Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Marcus Mariota is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.6 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Marcus Mariota is the better fantasy play this season.

Marcus Mariota has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.8-PPG advantage is real (12.6 to 9.8), and Marcus Mariota's 11 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

QBWashington Commanders#31PPG LEADER

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

9.8 PPG12.6 PPG

10 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Marcus Mariota carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Marcus Mariota: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Andy Dalton (Carolina Panthers) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.8 fantasy points per game in 10 games. Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders) came in at 12.6 PPG over 10 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Marcus Mariota carries a 2.8-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 Marcus Mariota posted 1695 yards and 10 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 Marcus Mariota rests in Week 7. 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. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Marcus Mariota outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 48 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Marcus Mariota scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	12.6
Games Played	10	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	126
Passing Yards	1,925	1,695
Passing TDs	10	10
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	169.5
Rushing Yards	42	297
Rushing TDs	0	1
Total TDs	10	11
TDs/Game	1.0	1.1
Age	-	32
Experience	-	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Marcus Mariota holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.6 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Marcus Mariota has the edge at 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 2.8 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Marcus Mariota outscored Andy Dalton by 2.8 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.