Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Jonnu Smith vs Mike GesickiWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.2 PPG to Mike Gesicki's 4.7 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 3.5-PPG advantage is real (8.2 to 4.7), and Jonnu Smith's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Mike Gesicki 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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TEMiami Dolphins#99PPG LEADER

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

TECincinnati Bengals#36

Mike Gesicki

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jonnu Smith

Mike Gesicki

Head to Head

8.2 PPG4.7 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Mike Gesicki: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Jonnu Smith is producing at 37% of elite pace and Mike Gesicki at 21%. That ranking gap means Mike Gesicki carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jonnu Smith vs Mike Gesicki: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jonnu Smith (Miami Dolphins) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.2 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Mike Gesicki (Cincinnati Bengals) came in at 4.7 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jonnu Smith carries a 3.5-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 Mike Gesicki profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 28 catches). In weeks where Mike Gesicki finds the end zone he out-scores Jonnu Smith, but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 6 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonnu Smith at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Mike Gesicki is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Mike Gesicki (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Jonnu Smith outscored Mike Gesicki by a projected 59 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonnu Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Mike Gesicki's 12. That durability gap means Jonnu Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonnu Smith scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 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.
•Both players share a Week 6 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jonnu Smith vs Mike Gesicki: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonnu Smith	Mike Gesicki
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.2	4.7
Games Played	15	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	56
Receptions	52	28
Rec/Game	3.5	2.3
Receiving Yards	562	307
Rec Yds/Game	37.5	25.6
Receiving TDs	4	2
Targets	68	42
Target Share/Game	4.5	3.5
Age	-	30
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jonnu Smith holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.2 points per game. Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 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 Jonnu Smith or Mike Gesicki in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonnu Smith has the edge at 8.2 PPG compared to Mike Gesicki'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 Jonnu Smith and Mike Gesicki average in 2025?▾

Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

Do Jonnu Smith and Mike Gesicki share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jonnu Smith and Mike Gesicki share a Week 6 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Jonnu Smith or Mike Gesicki a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith outscored Mike Gesicki by 3.5 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.