Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 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. Ricky Pearsall at 7.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Brandon Aiyuk higher, but do not fade Ricky Pearsall 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

Rec

Rec Yds

762

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

WRSan Francisco 49ers#52

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

11.8 PPG7.8 PPG

13 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Ricky Pearsall at 35%. That ranking gap means Ricky Pearsall carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver put up 11.8 PPG in 2025 over 13 games; Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers averaged 7.8 in 9. A 4.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.0 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.

Target volume is the story here. Brandon Aiyuk saw 82 targets in 2025, while Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Brandon Aiyuk, even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Brandon Aiyuk is off Week 9 and Ricky Pearsall Week 8. 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

Brandon Aiyuk is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Ricky Pearsall is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Brandon Aiyuk (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Ricky Pearsall (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Brandon Aiyuk played 13 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Brandon Aiyuk contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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 Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	7.8
Games Played	13	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	70
Receptions	58	36
Rec/Game	4.5	4.0
Receiving Yards	762	528
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	58.7
Receiving TDs	5	0
Targets	82	53
Target Share/Game	6.3	5.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 8

Summary

11.8 PPG for Brandon Aiyuk versus 7.8 for Ricky Pearsall 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 Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 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 Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Ricky Pearsall by 4.0 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.