Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Baker Mayfield vs Drake MayeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Baker Mayfield's 16.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is the better play on a neutral week. 20.7 PPG with 4,846 yards gives a reliable baseline. Baker Mayfield at 16.0 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Drake Maye higher, but do not fade Baker Mayfield entirely.

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

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QBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19

Baker Mayfield

PPG

16.0

Games

Pass Yds

3,693

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

382

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER

Drake Maye

PPG

20.7

Games

Pass Yds

4,394

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

450

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Baker Mayfield

Drake Maye

Head to Head

16.0 PPG20.7 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Baker Mayfield: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #19 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Baker Mayfield is producing at 73% of elite pace and Drake Maye at 94%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Baker Mayfield vs Drake Maye: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Baker Mayfield and Drake Maye for your lineup, you are not alone. Baker Mayfield finished the 2025 season at 16.0 PPG for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17 games), and Drake Maye averaged 20.7 for the New England Patriots (17 games).

That 4.7-point weekly advantage for Drake Maye is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Baker Mayfield (3693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Baker Mayfield has his bye in Week 10, and Drake Maye rests in Week 11. 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

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Baker Mayfield is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Baker Mayfield (age 31) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. Drake Maye (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?

•Drake Maye outscored Baker Mayfield by a projected 80 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Drake Maye is 8 years younger than Baker Mayfield (23 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Baker Mayfield vs Drake Maye: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Baker Mayfield	Drake Maye
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	20.7
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	352
Passing Yards	3,693	4,394
Passing TDs	26	31
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	258.5
Rushing Yards	382	450
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	27	35
TDs/Game	1.6	2.1
Age	31	23
Experience	7 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Drake Maye at 20.7 PPG, 4.7 points per game above Baker Mayfield's 16.0. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Baker Mayfield or Drake Maye in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Baker Mayfield's 16.0 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 Baker Mayfield and Drake Maye average in 2025?▾

Baker Mayfield averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.7 points per game.

When are Baker Mayfield and Drake Maye's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Baker Mayfield (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Baker Mayfield or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Baker Mayfield by 4.7 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.