Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Gardner MinshewWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Gardner Minshew is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.4 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Gardner Minshew is the better fantasy play this season.

Gardner Minshew has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (12.4 to 9.8), and Gardner Minshew's 15 touchdowns show scoring upside. Andy Dalton 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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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBLas Vegas Raiders#99PPG LEADER

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Gardner Minshew

Head to Head

9.8 PPG12.4 PPG

10 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Gardner Minshew: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Gardner Minshew at 56%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Andy Dalton vs Gardner Minshew: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Andy Dalton (Carolina Panthers) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.8 fantasy points per game in 10 games. Gardner Minshew (Las Vegas Raiders) came in at 12.4 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Gardner Minshew carries a 2.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Andy Dalton threw for 1925 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Gardner Minshew posted 2420 yards and 14 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: Andy Dalton is off Week 11 and Gardner Minshew Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Gardner Minshew (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Gardner Minshew outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Gardner Minshew played 12 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Gardner Minshew contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Gardner Minshew scored 15 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Gardner Minshew: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Gardner Minshew
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	12.4
Games Played	10	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	149
Passing Yards	1,925	2,420
Passing TDs	10	14
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	201.7
Rushing Yards	42	125
Rushing TDs	0	1
Total TDs	10	15
TDs/Game	1.0	1.3
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Gardner Minshew holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.4 points per game. Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Andy Dalton or Gardner Minshew in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Gardner Minshew has the edge at 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Gardner Minshew's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Gardner Minshew (LV) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Gardner Minshew a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Gardner Minshew outscored Andy Dalton by 2.6 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.