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Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

George Kittle 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 has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.8-PPG advantage is real (14.9 to 12.1), and Trey McBride's 11 touchdowns show scoring upside. George Kittle 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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TESan Francisco 49ers#3
George Kittle
PPG
12.1
Games
11
Rec
57
Rec Yds
628
Rec TDs
7
Targets
69
Bye
Week 14
TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER
Trey McBride
PPG
14.9
Games
17
Rec
126
Rec Yds
1,239
Rec TDs
11
Targets
169
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
George Kittle
Trey McBride

Head to Head

12.1 PPG14.9 PPG
11 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, George Kittle is producing at 55% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

George Kittle vs Trey McBride: Who Should You Start?

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game in 11 games. Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) came in at 14.9 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Trey McBride carries a 2.8-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 George Kittle profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (7 scores on 57 catches). In weeks where George Kittle finds the end zone he out-scores Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

George Kittle has his bye in Week 14, and Trey McBride rests in Week 8. 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

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: George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Trey McBride outscored George Kittle by a projected 48 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. 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.
  • Trey McBride is 6 years younger than George Kittle (26 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
Detailed Stat Breakdown
StatKittleMcBride
PPG (Half-PPR)12.114.9
Games Played1117
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)133253
Receptions57126
Rec/Game5.27.4
Receiving Yards6281,239
Rec Yds/Game57.172.9
Receiving TDs711
Targets69169
Target Share/Game6.39.9
Age3226
Experience8 yrs3 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Trey McBride holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.9 points per game. George Kittle averaged 12.1 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 George Kittle or Trey McBride in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 PPG compared to George Kittle's 12.1 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 George Kittle and Trey McBride average in 2025?

George Kittle averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.8 points per game.

When are George Kittle and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?

George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 14, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is George Kittle or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Trey McBride outscored George Kittle by 2.8 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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