Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy play this season.

Lamar Jackson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.9-PPG advantage is real (16.5 to 11.6), and Lamar Jackson's 23 touchdowns show scoring upside. Geno Smith is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Geno Smith and Lamar Jackson in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

QBBaltimore Ravens#16PPG LEADER

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Geno Smith

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

11.6 PPG16.5 PPG

15 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% of elite pace and Lamar Jackson at 75%. That ranking gap means Lamar Jackson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Geno Smith vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders) finished the 2025 season averaging 11.6 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) came in at 16.5 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Lamar Jackson carries a 4.9-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. Geno Smith threw for 3025 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Lamar Jackson posted 2549 yards and 21 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 13 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Lamar Jackson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Geno Smith is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. Lamar Jackson (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Lamar Jackson outscored Geno Smith by a projected 83 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Geno Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Lamar Jackson's 13. That durability gap means Geno Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Lamar Jackson scored 23 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Lamar Jackson added 349 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Lamar Jackson is 6 years younger than Geno Smith (29 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Geno Smith vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	16.5
Games Played	15	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	215
Passing Yards	3,025	2,549
Passing TDs	19	21
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	196.1
Rushing Yards	109	349
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	19	23
TDs/Game	1.3	1.8
Age	35	29
Experience	12 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Lamar Jackson holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.5 points per game. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Geno Smith vs Lamar Jackson

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Geno Smith vs Lamar Jackson

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Geno Smith or Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Lamar Jackson has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith and Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.9 points per game.

Do Geno Smith and Lamar Jackson share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Geno Smith and Lamar Jackson share a Week 13 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Geno Smith or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored Geno Smith by 4.9 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.