Dalton Schultz or Kalif Raymond: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Raymond — the projection and game script edges are too wide to ignore.

Kalif Raymond projects 10.1 to Schultz's 9.0 and plays in the better game script (27.0 implied team points to 25.0). Schultz's edge is the matchup, 21 of 32 to 13. The gap is narrow.

In standard and half-PPR scoring this is a coin flip.

Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz

TE21HOUvs DAL

Projected Points

Start· low
Kalif Raymond

Kalif Raymond

WRCHIvs NYJ

Projected Points

Start· medium

Dalton Schultz’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
+110 / -140
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 38.5
-118 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+245
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Kalif Raymond’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+111 / -142
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 31.5
-110 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+390
Anytime Touchdown Props →
DAL@
HOUSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
NYJ@
CHISun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Dalton Schultz

Start· low

TE1 in high-volume pass-catching role. Reliable chain-mover over the middle with sure hands.

22% target share in an offense implied for 25.0 points gives Schultz a usable floor, though his TE21 consensus rank sits outside TE1 range.

  • DAL ranks 21 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 25.0 team points as 2.5-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 63% snap share.

The call

  • Usage is the selling point. A 22% target share through 3 games is strong volume for a tight end, and he carries no injury designation.
  • Game environment helps. An implied team total of 25.0 as a 2.5-point favorite points to a productive, balanced script with scoring chances.
  • The matchup is mildly favorable at 21 of 32 against the position. It rests on a 3-game sample with 0.25 confidence, so it adds little.
  • The risk is his ceiling. A 63% snap share and a 9.0-point projection at TE21 make him a streaming-level start. Any healthy top-12 tight end should start over him.

Latest on Schultz

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Kalif Raymond

Start· medium

Veteran WR3 and slot/return specialist. Undersized speed piece with quickness and punt-return value.

23% target share in an offense implied for 27.0 points makes Raymond a viable flex despite a middling NYJ matchup (13 of 32).

  • NYJ ranks 13 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 27.0 team points as 8.5-point favorites.
  • Listed WR-3 on the latest depth chart with a 66% snap share.

The call

  • Usage carries the case. A 23% target share on 66% of snaps over 3 games is more volume than the WR-3 depth-chart label suggests, and in PPR that floor matters.
  • Game environment is strong. A 27.0 implied team total and an -8.5 spread point to a productive offense with plenty of scoring chances.
  • The matchup is a mild drag, not a red flag. NYJ ranks 13 of 32 vs WRs, slightly tougher than average, but that comes from a 3-game sample at 0.25 confidence, so we weight it lightly.
  • Risk: a 10.1-point projection is flex-level. As a heavy favorite the team could lean on the run late, and a WR-3 can lose snaps in that script. He has no injury designation, so availability isn't a concern.

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Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricDalton SchultzKalif Raymond
Projected points
Consensus rankTE21—
Opponent vs positionDAL · 21 of 323-game sampleNYJ · 13 of 323-game sample
Receptions19 of 3219 of 32
Receiving Yards19 of 324 of 32
Receiving TDs27 of 3215 of 32
Targets13 of 3215 of 32
Anytime TD26 of 3214 of 32
Target share22%23%
Reception share26%29%
Implied total · spread25.0-2.527.0-8.5
Depth chartTE1WR3
Snap share63%66%
Start/Sit record0–1—

Recent form

Dalton Schultz — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs IND
Week 2vs CIN
Week 1vs BUF

Kalif Raymond — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs PHI
Week 2vs MIN
Week 1vs CAR

Signal breakdown

  • 9.0 vs 10.1 projected PPR pointsKalif Raymond +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 21 vs 13 (32 = softest)Dalton Schultz +
  • Implied 25.0 vs 27.0 team pointsKalif Raymond +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 63% vs 66% snap shareKalif Raymond +

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