Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Justin FieldsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Fields is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.9 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Fields is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Fields is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.9 PPG and 1,642 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 Justin Fields 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Andy Dalton and Justin Fields in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBNew York Jets#20PPG LEADER

Justin Fields

PPG

15.9

Games

Pass Yds

1,259

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

383

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Justin Fields

Head to Head

9.8 PPG15.9 PPG

10 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Justin Fields: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Justin Fields at 72%. That ranking gap means Justin Fields carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Justin Fields: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Justin Fields put up 15.9 fantasy points per game for the New York Jets in 2025, while Andy Dalton managed 9.8 across 10 games with the Carolina Panthers. A 6.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Justin Fields carries a 6.1-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 Justin Fields posted 1259 yards and 7 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Andy Dalton sits Week 11 while Justin Fields is off Week 13. 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 Justin Fields 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. Justin Fields (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Justin Fields outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Andy Dalton played 10 games in 2025 compared to Justin Fields's 9. That durability gap means Andy Dalton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Justin Fields scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Justin Fields added 383 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Justin Fields: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Justin Fields
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	15.9
Games Played	10	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	143
Passing Yards	1,925	1,259
Passing TDs	10	7
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	139.9
Rushing Yards	42	383
Rushing TDs	0	4
Total TDs	10	11
TDs/Game	1.0	1.2
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Justin Fields holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.9 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Andy Dalton vs Justin Fields

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Andy Dalton vs Justin Fields

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Andy Dalton or Justin Fields in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Fields has the edge at 15.9 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 Justin Fields average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Justin Fields averaged 15.9 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 6.1 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Justin Fields's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Andy Dalton or Justin Fields a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Fields outscored Andy Dalton by 6.1 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.