Malik Willis vs Michael Penix: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Malik Willis and Michael Penix is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.9 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Malik Willis averaged 12.8 PPG with the Miami Dolphins across 4 games, and Michael Penix posted 13.7 with the Atlanta Falcons in 9.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Malik Willis threw for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Michael Penix 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.
Malik Willis has his bye in Week 6, and Michael Penix rests in Week 12. 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.
