Khalil Shakir vs Troy Franklin: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Khalil Shakir and Troy Franklin is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.4 PPG in 2025, this is one of those wide receiver decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 PPG with the Buffalo Bills across 16 games, and Troy Franklin posted 8.5 with the Denver Broncos in 17.
When two wide receivers are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Khalil Shakir turned 95 targets into 719 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Troy Franklin converted 104 looks into 709 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.
Khalil Shakir has his bye in Week 12, and Troy Franklin rests in Week 14. 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.
