Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Baker Mayfield vs Joe FlaccoWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Baker Mayfield is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Joe Flacco's 11.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Baker Mayfield is the better fantasy play this season.

Baker Mayfield has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.7-PPG advantage is real (16.0 to 11.3), and Baker Mayfield's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Joe Flacco 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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QBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19PPG LEADER

Baker Mayfield

PPG

16.0

Games

Pass Yds

3,693

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

382

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBCincinnati Bengals#37

Joe Flacco

PPG

11.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,479

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Baker Mayfield

Joe Flacco

Head to Head

16.0 PPG11.3 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Baker Mayfield: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #19 at the position). Joe Flacco: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Baker Mayfield is producing at 73% of elite pace and Joe Flacco at 51%. That ranking gap means Baker Mayfield carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Baker Mayfield vs Joe Flacco: The Full Breakdown

Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Baker Mayfield averaged 16.0 PPG across 17 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Joe Flacco posted 11.3 PPG in 13 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 4.7-PPG gap gives Baker Mayfield 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. Baker Mayfield threw for 3693 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Joe Flacco posted 2479 yards and 15 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 10, and Joe Flacco rests in Week 6. 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

If you can acquire Baker Mayfield at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Flacco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Baker Mayfield (age 31) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. Joe Flacco (age 41) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Baker Mayfield outscored Joe Flacco by a projected 80 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Baker Mayfield played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Flacco's 13. That durability gap means Baker Mayfield contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Baker Mayfield scored 27 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Baker Mayfield added 382 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Baker Mayfield is 10 years younger than Joe Flacco (31 vs 41), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Baker Mayfield vs Joe Flacco: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Baker Mayfield	Joe Flacco
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	11.3
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	147
Passing Yards	3,693	2,479
Passing TDs	26	15
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	190.7
Rushing Yards	382	35
Rushing TDs	1	1
Total TDs	27	16
TDs/Game	1.6	1.2
Age	31	41
Experience	7 yrs	17 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

Baker Mayfield outscored Joe Flacco by 4.7 PPG in 2025 (16.0 to 11.3). 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 Baker Mayfield or Joe Flacco in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Baker Mayfield has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Joe Flacco's 11.3 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 Joe Flacco average in 2025?▾

Baker Mayfield averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.7 points per game.

When are Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Baker Mayfield (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Joe Flacco (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Baker Mayfield or Joe Flacco a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Baker Mayfield outscored Joe Flacco 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.