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Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Caleb Williams vs Drake Maye

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (20.7 to 18.7), and Drake Maye's 35 touchdowns show scoring upside. Caleb Williams 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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QBChicago Bears#8
Caleb Williams
PPG
18.7
Games
17
Pass Yds
3,942
Pass TDs
27
Rush Yds
383
Rush TDs
3
Bye
Week 5
QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER
Drake Maye
PPG
20.7
Games
17
Pass Yds
4,394
Pass TDs
31
Rush Yds
450
Rush TDs
4
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Caleb Williams
Drake Maye

Head to Head

18.7 PPG20.7 PPG
17 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Caleb Williams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #8 at the position). Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Caleb Williams is producing at 85% 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.

Caleb Williams vs Drake Maye: Who Should You Start?

Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Caleb Williams averaged 18.7 PPG across 17 games with the Chicago Bears, while Drake Maye posted 20.7 PPG in 17 appearances for the New England Patriots.

A 2.0-PPG gap gives Drake Maye 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.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Caleb Williams (3942 passing yards, 27 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: Caleb Williams sits Week 5 while Drake Maye is off Week 14. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Caleb Williams (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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 Caleb Williams by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • 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
StatWilliamsMaye
PPG (Half-PPR)18.720.7
Games Played1717
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)318352
Passing Yards3,9424,394
Passing TDs2731
Pass Yds/Game231.9258.5
Rushing Yards383450
Rushing TDs34
Total TDs3135
TDs/Game1.82.1
Age2423
Experience1 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 5Week 14

Summary

Drake Maye outscored Caleb Williams by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (20.7 to 18.7). 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 Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Caleb Williams's 18.7 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 Caleb Williams and Drake Maye average in 2025?

Caleb Williams averaged 18.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Drake Maye averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Caleb Williams and Drake Maye's bye weeks in 2026?

Caleb Williams (CHI) has a bye in Week 5, and Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Caleb Williams or Drake Maye a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Drake Maye outscored Caleb Williams by 2.0 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.