Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Theo Johnson vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.0 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Theo Johnson and Tyler Higbee are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.5-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

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

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TENew York Giants#24PPG LEADER

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Theo Johnson

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

7.0 PPG6.5 PPG

15 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Theo Johnson is producing at 32% of elite pace and Tyler Higbee at 30%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Theo Johnson vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Theo Johnson (7.0 PPG) and Tyler Higbee (6.5 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Theo Johnson played 15 games for the New York Giants; Tyler Higbee suited up 9 times for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 0.5-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Theo Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 45 receptions for 528 yards, while Tyler Higbee profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Tyler Higbee finds the end zone he out-scores Theo Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Theo Johnson sits Week 8 while Tyler Higbee is off Week 11. 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: Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Theo Johnson outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 9 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Theo Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. That durability gap means Theo Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Theo Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Theo Johnson saw 74 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Theo Johnson is 8 years younger than Tyler Higbee (25 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Theo Johnson vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Theo Johnson	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.0	6.5
Games Played	15	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	105	59
Receptions	45	25
Rec/Game	3.0	2.8
Receiving Yards	528	281
Rec Yds/Game	35.2	31.2
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	74	36
Target Share/Game	4.9	4.0
Age	25	33
Experience	1 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

7.0 PPG for Theo Johnson versus 6.5 for Tyler Higbee in 2025. The baseline favors Theo Johnson, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Theo Johnson or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Theo Johnson has the edge at 7.0 PPG compared to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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 Theo Johnson and Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 0.5 points per game.

When are Theo Johnson and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Theo Johnson (NYG) has a bye in Week 8, and Tyler Higbee (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Theo Johnson or Tyler Higbee a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Theo Johnson outscored Tyler Higbee by 0.5 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.