Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Allen vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Allen is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 22.8 PPG to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Allen is the better fantasy play this season.

Josh Allen is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 22.8 PPG and 4,247 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Lamar Jackson (16.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Josh Allen as the starter and Lamar Jackson as depth.

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

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QBBuffalo Bills#1PPG LEADER

Josh Allen

PPG

22.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,668

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

579

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBBaltimore Ravens#16

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Josh Allen

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

22.8 PPG16.5 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Allen: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #1 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Josh Allen is producing at 104% of elite pace and Lamar Jackson at 75%. That ranking gap means Josh Allen carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Allen vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Josh Allen put up 22.8 fantasy points per game for the Buffalo Bills in 2025, while Lamar Jackson managed 16.5 across 13 games with the Baltimore Ravens. A 6.3-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 6.3-PPG gap gives Josh Allen 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.

Josh Allen offers meaningful rushing upside with 579 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Lamar Jackson (2549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Josh Allen sits Week 7 while Lamar Jackson is off Week 13. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Josh Allen at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Lamar Jackson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Josh Allen (age 30) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Lamar Jackson (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Josh Allen outscored Lamar Jackson by a projected 107 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Allen played 16 games in 2025 compared to Lamar Jackson's 13. That durability gap means Josh Allen contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Allen scored 39 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Josh Allen added 579 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Allen vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Allen	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	22.8	16.5
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	365	215
Passing Yards	3,668	2,549
Passing TDs	25	21
Pass Yds/Game	229.3	196.1
Rushing Yards	579	349
Rushing TDs	14	2
Total TDs	39	23
TDs/Game	2.4	1.8
Age	30	29
Experience	7 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 13

Summary

Josh Allen outscored Lamar Jackson by 6.3 PPG in 2025 (22.8 to 16.5). 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 Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Allen has the edge at 22.8 PPG compared to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 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 Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

Josh Allen averaged 22.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 6.3 points per game.

When are Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Allen (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Lamar Jackson (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Josh Allen outscored Lamar Jackson by 6.3 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.