Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs Russell WilsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Russell Wilson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.2 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 2.6-PPG advantage is real (14.2 to 11.6), and Russell Wilson's 20 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.

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

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

Geno Smith

Russell Wilson

Head to Head

11.6 PPG14.2 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Russell Wilson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% of elite pace and Russell Wilson at 65%. That ranking gap means Geno Smith carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Geno Smith vs Russell Wilson: The Full Breakdown

Geno Smith and Russell Wilson are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 PPG across 15 games with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Russell Wilson posted 14.2 PPG in 14 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 2.6-PPG gap gives Russell Wilson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Geno Smith threw for 3025 yards and 19 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.

Geno Smith has his bye in Week 13, 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: Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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 Geno Smith by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Geno Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Russell Wilson's 14. That durability gap means Geno Smith 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

Geno Smith vs Russell Wilson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	Russell Wilson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	14.2
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	199
Passing Yards	3,025	2,890
Passing TDs	19	18
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	206.4
Rushing Yards	109	155
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	19	20
TDs/Game	1.3	1.4
Age	35	-
Experience	12 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 9

Summary

Russell Wilson outscored Geno Smith by 2.6 PPG in 2025 (14.2 to 11.6). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Geno Smith or Russell Wilson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Russell Wilson has the edge at 14.2 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 Russell Wilson average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Russell Wilson averaged 14.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Geno Smith and Russell Wilson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 13, and Russell Wilson (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Geno Smith or Russell Wilson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Russell Wilson outscored Geno Smith by 2.6 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.