Brian Thomas vs Michael Pittman: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Brian Thomas and Michael Pittman is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.4 PPG in 2025, this is one of those wide receiver decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Brian Thomas averaged 8.2 PPG with the Jacksonville Jaguars across 14 games, and Michael Pittman posted 9.6 with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 17.
When two wide receivers are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Brian Thomas turned 91 targets into 707 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Michael Pittman converted 111 looks into 784 yards and 7 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.
Brian Thomas has his bye in Week 12, and Michael Pittman rests in Week 9. 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.
