Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Geno SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith by 9.1 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Geno Smith 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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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

QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Geno Smith

Head to Head

20.7 PPG11.6 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Geno Smith at 53%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Geno Smith: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders, 11.6 PPG) by 9.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 9.1 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 Geno Smith (3025 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: Drake Maye is off Week 11 and Geno Smith Week 13. 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. Geno Smith is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Geno Smith by a projected 155 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Geno Smith's 15. 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 12 years younger than Geno Smith (23 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Geno Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Geno Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	11.6
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	174
Passing Yards	4,394	3,025
Passing TDs	31	19
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	201.7
Rushing Yards	450	109
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	35	19
TDs/Game	2.1	1.3
Age	23	35
Experience	1 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

20.7 PPG for Drake Maye versus 11.6 for Geno Smith 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 Drake Maye or Geno Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Drake Maye and Geno Smith average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 9.1 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Geno Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Drake Maye or Geno Smith a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Geno Smith by 9.1 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.