Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Brandon Aiyuk's 11.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jaylen Warren (12.3 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Brandon Aiyuk (11.8 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.

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

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WRSan Francisco 49ers#99

Brandon Aiyuk

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

762

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

11.8 PPG12.3 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 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 3 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Brandon Aiyuk (WR, San Francisco 49ers) against Jaylen Warren (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 PPG in 2025 over 13 games, while Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG across 16 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.

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. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored Brandon Aiyuk by a projected 9 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Warren played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Jaylen Warren contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Brandon Aiyuk saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Both players share a Week 9 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk vs Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	12.3
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	197
Rushing Yards	0	958
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	59.9
Rushing TDs	0	6
Receptions	58	40
Receiving Yards	762	333
Targets	82	45
Total TDs	5	8
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 9

Summary

12.3 PPG for Jaylen Warren versus 11.8 for Brandon Aiyuk in 2025. The baseline favors Jaylen Warren, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brandon Aiyuk or Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 11.8 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 Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.5 points per game.

Do Brandon Aiyuk and Jaylen Warren share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Brandon Aiyuk and Jaylen Warren share a Week 9 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.