Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy play this season.

Lamar Jackson is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.5 PPG and 2,898 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 Lamar Jackson 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

QBBaltimore Ravens#16PPG LEADER

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

9.8 PPG16.5 PPG

10 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Lamar Jackson at 75%. That ranking gap means Lamar Jackson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games in 2025, outscoring Andy Dalton (Carolina Panthers, 9.8 PPG) by 6.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Lamar Jackson carries a 6.7-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 Lamar Jackson posted 2549 yards and 21 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 Lamar Jackson Week 13. 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

If you can acquire Lamar Jackson 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. Lamar Jackson (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Lamar Jackson outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 114 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Lamar Jackson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Lamar Jackson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Lamar Jackson scored 23 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Lamar Jackson added 349 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	16.5
Games Played	10	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	215
Passing Yards	1,925	2,549
Passing TDs	10	21
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	196.1
Rushing Yards	42	349
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	10	23
TDs/Game	1.0	1.8
Age	-	29
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Lamar Jackson holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Lamar Jackson has the edge at 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 6.7 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Lamar Jackson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Andy Dalton or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored Andy Dalton by 6.7 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.