Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Kirk CousinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Kirk Cousins's 15.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.7 PPG and 4,846 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Kirk Cousins (15.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Drake Maye as the starter and Kirk Cousins as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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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

QBAtlanta Falcons#99

Kirk Cousins

PPG

15.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,588

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Drake Maye

Kirk Cousins

Head to Head

20.7 PPG15.4 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Kirk Cousins: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Kirk Cousins at 70%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Kirk Cousins: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) finished the 2025 season averaging 20.7 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) came in at 15.4 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Drake Maye carries a 5.3-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 Kirk Cousins (3588 passing yards, 23 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: Drake Maye sits Week 11 while Kirk Cousins is off Week 12. 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. Kirk Cousins is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Kirk Cousins (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Drake Maye outscored Kirk Cousins by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Kirk Cousins's 16. 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

Drake Maye vs Kirk Cousins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Drake Maye	Kirk Cousins
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.7	15.4
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	352	246
Passing Yards	4,394	3,588
Passing TDs	31	23
Pass Yds/Game	258.5	224.3
Rushing Yards	450	78
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	35	23
TDs/Game	2.1	1.4
Age	23	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Drake Maye holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.7 points per game. Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 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 Drake Maye or Kirk Cousins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Kirk Cousins's 15.4 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 Drake Maye and Kirk Cousins average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Kirk Cousins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11, and Kirk Cousins (ATL) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Drake Maye or Kirk Cousins a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored Kirk Cousins by 5.3 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.