Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joe Flacco vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Joe Flacco's 11.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy play this season.

Lamar Jackson is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.5 PPG and 2,898 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Joe Flacco (11.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Lamar Jackson as the starter and Joe Flacco as depth.

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

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QBCincinnati Bengals#37

Joe Flacco

PPG

11.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,479

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

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

Joe Flacco

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

11.3 PPG16.5 PPG

13 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Flacco: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Flacco is producing at 51% 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.

Joe Flacco vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson 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 Lamar Jackson posted 16.5 PPG in 13 appearances for the Baltimore Ravens.

A 5.2-PPG gap gives Lamar Jackson 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 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 scheduling note: Joe Flacco is off Week 6 and Lamar Jackson Week 13. 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 Lamar Jackson 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. 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 Joe Flacco by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•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 12 years younger than Joe Flacco (29 vs 41), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joe Flacco vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joe Flacco	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.3	16.5
Games Played	13	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	147	215
Passing Yards	2,479	2,549
Passing TDs	15	21
Pass Yds/Game	190.7	196.1
Rushing Yards	35	349
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	16	23
TDs/Game	1.2	1.8
Age	41	29
Experience	17 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Lamar Jackson outscored Joe Flacco by 5.2 PPG in 2025 (16.5 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 Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Lamar Jackson has the edge at 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Joe Flacco or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored Joe Flacco by 5.2 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.