Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Terry McLaurin vs Troy FranklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Terry McLaurin is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.5 PPG to Troy Franklin's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Terry McLaurin is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Terry McLaurin edges Troy Franklin by 1.0 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Terry McLaurin goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRWashington Commanders#35PPG LEADER

Terry McLaurin

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

582

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRDenver Broncos#44

Troy Franklin

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

709

Rec TDs

Targets

104

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Terry McLaurin

Troy Franklin

Head to Head

9.5 PPG8.5 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Terry McLaurin: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #35 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Terry McLaurin is producing at 43% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. That ranking gap means Terry McLaurin carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Terry McLaurin vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

This is a genuine coin flip on paper. Terry McLaurin finished the 2025 season at 9.5 PPG over 10 games with the Washington Commanders, while Troy Franklin clocked in at 8.5 across 17 appearances for the Denver Broncos. A 1.0-point gap means any given week could go either way.

With a margin this thin, season averages are not the deciding factor. Weekly variables like opponent defense, game script, and injury status carry more weight than a fraction of a PPG. The right start in Week 6 might be the wrong start in Week 14.

Target volume is the story here. Troy Franklin saw 104 targets in 2025, while Terry McLaurin drew 60. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Troy Franklin, even in weeks where Terry McLaurin posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Terry McLaurin is off Week 7 and Troy Franklin Week 10. 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: Terry McLaurin (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Terry McLaurin outscored Troy Franklin by a projected 17 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Terry McLaurin's 10. That durability gap means Troy Franklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Troy Franklin scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Troy Franklin saw 104 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Troy Franklin is 7 years younger than Terry McLaurin (23 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Terry McLaurin vs Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Terry McLaurin	Troy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.5	8.5
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	145
Receptions	38	65
Rec/Game	3.8	3.8
Receiving Yards	582	709
Rec Yds/Game	58.2	41.7
Receiving TDs	3	6
Targets	60	104
Target Share/Game	6.0	6.1
Age	30	23
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Terry McLaurin holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.5 points per game. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Terry McLaurin or Troy Franklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Terry McLaurin has the edge at 9.5 PPG compared to Troy Franklin's 8.5 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 Terry McLaurin and Troy Franklin average in 2025?▾

Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.0 points per game.

When are Terry McLaurin and Troy Franklin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Terry McLaurin (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Troy Franklin (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Terry McLaurin or Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Terry McLaurin outscored Troy Franklin by 1.0 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.