Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Jalen McMillanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Jalen McMillan's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy play this season.

Brandon Aiyuk is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 11.8 PPG and 762 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Jalen McMillan (6.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Brandon Aiyuk as the starter and Jalen McMillan as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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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

WRTampa Bay Buccaneers#99

Jalen McMillan

PPG

6.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

178

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Jalen McMillan

Head to Head

11.8 PPG6.0 PPG

13 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Jalen McMillan: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Jalen McMillan at 27%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Jalen McMillan: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco 49ers) finished the 2025 season averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game in 13 games. Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) came in at 6.0 PPG over 4 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Brandon Aiyuk carries a 5.8-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Brandon Aiyuk saw 82 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Brandon Aiyuk, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Brandon Aiyuk sits Week 9 while Jalen McMillan is off Week 11. 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

If you can acquire Brandon Aiyuk at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Jalen McMillan is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Brandon Aiyuk (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jalen McMillan (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Jalen McMillan by a projected 99 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Brandon Aiyuk played 13 games in 2025 compared to Jalen McMillan's 4. That durability gap means Brandon Aiyuk contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brandon Aiyuk saw 82 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 Jalen McMillan: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Jalen McMillan
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	6.0
Games Played	13	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	24
Receptions	58	12
Rec/Game	4.5	3.0
Receiving Yards	762	178
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	44.5
Receiving TDs	5	0
Targets	82	15
Target Share/Game	6.3	3.8
Age	-	24
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Brandon Aiyuk holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.8 points per game. Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brandon Aiyuk or Jalen McMillan in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Jalen McMillan's 6.0 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 Jalen McMillan average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 5.8 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Jalen McMillan's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Jalen McMillan (TB) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Jalen McMillan a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Jalen McMillan by 5.8 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.