Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

A.J. Brown vs Troy FranklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Troy Franklin's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

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

A.J. Brown has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.6-PPG advantage is real (12.1 to 8.5), and A.J. Brown's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Troy Franklin is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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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

WRDenver Broncos#44

Troy Franklin

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

709

Rec TDs

Targets

104

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

A.J. Brown

Troy Franklin

Head to Head

12.1 PPG8.5 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

A.J. Brown: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #12 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, A.J. Brown is producing at 55% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. That ranking gap means A.J. Brown carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

A.J. Brown vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

A.J. Brown and Troy Franklin are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 PPG across 15 games with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Troy Franklin posted 8.5 PPG in 17 appearances for the Denver Broncos.

A 3.6-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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. A.J. Brown turned 121 targets into 1003 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Troy Franklin converted 104 looks into 709 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

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. Troy Franklin 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. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•A.J. Brown outscored Troy Franklin by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to A.J. Brown's 15. That durability gap means Troy Franklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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.
•Troy Franklin is 5 years younger than A.J. Brown (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

A.J. Brown vs Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	A.J. Brown	Troy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	8.5
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	145
Receptions	78	65
Rec/Game	5.2	3.8
Receiving Yards	1,003	709
Rec Yds/Game	66.9	41.7
Receiving TDs	7	6
Targets	121	104
Target Share/Game	8.1	6.1
Age	28	23
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

A.J. Brown outscored Troy Franklin by 3.6 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 8.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start A.J. Brown or Troy Franklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, A.J. Brown has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Troy Franklin's 8.5 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 Troy Franklin average in 2025?▾

A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

Do A.J. Brown and Troy Franklin share a bye week?▾

Yes, both A.J. Brown and Troy Franklin 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 Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown outscored Troy Franklin by 3.6 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.