Ladd McConkey vs Zay Flowers: Who Should You Start?
Ladd McConkey and Zay Flowers are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 PPG across 16 games with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Zay Flowers posted 11.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Baltimore Ravens.
A 2.6-PPG gap gives Zay Flowers 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.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Ladd McConkey turned 106 targets into 789 yards and 6 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: Ladd McConkey is off Week 5 and Zay Flowers Week 14. 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.
