Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Tee HigginsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy play this season.

Tee Higgins has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (12.1 to 9.5), and Tee Higgins's 11 touchdowns show scoring upside. Deebo Samuel Sr. is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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WRWashington Commanders#36

Deebo Samuel Sr.

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

727

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRCincinnati Bengals#13PPG LEADER

Tee Higgins

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

846

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Tee Higgins

Head to Head

9.5 PPG12.1 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Deebo Samuel Sr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #36 at the position). Tee Higgins: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Deebo Samuel Sr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Tee Higgins at 55%. That ranking gap means Tee Higgins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Tee Higgins: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Deebo Samuel Sr. (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.5 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) came in at 12.1 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Tee Higgins carries a 2.6-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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Deebo Samuel Sr. turned 99 targets into 727 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Tee Higgins converted 98 looks into 846 yards and 11 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Deebo Samuel Sr. is off Week 7 and Tee Higgins Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver 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: Deebo Samuel Sr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Tee Higgins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Tee Higgins outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Tee Higgins's 15. That durability gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tee Higgins scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Tee Higgins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deebo Samuel Sr.	Tee Higgins
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.5	12.1
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	152	182
Receptions	72	59
Rec/Game	4.5	3.9
Receiving Yards	727	846
Rec Yds/Game	45.4	56.4
Receiving TDs	5	11
Targets	99	98
Target Share/Game	6.2	6.5
Age	30	27
Experience	6 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Tee Higgins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. or Tee Higgins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tee Higgins has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. and Tee Higgins average in 2025?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tee Higgins averaged 12.1 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Deebo Samuel Sr. and Tee Higgins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Tee Higgins (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deebo Samuel Sr. or Tee Higgins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Tee Higgins outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. 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.