Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deshaun Watson vs Jaxson DartWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.3 PPG to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaxson Dart is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.3 PPG and 2,759 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Deshaun Watson (12.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jaxson Dart as the starter and Deshaun Watson as depth.

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 York Giants#14PPG LEADER

Jaxson Dart

PPG

17.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,272

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

487

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Deshaun Watson

Jaxson Dart

Head to Head

12.2 PPG17.3 PPG

11 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Deshaun Watson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jaxson Dart: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Deshaun Watson is producing at 55% of elite pace and Jaxson Dart at 79%. That ranking gap means Jaxson Dart carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deshaun Watson vs Jaxson Dart: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.2 fantasy points per game in 11 games. Jaxson Dart (New York Giants) came in at 17.3 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jaxson Dart carries a 5.1-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.

Jaxson Dart offers meaningful rushing upside with 487 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Deshaun Watson sits Week 10 while Jaxson Dart is off Week 8. 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

If you can acquire Jaxson Dart at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Deshaun Watson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Deshaun Watson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Jaxson Dart (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?

•Jaxson Dart outscored Deshaun Watson by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaxson Dart played 14 games in 2025 compared to Deshaun Watson's 11. That durability gap means Jaxson Dart contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaxson Dart scored 24 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Jaxson Dart added 487 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deshaun Watson vs Jaxson Dart: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deshaun Watson	Jaxson Dart
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.2	17.3
Games Played	11	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	134	242
Passing Yards	2,105	2,272
Passing TDs	12	15
Pass Yds/Game	191.4	162.3
Rushing Yards	185	487
Rushing TDs	2	9
Total TDs	14	24
TDs/Game	1.3	1.7
Age	-	23
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jaxson Dart holds the PPG edge with solid output at 17.3 points per game. Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 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 Deshaun Watson or Jaxson Dart in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaxson Dart has the edge at 17.3 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 Jaxson Dart average in 2025?▾

Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Jaxson Dart averaged 17.3 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Deshaun Watson and Jaxson Dart's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deshaun Watson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Jaxson Dart (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deshaun Watson or Jaxson Dart a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jaxson Dart outscored Deshaun Watson by 5.1 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.