Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Carson Wentz vs Gardner MinshewWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Carson Wentz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.1 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Carson Wentz is the better fantasy play this season.

Carson Wentz has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (14.1 to 12.4), and Carson Wentz's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Gardner Minshew is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBMinnesota Vikings#26PPG LEADER

Carson Wentz

PPG

14.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,216

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Carson Wentz

Gardner Minshew

Head to Head

14.1 PPG12.4 PPG

5 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Carson Wentz: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #26 at the position). Gardner Minshew: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Carson Wentz is producing at 64% of elite pace and Gardner Minshew at 56%. That ranking gap means Carson Wentz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Carson Wentz vs Gardner Minshew: The Full Breakdown

Carson Wentz and Gardner Minshew are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Carson Wentz averaged 14.1 PPG across 5 games with the Minnesota Vikings, while Gardner Minshew posted 12.4 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 1.7-PPG gap gives Carson Wentz 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. Carson Wentz threw for 1216 yards and 6 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.

Carson Wentz has his bye in Week 6, and Gardner Minshew rests in Week 10. 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: Carson Wentz (age 33) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. Gardner Minshew (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Carson Wentz outscored Gardner Minshew by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Gardner Minshew played 12 games in 2025 compared to Carson Wentz's 5. 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

Carson Wentz vs Gardner Minshew: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Carson Wentz	Gardner Minshew
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.1	12.4
Games Played	5	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	71	149
Passing Yards	1,216	2,420
Passing TDs	6	14
Pass Yds/Game	243.2	201.7
Rushing Yards	57	125
Rushing TDs	0	1
Total TDs	6	15
TDs/Game	1.2	1.3
Age	33	-
Experience	9 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

Carson Wentz outscored Gardner Minshew by 1.7 PPG in 2025 (14.1 to 12.4). 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 Carson Wentz or Gardner Minshew in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Carson Wentz has the edge at 14.1 PPG compared to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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 Carson Wentz and Gardner Minshew average in 2025?▾

Carson Wentz averaged 14.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 5 games in 2025. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Carson Wentz and Gardner Minshew's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Carson Wentz (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Gardner Minshew (LV) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Carson Wentz or Gardner Minshew a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Carson Wentz outscored Gardner Minshew by 1.7 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.