Dalton Schultz or Khalil Shakir: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Schultz’s TE1 role gives him the narrow edge over Shakir’s better-scoring offense
Start Schultz, but the edge is slim: his stronger standing among tight ends and fuller on-field role outweigh Shakir’s slightly higher projection and Buffalo’s better scoring outlook. Schultz’s high-volume, middle-of-the-field role gives him a sturdier path to catches, while Shakir’s slot work and target share make him a credible PPR flex. The risk is Schultz’s week-to-week volatility; his recent output has swung sharply, and the matchup samples are too small to settle the choice.
What flips it: A larger snap share for Shakir that erases Schultz’s role advantage.
AI editor
Dalton Schultz
5.37.49.5 Projected Points
Khalil Shakir
6.38.310.3 Projected Points
Dalton Schultz’s market
Khalil Shakir’s market
Why Dalton Schultz
StartTE1 in high-volume pass-catching role. Reliable chain-mover over the middle with sure hands.
Start — TE21 consensus, projects TE15 this week: IND is the 10th-softest matchup vs TEs, 25% target share.
- As Houston’s TE1, Schultz’s chain-moving role gives his targets a clear route to regular involvement.
- His recent spike shows real ceiling, though the swing back down is the risk in trusting it.
Why Khalil Shakir
Start· mediumStarting slot WR and chain-mover. Reliable hands, elusive after the catch, high catch rate.
21% target share in a 25.8-implied-total Bills offense makes Shakir a viable PPR flex despite the WR48 tag; slot volume travels regardless of matchup.
- Shakir’s reliable slot role and catch-and-run ability give him a useful PPR floor.
- Buffalo’s stronger scoring outlook supports Shakir, even with a smaller share of the offense’s snaps.
The call
- A 21% target share is WR1-level usage on this offense even with just a 51% snap rate — he's a high-efficiency slot piece who sees the ball whenever he's on the field, which is what PPR pays for.
- Buffalo's 25.8 implied total and -3.0 spread point to a positive, high-volume script where Shakir works the intermediate middle rather than getting game-planned out.
- The Chargers grade 21 of 32 in DvP versus wideouts — a mild edge, though the 2-game sample carries 0.00 confidence, so don't lean on the matchup itself.
- Risk is the 51% snap share: as WR-2 in a rotation, one script swing or a quiet target game leaves him around 7-8 points, so he's a flex rather than a set-and-forget WR3.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Dalton Schultz | Khalil Shakir |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 5.37.49.5 | 6.38.310.3 |
| Consensus rank | TE21 | WR48 |
| Opponent vs position | IND · 23 of 322-game sample | LAC · 21 of 322-game sample |
| Receptions | 29 of 32 | 21 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 29 of 32 | 26 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 15 of 32 | 22 of 32 |
| Targets | 29 of 32 | 14 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 13 of 32 | 22 of 32 |
| Target share | 25% | 21% |
| Reception share | 29% | 18% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.5-1.5 | 25.8-3.0 |
| Depth chart | TE1 | WR2 |
| Snap share | 67% | 51% |
| Start/Sit record | — | 0–1+1 toss-up |
Recent form
Dalton Schultz — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs CIN | 14.020.026.0 |
| Week 1 | vs BUF | 3.55.57.5 |
Khalil Shakir — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs DET | 3.85.36.8 |
| Week 1 | vs HOU | 5.07.09.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 9.5 vs 10.3 projected PPR pointsKhalil Shakir +
- Rank 21 vs 48Dalton Schultz +
- Opponent DvP rank 23 vs 21 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 23.5 vs 25.8 team pointsKhalil Shakir +
- No injury designationseven
- 67% vs 51% snap shareDalton Schultz +
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