Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Jefferson vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Justin Jefferson's 9.4 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. Justin Jefferson at 9.4 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Zay Flowers higher, but do not fade Justin Jefferson entirely.

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

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WRMinnesota Vikings#37

Justin Jefferson

PPG

9.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,048

Rec TDs

Targets

141

Bye

Week 6

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Justin Jefferson

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

9.4 PPG11.8 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Jefferson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #37 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Justin Jefferson is producing at 43% 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.

Justin Jefferson vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Justin Jefferson and Zay Flowers is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver put up 9.4 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens averaged 11.8 in 17. A 2.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.4 points favors Zay Flowers, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Justin Jefferson turned 141 targets into 1048 yards and 2 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.

One scheduling note: Justin Jefferson is off Week 6 and Zay Flowers Week 13. 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: Justin Jefferson (age 26) 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 Justin Jefferson by a projected 41 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Justin Jefferson saw 141 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Justin Jefferson vs Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Jefferson	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.4	11.8
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	160	201
Receptions	84	86
Rec/Game	4.9	5.1
Receiving Yards	1,048	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	61.6	71.2
Receiving TDs	2	5
Targets	141	118
Target Share/Game	8.3	6.9
Age	26	25
Experience	5 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

11.8 PPG for Zay Flowers versus 9.4 for Justin Jefferson in 2025. The baseline favors Zay Flowers, 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 Justin Jefferson or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Justin Jefferson's 9.4 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 Justin Jefferson and Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Justin Jefferson averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

When are Justin Jefferson and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Jefferson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Jefferson or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Zay Flowers outscored Justin Jefferson by 2.4 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.