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Head to Head

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Joe Flacco vs Justin FieldsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Fields is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.9 PPG to Joe Flacco's 11.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Fields is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Fields has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.6-PPG advantage is real (15.9 to 11.3), and Justin Fields's 11 touchdowns show scoring upside. Joe Flacco 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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QBCincinnati Bengals#37
Joe Flacco
PPG
11.3
Games
13
Pass Yds
2,479
Pass TDs
15
Rush TDs
1
Bye
Week 6
QBNew York Jets#20PPG LEADER
Justin Fields
PPG
15.9
Games
9
Pass Yds
1,259
Pass TDs
7
Rush Yds
383
Rush TDs
4
Bye
Week 13

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Joe Flacco
Justin Fields

Head to Head

11.3 PPG15.9 PPG
13 GP9 GP
Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Flacco: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Justin Fields: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Flacco is producing at 51% of elite pace and Justin Fields at 72%. That ranking gap means Justin Fields carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joe Flacco vs Justin Fields: The Full Breakdown

Joe Flacco and Justin Fields are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 PPG across 13 games with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Justin Fields posted 15.9 PPG in 9 appearances for the New York Jets.

A 4.6-PPG gap gives Justin Fields 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. Joe Flacco threw for 2479 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Justin Fields posted 1259 yards and 7 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Joe Flacco has his bye in Week 6, and Justin Fields rests in Week 13. 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

If you can acquire Justin Fields at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Flacco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Joe Flacco (age 41) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. Justin Fields (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

  • Justin Fields outscored Joe Flacco by a projected 78 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Joe Flacco played 13 games in 2025 compared to Justin Fields's 9. That durability gap means Joe Flacco contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Joe Flacco scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
  • Justin Fields added 383 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
  • Justin Fields is 14 years younger than Joe Flacco (27 vs 41), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joe Flacco vs Justin Fields: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJoe FlaccoJustin Fields
PPG (Half-PPR)11.315.9
Games Played139
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)147143
Passing Yards2,4791,259
Passing TDs157
Pass Yds/Game190.7139.9
Rushing Yards35383
Rushing TDs14
Total TDs1611
TDs/Game1.21.2
Age4127
Experience17 yrs4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 6Week 13

Summary

Justin Fields outscored Joe Flacco by 4.6 PPG in 2025 (15.9 to 11.3). 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 Joe Flacco or Justin Fields in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Fields has the edge at 15.9 PPG compared to Joe Flacco's 11.3 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 Joe Flacco and Justin Fields average in 2025?

Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Justin Fields averaged 15.9 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 4.6 points per game.

When are Joe Flacco and Justin Fields's bye weeks in 2026?

Joe Flacco (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Justin Fields (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joe Flacco or Justin Fields a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Justin Fields outscored Joe Flacco by 4.6 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.

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