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Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Evan Engram 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. Evan Engram (4.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster George Kittle as the starter and Evan Engram as depth.

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

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TEDenver Broncos#35
Evan Engram
PPG
4.9
Games
16
Rec
50
Rec Yds
461
Rec TDs
1
Targets
76
Bye
Week 12
TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER
George Kittle
PPG
12.1
Games
11
Rec
57
Rec Yds
628
Rec TDs
7
Targets
69
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Evan Engram
George Kittle

Head to Head

4.9 PPG12.1 PPG
16 GP11 GP
Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Evan Engram: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #35 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Evan Engram is producing at 22% 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.

Evan Engram vs George Kittle: Who Should You Start?

George Kittle and Evan Engram are at different tiers heading into 2026. The San Francisco 49ers tight end averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025, a full 7.2 points per game ahead of Evan Engram's 4.9 with the Denver Broncos. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

George Kittle carries a 7.2-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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Evan Engram had 50 catches for 461 yards; George Kittle posted 57 for 628. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Evan Engram has his bye in Week 12, and George Kittle rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Evan Engram is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Evan Engram (age 31) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. 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 Evan Engram by a projected 122 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Evan Engram played 16 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Evan Engram 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.
  • Evan Engram saw 76 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
Detailed Stat Breakdown
StatEngramKittle
PPG (Half-PPR)4.912.1
Games Played1611
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)78133
Receptions5057
Rec/Game3.15.2
Receiving Yards461628
Rec Yds/Game28.857.1
Receiving TDs17
Targets7669
Target Share/Game4.86.3
Age3132
Experience8 yrs8 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 12Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, George Kittle holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Evan Engram averaged 4.9 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 Evan Engram or George Kittle in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Evan Engram's 4.9 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 Evan Engram and George Kittle average in 2025?

Evan Engram averaged 4.9 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 7.2 points per game.

When are Evan Engram and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?

Evan Engram (DEN) has a bye in Week 12, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Evan Engram or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

George Kittle outscored Evan Engram by 7.2 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.

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