Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jayden Daniels vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jayden Daniels is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.3 PPG to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jayden Daniels is the better fantasy play this season.

Jayden Daniels is the better play on a neutral week. 16.3 PPG with 1,540 yards gives a reliable baseline. Marcus Mariota at 12.6 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jayden Daniels higher, but do not fade Marcus Mariota entirely.

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

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QBWashington Commanders#17PPG LEADER

Jayden Daniels

PPG

16.3

Games

Pass Yds

1,262

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

278

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jayden Daniels

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

16.3 PPG12.6 PPG

7 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jayden Daniels: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #17 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jayden Daniels is producing at 74% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Jayden Daniels carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jayden Daniels vs Marcus Mariota: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Washington Commanders quarterback put up 16.3 PPG in 2025 over 7 games; Marcus Mariota of the Washington Commanders averaged 12.6 in 10. A 3.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.7 points favors Jayden Daniels, 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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Jayden Daniels threw for 1262 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Marcus Mariota posted 1695 yards and 10 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Both share a Week 7 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

Jayden Daniels is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Marcus Mariota is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jayden Daniels (age 25) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Jayden Daniels outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Marcus Mariota played 10 games in 2025 compared to Jayden Daniels's 7. That durability gap means Marcus Mariota contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Marcus Mariota scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Jayden Daniels is 7 years younger than Marcus Mariota (25 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
•Both players share a Week 7 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jayden Daniels vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jayden Daniels	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.3	12.6
Games Played	7	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	114	126
Passing Yards	1,262	1,695
Passing TDs	8	10
Pass Yds/Game	180.3	169.5
Rushing Yards	278	297
Rushing TDs	2	1
Total TDs	10	11
TDs/Game	1.4	1.1
Age	25	32
Experience	1 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 7

Summary

16.3 PPG for Jayden Daniels versus 12.6 for Marcus Mariota in 2025. The baseline favors Jayden Daniels, 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 Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jayden Daniels has the edge at 16.3 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 7 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

Do Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jayden Daniels outscored Marcus Mariota by 3.7 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.