Caleb Williams vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?
Caleb Williams and Matthew Stafford are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Caleb Williams averaged 19.1 PPG across 17 games with the Chicago Bears, while Matthew Stafford posted 21.1 PPG in 17 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.
A 2.0-PPG gap gives Matthew Stafford 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. Caleb Williams threw for 3942 yards and 27 touchdowns, while Matthew Stafford posted 4707 yards and 46 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
One scheduling note: Caleb Williams is off Week 7 and Matthew Stafford Week 6. 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.
