Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Deebo Samuel Sr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy play this season.

Brandon Aiyuk has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.3-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 9.5), and Brandon Aiyuk's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Deebo Samuel Sr. 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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WRSan Francisco 49ers#99PPG LEADER

Brandon Aiyuk

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

762

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

WRWashington Commanders#36

Deebo Samuel Sr.

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

727

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Head to Head

11.8 PPG9.5 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Deebo Samuel Sr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Deebo Samuel Sr. at 43%. That ranking gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Deebo Samuel Sr.: The Full Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel Sr. are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 PPG across 13 games with the San Francisco 49ers, while Deebo Samuel Sr. posted 9.5 PPG in 16 appearances for the Washington Commanders.

A 2.3-PPG gap gives Brandon Aiyuk 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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Brandon Aiyuk turned 82 targets into 762 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Deebo Samuel Sr. converted 99 looks into 727 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Brandon Aiyuk is off Week 9 and Deebo Samuel Sr. Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Brandon Aiyuk (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Deebo Samuel Sr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 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 Deebo Samuel Sr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Deebo Samuel Sr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	9.5
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	152
Receptions	58	72
Rec/Game	4.5	4.5
Receiving Yards	762	727
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	45.4
Receiving TDs	5	5
Targets	82	99
Target Share/Game	6.3	6.2
Age	-	30
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 7

Summary

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by 2.3 PPG in 2025 (11.8 to 9.5). 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 Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel Sr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Deebo Samuel Sr.'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 Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel Sr. average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel Sr.'s bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Deebo Samuel Sr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel Sr. a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by 2.3 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.