Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Malik Willis vs Michael Penix Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Michael Penix Jr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.4 PPG to Malik Willis's 12.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Michael Penix Jr. is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Michael Penix Jr. and Malik Willis are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.6-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBGreen Bay Packers#30

Malik Willis

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

422

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

123

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBAtlanta Falcons#29PPG LEADER

Michael Penix Jr.

PPG

13.4

Games

Pass Yds

1,982

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Malik Willis

Michael Penix Jr.

Head to Head

12.8 PPG13.4 PPG

4 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Malik Willis: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #30 at the position). Michael Penix Jr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Malik Willis is producing at 58% of elite pace and Michael Penix Jr. at 61%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Malik Willis vs Michael Penix Jr.: The Full Breakdown

Malik Willis (12.8 PPG) and Michael Penix Jr. (13.4 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two quarterbacks are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Malik Willis played 4 games for the Green Bay Packers; Michael Penix Jr. suited up 9 times for the Atlanta Falcons.

A 0.6-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Malik Willis threw for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Michael Penix Jr. posted 1982 yards and 9 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Both share a Week 11 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Malik Willis (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Michael Penix Jr. (age 26) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Michael Penix Jr. outscored Malik Willis by a projected 10 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Penix Jr. played 9 games in 2025 compared to Malik Willis's 4. That durability gap means Michael Penix Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Michael Penix Jr. scored 10 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Malik Willis vs Michael Penix Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Malik Willis	Michael Penix Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.8	13.4
Games Played	4	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	51	121
Passing Yards	422	1,982
Passing TDs	3	9
Pass Yds/Game	105.5	220.2
Rushing Yards	123	70
Rushing TDs	2	1
Total TDs	5	10
TDs/Game	1.3	1.1
Age	27	26
Experience	3 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Michael Penix Jr. at 13.4 PPG, 0.6 points per game above Malik Willis's 12.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Malik Willis or Michael Penix Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Michael Penix Jr. has the edge at 13.4 PPG compared to Malik Willis's 12.8 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 Malik Willis and Michael Penix Jr. average in 2025?▾

Malik Willis averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Michael Penix Jr. averaged 13.4 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 0.6 points per game.

Do Malik Willis and Michael Penix Jr. share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Malik Willis and Michael Penix Jr. share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Malik Willis or Michael Penix Jr. a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Michael Penix Jr. outscored Malik Willis by 0.6 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.