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Head to Head

Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Brian Thomas Jr. or Troy FranklinWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

It is nearly a coin flip, but lean Troy Franklin over Brian Thomas Jr. in 2026.

Troy Franklin (8.5 PPG) and Brian Thomas Jr. (8.2) finished 2025 separated by under a point per game. Franklin also stayed healthier, playing 17 games to 14, which steadies his weekly floor. Both land in Tier 3 at the position, so this is closer than the raw gap suggests.

The Bottom Line

Statistically, Troy Franklin and Brian Thomas Jr. are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.3-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRJacksonville Jaguars#47

Brian Thomas Jr.

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

707

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRDenver Broncos#44PPG LEADER

Troy Franklin

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

709

Rec TDs

Targets

104

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Brian Thomas Jr.

Troy Franklin

Head to Head

8.2 PPG8.5 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Brian Thomas Jr.: Tier 3 (Deep League) WR (ranked #47 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 3 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brian Thomas Jr. is producing at 37% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Brian Thomas Jr. vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

Brian Thomas Jr. (8.2 PPG) and Troy Franklin (8.5 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two wide receivers are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Brian Thomas Jr. played 14 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars; Troy Franklin suited up 17 times for the Denver Broncos.

A 0.3-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Brian Thomas Jr. turned 91 targets into 707 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Troy Franklin converted 104 looks into 709 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Brian Thomas Jr. sits Week 7 while Troy Franklin is off Week 10. 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: Brian Thomas Jr. (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Troy Franklin outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by a projected 5 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 14. That durability gap means Troy Franklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Troy Franklin scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Troy Franklin saw 104 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brian Thomas Jr. vs Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brian Thomas Jr.	Troy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.2	8.5
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	115	145
Receptions	48	65
Rec/Game	3.4	3.8
Receiving Yards	707	709
Rec Yds/Game	50.5	41.7
Receiving TDs	2	6
Targets	91	104
Target Share/Game	6.5	6.1
Age	23	23
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Troy Franklin at 8.5 PPG, 0.3 points per game above Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brian Thomas Jr. or Troy Franklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Troy Franklin has the edge at 8.5 PPG compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2 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.

Should I draft Brian Thomas Jr. or Troy Franklin in 2026 fantasy football?▾

Troy Franklin and Brian Thomas Jr. come off the board in the same range, so take whichever fits your roster build. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2, a gap of under a point. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Brian Thomas Jr. and Troy Franklin average in 2025?▾

Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.3 points per game.

When are Brian Thomas Jr. and Troy Franklin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and Troy Franklin (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brian Thomas Jr. or Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Troy Franklin outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by 0.3 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.