Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Daniel JonesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Daniel Jones is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.4 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Daniel Jones is the better fantasy play this season.

Daniel Jones is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.4 PPG and 3,265 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Andy Dalton (9.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Daniel Jones as the starter and Andy Dalton as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBIndianapolis Colts#13PPG LEADER

Daniel Jones

PPG

17.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,101

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

164

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Daniel Jones

Head to Head

9.8 PPG17.4 PPG

10 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Daniel Jones: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Daniel Jones at 79%. That ranking gap means Daniel Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Daniel Jones: The Full Breakdown

Daniel Jones and Andy Dalton are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback averaged 17.4 PPG in 2025, a full 7.6 points per game ahead of Andy Dalton's 9.8 with the Carolina Panthers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 7.6-PPG gap gives Daniel Jones 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. Andy Dalton threw for 1925 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Daniel Jones posted 3101 yards and 19 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Andy Dalton has his bye in Week 11, and Daniel Jones rests in Week 13. 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 Daniel Jones at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Andy Dalton is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Daniel Jones (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Daniel Jones outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 129 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Daniel Jones played 13 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Daniel Jones contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Daniel Jones scored 24 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Daniel Jones: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Daniel Jones
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	17.4
Games Played	10	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	226
Passing Yards	1,925	3,101
Passing TDs	10	19
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	238.5
Rushing Yards	42	164
Rushing TDs	0	5
Total TDs	10	24
TDs/Game	1.0	1.8
Age	-	29
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

Daniel Jones outscored Andy Dalton by 7.6 PPG in 2025 (17.4 to 9.8). 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 Andy Dalton or Daniel Jones in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Daniel Jones has the edge at 17.4 PPG compared to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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 Andy Dalton and Daniel Jones average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Daniel Jones averaged 17.4 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 7.6 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Daniel Jones's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Daniel Jones (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Daniel Jones a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Daniel Jones outscored Andy Dalton by 7.6 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.