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Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs Shedeur Sanders

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Drake Maye outscored Shedeur Sanders by 10.1 PPG in 2025 with 35 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Drake Maye is the clear pick. Shedeur Sanders 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 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
QBCleveland Browns#40
Shedeur Sanders
PPG
10.6
Games
8
Pass Yds
1,400
Pass TDs
7
Rush Yds
169
Rush TDs
1
Bye
Week 9

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Drake Maye
Shedeur Sanders

Head to Head

20.7 PPG10.6 PPG
17 GP8 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Shedeur Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Shedeur Sanders at 48%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Shedeur Sanders: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) averaged 20.7 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns, 10.6 PPG) by 10.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 10.1 points favors Drake Maye, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Shedeur Sanders (1400 passing yards, 7 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: Drake Maye is off Week 14 and Shedeur Sanders Week 9. 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

Drake Maye is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Shedeur Sanders is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Shedeur Sanders (age 24) 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 Shedeur Sanders by a projected 172 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Shedeur Sanders's 8. That durability gap means Drake Maye contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • 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
StatMayeSanders
PPG (Half-PPR)20.710.6
Games Played178
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)35285
Passing Yards4,3941,400
Passing TDs317
Pass Yds/Game258.5175.0
Rushing Yards450169
Rushing TDs41
Total TDs358
TDs/Game2.11.0
Age2324
Experience1 yrs-
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 9

Summary

20.7 PPG for Drake Maye versus 10.6 for Shedeur Sanders in 2025. The baseline favors Drake Maye, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Drake Maye or Shedeur Sanders in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 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 Drake Maye and Shedeur Sanders average in 2025?

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Shedeur Sanders averaged 10.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 10.1 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Shedeur Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?

Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Shedeur Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Drake Maye or Shedeur Sanders a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Drake Maye outscored Shedeur Sanders by 10.1 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.