Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Brandon AiyukWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Amari Cooper's 11.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Brandon Aiyuk and Amari Cooper are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.6-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRBuffalo Bills#99

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRSan Francisco 49ers#99PPG LEADER

Brandon Aiyuk

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

762

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Brandon Aiyuk

Head to Head

11.2 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Brandon Aiyuk at 54%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Amari Cooper vs Brandon Aiyuk: The Full Breakdown

Amari Cooper (11.2 PPG) and Brandon Aiyuk (11.8 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two wide receivers are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Amari Cooper played 16 games for the Buffalo Bills; Brandon Aiyuk suited up 13 times for the San Francisco 49ers.

A 0.6-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Amari Cooper turned 95 targets into 782 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Brandon Aiyuk converted 82 looks into 762 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Amari Cooper sits Week 12 while Brandon Aiyuk is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Amari Cooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Brandon Aiyuk (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Amari Cooper by a projected 10 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Amari Cooper played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Amari Cooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brandon Aiyuk scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Amari Cooper saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Amari Cooper vs Brandon Aiyuk: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Brandon Aiyuk
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	11.8
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	153
Receptions	65	58
Rec/Game	4.1	4.5
Receiving Yards	782	762
Rec Yds/Game	48.9	58.6
Receiving TDs	4	5
Targets	95	82
Target Share/Game	5.9	6.3
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 9

Summary

11.8 PPG for Brandon Aiyuk versus 11.2 for Amari Cooper in 2025. The baseline favors Brandon Aiyuk, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Amari Cooper or Brandon Aiyuk in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Amari Cooper's 11.2 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 Amari Cooper and Brandon Aiyuk average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 0.6 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Brandon Aiyuk's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Amari Cooper or Brandon Aiyuk a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Amari Cooper by 0.6 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.