Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Derek Carr vs Drake MayeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Derek Carr's 15.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.9-PPG advantage is real (20.7 to 15.8), and Drake Maye's 35 touchdowns show scoring upside. Derek Carr 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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QBNew Orleans Saints#99

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER

Drake Maye

PPG

20.7

Games

Pass Yds

4,394

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

450

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Derek Carr

Drake Maye

Head to Head

15.8 PPG20.7 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Derek Carr: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Derek Carr is producing at 72% of elite pace and Drake Maye at 94%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derek Carr vs Drake Maye: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints) finished the 2025 season averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) came in at 20.7 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Drake Maye carries a 4.9-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.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Derek Carr (3428 passing yards, 22 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Derek Carr sits Week 12 while Drake Maye is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Drake Maye at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Derek Carr is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Derek Carr (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Derek Carr by a projected 83 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Derek Carr's 15. That durability gap means Drake Maye contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derek Carr vs Drake Maye: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derek Carr	Drake Maye
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.8	20.7
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	237	352
Passing Yards	3,428	4,394
Passing TDs	22	31
Pass Yds/Game	228.5	258.5
Rushing Yards	105	450
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	23	35
TDs/Game	1.5	2.1
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Drake Maye holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.7 points per game. Derek Carr averaged 15.8 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 Derek Carr or Drake Maye in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Derek Carr's 15.8 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 Derek Carr and Drake Maye average in 2025?▾

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.9 points per game.

When are Derek Carr and Drake Maye's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derek Carr (NO) has a bye in Week 12, and Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derek Carr or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Derek Carr by 4.9 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.