Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bryce Young vs Kirk CousinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kirk Cousins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.4 PPG to Bryce Young's 13.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kirk Cousins is the better fantasy play this season.

Kirk Cousins has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (15.4 to 13.6), and Kirk Cousins'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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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

QBAtlanta Falcons#99PPG LEADER

Kirk Cousins

PPG

15.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,588

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Bryce Young

Kirk Cousins

Head to Head

13.6 PPG15.4 PPG

16 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Bryce Young: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #28 at the position). Kirk Cousins: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Bryce Young is producing at 62% of elite pace and Kirk Cousins at 70%. That ranking gap means Bryce Young carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bryce Young vs Kirk Cousins: 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. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) came in at 15.4 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Kirk Cousins carries a 1.8-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. Bryce Young threw for 3011 yards and 23 touchdowns, while Kirk Cousins posted 3588 yards and 23 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Bryce Young sits Week 5 while Kirk Cousins is off Week 12. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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

Did You Know?

•Kirk Cousins outscored Bryce Young by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•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 Kirk Cousins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bryce Young	Kirk Cousins
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.6	15.4
Games Played	16	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	218	246
Passing Yards	3,011	3,588
Passing TDs	23	23
Pass Yds/Game	188.2	224.3
Rushing Yards	216	78
Rushing TDs	2	0
Total TDs	25	23
TDs/Game	1.6	1.4
Age	24	-
Experience	2 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Kirk Cousins holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.4 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 Kirk Cousins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kirk Cousins has the edge at 15.4 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.

How many fantasy points did Bryce Young and Kirk Cousins average in 2025?▾

Bryce Young averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Bryce Young and Kirk Cousins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bryce Young (CAR) has a bye in Week 5, and Kirk Cousins (ATL) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bryce Young or Kirk Cousins a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Kirk Cousins outscored Bryce Young by 1.8 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.