Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Geno SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Geno Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Geno Smith is the better fantasy play this season.

Geno Smith has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (11.6 to 9.8), and Geno Smith's 19 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

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBLas Vegas Raiders#34PPG LEADER

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Geno Smith

Head to Head

9.8 PPG11.6 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Geno Smith at 53%. That ranking gap means Geno Smith carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Geno Smith: The Full Breakdown

Andy Dalton and Geno Smith 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 Geno Smith posted 11.6 PPG in 15 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 1.8-PPG gap gives Geno Smith 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 Geno Smith posted 3025 yards and 19 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 Geno Smith rests in Week 13. 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. Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Geno Smith outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Geno Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Geno Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Geno Smith scored 19 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Geno Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Geno Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	11.6
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	174
Passing Yards	1,925	3,025
Passing TDs	10	19
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	201.7
Rushing Yards	42	109
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	10	19
TDs/Game	1.0	1.3
Age	-	35
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

Geno Smith outscored Andy Dalton by 1.8 PPG in 2025 (11.6 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 Geno Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Geno Smith has the edge at 11.6 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 Geno Smith average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Geno Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Geno Smith a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Geno Smith outscored Andy Dalton by 1.8 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.