Jalen McMillan vs Michael Pittman: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Jalen McMillan and Michael Pittman for your lineup, you are not alone. Jalen McMillan finished the 2025 season at 6.0 PPG for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4 games), and Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 for the Pittsburgh Steelers (17 games).
That 3.6-point weekly advantage for Michael Pittman 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.
Target volume is the story here. Michael Pittman saw 111 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Michael Pittman, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jalen McMillan sits Week 11 while Michael Pittman is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
