Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deshaun Watson vs Drake MayeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 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 Deshaun Watson by 8.5 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Deshaun Watson 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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QBCleveland Browns#99

Deshaun Watson

PPG

12.2

Games

Pass Yds

2,105

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

185

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

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

Deshaun Watson

Drake Maye

Head to Head

12.2 PPG20.7 PPG

11 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Deshaun Watson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Deshaun Watson is producing at 55% 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.

Deshaun Watson vs Drake Maye: The Full Breakdown

Drake Maye and Deshaun Watson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The New England Patriots quarterback averaged 20.7 PPG in 2025, a full 8.5 points per game ahead of Deshaun Watson's 12.2 with the Cleveland Browns. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

The per-game difference of 8.5 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 Deshaun Watson (2105 passing yards, 12 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Deshaun Watson has his bye in Week 10, and Drake Maye rests in Week 11. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Deshaun Watson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Deshaun Watson (age 27) 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 Deshaun Watson by a projected 145 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Deshaun Watson's 11. 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

Deshaun Watson vs Drake Maye: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deshaun Watson	Drake Maye
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.2	20.7
Games Played	11	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	134	352
Passing Yards	2,105	4,394
Passing TDs	12	31
Pass Yds/Game	191.4	258.5
Rushing Yards	185	450
Rushing TDs	2	4
Total TDs	14	35
TDs/Game	1.3	2.1
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

20.7 PPG for Drake Maye versus 12.2 for Deshaun Watson 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 Deshaun Watson or Drake Maye in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 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 Deshaun Watson and Drake Maye average in 2025?▾

Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.5 points per game.

When are Deshaun Watson and Drake Maye's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deshaun Watson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deshaun Watson or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Deshaun Watson by 8.5 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.