Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Garrett Wilson vs Rico DowdleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Garrett Wilson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Rico Dowdle's 11.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Garrett Wilson is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Garrett Wilson (11.6 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Rico Dowdle (11.6 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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WRNew York Jets#16PPG LEADER

Garrett Wilson

PPG

11.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

395

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

RBCarolina Panthers#21

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Garrett Wilson

Rico Dowdle

Head to Head

11.6 PPG11.6 PPG

7 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Garrett Wilson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #16 at the position). Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

Garrett Wilson vs Rico Dowdle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Garrett Wilson (WR, New York Jets) against Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Garrett Wilson averaged 11.6 PPG in 2025 over 7 games, while Rico Dowdle posted 11.6 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Garrett Wilson has his bye in Week 13, Rico Dowdle in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: Garrett Wilson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Rico Dowdle (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Garrett Wilson outscored Rico Dowdle by a projected 0 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Garrett Wilson's 7. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rico Dowdle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Garrett Wilson saw 59 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Garrett Wilson vs Rico Dowdle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Garrett Wilson	Rico Dowdle
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	11.6
Games Played	7	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	81	197
Rushing Yards	0	1,076
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	63.3
Rushing TDs	0	6
Receptions	36	39
Receiving Yards	395	297
Targets	59	50
Total TDs	4	7
Age	25	27
Experience	3 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

11.6 PPG for Garrett Wilson versus 11.6 for Rico Dowdle in 2025. The baseline favors Garrett Wilson, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Garrett Wilson or Rico Dowdle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Garrett Wilson has the edge at 11.6 PPG compared to Rico Dowdle's 11.6 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 Garrett Wilson and Rico Dowdle average in 2025?▾

Garrett Wilson averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 7 games in 2025. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.0 points per game.

When are Garrett Wilson and Rico Dowdle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Garrett Wilson (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13, and Rico Dowdle (CAR) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.