Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Malik WillisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Malik Willis's 12.8 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 Malik Willis by 7.9 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Malik Willis 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

QBGreen Bay Packers#30

Malik Willis

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

422

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

123

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Malik Willis

Head to Head

20.7 PPG12.8 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Malik Willis: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Malik Willis at 58%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Malik Willis: The Full Breakdown

Drake Maye and Malik Willis are at different tiers heading into 2026. The New England Patriots quarterback averaged 20.7 PPG in 2025, a full 7.9 points per game ahead of Malik Willis's 12.8 with the Green Bay Packers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

That 7.9-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 Malik Willis (422 passing yards, 3 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Both share a Week 11 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Malik Willis 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. Malik Willis (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 Malik Willis by a projected 134 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Malik Willis's 4. 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 4 years younger than Malik Willis (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Malik Willis: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Malik Willis
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	12.8
Games Played	17	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	51
Passing Yards	4,394	422
Passing TDs	31	3
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	105.5
Rushing Yards	450	123
Rushing TDs	4	2
Total TDs	35	5
TDs/Game	2.1	1.3
Age	23	27
Experience	1 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Drake Maye at 20.7 PPG, 7.9 points per game above Malik Willis's 12.8. 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 Malik Willis in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Malik Willis's 12.8 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 Malik Willis average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Malik Willis averaged 12.8 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 7.9 points per game.

Do Drake Maye and Malik Willis share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Drake Maye and Malik Willis share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Drake Maye or Malik Willis a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Malik Willis by 7.9 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.