Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Jonathan TaylorWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.0 PPG to Amari Cooper's 11.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jonathan Taylor (20.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Amari Cooper (11.2 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.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRBuffalo Bills#99

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Jonathan Taylor

Head to Head

11.2 PPG20.0 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 5 (Deep League) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) RB in most league formats.

Amari Cooper vs Jonathan Taylor: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Amari Cooper (WR, Buffalo Bills) against Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Jonathan Taylor posted 20.0 PPG across 17 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.

Amari Cooper has his bye in Week 12, Jonathan Taylor in Week 13. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonathan Taylor at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Amari Cooper is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Amari Cooper (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Amari Cooper by a projected 150 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Amari Cooper's 16. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Amari Cooper saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Amari Cooper vs Jonathan Taylor: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Jonathan Taylor
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	20.0
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	340
Rushing Yards	0	1,585
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	93.2
Rushing TDs	0	18
Receptions	65	46
Receiving Yards	782	378
Targets	95	55
Total TDs	4	20
Age	-	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 13

Summary

Jonathan Taylor outscored Amari Cooper by 8.8 PPG in 2025 (20.0 to 11.2). 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 Amari Cooper or Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 PPG compared to Amari Cooper's 11.2 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 Amari Cooper and Jonathan Taylor average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.8 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Jonathan Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.