Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Gardner Minshew vs Russell WilsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Russell Wilson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.2 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Russell Wilson is the better fantasy play this season.

Russell Wilson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (14.2 to 12.4), and Russell Wilson's 20 touchdowns show scoring upside. Gardner Minshew is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBPittsburgh Steelers#99PPG LEADER

Russell Wilson

PPG

14.2

Games

Pass Yds

2,890

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

155

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Gardner Minshew

Russell Wilson

Head to Head

12.4 PPG14.2 PPG

12 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Gardner Minshew: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Russell Wilson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Gardner Minshew is producing at 56% of elite pace and Russell Wilson at 65%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Gardner Minshew vs Russell Wilson: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Gardner Minshew (Las Vegas Raiders) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.4 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Russell Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 14.2 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Russell Wilson carries a 1.8-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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Gardner Minshew threw for 2420 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Russell Wilson posted 2890 yards and 18 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Gardner Minshew has his bye in Week 10, and Russell Wilson rests in Week 9. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Gardner Minshew (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Russell Wilson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Russell Wilson outscored Gardner Minshew by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Russell Wilson played 14 games in 2025 compared to Gardner Minshew's 12. That durability gap means Russell Wilson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Russell Wilson scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Gardner Minshew vs Russell Wilson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Gardner Minshew	Russell Wilson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.4	14.2
Games Played	12	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	149	199
Passing Yards	2,420	2,890
Passing TDs	14	18
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	206.4
Rushing Yards	125	155
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	15	20
TDs/Game	1.3	1.4
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Russell Wilson holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.2 points per game. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew or Russell Wilson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Russell Wilson has the edge at 14.2 PPG compared to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew and Russell Wilson average in 2025?▾

Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Russell Wilson averaged 14.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Gardner Minshew and Russell Wilson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Gardner Minshew (LV) has a bye in Week 10, and Russell Wilson (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Gardner Minshew or Russell Wilson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Russell Wilson outscored Gardner Minshew by 1.8 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.