Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Joe Burrow 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 has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (20.6 to 16.8), and Matthew Stafford's 46 touchdowns show scoring upside. Joe Burrow 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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QBCincinnati Bengals#15

Joe Burrow

PPG

16.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,809

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Joe Burrow

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

16.8 PPG20.6 PPG

8 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Burrow: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #15 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Burrow is producing at 76% 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.

Joe Burrow vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.8 fantasy points per game in 8 games. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) came in at 20.6 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Matthew Stafford carries a 3.8-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. Joe Burrow threw for 1809 yards and 17 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.

Joe Burrow has his bye in Week 10, and Matthew Stafford rests in Week 8. 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 Matthew Stafford at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Burrow is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Joe Burrow (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. 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 Joe Burrow by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Burrow's 8. 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.
•Joe Burrow is 9 years younger than Matthew Stafford (29 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatBurrowStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)16.820.6

Games Played817

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)134350

Passing Yards1,8094,707

Passing TDs1746

Pass Yds/Game226.1276.9

Rushing Yards411

Rushing TDs00

Total TDs1746

TDs/Game2.12.7

Age2938

Experience5 yrs16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Matthew Stafford holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.6 points per game. Joe Burrow averaged 16.8 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 Joe Burrow or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Joe Burrow's 16.8 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 Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Joe Burrow averaged 16.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Burrow (CIN) has a bye in Week 10, and Matthew Stafford (LAR) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joe Burrow or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Joe Burrow by 3.8 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.