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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Jaxson DartWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.3 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaxson Dart is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.3 PPG and 2,759 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 Jaxson Dart 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
10
Pass Yds
1,925
Pass TDs
10
Bye
Week 11
QBNew York Giants#14PPG LEADER
Jaxson Dart
PPG
17.3
Games
14
Pass Yds
2,272
Pass TDs
15
Rush Yds
487
Rush TDs
9
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Andy Dalton
Jaxson Dart

Head to Head

9.8 PPG17.3 PPG
10 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jaxson Dart: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Jaxson Dart at 79%. That ranking gap means Jaxson Dart carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Jaxson Dart: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Jaxson Dart put up 17.3 fantasy points per game for the New York Giants in 2025, while Andy Dalton managed 9.8 across 10 games with the Carolina Panthers. A 7.5-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 7.5-PPG gap gives Jaxson Dart 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.

Jaxson Dart offers meaningful rushing upside with 487 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Andy Dalton sits Week 11 while Jaxson Dart is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jaxson Dart 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. Jaxson Dart (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?

  • Jaxson Dart outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 128 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jaxson Dart played 14 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Jaxson Dart contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Jaxson Dart scored 24 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
  • Jaxson Dart added 487 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Jaxson Dart: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAndy DaltonJaxson Dart
PPG (Half-PPR)9.817.3
Games Played1014
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)98242
Passing Yards1,9252,272
Passing TDs1015
Pass Yds/Game192.5162.3
Rushing Yards42487
Rushing TDs09
Total TDs1024
TDs/Game1.01.7
Age-23
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 8

Summary

Jaxson Dart outscored Andy Dalton by 7.5 PPG in 2025 (17.3 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 Jaxson Dart in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaxson Dart has the edge at 17.3 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 Jaxson Dart average in 2025?

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jaxson Dart averaged 17.3 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 7.5 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Jaxson Dart's bye weeks in 2026?

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

Is Andy Dalton or Jaxson Dart a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Jaxson Dart outscored Andy Dalton by 7.5 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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