Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Kupp vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Cooper Kupp is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.8 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Cooper Kupp is the better fantasy play this season.

Cooper Kupp has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.0-PPG advantage is real (10.8 to 7.8), and Cooper Kupp's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Ricky Pearsall 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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WRLos Angeles Rams#99PPG LEADER

Cooper Kupp

PPG

10.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

748

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

WRSan Francisco 49ers#52

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Cooper Kupp

Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

10.8 PPG7.8 PPG

12 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Kupp: 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, Cooper Kupp is producing at 49% 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.

Cooper Kupp vs Ricky Pearsall: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.8 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco 49ers) came in at 7.8 PPG over 9 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Cooper Kupp carries a 3.0-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.

Target volume is the story here. Cooper Kupp saw 92 targets in 2025, while Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Cooper Kupp, even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Cooper Kupp sits Week 6 while Ricky Pearsall is off Week 8. 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

If you can acquire Cooper Kupp at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Ricky Pearsall is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cooper Kupp (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?

•Cooper Kupp outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cooper Kupp played 12 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Cooper Kupp contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Cooper Kupp saw 92 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Kupp vs Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Kupp	Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.8	7.8
Games Played	12	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	130	70
Receptions	62	36
Rec/Game	5.2	4.0
Receiving Yards	748	528
Rec Yds/Game	62.3	58.7
Receiving TDs	5	0
Targets	92	53
Target Share/Game	7.7	5.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Cooper Kupp holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.8 points per game. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 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 Cooper Kupp or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Cooper Kupp has the edge at 10.8 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 Cooper Kupp and Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?▾

Cooper Kupp averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Cooper Kupp and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Kupp (LAR) has a bye in Week 6, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Kupp or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Cooper Kupp outscored Ricky Pearsall by 3.0 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.