Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Daniel Jones vs Drake MayeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Daniel Jones's 17.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is the better play on a neutral week. 20.7 PPG with 4,846 yards gives a reliable baseline. Daniel Jones at 17.4 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Drake Maye higher, but do not fade Daniel Jones entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBIndianapolis Colts#13

Daniel Jones

PPG

17.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,101

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

164

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

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

Daniel Jones

Drake Maye

Head to Head

17.4 PPG20.7 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Daniel Jones: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #13 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Daniel Jones is producing at 79% 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.

Daniel Jones vs Drake Maye: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Daniel Jones and Drake Maye for your lineup, you are not alone. Daniel Jones finished the 2025 season at 17.4 PPG for the Indianapolis Colts (13 games), and Drake Maye averaged 20.7 for the New England Patriots (17 games).

That 3.3-point weekly advantage for Drake Maye is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Daniel Jones (3101 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.

One scheduling note: Daniel Jones is off Week 13 and Drake Maye Week 11. 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

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Daniel Jones is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Daniel Jones (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. 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 Daniel Jones by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Daniel Jones's 13. 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.
•Drake Maye is 6 years younger than Daniel Jones (23 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Daniel Jones vs Drake Maye: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Daniel Jones	Drake Maye
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.4	20.7
Games Played	13	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	226	352
Passing Yards	3,101	4,394
Passing TDs	19	31
Pass Yds/Game	238.5	258.5
Rushing Yards	164	450
Rushing TDs	5	4
Total TDs	24	35
TDs/Game	1.8	2.1
Age	29	23
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Drake Maye at 20.7 PPG, 3.3 points per game above Daniel Jones's 17.4. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Daniel Jones or Drake Maye in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Daniel Jones's 17.4 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 Daniel Jones and Drake Maye average in 2025?▾

Daniel Jones averaged 17.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Daniel Jones and Drake Maye's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Daniel Jones (IND) has a bye in Week 13, and Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Daniel Jones or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Daniel Jones by 3.3 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.