Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Kyler Murray 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. Kyler Murray (15.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Matthew Stafford as the starter and Kyler Murray as depth.

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

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QBArizona Cardinals#22

Kyler Murray

PPG

15.6

Games

Pass Yds

962

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

173

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Kyler Murray

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

15.6 PPG20.6 PPG

5 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Kyler Murray: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #22 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Kyler Murray is producing at 71% 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.

Kyler Murray vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Kyler Murray averaged 15.6 PPG across 5 games with the Arizona Cardinals, while Matthew Stafford posted 20.6 PPG in 17 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 5.0-PPG gap gives Matthew Stafford 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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Kyler Murray threw for 962 yards and 6 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 thing to note: both players share a Week 8 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Matthew Stafford at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Kyler Murray is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Kyler Murray (age 28) 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 Kyler Murray by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Kyler Murray's 5. 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.
•Kyler Murray is 10 years younger than Matthew Stafford (28 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatMurrayStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)15.620.6

Games Played517

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)78350

Passing Yards9624,707

Passing TDs646

Pass Yds/Game192.4276.9

Rushing Yards1731

Rushing TDs10

Total TDs746

TDs/Game1.42.7

Age2838

Experience6 yrs16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 8

Summary

Matthew Stafford outscored Kyler Murray by 5.0 PPG in 2025 (20.6 to 15.6). 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 Kyler Murray or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Kyler Murray's 15.6 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 Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Kyler Murray averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 5 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

Do Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Kyler Murray or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Kyler Murray by 5.0 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.