Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Shedeur SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 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 Shedeur Sanders by 10.1 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Shedeur Sanders 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

QBCleveland Browns#40

Shedeur Sanders

PPG

10.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,400

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

169

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Shedeur Sanders

Head to Head

20.7 PPG10.6 PPG

17 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Shedeur Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Shedeur Sanders at 48%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Shedeur Sanders: 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 Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns, 10.6 PPG) by 10.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 10.1 points favors Drake Maye, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Shedeur Sanders (1400 passing yards, 7 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. Shedeur Sanders 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. Shedeur Sanders (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Shedeur Sanders by a projected 172 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Shedeur Sanders'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.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Shedeur Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Shedeur Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	10.6
Games Played	17	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	85
Passing Yards	4,394	1,400
Passing TDs	31	7
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	175.0
Rushing Yards	450	169
Rushing TDs	4	1
Total TDs	35	8
TDs/Game	2.1	1.0
Age	23	24
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

20.7 PPG for Drake Maye versus 10.6 for Shedeur Sanders in 2025. The baseline favors Drake Maye, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Drake Maye or Shedeur Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 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 Shedeur Sanders average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Shedeur Sanders averaged 10.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 10.1 points per game.

Do Drake Maye and Shedeur Sanders share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Drake Maye and Shedeur Sanders 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 Shedeur Sanders a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Shedeur Sanders by 10.1 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.