Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Fields vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Fields is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.9 PPG to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 3.3-PPG advantage is real (15.9 to 12.6), and Justin Fields's 11 touchdowns show scoring upside. Marcus Mariota 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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QBNew York Jets#20PPG LEADER

Justin Fields

PPG

15.9

Games

Pass Yds

1,259

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

383

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

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

Justin Fields

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

15.9 PPG12.6 PPG

9 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Fields: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #20 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Fields is producing at 72% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Justin Fields carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Fields vs Marcus Mariota: The Full Breakdown

Justin Fields and Marcus Mariota are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Justin Fields averaged 15.9 PPG across 9 games with the New York Jets, while Marcus Mariota posted 12.6 PPG in 10 appearances for the Washington Commanders.

A 3.3-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. Justin Fields threw for 1259 yards and 7 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.

One scheduling note: Justin Fields is off Week 13 and Marcus Mariota Week 7. 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 Justin Fields at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Marcus Mariota is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Justin Fields (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Justin Fields outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Marcus Mariota played 10 games in 2025 compared to Justin Fields's 9. That durability gap means Marcus Mariota contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Justin Fields scored 11 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 5 years younger than Marcus Mariota (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Justin Fields vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Fields	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.9	12.6
Games Played	9	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	143	126
Passing Yards	1,259	1,695
Passing TDs	7	10
Pass Yds/Game	139.9	169.5
Rushing Yards	383	297
Rushing TDs	4	1
Total TDs	11	11
TDs/Game	1.2	1.1
Age	27	32
Experience	4 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 7

Summary

Justin Fields outscored Marcus Mariota by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (15.9 to 12.6). 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 Justin Fields or Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Fields has the edge at 15.9 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 Justin Fields and Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Justin Fields averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Justin Fields and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Fields (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13, and Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Fields or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Fields outscored Marcus Mariota by 3.3 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.