Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Michael PittmanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Michael Pittman's 9.6 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 1.6-PPG advantage is real (11.2 to 9.6), and Amari Cooper's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Pittman is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Amari Cooper and Michael Pittman in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRBuffalo Bills#99PPG LEADER

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRIndianapolis Colts#33

Michael Pittman

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

784

Rec TDs

Targets

111

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Michael Pittman

Head to Head

11.2 PPG9.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Michael Pittman: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Michael Pittman at 44%. That ranking gap means Michael Pittman carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Amari Cooper vs Michael Pittman: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Amari Cooper (Buffalo Bills) finished the 2025 season averaging 11.2 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Michael Pittman (Indianapolis Colts) came in at 9.6 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Amari Cooper carries a 1.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Amari Cooper turned 95 targets into 782 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Michael Pittman converted 111 looks into 784 yards and 7 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Amari Cooper is off Week 12 and Michael Pittman Week 13. 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.

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. Michael Pittman (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Amari Cooper outscored Michael Pittman by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Pittman played 17 games in 2025 compared to Amari Cooper's 16. That durability gap means Michael Pittman contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Michael Pittman scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Michael Pittman saw 111 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 Michael Pittman: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Michael Pittman
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	9.6
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	163
Receptions	65	80
Rec/Game	4.1	4.7
Receiving Yards	782	784
Rec Yds/Game	48.9	46.1
Receiving TDs	4	7
Targets	95	111
Target Share/Game	5.9	6.5
Age	-	28
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Amari Cooper holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.2 points per game. Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Amari Cooper vs Michael Pittman

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 Michael Pittman

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 Michael Pittman in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Amari Cooper has the edge at 11.2 PPG compared to Michael Pittman's 9.6 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 Michael Pittman average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Michael Pittman's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Michael Pittman (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Amari Cooper or Michael Pittman a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper outscored Michael Pittman by 1.6 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.