Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Matthew Stafford vs Tua Tagovailoa

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. Tua Tagovailoa (11.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Matthew Stafford as the starter and Tua Tagovailoa as depth.

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

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QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBMiami Dolphins#35

Tua Tagovailoa

PPG

11.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,660

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Matthew Stafford

Tua Tagovailoa

Head to Head

20.6 PPG11.5 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Tua Tagovailoa: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #35 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Matthew Stafford is producing at 94% of elite pace and Tua Tagovailoa at 52%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Matthew Stafford vs Tua Tagovailoa: Who Should You Start?

Matthew Stafford and Tua Tagovailoa are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback averaged 20.6 PPG in 2025, a full 9.1 points per game ahead of Tua Tagovailoa's 11.5 with the Miami Dolphins. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 9.1-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. Matthew Stafford threw for 4707 yards and 46 touchdowns, while Tua Tagovailoa posted 2660 yards and 20 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 Tua Tagovailoa 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 Matthew Stafford at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Tua Tagovailoa is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. Tua Tagovailoa (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Tua Tagovailoa by a projected 155 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tua Tagovailoa's 14. 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.
•Tua Tagovailoa is 10 years younger than Matthew Stafford (28 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatStaffordTagovailoa

PPG (Half-PPR)20.611.5

Games Played1714

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)350161

Passing Yards4,7072,660

Passing TDs4620

Pass Yds/Game276.9190.0

Rushing Yards143

Rushing TDs00

Total TDs4620

TDs/Game2.71.4

Age3828

Experience16 yrs5 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 12

Summary

Matthew Stafford outscored Tua Tagovailoa by 9.1 PPG in 2025 (20.6 to 11.5). 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 Matthew Stafford or Tua Tagovailoa in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Tua Tagovailoa's 11.5 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 Matthew Stafford and Tua Tagovailoa average in 2025?▾

Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Tua Tagovailoa averaged 11.5 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 9.1 points per game.

When are Matthew Stafford and Tua Tagovailoa's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Matthew Stafford or Tua Tagovailoa a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Tua Tagovailoa by 9.1 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.