Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota by 8.1 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Marcus Mariota 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

QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

20.7 PPG12.6 PPG

17 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Marcus Mariota: 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 Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders, 12.6 PPG) by 8.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

That 8.1-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 Marcus Mariota (1695 passing yards, 10 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 Marcus Mariota Week 7. 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. Marcus Mariota 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. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota'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.
•Drake Maye is 9 years younger than Marcus Mariota (23 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	12.6
Games Played	17	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	126
Passing Yards	4,394	1,695
Passing TDs	31	10
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	169.5
Rushing Yards	450	297
Rushing TDs	4	1
Total TDs	35	11
TDs/Game	2.1	1.1
Age	23	32
Experience	1 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Drake Maye at 20.7 PPG, 8.1 points per game above Marcus Mariota's 12.6. 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 Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11, and Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Drake Maye or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Marcus Mariota by 8.1 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.