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Head to Head

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Amari Cooper vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Amari Cooper's 11.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Trey McBride (14.9 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRBuffalo Bills#99
Amari Cooper
PPG
11.2
Games
16
Rec
65
Rec Yds
782
Rec TDs
4
Targets
95
Bye
Week 12
TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER
Trey McBride
PPG
14.9
Games
17
Rec
126
Rec Yds
1,239
Rec TDs
11
Targets
169
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Amari Cooper
Trey McBride

Head to Head

11.2 PPG14.9 PPG
16 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 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 1 (Elite) TE in most league formats.

Amari Cooper vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Amari Cooper (WR, Buffalo Bills) against Trey McBride (TE, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Trey McBride posted 14.9 PPG across 17 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, Trey McBride in Week 14. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Trey McBride at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Amari Cooper 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. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Trey McBride outscored Amari Cooper by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Amari Cooper's 16. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Trey McBride saw 169 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 Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAmari CooperTrey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)11.214.9
Games Played1617
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)179253
Receptions65126
Rec/Game4.17.4
Receiving Yards7821,239
Rec Yds/Game48.972.9
Receiving TDs411
Targets95169
Target Share/Game5.99.9
Age-26
Experience-3 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 12Week 14

Summary

Trey McBride outscored Amari Cooper by 3.7 PPG in 2025 (14.9 to 11.2). 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 Trey McBride in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?

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

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