Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Lamar Jackson vs Spencer RattlerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Spencer Rattler's 11.0 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. Spencer Rattler (11.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Lamar Jackson as the starter and Spencer Rattler 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

QBNew Orleans Saints#38

Spencer Rattler

PPG

11.0

Games

Pass Yds

1,586

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

167

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Lamar Jackson

Spencer Rattler

Head to Head

16.5 PPG11.0 PPG

13 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Spencer Rattler: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Lamar Jackson is producing at 75% of elite pace and Spencer Rattler at 50%. That ranking gap means Lamar Jackson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Lamar Jackson vs Spencer Rattler: The Full Breakdown

Lamar Jackson and Spencer Rattler 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 Spencer Rattler posted 11.0 PPG in 9 appearances for the New Orleans Saints.

A 5.5-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 Spencer Rattler posted 1586 yards and 8 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 Spencer Rattler rests in Week 8. 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. Spencer Rattler 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. Spencer Rattler (age 25) 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 Spencer Rattler by a projected 94 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Lamar Jackson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Spencer Rattler's 9. 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.
•Spencer Rattler is 4 years younger than Lamar Jackson (25 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Lamar Jackson vs Spencer Rattler: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Lamar Jackson	Spencer Rattler
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.5	11.0
Games Played	13	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	215	99
Passing Yards	2,549	1,586
Passing TDs	21	8
Pass Yds/Game	196.1	176.2
Rushing Yards	349	167
Rushing TDs	2	0
Total TDs	23	8
TDs/Game	1.8	0.9
Age	29	25
Experience	7 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 8

Summary

Lamar Jackson outscored Spencer Rattler by 5.5 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 11.0). 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 Spencer Rattler in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Lamar Jackson has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Spencer Rattler's 11.0 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 Spencer Rattler average in 2025?▾

Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Spencer Rattler averaged 11.0 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 5.5 points per game.

When are Lamar Jackson and Spencer Rattler's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Spencer Rattler (NO) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Lamar Jackson or Spencer Rattler a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored Spencer Rattler by 5.5 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.