Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Malik WillisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Willis is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Malik Willis is the better fantasy play this season.

Malik Willis has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.0-PPG advantage is real (12.8 to 9.8), and Malik Willis's 5 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBGreen Bay Packers#30PPG LEADER

Malik Willis

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

422

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

123

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Malik Willis

Head to Head

9.8 PPG12.8 PPG

10 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Malik Willis: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Malik Willis at 58%. That ranking gap means Malik Willis carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Malik Willis: The Full Breakdown

Andy Dalton and Malik Willis 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 Malik Willis posted 12.8 PPG in 4 appearances for the Green Bay Packers.

A 3.0-PPG gap gives Malik Willis 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 Malik Willis posted 422 yards and 3 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Malik Willis 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. Malik Willis (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Malik Willis outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Andy Dalton played 10 games in 2025 compared to Malik Willis's 4. 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.
•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 Malik Willis: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Malik Willis
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	12.8
Games Played	10	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	51
Passing Yards	1,925	422
Passing TDs	10	3
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	105.5
Rushing Yards	42	123
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	10	5
TDs/Game	1.0	1.3
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Malik Willis outscored Andy Dalton by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (12.8 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 Malik Willis in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Willis has the edge at 12.8 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 Malik Willis average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Malik Willis averaged 12.8 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

Do Andy Dalton and Malik Willis share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Andy Dalton and Malik Willis 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 Malik Willis a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Malik Willis outscored Andy Dalton by 3.0 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.