Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Diontae Johnson vs Troy FranklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Diontae Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.3 PPG to Troy Franklin's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Diontae Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Diontae Johnson edges Troy Franklin by 0.8 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Diontae Johnson goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

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

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WRBaltimore Ravens#99PPG LEADER

Diontae Johnson

PPG

9.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

712

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRDenver Broncos#44

Troy Franklin

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

709

Rec TDs

Targets

104

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Diontae Johnson

Troy Franklin

Head to Head

9.3 PPG8.5 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Diontae Johnson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Diontae Johnson is producing at 42% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. That ranking gap means Troy Franklin carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Diontae Johnson vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

Diontae Johnson (9.3 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. Diontae Johnson played 15 games for the Baltimore Ravens; Troy Franklin suited up 17 times for the Denver Broncos.

A 0.8-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. Diontae Johnson turned 95 targets into 712 yards and 3 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: Diontae Johnson sits Week 14 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: Diontae Johnson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Diontae Johnson outscored Troy Franklin by a projected 14 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Diontae Johnson's 15. 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

Diontae Johnson vs Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Diontae Johnson	Troy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.3	8.5
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	140	145
Receptions	60	65
Rec/Game	4.0	3.8
Receiving Yards	712	709
Rec Yds/Game	47.5	41.7
Receiving TDs	3	6
Targets	95	104
Target Share/Game	6.3	6.1
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 10

Summary

Diontae Johnson outscored Troy Franklin by 0.8 PPG in 2025 (9.3 to 8.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Diontae Johnson or Troy Franklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Diontae Johnson has the edge at 9.3 PPG compared to Troy Franklin's 8.5 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 Diontae Johnson and Troy Franklin average in 2025?▾

Diontae Johnson averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.8 points per game.

When are Diontae Johnson and Troy Franklin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Diontae Johnson (BAL) has a bye in Week 14, and Troy Franklin (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Diontae Johnson or Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Diontae Johnson outscored Troy Franklin by 0.8 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.