Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Baker MayfieldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Baker Mayfield is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Baker Mayfield is the better fantasy play this season.

Baker Mayfield is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.0 PPG and 4,075 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Andy Dalton (9.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Baker Mayfield as the starter and Andy Dalton as depth.

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

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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19PPG LEADER

Baker Mayfield

PPG

16.0

Games

Pass Yds

3,693

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

382

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Baker Mayfield

Head to Head

9.8 PPG16.0 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Baker Mayfield: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #19 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Baker Mayfield at 73%. That ranking gap means Baker Mayfield carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Baker Mayfield: The Full Breakdown

Baker Mayfield and Andy Dalton are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback averaged 16.0 PPG in 2025, a full 6.2 points per game ahead of Andy Dalton's 9.8 with the Carolina Panthers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Baker Mayfield carries a 6.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Andy Dalton threw for 1925 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Baker Mayfield posted 3693 yards and 26 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Andy Dalton has his bye in Week 11, and Baker Mayfield rests in Week 10. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Baker Mayfield at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Andy Dalton is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Baker Mayfield (age 31) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Baker Mayfield outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 105 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Baker Mayfield played 17 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Baker Mayfield contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Baker Mayfield scored 27 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Baker Mayfield added 382 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Baker Mayfield: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Baker Mayfield
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	16.0
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	272
Passing Yards	1,925	3,693
Passing TDs	10	26
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	217.2
Rushing Yards	42	382
Rushing TDs	0	1
Total TDs	10	27
TDs/Game	1.0	1.6
Age	-	31
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Baker Mayfield holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.0 points per game. Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 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 Andy Dalton or Baker Mayfield in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Baker Mayfield has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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 Andy Dalton and Baker Mayfield average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Baker Mayfield averaged 16.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.2 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Baker Mayfield's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Baker Mayfield (TB) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Baker Mayfield a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Baker Mayfield outscored Andy Dalton by 6.2 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.