Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

A.J. Brown vs James ConnerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, A.J. Brown (12.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. James Conner (11.0 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#12PPG LEADER

A.J. Brown

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,003

Rec TDs

Targets

121

Bye

Week 10

RBArizona Cardinals#99

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

A.J. Brown

James Conner

Head to Head

12.1 PPG11.0 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

A.J. Brown: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #12 at the position). James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

A.J. Brown vs James Conner: The Full Breakdown

Comparing A.J. Brown (WR, Philadelphia Eagles) against James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while James Conner posted 11.0 PPG across 14 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

A.J. Brown has his bye in Week 10, James Conner in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: A.J. Brown (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•A.J. Brown outscored James Conner by a projected 19 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•A.J. Brown played 15 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means A.J. Brown contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•A.J. Brown scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

A.J. Brown vs James Conner: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	A.J. Brown	James Conner
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	11.0
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	154
Rushing Yards	0	752
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	53.7
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	78	28
Receiving Yards	1,003	218
Targets	121	0
Total TDs	7	6
Age	28	-
Experience	6 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

A.J. Brown outscored James Conner by 1.1 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 11.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start A.J. Brown or James Conner in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, A.J. Brown has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to James Conner's 11.0 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 A.J. Brown and James Conner average in 2025?▾

A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 1.1 points per game.

When are A.J. Brown and James Conner's bye weeks in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.