Baker Mayfield · Michael Penix · 2026 week 4

Baker Mayfield or Michael Penix?

Wondering who you should start this week — Baker Mayfield or Michael Penix? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Baker Mayfield — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 1.4 points. The matchup leans Baker Mayfield (CAR allow the 9th-most QB points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 4	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Baker Mayfield START	@ CAR	16.1	9th	12.4	314	Out
Michael Penix	@ NO	14.7	13th	15	124	healthy

QBs vs CAR recently: Caleb Williams 37.3 pts (W1) · Cooper Rush 1.4 pts (W2) · Deshaun Watson 20.3 pts (W3).

QBs vs NO recently: Jared Goff 16.4 pts (W1) · Lamar Jackson 15.8 pts (W2) · Kirk Cousins 22.2 pts (W3).

🎓 The coach's read

Baker Mayfield projects 1.4 points higher in PPR.
Baker Mayfield faces CAR, 9th most generous to QBs.
Baker Mayfield is flagged OUT.
Michael Penix faces NO, 13th most generous to QBs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Baker Mayfield carries the higher trade value — 314 against 124 (a 61% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Baker Mayfield gets the most. Momentum: Baker Mayfield -239 and Michael Penix +124 over the last 30 days.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

More QB decisions

Baker Mayfield or Jayden Daniels?Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold?Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray?Michael Penix or C.J. Stroud?Michael Penix or Kirk Cousins?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.