Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Bryce Young vs Matthew Stafford

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Matthew Stafford is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.6 PPG and 4,708 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Bryce Young (13.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Matthew Stafford as the starter and Bryce Young as depth.

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

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QBCarolina Panthers#28

Bryce Young

PPG

13.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,011

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

216

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Bryce Young

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

13.6 PPG20.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Bryce Young: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #28 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Bryce Young is producing at 62% of elite pace and Matthew Stafford at 94%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bryce Young vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers, 13.6 PPG) by 7.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Matthew Stafford carries a 7.0-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. Bryce Young threw for 3011 yards and 23 touchdowns, while Matthew Stafford posted 4707 yards and 46 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: Bryce Young is off Week 14 and Matthew Stafford Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Matthew Stafford at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Bryce Young is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Bryce Young (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Bryce Young by a projected 119 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bryce Young's 16. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Bryce Young is 14 years younger than Matthew Stafford (24 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatYoungStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)13.620.6

Games Played1617

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)218350

Passing Yards3,0114,707

Passing TDs2346

Pass Yds/Game188.2276.9

Rushing Yards2161

Rushing TDs20

Total TDs2546

TDs/Game1.62.7

Age2438

Experience2 yrs16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Matthew Stafford holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.6 points per game. Bryce Young averaged 13.6 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 Bryce Young or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Bryce Young's 13.6 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 Bryce Young and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Bryce Young averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.0 points per game.

When are Bryce Young and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bryce Young (CAR) has a bye in Week 14, and Matthew Stafford (LAR) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bryce Young or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Bryce Young by 7.0 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.