Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Gardner Minshew vs Jared GoffWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jared Goff is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.5 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jared Goff is the better fantasy play this season.

Jared Goff is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.5 PPG and 4,609 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Gardner Minshew (12.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jared Goff as the starter and Gardner Minshew as depth.

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

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBDetroit Lions#12PPG LEADER

Jared Goff

PPG

17.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,564

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Gardner Minshew

Jared Goff

Head to Head

12.4 PPG17.5 PPG

12 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Gardner Minshew: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jared Goff: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #12 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Gardner Minshew is producing at 56% of elite pace and Jared Goff at 80%. That ranking gap means Jared Goff carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Gardner Minshew vs Jared Goff: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Gardner Minshew (Las Vegas Raiders) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.4 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) came in at 17.5 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jared Goff carries a 5.1-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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Gardner Minshew threw for 2420 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Jared Goff posted 4564 yards and 34 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Gardner Minshew has his bye in Week 10, and Jared Goff rests in Week 6. 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

If you can acquire Jared Goff at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Gardner Minshew is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Gardner Minshew (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Jared Goff (age 31) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Jared Goff outscored Gardner Minshew by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jared Goff played 17 games in 2025 compared to Gardner Minshew's 12. That durability gap means Jared Goff contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jared Goff scored 34 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Gardner Minshew vs Jared Goff: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Gardner Minshew	Jared Goff
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.4	17.5
Games Played	12	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	149	298
Passing Yards	2,420	4,564
Passing TDs	14	34
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	268.5
Rushing Yards	125	45
Rushing TDs	1	0
Total TDs	15	34
TDs/Game	1.3	2.0
Age	-	31
Experience	-	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jared Goff holds the PPG edge with solid output at 17.5 points per game. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew or Jared Goff in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jared Goff has the edge at 17.5 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 Gardner Minshew and Jared Goff average in 2025?▾

Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Jared Goff averaged 17.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Gardner Minshew and Jared Goff's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Gardner Minshew or Jared Goff a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jared Goff outscored Gardner Minshew by 5.1 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.