Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Jake Tonges vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy play this season.

Jake Tonges has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (8.5 to 4.7), and Jake Tonges's 5 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.

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

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TESan Francisco 49ers#15PPG LEADER

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Jake Tonges

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

8.5 PPG4.7 PPG

9 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Jake Tonges is producing at 39% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Jake Tonges carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jake Tonges vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

Jake Tonges and Michael Mayer are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG across 9 games with the San Francisco 49ers, while Michael Mayer posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 3.8-PPG gap gives Jake Tonges 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. Jake Tonges had 34 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.

One scheduling note: Jake Tonges is off Week 8 and Michael Mayer Week 13. 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

If you can acquire Jake Tonges at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Michael Mayer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jake Tonges (age 26) 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?

•Jake Tonges outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Mayer played 12 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means Michael Mayer contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Tonges scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jake Tonges vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jake Tonges	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	4.7
Games Played	9	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	56
Receptions	34	35
Rec/Game	3.8	2.9
Receiving Yards	293	328
Rec Yds/Game	32.6	27.3
Receiving TDs	5	1
Targets	46	50
Target Share/Game	5.1	4.2
Age	26	24
Experience	3 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 13

Summary

Jake Tonges outscored Michael Mayer by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (8.5 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 Jake Tonges or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jake Tonges has the edge at 8.5 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 Jake Tonges and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Jake Tonges and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jake Tonges (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jake Tonges or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jake Tonges outscored Michael Mayer by 3.8 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.