael Mayer by 1.6 PPG in 2025 (6.3 to 4.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start David Njoku or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Njoku has the edge at 6.3 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

David Njoku averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are David Njoku and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Njoku (CLE) has a bye in Week 11, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Njoku or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

David Njoku outscored Michael Mayer by 1.6 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.