Dalton Schultz or Mark Andrews: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Mark Andrews: the sturdier volume bet at tight end

Mark Andrews gets the nod because his stronger role, team environment and consensus standing outweigh Dalton Schultz's matchup advantage. Andrews' red-zone mismatch and quarterback rapport make his elevated usage more bankable, while Baltimore's lead could create scoring opportunities even if the game tilts toward a run-heavy finish. Schultz is still a viable start: Houston confirmed him as its lead receiving tight end [SI/Texans On SI 2026-09-14], but Cincinnati's difficult TE matchup leaves less margin for his role to pay off. The risk is Andrews losing late-game routes if Baltimore controls the game comfortably.

What flips it: A confirmed reduction in Andrews' route volume or red-zone role.

Sources: SI/Texans On SI · Sep 14, 2026

AI editor

Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz

TE21HOUvs CIN

Projected Points

Start
Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

TE15BALvs NO

Projected Points

Start· medium

Dalton Schultz’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-135 / +105
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 40.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+225
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Mark Andrews’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
+118 / -150
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 46.5
-111 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+135
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CIN@
HOUSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
NO@
BALSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Dalton Schultz

Start

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

Start — TE21 consensus, projects TE18 this week: CIN is the 4th-toughest matchup vs TEs, 24.5 implied team total.

  • Houston confirmed Schultz as its lead receiving tight end, giving his target role real support.
  • His reliable middle-of-field work can soften a difficult matchup if Houston sustains drives.

Latest on Schultz

Role

Schultz was Houston's lead tight end pass-catcher in Week 1 with four catches for 35 yards, confirming his role as the top receiving option at the position.

SI/Texans On SI · Sep 14, 2026

Why Mark Andrews

Start· medium

TE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.

25% target share and 72% snaps in a 27-point implied offense — Andrews is a volume-driven TE1 start despite the TE15 tag.

  • Andrews' red-zone mismatch gives his volume a better path to touchdowns than ordinary TE usage.
  • Quarterback rapport supports his floor if Baltimore's early lead changes the passing script.

The call

  • A 25% target share is elite for the position — Andrews is the clear focal point in the passing game, and that usage floor matters more than his TE15 consensus label in PPR.
  • Baltimore's 27.0 implied total as a 7.5-point favorite means plenty of scoring chances, and Andrews has long been the red-zone preference in this offense.
  • The DvP composite of 12 of 32 reads slightly tough, but it's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to bench a target hog.
  • Risk is script-based: a big early lead could shift Baltimore run-heavy and cap his volume, and 72% snaps leaves some rotational work on the table.

Head-to-head stats

MetricDalton SchultzMark Andrews
Projected points
Consensus rankTE21TE15
Opponent vs positionCIN · 4 of 321-game sampleNO · 12 of 321-game sample
Receptions5 of 3218 of 32
Receiving Yards6 of 3217 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 321 of 32
Targets6 of 3224 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 321 of 32
Target share22%25%
Reception share15%24%
Implied total · spread24.5-2.527.0-7.5
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share66%72%
Start/Sit record—0–1

Recent form

Dalton Schultz — last 1 week

Week 1vs BUF

Mark Andrews — last 1 week

Week 1vs IND

Signal breakdown

  • 8.9 vs 10.4 projected PPR pointsMark Andrews +
  • Rank 21 vs 15Mark Andrews +
  • Opponent DvP rank 4 vs 12 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.5 vs 27.0 team pointsMark Andrews +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 66% vs 72% snap shareMark Andrews +

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