Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Zay Flowers is the better play on a neutral week. 11.8 PPG with 1,273 yards gives a reliable baseline. Deebo Samuel Sr. at 9.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Zay Flowers higher, but do not fade Deebo Samuel Sr. entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRWashington Commanders#36

Deebo Samuel Sr.

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

727

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

9.5 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Deebo Samuel Sr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #36 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Deebo Samuel Sr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Zay Flowers at 54%. That ranking gap means Zay Flowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Deebo Samuel Sr. and Zay Flowers for your lineup, you are not alone. Deebo Samuel Sr. finished the 2025 season at 9.5 PPG for the Washington Commanders (16 games), and Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 for the Baltimore Ravens (17 games).

That 2.3-point weekly advantage for Zay Flowers is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Deebo Samuel Sr. turned 99 targets into 727 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Zay Flowers converted 118 looks into 1211 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Deebo Samuel Sr. sits Week 7 while Zay Flowers is off Week 13. 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: Deebo Samuel Sr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Zay Flowers outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 16. That durability gap means Zay Flowers contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Zay Flowers saw 118 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Zay Flowers is 5 years younger than Deebo Samuel Sr. (25 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deebo Samuel Sr.	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.5	11.8
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	152	201
Receptions	72	86
Rec/Game	4.5	5.1
Receiving Yards	727	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	45.4	71.2
Receiving TDs	5	5
Targets	99	118
Target Share/Game	6.2	6.9
Age	30	25
Experience	6 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Zay Flowers at 11.8 PPG, 2.3 points per game above Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5. 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Deebo Samuel Sr.'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 Deebo Samuel Sr. and Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Deebo Samuel Sr. and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deebo Samuel Sr. or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Zay Flowers outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. 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.