Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Drake MayeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Drake Maye outscored C.J. Stroud by 5.8 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. C.J. Stroud profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBHouston Texans#23

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER

Drake Maye

PPG

20.7

Games

Pass Yds

4,394

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

450

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Drake Maye

Head to Head

14.9 PPG20.7 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and Drake Maye at 94%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs Drake Maye: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between C.J. Stroud and Drake Maye is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Houston Texans quarterback put up 14.9 PPG in 2025 over 14 games; Drake Maye of the New England Patriots averaged 20.7 in 17. A 5.8-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.8 points favors Drake Maye, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like C.J. Stroud (3041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: C.J. Stroud sits Week 8 while Drake Maye is off Week 11. 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

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. C.J. Stroud is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: C.J. Stroud (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored C.J. Stroud by a projected 99 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to C.J. Stroud's 14. That durability gap means Drake Maye contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs Drake Maye: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	Drake Maye
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	20.7
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	352
Passing Yards	3,041	4,394
Passing TDs	19	31
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	258.5
Rushing Yards	209	450
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	20	35
TDs/Game	1.4	2.1
Age	24	23
Experience	2 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

20.7 PPG for Drake Maye versus 14.9 for C.J. Stroud in 2025. The baseline favors Drake Maye, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start C.J. Stroud or Drake Maye in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 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 C.J. Stroud and Drake Maye average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.8 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Drake Maye's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored C.J. Stroud by 5.8 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.