Baker Mayfield vs Joe Burrow: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.8 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Baker Mayfield averaged 16.6 PPG with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers across 17 games, and Joe Burrow posted 17.4 with the Cincinnati Bengals in 8.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Baker Mayfield threw for 3693 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Joe Burrow posted 1809 yards and 17 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
Baker Mayfield has his bye in Week 11, and Joe Burrow rests in Week 12. 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.
