Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Luther Burden IIIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Luther Burden III's 7.0 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 4.8-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 7.0), and Brandon Aiyuk's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Luther Burden III 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

WRChicago Bears#60

Luther Burden III

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

652

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Luther Burden III

Head to Head

11.8 PPG7.0 PPG

13 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Luther Burden III: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #60 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Luther Burden III at 32%. That ranking gap means Luther Burden III carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Luther Burden III: The Full Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk and Luther Burden III 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 Luther Burden III posted 7.0 PPG in 15 appearances for the Chicago Bears.

A 4.8-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 Luther Burden III converted 60 looks into 652 yards and 2 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 Luther Burden III Week 10. 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. Luther Burden III 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. Luther Burden III (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Luther Burden III by a projected 82 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Luther Burden III played 15 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means Luther Burden III 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.
•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 Luther Burden III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Luther Burden III
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	7.0
Games Played	13	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	105
Receptions	58	47
Rec/Game	4.5	3.1
Receiving Yards	762	652
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	43.5
Receiving TDs	5	2
Targets	82	60
Target Share/Game	6.3	4.0
Age	-	22
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 10

Summary

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Luther Burden III by 4.8 PPG in 2025 (11.8 to 7.0). 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 Luther Burden III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Luther Burden III's 7.0 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 Luther Burden III average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Luther Burden III averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.8 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Luther Burden III's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Luther Burden III (CHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Luther Burden III a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Luther Burden III by 4.8 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.