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Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Bryce Young or Derek CarrWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Derek Carr over Bryce Young in 2026.

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 PPG in 2025 to Bryce Young's 13.6, a 2.2 point per game edge. Both play quarterbacks, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit.

The Bottom Line

Derek Carr has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (15.8 to 13.6), and Derek Carr's 23 touchdowns show scoring upside. Bryce Young 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#28

Bryce Young

PPG

13.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,011

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

216

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 5

QBNew Orleans SaintsPPG LEADER

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Bryce Young

Derek Carr

Head to Head

13.6 PPG15.8 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Bryce Young: Tier 5 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #28 at the position). Derek Carr: Unranked QB. Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Bryce Young is producing at 62% of elite pace and Derek Carr at 72%. That per-game gap means Derek Carr carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bryce Young vs Derek Carr: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers) finished the 2025 season averaging 13.6 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints) came in at 15.8 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Derek Carr carries a 2.2-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. Bryce Young threw for 3011 yards and 23 touchdowns, while Derek Carr posted 3428 yards and 22 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: Bryce Young is off Week 5 and Derek Carr Week 12. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Bryce Young (age 25) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Derek Carr (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Derek Carr outscored Bryce Young by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Bryce Young played 16 games in 2025 compared to Derek Carr's 15. That durability gap means Bryce Young contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Bryce Young scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bryce Young vs Derek Carr: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bryce Young	Derek Carr
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.6	15.8
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	218	237
Passing Yards	3,011	3,428
Passing TDs	23	22
Pass Yds/Game	188.2	228.5
Rushing Yards	216	105
Rushing TDs	2	1
Total TDs	25	23
TDs/Game	1.6	1.5
Age	25	-
Experience	2 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Derek Carr holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.8 points per game. Bryce Young averaged 13.6 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 Bryce Young or Derek Carr in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derek Carr has the edge at 15.8 PPG compared to Bryce Young's 13.6 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.

Should I draft Bryce Young or Derek Carr in 2026 fantasy football?▾

Derek Carr is the earlier pick. He averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Bryce Young's 13.6, a 2.2 point per game edge over a full season. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Bryce Young and Derek Carr average in 2025?▾

Bryce Young averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Derek Carr averaged 15.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Bryce Young and Derek Carr's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bryce Young (CAR) has a bye in Week 5, and Derek Carr (NO) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bryce Young or Derek Carr a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Derek Carr outscored Bryce Young by 2.2 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.