Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Drake MayeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Drake Maye outscored Andy Dalton by 10.9 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Andy Dalton profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER

Drake Maye

PPG

20.7

Games

Pass Yds

4,394

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

450

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Drake Maye

Head to Head

9.8 PPG20.7 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Drake Maye at 94%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Drake Maye: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Andy Dalton (Carolina Panthers, 9.8 PPG) by 10.9 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

That 10.9-point weekly advantage for Drake Maye is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Andy Dalton (1925 passing yards, 10 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Both share a Week 11 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Andy Dalton is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 185 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Drake Maye contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Drake Maye: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Drake Maye
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	20.7
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	352
Passing Yards	1,925	4,394
Passing TDs	10	31
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	258.5
Rushing Yards	42	450
Rushing TDs	0	4
Total TDs	10	35
TDs/Game	1.0	2.1
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Drake Maye at 20.7 PPG, 10.9 points per game above Andy Dalton's 9.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Andy Dalton or Drake Maye in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 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 Drake Maye average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 10.9 points per game.

Do Andy Dalton and Drake Maye share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Andy Dalton and Drake Maye share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Andy Dalton or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Andy Dalton by 10.9 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.