Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Josh DownsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Josh Downs's 6.7 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. Josh Downs (6.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Brandon Aiyuk as the starter and Josh Downs 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

WRIndianapolis Colts#99

Josh Downs

PPG

6.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

566

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Josh Downs

Head to Head

11.8 PPG6.7 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Josh Downs: 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 Josh Downs at 30%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Josh Downs: The Full Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk and Josh Downs 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 Josh Downs posted 6.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the Indianapolis Colts.

A 5.1-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 Josh Downs converted 88 looks into 566 yards and 4 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 Josh Downs Week 14. 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

If you can acquire Brandon Aiyuk at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Josh Downs 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. Josh Downs (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Josh Downs by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Downs played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Josh Downs 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.
•Josh Downs saw 88 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 Josh Downs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Josh Downs
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	6.7
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	107
Receptions	58	58
Rec/Game	4.5	3.6
Receiving Yards	762	566
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	35.4
Receiving TDs	5	4
Targets	82	88
Target Share/Game	6.3	5.5
Age	-	24
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 14

Summary

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Josh Downs by 5.1 PPG in 2025 (11.8 to 6.7). 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 Josh Downs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Josh Downs's 6.7 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 Josh Downs average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Josh Downs averaged 6.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Josh Downs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Josh Downs (IND) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Josh Downs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Josh Downs by 5.1 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.