Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Derek Carr vs Josh Allen

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Josh Allen is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Josh Allen outscored Derek Carr by 7.0 PPG in 2025 with 39 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Josh Allen is the clear pick. Derek Carr profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

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QBNew Orleans Saints#99

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

QBBuffalo Bills#1PPG LEADER

Josh Allen

PPG

22.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,668

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

579

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Derek Carr

Josh Allen

Head to Head

15.8 PPG22.8 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Derek Carr: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Josh Allen: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Derek Carr is producing at 72% of elite pace and Josh Allen at 104%. That ranking gap means Josh Allen carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derek Carr vs Josh Allen: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) averaged 22.8 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints, 15.8 PPG) by 7.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

That 7.0-point weekly advantage for Josh Allen is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Josh Allen offers meaningful rushing upside with 579 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Derek Carr (3428 passing yards, 22 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Derek Carr is off Week 12 and Josh Allen Week 7. 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

Josh Allen is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Derek Carr is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Derek Carr (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Josh Allen (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Josh Allen outscored Derek Carr by a projected 119 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Allen played 16 games in 2025 compared to Derek Carr's 15. That durability gap means Josh Allen contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Allen scored 39 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Josh Allen added 579 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatCarrAllen

PPG (Half-PPR)15.822.8

Games Played1516

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)237365

Passing Yards3,4283,668

Passing TDs2225

Pass Yds/Game228.5229.3

Rushing Yards105579

Rushing TDs114

Total TDs2339

TDs/Game1.52.4

Age-29

Experience-7 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Josh Allen at 22.8 PPG, 7.0 points per game above Derek Carr's 15.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derek Carr or Josh Allen in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Allen has the edge at 22.8 PPG compared to Derek Carr's 15.8 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 Derek Carr and Josh Allen average in 2025?▾

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Josh Allen averaged 22.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 7.0 points per game.

When are Derek Carr and Josh Allen's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derek Carr (NO) has a bye in Week 12, and Josh Allen (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derek Carr or Josh Allen a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Josh Allen outscored Derek Carr 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.