Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Lamar Jackson vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy play this season.

Lamar Jackson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (16.5 to 12.6), and Lamar Jackson's 23 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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QBBaltimore Ravens#16PPG LEADER

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

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

Lamar Jackson

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

16.5 PPG12.6 PPG

13 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Lamar Jackson is producing at 75% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Lamar Jackson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Lamar Jackson vs Marcus Mariota: The Full Breakdown

Lamar Jackson and Marcus Mariota are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG across 13 games with the Baltimore Ravens, while Marcus Mariota posted 12.6 PPG in 10 appearances for the Washington Commanders.

A 3.9-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. Lamar Jackson threw for 2549 yards and 21 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.

Lamar Jackson has his bye in Week 13, and Marcus Mariota rests in Week 7. 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 Lamar Jackson 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: Lamar Jackson (age 29) 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?

•Lamar Jackson outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Lamar Jackson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota's 10. That durability gap means Lamar Jackson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Lamar Jackson vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Lamar Jackson	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.5	12.6
Games Played	13	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	215	126
Passing Yards	2,549	1,695
Passing TDs	21	10
Pass Yds/Game	196.1	169.5
Rushing Yards	349	297
Rushing TDs	2	1
Total TDs	23	11
TDs/Game	1.8	1.1
Age	29	32
Experience	7 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 7

Summary

Lamar Jackson outscored Marcus Mariota by 3.9 PPG in 2025 (16.5 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 Lamar Jackson or Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

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

Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are Lamar Jackson and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson (BAL) 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 Lamar Jackson or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored Marcus Mariota by 3.9 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.