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Brandon Aiyuk vs Ladd McConkeyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Ladd McConkey's 9.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy play this season.

Brandon Aiyuk is the better play on a neutral week. 11.8 PPG with 762 yards gives a reliable baseline. Ladd McConkey at 9.2 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Brandon Aiyuk higher, but do not fade Ladd McConkey entirely.

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
13
Rec
58
Rec Yds
762
Rec TDs
5
Targets
82
Bye
Week 9
WRLos Angeles Chargers#38
Ladd McConkey
PPG
9.2
Games
16
Rec
66
Rec Yds
789
Rec TDs
6
Targets
106
Bye
Week 7

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Brandon Aiyuk
Ladd McConkey

Head to Head

11.8 PPG9.2 PPG
13 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ladd McConkey: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Ladd McConkey at 42%. That ranking gap means Ladd McConkey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Ladd McConkey: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Brandon Aiyuk and Ladd McConkey is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver put up 11.8 PPG in 2025 over 13 games; Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 9.2 in 16. A 2.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.6 points favors Brandon Aiyuk, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Brandon Aiyuk turned 82 targets into 762 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Ladd McConkey converted 106 looks into 789 yards and 6 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 Ladd McConkey 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

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. Ladd McConkey (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Brandon Aiyuk outscored Ladd McConkey by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Ladd McConkey played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Ladd McConkey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Ladd McConkey scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Ladd McConkey saw 106 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 Ladd McConkey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatBrandon AiyukLadd McConkey
PPG (Half-PPR)11.89.2
Games Played1316
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)153147
Receptions5866
Rec/Game4.54.1
Receiving Yards762789
Rec Yds/Game58.649.3
Receiving TDs56
Targets82106
Target Share/Game6.36.6
Age-24
Experience-1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 9Week 7

Summary

11.8 PPG for Brandon Aiyuk versus 9.2 for Ladd McConkey in 2025. The baseline favors Brandon Aiyuk, 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 Ladd McConkey in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Ladd McConkey's 9.2 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 Ladd McConkey average in 2025?

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Ladd McConkey's bye weeks in 2026?

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

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Ladd McConkey a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Ladd McConkey by 2.6 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.

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