Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Dawson Knox vs Trey McBride

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Trey McBride is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.9 PPG and 1,239 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 Trey McBride 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

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Dawson Knox

Trey McBride

Head to Head

5.4 PPG14.9 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Dawson Knox: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #33 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dawson Knox is producing at 25% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dawson Knox vs Trey McBride: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Trey McBride put up 14.9 fantasy points per game for the Arizona Cardinals in 2025, while Dawson Knox managed 5.4 across 16 games with the Buffalo Bills. A 9.5-point weekly edge is substantial at the tight end position.

Trey McBride carries a 9.5-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.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 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 Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Dawson Knox sits Week 7 while Trey McBride is off Week 8. 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

If you can acquire Trey McBride 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. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Dawson Knox by a projected 162 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dawson Knox's 16. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatKnoxMcBride

PPG (Half-PPR)5.414.9

Games Played1617

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)86253

Receptions36126

Rec/Game2.37.4

Receiving Yards4171,239

Rec Yds/Game26.172.9

Receiving TDs411

Targets49169

Target Share/Game3.19.9

Age2926

Experience6 yrs3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Trey McBride holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.9 points per game. Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 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 Dawson Knox or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 9.5 points per game.

When are Dawson Knox and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dawson Knox or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Dawson Knox by 9.5 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.