Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deshaun Watson vs Josh AllenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Allen is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 22.8 PPG to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Allen is the better fantasy play this season.

Josh Allen is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 22.8 PPG and 4,247 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 Josh Allen 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

QBBuffalo Bills#1PPG LEADER

Josh Allen

PPG

22.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,668

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

579

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Deshaun Watson

Josh Allen

Head to Head

12.2 PPG22.8 PPG

11 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Deshaun Watson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Josh Allen: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Deshaun Watson is producing at 55% of elite pace and Josh Allen at 104%. That ranking gap means Josh Allen carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deshaun Watson vs Josh Allen: The Full Breakdown

Josh Allen and Deshaun Watson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Buffalo Bills quarterback averaged 22.8 PPG in 2025, a full 10.6 points per game ahead of Deshaun Watson's 12.2 with the Cleveland Browns. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 10.6-PPG gap gives Josh Allen 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.

Josh Allen offers meaningful rushing upside with 579 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 Josh Allen rests in Week 7. 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

If you can acquire Josh Allen 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. Josh Allen (age 30) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Josh Allen outscored Deshaun Watson by a projected 180 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Allen played 16 games in 2025 compared to Deshaun Watson's 11. That durability gap means Josh Allen contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Allen scored 39 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Josh Allen added 579 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deshaun Watson vs Josh Allen: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deshaun Watson	Josh Allen
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.2	22.8
Games Played	11	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	134	365
Passing Yards	2,105	3,668
Passing TDs	12	25
Pass Yds/Game	191.4	229.3
Rushing Yards	185	579
Rushing TDs	2	14
Total TDs	14	39
TDs/Game	1.3	2.4
Age	-	30
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Josh Allen outscored Deshaun Watson by 10.6 PPG in 2025 (22.8 to 12.2). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Deshaun Watson or Josh Allen in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Allen has the edge at 22.8 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 Josh Allen average in 2025?▾

Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Josh Allen averaged 22.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 10.6 points per game.

When are Deshaun Watson and Josh Allen's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deshaun Watson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Josh Allen (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deshaun Watson or Josh Allen a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Josh Allen outscored Deshaun Watson by 10.6 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.