Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Brian Thomas Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy play this season.

Brandon Aiyuk is the better play on a neutral week. 11.8 PPG with 762 yards gives a reliable baseline. Brian Thomas Jr. at 8.2 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Brandon Aiyuk higher, but do not fade Brian Thomas Jr. entirely.

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

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WRSan Francisco 49ers#99PPG LEADER

Brandon Aiyuk

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

762

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

WRJacksonville Jaguars#47

Brian Thomas Jr.

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

707

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Brian Thomas Jr.

Head to Head

11.8 PPG8.2 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Brian Thomas Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #47 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Brian Thomas Jr. at 37%. That ranking gap means Brian Thomas Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Brian Thomas Jr.: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Brandon Aiyuk and Brian Thomas Jr. for your lineup, you are not alone. Brandon Aiyuk finished the 2025 season at 11.8 PPG for the San Francisco 49ers (13 games), and Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 8.2 for the Jacksonville Jaguars (14 games).

That 3.6-point weekly advantage for Brandon Aiyuk is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Brandon Aiyuk turned 82 targets into 762 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Brian Thomas Jr. converted 91 looks into 707 yards and 2 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Brandon Aiyuk has his bye in Week 9, and Brian Thomas Jr. rests in Week 7. 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

Brandon Aiyuk is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Brian Thomas Jr. is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Brandon Aiyuk (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Brian Thomas Jr. (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Brian Thomas Jr. played 14 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Brian Thomas Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brandon Aiyuk scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Brian Thomas Jr. saw 91 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk vs Brian Thomas Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Brian Thomas Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	8.2
Games Played	13	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	115
Receptions	58	48
Rec/Game	4.5	3.4
Receiving Yards	762	707
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	50.5
Receiving TDs	5	2
Targets	82	91
Target Share/Game	6.3	6.5
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Brandon Aiyuk at 11.8 PPG, 3.6 points per game above Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brandon Aiyuk or Brian Thomas Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2 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 Brandon Aiyuk and Brian Thomas Jr. average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 8.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Brian Thomas Jr.'s bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Brian Thomas Jr. a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by 3.6 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.