Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Marcus Mariota vs Shedeur SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Marcus Mariota is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.6 PPG to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Marcus Mariota is the better fantasy play this season.

Marcus Mariota has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (12.6 to 10.6), and Marcus Mariota's 11 touchdowns show scoring upside. Shedeur Sanders 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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QBWashington Commanders#31PPG LEADER

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

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

Marcus Mariota

Shedeur Sanders

Head to Head

12.6 PPG10.6 PPG

10 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Shedeur Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Marcus Mariota is producing at 57% of elite pace and Shedeur Sanders at 48%. That ranking gap means Marcus Mariota carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Marcus Mariota vs Shedeur Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Marcus Mariota and Shedeur Sanders are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG across 10 games with the Washington Commanders, while Shedeur Sanders posted 10.6 PPG in 8 appearances for the Cleveland Browns.

A 2.0-PPG gap gives Marcus Mariota 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. Marcus Mariota threw for 1695 yards and 10 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.

Marcus Mariota has his bye in Week 7, and Shedeur Sanders rests in Week 11. 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

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: Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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?

•Marcus Mariota outscored Shedeur Sanders by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Marcus Mariota played 10 games in 2025 compared to Shedeur Sanders's 8. That durability gap means Marcus Mariota contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Marcus Mariota scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Shedeur Sanders is 8 years younger than Marcus Mariota (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Marcus Mariota vs Shedeur Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Marcus Mariota	Shedeur Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.6	10.6
Games Played	10	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	126	85
Passing Yards	1,695	1,400
Passing TDs	10	7
Pass Yds/Game	169.5	175.0
Rushing Yards	297	169
Rushing TDs	1	1
Total TDs	11	8
TDs/Game	1.1	1.0
Age	32	24
Experience	10 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Marcus Mariota outscored Shedeur Sanders by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (12.6 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 Marcus Mariota or Shedeur Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Marcus Mariota has the edge at 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota and Shedeur Sanders average in 2025?▾

Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Shedeur Sanders averaged 10.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Marcus Mariota and Shedeur Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Shedeur Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Marcus Mariota or Shedeur Sanders a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Marcus Mariota outscored Shedeur Sanders by 2.0 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.