Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Kirk Cousins 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 is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.6 PPG and 4,708 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Kirk Cousins (15.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Matthew Stafford as the starter and Kirk Cousins as depth.

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

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QBAtlanta Falcons#99

Kirk Cousins

PPG

15.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,588

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 12

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Kirk Cousins

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

15.4 PPG20.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Kirk Cousins: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Kirk Cousins is producing at 70% 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.

Kirk Cousins vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) finished the 2025 season averaging 15.4 fantasy points per game in 16 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 5.2-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. Kirk Cousins threw for 3588 yards and 23 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.

One scheduling note: Kirk Cousins is off Week 12 and Matthew Stafford Week 8. 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

If you can acquire Matthew Stafford at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Kirk Cousins is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Kirk Cousins (age 27) 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 Kirk Cousins by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Kirk Cousins's 16. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatCousinsStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)15.420.6

Games Played1617

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)246350

Passing Yards3,5884,707

Passing TDs2346

Pass Yds/Game224.3276.9

Rushing Yards781

Rushing TDs00

Total TDs2346

TDs/Game1.42.7

Age-38

Experience-16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Matthew Stafford holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.6 points per game. Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 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 Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Kirk Cousins's 15.4 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 Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kirk Cousins (ATL) has a bye in Week 12, and Matthew Stafford (LAR) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Kirk Cousins by 5.2 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.