Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Amari Cooper's 11.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Zay Flowers edges Amari Cooper by 0.6 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Zay Flowers goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

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

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WRBuffalo Bills#99

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

11.2 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Zay Flowers at 54%. That ranking gap means Zay Flowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Amari Cooper vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Amari Cooper (11.2 PPG) and Zay Flowers (11.8 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two wide receivers are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Amari Cooper played 16 games for the Buffalo Bills; Zay Flowers suited up 17 times for the Baltimore Ravens.

A 0.6-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Amari Cooper turned 95 targets into 782 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Zay Flowers converted 118 looks into 1211 yards and 5 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 Zay Flowers is off Week 13. 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. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Zay Flowers outscored Amari Cooper by a projected 10 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Amari Cooper's 16. That durability gap means Zay Flowers contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zay Flowers scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Zay Flowers saw 118 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 Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	11.8
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	201
Receptions	65	86
Rec/Game	4.1	5.1
Receiving Yards	782	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	48.9	71.2
Receiving TDs	4	5
Targets	95	118
Target Share/Game	5.9	6.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 13

Summary

Zay Flowers outscored Amari Cooper by 0.6 PPG in 2025 (11.8 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 Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.6 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Amari Cooper or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Zay Flowers outscored Amari Cooper by 0.6 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.