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Head to Head

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Andy Dalton vs Davis MillsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Davis Mills is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.4 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Davis Mills is the better fantasy play this season.

Davis Mills has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.6-PPG advantage is real (11.4 to 9.8), and Davis Mills's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Andy Dalton is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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QBCarolina Panthers#99
Andy Dalton
PPG
9.8
Games
10
Pass Yds
1,925
Pass TDs
10
Bye
Week 11
QBHouston Texans#36PPG LEADER
Davis Mills
PPG
11.4
Games
6
Pass Yds
915
Pass TDs
5
Rush TDs
1
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Andy Dalton
Davis Mills

Head to Head

9.8 PPG11.4 PPG
10 GP6 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Davis Mills: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Davis Mills at 52%. That ranking gap means Davis Mills carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Davis Mills: The Full Breakdown

Andy Dalton and Davis Mills are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 PPG across 10 games with the Carolina Panthers, while Davis Mills posted 11.4 PPG in 6 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 1.6-PPG gap gives Davis Mills 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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Andy Dalton threw for 1925 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Davis Mills posted 915 yards and 5 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 Davis Mills rests in Week 8. 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

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: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Davis Mills (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

  • Davis Mills outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Andy Dalton played 10 games in 2025 compared to Davis Mills's 6. That durability gap means Andy Dalton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Andy Dalton scored 10 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Davis Mills: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAndy DaltonDavis Mills
PPG (Half-PPR)9.811.4
Games Played106
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)9868
Passing Yards1,925915
Passing TDs105
Pass Yds/Game192.5152.5
Rushing Yards4260
Rushing TDs01
Total TDs106
TDs/Game1.01.0
Age-27
Experience-4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 8

Summary

Davis Mills outscored Andy Dalton by 1.6 PPG in 2025 (11.4 to 9.8). 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 Andy Dalton or Davis Mills in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Davis Mills has the edge at 11.4 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 Davis Mills average in 2025?

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Davis Mills averaged 11.4 PPG over 6 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Davis Mills's bye weeks in 2026?

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Davis Mills (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Davis Mills a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Davis Mills outscored Andy Dalton by 1.6 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.

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