Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Ladd McConkeyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Ladd McConkey's 9.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy play this season.

Amari Cooper has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (11.2 to 9.2), and Amari Cooper's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Ladd McConkey 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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WRBuffalo Bills#99PPG LEADER

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRLos Angeles Chargers#38

Ladd McConkey

PPG

9.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Ladd McConkey

Head to Head

11.2 PPG9.2 PPG

16 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ladd McConkey: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Ladd McConkey at 42%. That ranking gap means Ladd McConkey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Amari Cooper vs Ladd McConkey: The Full Breakdown

Amari Cooper and Ladd McConkey are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 PPG across 16 games with the Buffalo Bills, while Ladd McConkey posted 9.2 PPG in 16 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 2.0-PPG gap gives Amari Cooper 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. Amari Cooper turned 95 targets into 782 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Ladd McConkey converted 106 looks into 789 yards and 6 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 Ladd McConkey is off Week 7. 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. Ladd McConkey (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Amari Cooper outscored Ladd McConkey by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ladd McConkey scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Ladd McConkey saw 106 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 Ladd McConkey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Ladd McConkey
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	9.2
Games Played	16	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	147
Receptions	65	66
Rec/Game	4.1	4.1
Receiving Yards	782	789
Rec Yds/Game	48.9	49.3
Receiving TDs	4	6
Targets	95	106
Target Share/Game	5.9	6.6
Age	-	24
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 7

Summary

Amari Cooper outscored Ladd McConkey by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (11.2 to 9.2). 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 Amari Cooper or Ladd McConkey in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Amari Cooper has the edge at 11.2 PPG compared to Ladd McConkey's 9.2 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 Ladd McConkey average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Ladd McConkey's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Ladd McConkey (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Amari Cooper or Ladd McConkey a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper outscored Ladd McConkey by 2.0 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.