Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Jameis WinstonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Jameis Winston's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.7 PPG and 4,846 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Jameis Winston (10.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Drake Maye as the starter and Jameis Winston as depth.

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

QBCleveland Browns#99

Jameis Winston

PPG

10.9

Games

Pass Yds

2,125

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Jameis Winston

Head to Head

20.7 PPG10.9 PPG

17 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Jameis Winston: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Jameis Winston at 50%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Jameis Winston: 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 Jameis Winston (Cleveland Browns, 10.9 PPG) by 9.8 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 9.8-PPG gap gives Drake Maye 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.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jameis Winston (2125 passing yards, 13 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 Jameis Winston Week 10. 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

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

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Jameis Winston by a projected 167 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jameis Winston's 10. 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

Drake Maye vs Jameis Winston: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Jameis Winston
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	10.9
Games Played	17	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	109
Passing Yards	4,394	2,125
Passing TDs	31	13
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	212.5
Rushing Yards	450	45
Rushing TDs	4	1
Total TDs	35	14
TDs/Game	2.1	1.4
Age	23	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 10

Summary

Drake Maye outscored Jameis Winston by 9.8 PPG in 2025 (20.7 to 10.9). 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 Drake Maye or Jameis Winston in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Jameis Winston's 10.9 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 Jameis Winston average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jameis Winston averaged 10.9 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 9.8 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Jameis Winston's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Drake Maye or Jameis Winston a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Jameis Winston by 9.8 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.