Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is the better play on a neutral week. 20.7 PPG with 4,846 yards gives a reliable baseline. Lamar Jackson at 16.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Drake Maye higher, but do not fade Lamar Jackson entirely.

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

QBBaltimore Ravens#16

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

20.7 PPG16.5 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Lamar Jackson at 75%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson for your lineup, you are not alone. Drake Maye finished the 2025 season at 20.7 PPG for the New England Patriots (17 games), and Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 for the Baltimore Ravens (13 games).

That 4.2-point weekly advantage for Drake Maye is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Lamar Jackson (2549 passing yards, 21 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: Drake Maye sits Week 11 while Lamar Jackson is off Week 13. 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

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Lamar Jackson 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. Lamar Jackson (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 Lamar Jackson by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Lamar Jackson's 13. 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 Lamar Jackson (23 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	16.5
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	215
Passing Yards	4,394	2,549
Passing TDs	31	21
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	196.1
Rushing Yards	450	349
Rushing TDs	4	2
Total TDs	35	23
TDs/Game	2.1	1.8
Age	23	29
Experience	1 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Drake Maye at 20.7 PPG, 4.2 points per game above Lamar Jackson's 16.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Drake Maye or Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Drake Maye or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Lamar Jackson by 4.2 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.