Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs Terry McLaurinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Terry McLaurin's 9.5 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 2.3-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 9.5), and Brandon Aiyuk's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Terry McLaurin 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

WRWashington Commanders#35

Terry McLaurin

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

582

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

Terry McLaurin

Head to Head

11.8 PPG9.5 PPG

13 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Terry McLaurin: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #35 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brandon Aiyuk is producing at 54% of elite pace and Terry McLaurin at 43%. That ranking gap means Terry McLaurin carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk vs Terry McLaurin: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco 49ers) finished the 2025 season averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game in 13 games. Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) came in at 9.5 PPG over 10 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Brandon Aiyuk carries a 2.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Brandon Aiyuk turned 82 targets into 762 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Terry McLaurin converted 60 looks into 582 yards and 3 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Brandon Aiyuk sits Week 9 while Terry McLaurin is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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. Terry McLaurin (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored Terry McLaurin by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Brandon Aiyuk played 13 games in 2025 compared to Terry McLaurin's 10. That durability gap means Brandon Aiyuk 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 Terry McLaurin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	Terry McLaurin
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	9.5
Games Played	13	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	95
Receptions	58	38
Rec/Game	4.5	3.8
Receiving Yards	762	582
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	58.2
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	82	60
Target Share/Game	6.3	6.0
Age	-	30
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Brandon Aiyuk holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.8 points per game. Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brandon Aiyuk or Terry McLaurin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Terry McLaurin's 9.5 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 Terry McLaurin average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and Terry McLaurin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Brandon Aiyuk or Terry McLaurin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk outscored Terry McLaurin by 2.3 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.