Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Joe MixonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Amari Cooper's 11.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Joe Mixon (16.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Amari Cooper (11.2 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Amari Cooper and Joe Mixon in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRBuffalo Bills#99

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

11.2 PPG16.5 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 5 (Deep League) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

Amari Cooper vs Joe Mixon: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Amari Cooper (WR, Buffalo Bills) against Joe Mixon (RB, Houston Texans) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Joe Mixon posted 16.5 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Amari Cooper has his bye in Week 12, Joe Mixon in Week 14. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Joe Mixon is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Amari Cooper is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Amari Cooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Amari Cooper by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Amari Cooper played 16 games in 2025 compared to Joe Mixon's 15. That durability gap means Amari Cooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Amari Cooper vs Joe Mixon: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Joe Mixon
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	16.5
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	248
Rushing Yards	0	1,165
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	77.7
Rushing TDs	0	11
Receptions	65	32
Receiving Yards	782	240
Targets	95	0
Total TDs	4	12
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 14

Summary

16.5 PPG for Joe Mixon versus 11.2 for Amari Cooper in 2025. The baseline favors Joe Mixon, 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Amari Cooper vs Joe Mixon

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Amari Cooper vs Joe Mixon

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Amari Cooper or Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 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 Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.