Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

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

Mac Jones is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Mac Jones is the better fantasy play this season.

Mac Jones has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 9.8), and Mac Jones's 13 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

QBSan Francisco 49ers#33PPG LEADER

Mac Jones

PPG

11.8

Games

Pass Yds

2,151

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Mac Jones

Head to Head

9.8 PPG11.8 PPG

10 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Mac Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Mac Jones at 54%. That ranking gap means Mac Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Mac Jones: The Full Breakdown

Andy Dalton and Mac Jones are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 PPG across 10 games with the Carolina Panthers, while Mac Jones posted 11.8 PPG in 11 appearances for the San Francisco 49ers.

A 2.0-PPG gap gives Mac 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 Mac Jones posted 2151 yards and 13 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 Mac Jones rests in Week 8. 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: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Mac Jones (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Mac Jones outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Mac Jones played 11 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Mac Jones contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Mac Jones scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Mac Jones: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Mac Jones
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	11.8
Games Played	10	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	130
Passing Yards	1,925	2,151
Passing TDs	10	13
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	195.5
Rushing Yards	42	60
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	10	13
TDs/Game	1.0	1.2
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 8

Summary

Mac Jones outscored Andy Dalton by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (11.8 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 Mac Jones in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Mac Jones has the edge at 11.8 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 Mac Jones average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Mac Jones averaged 11.8 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

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

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Mac Jones (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Mac Jones outscored Andy Dalton 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.