Matthew Stafford vs Shedeur Sanders: Who Should You Start?
Matthew Stafford and Shedeur Sanders are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback averaged 20.6 PPG in 2025, a full 10.0 points per game ahead of Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 with the Cleveland Browns. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
That 10.0-point weekly advantage for Matthew Stafford is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Matthew Stafford threw for 4707 yards and 46 touchdowns, while Shedeur Sanders posted 1400 yards and 7 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
Matthew Stafford has his bye in Week 8, and Shedeur Sanders rests in Week 9. 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.
