Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Joe BurrowWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Joe Burrow's 16.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (20.7 to 16.8), and Drake Maye's 35 touchdowns show scoring upside. Joe Burrow is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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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

QBCincinnati Bengals#15

Joe Burrow

PPG

16.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,809

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Joe Burrow

Head to Head

20.7 PPG16.8 PPG

17 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Joe Burrow: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Joe Burrow at 76%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Joe Burrow: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) finished the 2025 season averaging 20.7 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) came in at 16.8 PPG over 8 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Drake Maye carries a 3.9-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.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Joe Burrow (1809 passing yards, 17 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Drake Maye has his bye in Week 11, and Joe Burrow rests in Week 6. 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 Drake Maye at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Burrow 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. Joe Burrow (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Joe Burrow by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Burrow's 8. 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 6 years younger than Joe Burrow (23 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Joe Burrow: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Joe Burrow
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	16.8
Games Played	17	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	134
Passing Yards	4,394	1,809
Passing TDs	31	17
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	226.1
Rushing Yards	450	41
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	35	17
TDs/Game	2.1	2.1
Age	23	29
Experience	1 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Drake Maye holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.7 points per game. Joe Burrow averaged 16.8 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 Drake Maye or Joe Burrow in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Joe Burrow's 16.8 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 Joe Burrow average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Joe Burrow averaged 16.8 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Joe Burrow's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11, and Joe Burrow (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Drake Maye or Joe Burrow a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Joe Burrow by 3.9 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.