Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jameis Winston vs Matthew StaffordWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.6 PPG to Jameis Winston's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Matthew Stafford is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.6 PPG and 4,708 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Jameis Winston (10.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Matthew Stafford as the starter and Jameis Winston as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBCleveland Browns#99

Jameis Winston

PPG

10.9

Games

Pass Yds

2,125

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jameis Winston

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

10.9 PPG20.6 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jameis Winston: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jameis Winston is producing at 50% of elite pace and Matthew Stafford at 94%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jameis Winston vs Matthew Stafford: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Jameis Winston (Cleveland Browns, 10.9 PPG) by 9.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 9.7-PPG gap gives Matthew Stafford 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. Jameis Winston threw for 2125 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Matthew Stafford posted 4707 yards and 46 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: Jameis Winston is off Week 10 and Matthew Stafford Week 11. 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

If you can acquire Matthew Stafford at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Jameis Winston is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jameis Winston (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Jameis Winston by a projected 165 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jameis Winston's 10. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jameis Winston vs Matthew Stafford: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jameis Winston	Matthew Stafford
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.9	20.6
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	109	350
Passing Yards	2,125	4,707
Passing TDs	13	46
Pass Yds/Game	212.5	276.9
Rushing Yards	45	1
Rushing TDs	1	0
Total TDs	14	46
TDs/Game	1.4	2.7
Age	-	38
Experience	-	16 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

Matthew Stafford outscored Jameis Winston by 9.7 PPG in 2025 (20.6 to 10.9). 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 Jameis Winston or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Jameis Winston's 10.9 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 Jameis Winston and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Jameis Winston averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 9.7 points per game.

When are Jameis Winston and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jameis Winston (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Matthew Stafford (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jameis Winston or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Jameis Winston by 9.7 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.