Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Gardner Minshew vs Justin FieldsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Fields is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.9 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Fields is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Fields has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.5-PPG advantage is real (15.9 to 12.4), and Justin Fields's 11 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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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

QBNew York Jets#20PPG LEADER

Justin Fields

PPG

15.9

Games

Pass Yds

1,259

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

383

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Gardner Minshew

Justin Fields

Head to Head

12.4 PPG15.9 PPG

12 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Gardner Minshew: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Justin Fields: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Gardner Minshew is producing at 56% of elite pace and Justin Fields at 72%. That ranking gap means Justin Fields carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Gardner Minshew vs Justin Fields: The Full Breakdown

Gardner Minshew and Justin Fields are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 PPG across 12 games with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Justin Fields posted 15.9 PPG in 9 appearances for the New York Jets.

A 3.5-PPG gap gives Justin Fields 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. Gardner Minshew threw for 2420 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Justin Fields posted 1259 yards and 7 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 Justin Fields rests in Week 13. 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 Justin Fields 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. Justin Fields (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Justin Fields outscored Gardner Minshew by a projected 60 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Gardner Minshew played 12 games in 2025 compared to Justin Fields's 9. 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.
•Justin Fields added 383 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Gardner Minshew vs Justin Fields: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Gardner Minshew	Justin Fields
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.4	15.9
Games Played	12	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	149	143
Passing Yards	2,420	1,259
Passing TDs	14	7
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	139.9
Rushing Yards	125	383
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	15	11
TDs/Game	1.3	1.2
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 13

Summary

Justin Fields outscored Gardner Minshew by 3.5 PPG in 2025 (15.9 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 Gardner Minshew or Justin Fields in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Fields has the edge at 15.9 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 Justin Fields average in 2025?▾

Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Justin Fields averaged 15.9 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Gardner Minshew and Justin Fields's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Gardner Minshew (LV) has a bye in Week 10, and Justin Fields (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Gardner Minshew or Justin Fields a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Fields outscored Gardner Minshew by 3.5 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.