A.J. Brown vs Jalen McMillan: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) averaged 12.1 PPG over 15 games in 2025, outscoring Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6.0 PPG) by 6.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
A 6.1-PPG gap gives A.J. Brown the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for A.J. Brown, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: A.J. Brown is off Week 5 and Jalen McMillan Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
