Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Khalil ShakirWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Khalil Shakir's 8.1 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 3.7-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 8.1), and Brandon Aiyuk's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Khalil Shakir 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

WRBuffalo Bills#48

Khalil Shakir

PPG

8.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

719

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Khalil Shakir

Head to Head

11.8 PPG8.1 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Khalil Shakir: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #48 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Khalil Shakir at 37%. That ranking gap means Khalil Shakir carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Khalil Shakir: The Full Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk and Khalil Shakir 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 Khalil Shakir posted 8.1 PPG in 16 appearances for the Buffalo Bills.

A 3.7-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 Khalil Shakir converted 95 looks into 719 yards and 4 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 Khalil Shakir 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

If you can acquire Brandon Aiyuk at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Khalil Shakir 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. Khalil Shakir (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Khalil Shakir by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Khalil Shakir played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Khalil Shakir 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.
•Khalil Shakir saw 95 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 Khalil Shakir: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Khalil Shakir
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	8.1
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	130
Receptions	58	72
Rec/Game	4.5	4.5
Receiving Yards	762	719
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	44.9
Receiving TDs	5	4
Targets	82	95
Target Share/Game	6.3	5.9
Age	-	26
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 7

Summary

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Khalil Shakir by 3.7 PPG in 2025 (11.8 to 8.1). 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 Khalil Shakir in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Khalil Shakir's 8.1 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 Khalil Shakir average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Khalil Shakir's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Khalil Shakir (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Khalil Shakir a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Khalil Shakir by 3.7 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.