Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Rush vs Malik WillisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Willis is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Malik Willis is the better fantasy play this season.

Malik Willis has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (12.8 to 11.1), and Malik Willis's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cooper Rush 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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QBDallas Cowboys#99

Cooper Rush

PPG

11.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,985

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBGreen Bay Packers#30PPG LEADER

Malik Willis

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

422

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

123

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Cooper Rush

Malik Willis

Head to Head

11.1 PPG12.8 PPG

10 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Malik Willis: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Cooper Rush is producing at 50% of elite pace and Malik Willis at 58%. That ranking gap means Malik Willis carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cooper Rush vs Malik Willis: The Full Breakdown

Cooper Rush and Malik Willis are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 PPG across 10 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while Malik Willis posted 12.8 PPG in 4 appearances for the Green Bay Packers.

A 1.7-PPG gap gives Malik Willis 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. Cooper Rush threw for 1985 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Malik Willis posted 422 yards and 3 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Cooper Rush has his bye in Week 7, and Malik Willis rests in Week 11. 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: Cooper Rush (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Malik Willis (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Malik Willis outscored Cooper Rush by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cooper Rush played 10 games in 2025 compared to Malik Willis's 4. That durability gap means Cooper Rush contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Cooper Rush scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Rush vs Malik Willis: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Rush	Malik Willis
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.1	12.8
Games Played	10	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	111	51
Passing Yards	1,985	422
Passing TDs	12	3
Pass Yds/Game	198.5	105.5
Rushing Yards	28	123
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	12	5
TDs/Game	1.2	1.3
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Malik Willis outscored Cooper Rush by 1.7 PPG in 2025 (12.8 to 11.1). 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 Cooper Rush or Malik Willis in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Willis has the edge at 12.8 PPG compared to Cooper Rush's 11.1 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 Cooper Rush and Malik Willis average in 2025?▾

Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Malik Willis averaged 12.8 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Cooper Rush and Malik Willis's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Malik Willis (GB) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Rush or Malik Willis a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Malik Willis outscored Cooper Rush 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.