Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

A.J. Brown vs Luther Burden IIIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Luther Burden III's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy play this season.

A.J. Brown is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 1,003 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Luther Burden III (7.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster A.J. Brown as the starter and Luther Burden III as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#12PPG LEADER

A.J. Brown

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,003

Rec TDs

Targets

121

Bye

Week 10

WRChicago Bears#60

Luther Burden III

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

652

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

A.J. Brown

Luther Burden III

Head to Head

12.1 PPG7.0 PPG

15 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

A.J. Brown: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #12 at the position). Luther Burden III: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #60 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, A.J. Brown is producing at 55% of elite pace and Luther Burden III at 32%. That ranking gap means A.J. Brown carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

A.J. Brown vs Luther Burden III: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Luther Burden III (Chicago Bears) came in at 7.0 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

A.J. Brown carries a 5.1-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.

Target volume is the story here. A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025, while Luther Burden III drew 60. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for A.J. Brown, even in weeks where Luther Burden III posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire A.J. Brown at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Luther Burden III is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: A.J. Brown (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Luther Burden III (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•A.J. Brown outscored Luther Burden III by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•A.J. Brown scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Luther Burden III is 6 years younger than A.J. Brown (22 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

A.J. Brown vs Luther Burden III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	A.J. Brown	Luther Burden III
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	7.0
Games Played	15	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	105
Receptions	78	47
Rec/Game	5.2	3.1
Receiving Yards	1,003	652
Rec Yds/Game	66.9	43.5
Receiving TDs	7	2
Targets	121	60
Target Share/Game	8.1	4.0
Age	28	22
Experience	6 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, A.J. Brown holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Luther Burden III averaged 7.0 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 A.J. Brown or Luther Burden III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, A.J. Brown has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Luther Burden III's 7.0 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 A.J. Brown and Luther Burden III average in 2025?▾

A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Luther Burden III averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

Do A.J. Brown and Luther Burden III share a bye week?▾

Yes, both A.J. Brown and Luther Burden III share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is A.J. Brown or Luther Burden III a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown outscored Luther Burden III by 5.1 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.