Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Terry McLaurinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Terry McLaurin's 9.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy play this season.

Amari Cooper is the better play on a neutral week. 11.2 PPG with 782 yards gives a reliable baseline. Terry McLaurin at 9.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Amari Cooper higher, but do not fade Terry McLaurin entirely.

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

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WRBuffalo Bills#99PPG LEADER

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRWashington Commanders#35

Terry McLaurin

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

582

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Terry McLaurin

Head to Head

11.2 PPG9.5 PPG

16 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Terry McLaurin: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #35 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Terry McLaurin at 43%. That ranking gap means Terry McLaurin carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Amari Cooper vs Terry McLaurin: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Amari Cooper and Terry McLaurin is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Buffalo Bills wide receiver put up 11.2 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders averaged 9.5 in 10. A 1.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.7 points favors Amari Cooper, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.

Target volume is the story here. Amari Cooper saw 95 targets in 2025, while Terry McLaurin drew 60. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Amari Cooper, even in weeks where Terry McLaurin posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Amari Cooper sits Week 12 while Terry McLaurin 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. Terry McLaurin (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Amari Cooper outscored Terry McLaurin by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Amari Cooper played 16 games in 2025 compared to Terry McLaurin's 10. 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 Terry McLaurin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Terry McLaurin
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	9.5
Games Played	16	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	95
Receptions	65	38
Rec/Game	4.1	3.8
Receiving Yards	782	582
Rec Yds/Game	48.9	58.2
Receiving TDs	4	3
Targets	95	60
Target Share/Game	5.9	6.0
Age	-	30
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 7

Summary

11.2 PPG for Amari Cooper versus 9.5 for Terry McLaurin in 2025. The baseline favors Amari Cooper, 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 Terry McLaurin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Amari Cooper has the edge at 11.2 PPG compared to Terry McLaurin's 9.5 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 Terry McLaurin average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Terry McLaurin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Amari Cooper or Terry McLaurin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper outscored Terry McLaurin by 1.7 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.