Alec Pierce vs Jalen McMillan: Who Should You Start?
Alec Pierce and Jalen McMillan are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Alec Pierce averaged 10.7 PPG across 15 games with the Indianapolis Colts, while Jalen McMillan posted 6.0 PPG in 4 appearances for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A 4.7-PPG gap gives Alec Pierce 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. Alec Pierce saw 84 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Alec Pierce, 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: Alec Pierce is off Week 14 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.
