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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Diontae Johnson vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Diontae Johnson's 9.3 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. Diontae Johnson at 9.3 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Zay Flowers higher, but do not fade Diontae Johnson entirely.

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

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WRBaltimore Ravens#99
Diontae Johnson
PPG
9.3
Games
15
Rec
60
Rec Yds
712
Rec TDs
3
Targets
95
Bye
Week 14
WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER
Zay Flowers
PPG
11.8
Games
17
Rec
86
Rec Yds
1,211
Rec TDs
5
Targets
118
Bye
Week 13

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Diontae Johnson
Zay Flowers

Head to Head

9.3 PPG11.8 PPG
15 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Diontae Johnson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Diontae Johnson is producing at 42% 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.

Diontae Johnson vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Diontae Johnson and Zay Flowers for your lineup, you are not alone. Diontae Johnson finished the 2025 season at 9.3 PPG for the Baltimore Ravens (15 games), and Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 for the Baltimore Ravens (17 games).

That 2.5-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. Diontae Johnson turned 95 targets into 712 yards and 3 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.

Diontae Johnson has his bye in Week 14, and Zay Flowers rests in Week 13. 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.

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. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Zay Flowers outscored Diontae Johnson by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Diontae Johnson's 15. That durability gap means Zay Flowers contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Zay Flowers 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Diontae Johnson vs Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDiontae JohnsonZay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)9.311.8
Games Played1517
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)140201
Receptions6086
Rec/Game4.05.1
Receiving Yards7121,211
Rec Yds/Game47.571.2
Receiving TDs35
Targets95118
Target Share/Game6.36.9
Age-25
Experience-2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Zay Flowers at 11.8 PPG, 2.5 points per game above Diontae Johnson's 9.3. 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 Diontae Johnson or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Diontae Johnson's 9.3 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?

Diontae Johnson averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Diontae Johnson and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?

Diontae Johnson (BAL) has a bye in Week 14, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Diontae Johnson or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Zay Flowers outscored Diontae Johnson by 2.5 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.