Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Lamar Jackson vs Shedeur SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 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. Shedeur Sanders (10.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Lamar Jackson as the starter and Shedeur Sanders as depth.

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

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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

QBCleveland Browns#40

Shedeur Sanders

PPG

10.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,400

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

169

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Lamar Jackson

Shedeur Sanders

Head to Head

16.5 PPG10.6 PPG

13 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Shedeur Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Lamar Jackson is producing at 75% of elite pace and Shedeur Sanders at 48%. That ranking gap means Lamar Jackson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Lamar Jackson vs Shedeur Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Lamar Jackson and Shedeur Sanders 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 Shedeur Sanders posted 10.6 PPG in 8 appearances for the Cleveland Browns.

A 5.9-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 Shedeur Sanders posted 1400 yards and 7 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: Lamar Jackson is off Week 13 and Shedeur Sanders Week 11. 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. Shedeur Sanders 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. Shedeur Sanders (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Lamar Jackson outscored Shedeur Sanders by a projected 100 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Lamar Jackson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Shedeur Sanders's 8. 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.
•Shedeur Sanders is 5 years younger than Lamar Jackson (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Lamar Jackson vs Shedeur Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Lamar Jackson	Shedeur Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.5	10.6
Games Played	13	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	215	85
Passing Yards	2,549	1,400
Passing TDs	21	7
Pass Yds/Game	196.1	175.0
Rushing Yards	349	169
Rushing TDs	2	1
Total TDs	23	8
TDs/Game	1.8	1.0
Age	29	24
Experience	7 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 11

Summary

Lamar Jackson outscored Shedeur Sanders by 5.9 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 10.6). 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 Shedeur Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Lamar Jackson has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 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 Shedeur Sanders average in 2025?▾

Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Shedeur Sanders averaged 10.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 5.9 points per game.

When are Lamar Jackson and Shedeur Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Shedeur Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Lamar Jackson or Shedeur Sanders a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored Shedeur Sanders by 5.9 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.