Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Michael Carter vs Woody MarksWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Woody Marks is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Michael Carter's 6.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Woody Marks is the better fantasy play this season.

Woody Marks has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (8.3 to 6.3), and Woody Marks's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Carter 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Michael Carter and Woody Marks in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBArizona Cardinals#51

Michael Carter

PPG

6.3

Games

Rush Yds

333

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

267

Bye

Week 14

RBHouston Texans#36PPG LEADER

Woody Marks

PPG

8.3

Games

Rush Yds

703

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

208

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Michael Carter

Woody Marks

Head to Head

6.3 PPG8.3 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Michael Carter: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #51 at the position). Woody Marks: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Michael Carter is producing at 29% of elite pace and Woody Marks at 38%. That ranking gap means Woody Marks carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Michael Carter vs Woody Marks: The Full Breakdown

Michael Carter and Woody Marks are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Michael Carter averaged 6.3 PPG across 13 games with the Arizona Cardinals, while Woody Marks posted 8.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 2.0-PPG gap gives Woody Marks 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 profile as early-down workhorses. Michael Carter ran for 333 yards and 1 touchdowns; Woody Marks posted 703 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Michael Carter has his bye in Week 14, and Woody Marks rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back 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: Michael Carter (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Woody Marks (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Woody Marks outscored Michael Carter by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Woody Marks played 16 games in 2025 compared to Michael Carter's 13. That durability gap means Woody Marks contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Woody Marks scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Michael Carter caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Michael Carter vs Woody Marks: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Michael Carter	Woody Marks
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.3	8.3
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	82	133
Rushing Yards	333	703
Rush Yds/Game	25.6	43.9
Rushing TDs	1	2
Receptions	33	24
Receiving Yards	267	208
Targets	45	36
Total TDs	1	5
Age	27	25
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Woody Marks outscored Michael Carter by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (8.3 to 6.3). 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Michael Carter vs Woody Marks

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Michael Carter vs Woody Marks

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Michael Carter or Woody Marks in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Woody Marks has the edge at 8.3 PPG compared to Michael Carter's 6.3 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 Michael Carter and Woody Marks average in 2025?▾

Michael Carter averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Woody Marks averaged 8.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Michael Carter and Woody Marks's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Michael Carter (ARI) has a bye in Week 14, and Woody Marks (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Michael Carter or Woody Marks a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Woody Marks outscored Michael Carter 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.