Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jalen McMillan vs Khalil ShakirWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Khalil Shakir is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.1 PPG to Jalen McMillan's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Khalil Shakir is the better fantasy play this season.

Khalil Shakir has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.1-PPG advantage is real (8.1 to 6.0), and Khalil Shakir's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jalen McMillan 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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WRTampa Bay Buccaneers#99

Jalen McMillan

PPG

6.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

178

Targets

Bye

Week 11

WRBuffalo Bills#48PPG LEADER

Khalil Shakir

PPG

8.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

719

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jalen McMillan

Khalil Shakir

Head to Head

6.0 PPG8.1 PPG

4 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen McMillan: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Khalil Shakir: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #48 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Jalen McMillan is producing at 27% of elite pace and Khalil Shakir at 37%. That ranking gap means Khalil Shakir carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jalen McMillan vs Khalil Shakir: The Full Breakdown

Jalen McMillan and Khalil Shakir are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 PPG across 4 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Khalil Shakir posted 8.1 PPG in 16 appearances for the Buffalo Bills.

A 2.1-PPG gap gives Khalil Shakir the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. Khalil Shakir saw 95 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Khalil Shakir, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Jalen McMillan is off Week 11 and Khalil Shakir Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Jalen McMillan (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Khalil Shakir (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Khalil Shakir outscored Jalen McMillan by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Khalil Shakir played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jalen McMillan's 4. That durability gap means Khalil Shakir contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Khalil Shakir saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jalen McMillan vs Khalil Shakir: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jalen McMillan	Khalil Shakir
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.0	8.1
Games Played	4	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	24	130
Receptions	12	72
Rec/Game	3.0	4.5
Receiving Yards	178	719
Rec Yds/Game	44.5	44.9
Receiving TDs	0	4
Targets	15	95
Target Share/Game	3.8	5.9
Age	24	26
Experience	2 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

Khalil Shakir outscored Jalen McMillan by 2.1 PPG in 2025 (8.1 to 6.0). 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 Jalen McMillan or Khalil Shakir in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Khalil Shakir has the edge at 8.1 PPG compared to Jalen McMillan's 6.0 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 Jalen McMillan and Khalil Shakir average in 2025?▾

Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Jalen McMillan and Khalil Shakir's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jalen McMillan (TB) has a bye in Week 11, and Khalil Shakir (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen McMillan or Khalil Shakir a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Khalil Shakir outscored Jalen McMillan by 2.1 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.