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Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Brian Thomas Jr.

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Amon-Ra St. Brown is the better fantasy play this season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.6 PPG and 1,410 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Brian Thomas Jr. (8.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Amon-Ra St. Brown as the starter and Brian Thomas Jr. as depth.

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

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WRDetroit Lions#4PPG LEADER
Amon-Ra St. Brown
PPG
15.6
Games
17
Rec
117
Rec Yds
1,401
Rec TDs
11
Targets
172
Bye
Week 8
WRJacksonville Jaguars#47
Brian Thomas Jr.
PPG
8.2
Games
14
Rec
48
Rec Yds
707
Rec TDs
2
Targets
91
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Brian Thomas Jr.

Head to Head

15.6 PPG8.2 PPG
17 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Amon-Ra St. Brown: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #4 at the position). Brian Thomas Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #47 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amon-Ra St. Brown is producing at 71% of elite pace and Brian Thomas Jr. at 37%. That ranking gap means Amon-Ra St. Brown carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Brian Thomas Jr.: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Amon-Ra St. Brown put up 15.6 fantasy points per game for the Detroit Lions in 2025, while Brian Thomas Jr. managed 8.2 across 14 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A 7.4-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

A 7.4-PPG gap gives Amon-Ra St. Brown 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.

Target volume is the story here. Amon-Ra St. Brown saw 172 targets in 2025, while Brian Thomas Jr. drew 91. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Amon-Ra St. Brown, even in weeks where Brian Thomas Jr. posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 8 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Amon-Ra St. Brown at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Brian Thomas Jr. is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Amon-Ra St. Brown (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Brian Thomas Jr. (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Amon-Ra St. Brown outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by a projected 126 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown played 17 games in 2025 compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 14. That durability gap means Amon-Ra St. Brown contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown saw 172 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
  • Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.
Detailed Stat Breakdown
StatBrownJr.
PPG (Half-PPR)15.68.2
Games Played1714
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)265115
Receptions11748
Rec/Game6.93.4
Receiving Yards1,401707
Rec Yds/Game82.450.5
Receiving TDs112
Targets17291
Target Share/Game10.16.5
Age2623
Experience4 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 8Week 8

Summary

Amon-Ra St. Brown outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by 7.4 PPG in 2025 (15.6 to 8.2). 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 Amon-Ra St. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr. in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Amon-Ra St. Brown has the edge at 15.6 PPG compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2 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 Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Thomas Jr. average in 2025?

Amon-Ra St. Brown averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 8.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 7.4 points per game.

Do Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Thomas Jr. share a bye week?

Yes, both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Thomas Jr. share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is Amon-Ra St. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr. a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Amon-Ra St. Brown outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by 7.4 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.