Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Josh Allen vs Marcus Mariota

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Josh Allen is the better fantasy play this season.

Josh Allen is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 22.8 PPG and 4,247 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Marcus Mariota (12.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Josh Allen as the starter and Marcus Mariota as depth.

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

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QBBuffalo Bills#1PPG LEADER

Josh Allen

PPG

22.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,668

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

579

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Josh Allen

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

22.8 PPG12.6 PPG

16 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Allen: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #1 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Josh Allen is producing at 104% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Josh Allen carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Allen vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?

Josh Allen and Marcus Mariota are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Buffalo Bills quarterback averaged 22.8 PPG in 2025, a full 10.2 points per game ahead of Marcus Mariota's 12.6 with the Washington Commanders. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 10.2-PPG gap gives Josh Allen 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.

Josh Allen offers meaningful rushing upside with 579 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Marcus Mariota (1695 passing yards, 10 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Josh Allen has his bye in Week 7, and Marcus Mariota rests in Week 12. 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 Josh Allen at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Marcus Mariota is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Josh Allen (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Josh Allen outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 173 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Allen played 16 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota's 10. 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▾

StatAllenMariota

PPG (Half-PPR)22.812.6

Games Played1610

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)365126

Passing Yards3,6681,695

Passing TDs2510

Pass Yds/Game229.3169.5

Rushing Yards579297

Rushing TDs141

Total TDs3911

TDs/Game2.41.1

Age2932

Experience7 yrs10 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 12

Summary

Josh Allen outscored Marcus Mariota by 10.2 PPG in 2025 (22.8 to 12.6). 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 Josh Allen or Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Allen has the edge at 22.8 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Josh Allen and Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Josh Allen averaged 22.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 10.2 points per game.

When are Josh Allen and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Allen (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Allen or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Josh Allen outscored Marcus Mariota by 10.2 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.