Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Dawson Knox vs George Kittle

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

George Kittle is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 625 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Dawson Knox (5.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster George Kittle as the starter and Dawson Knox as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEBuffalo Bills#33

Dawson Knox

PPG

5.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

417

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Dawson Knox

George Kittle

Head to Head

5.4 PPG12.1 PPG

16 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Dawson Knox: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #33 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dawson Knox is producing at 25% of elite pace and George Kittle at 55%. That ranking gap means George Kittle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dawson Knox vs George Kittle: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games in 2025, outscoring Dawson Knox (Buffalo Bills, 5.4 PPG) by 6.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.7-PPG gap gives George Kittle 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.

George Kittle is the volume tight end in this matchup with 57 receptions for 628 yards, while Dawson Knox profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 36 catches). In weeks where Dawson Knox finds the end zone he out-scores George Kittle, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Dawson Knox is off Week 7 and George Kittle Week 14. 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 George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Dawson Knox is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Dawson Knox (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•George Kittle outscored Dawson Knox by a projected 114 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dawson Knox played 16 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Dawson Knox contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•George Kittle saw 69 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatKnoxKittle

PPG (Half-PPR)5.412.1

Games Played1611

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)86133

Receptions3657

Rec/Game2.35.2

Receiving Yards417628

Rec Yds/Game26.157.1

Receiving TDs47

Targets4969

Target Share/Game3.16.3

Age2932

Experience6 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 14

Summary

George Kittle outscored Dawson Knox by 6.7 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 5.4). 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 Dawson Knox or George Kittle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Dawson Knox's 5.4 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 Dawson Knox and George Kittle average in 2025?▾

Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 6.7 points per game.

When are Dawson Knox and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dawson Knox or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

George Kittle outscored Dawson Knox by 6.7 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.