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Head to Head

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Amari Cooper vs Ryan FlournoyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Ryan Flournoy's 7.2 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 4.0-PPG advantage is real (11.2 to 7.2), and Amari Cooper's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Ryan Flournoy 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
16
Rec
65
Rec Yds
782
Rec TDs
4
Targets
95
Bye
Week 12
WRDallas Cowboys#55
Ryan Flournoy
PPG
7.2
Games
13
Rec
40
Rec Yds
475
Rec TDs
4
Targets
56
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Amari Cooper
Ryan Flournoy

Head to Head

11.2 PPG7.2 PPG
16 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ryan Flournoy: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #55 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Ryan Flournoy at 33%. That ranking gap means Ryan Flournoy carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Amari Cooper vs Ryan Flournoy: The Full Breakdown

Amari Cooper and Ryan Flournoy 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 Ryan Flournoy posted 7.2 PPG in 13 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 4.0-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.

Target volume is the story here. Amari Cooper saw 95 targets in 2025, while Ryan Flournoy drew 56. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Amari Cooper, even in weeks where Ryan Flournoy posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Amari Cooper has his bye in Week 12, and Ryan Flournoy rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Amari Cooper at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Ryan Flournoy is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Amari Cooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Ryan Flournoy (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Amari Cooper outscored Ryan Flournoy by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Amari Cooper played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ryan Flournoy's 13. That durability gap means Amari Cooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Amari Cooper scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 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 Ryan Flournoy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAmari CooperRyan Flournoy
PPG (Half-PPR)11.27.2
Games Played1613
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)17994
Receptions6540
Rec/Game4.13.1
Receiving Yards782475
Rec Yds/Game48.936.5
Receiving TDs44
Targets9556
Target Share/Game5.94.3
Age-26
Experience-1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 12Week 14

Summary

Amari Cooper outscored Ryan Flournoy by 4.0 PPG in 2025 (11.2 to 7.2). 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 Ryan Flournoy in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Amari Cooper has the edge at 11.2 PPG compared to Ryan Flournoy's 7.2 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 Ryan Flournoy average in 2025?

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Ryan Flournoy averaged 7.2 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Ryan Flournoy's bye weeks in 2026?

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

Is Amari Cooper or Ryan Flournoy a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Amari Cooper outscored Ryan Flournoy by 4.0 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.

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