Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Rodgers vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Aaron Rodgers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.2 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Aaron Rodgers is the better fantasy play this season.

Aaron Rodgers has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (14.2 to 12.5), and Aaron Rodgers's 25 touchdowns show scoring upside. J.J. McCarthy is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBPittsburgh Steelers#25PPG LEADER

Aaron Rodgers

PPG

14.2

Games

Pass Yds

3,322

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

QBMinnesota Vikings#32

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Aaron Rodgers

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

14.2 PPG12.5 PPG

16 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Rodgers: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #25 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Aaron Rodgers is producing at 65% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means Aaron Rodgers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Rodgers vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Aaron Rodgers and J.J. McCarthy are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Aaron Rodgers averaged 14.2 PPG across 16 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while J.J. McCarthy posted 12.5 PPG in 10 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 1.7-PPG gap gives Aaron Rodgers 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. Aaron Rodgers threw for 3322 yards and 24 touchdowns, while J.J. McCarthy posted 1632 yards and 11 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: Aaron Rodgers is off Week 9 and J.J. McCarthy Week 6. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Rodgers (age 42) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. J.J. McCarthy (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Aaron Rodgers outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Aaron Rodgers played 16 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Aaron Rodgers contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Aaron Rodgers scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 19 years younger than Aaron Rodgers (23 vs 42), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Rodgers vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Rodgers	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.2	12.5
Games Played	16	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	227	125
Passing Yards	3,322	1,632
Passing TDs	24	11
Pass Yds/Game	207.6	163.2
Rushing Yards	61	181
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	25	15
TDs/Game	1.6	1.5
Age	42	23
Experience	20 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 6

Summary

Aaron Rodgers outscored J.J. McCarthy by 1.7 PPG in 2025 (14.2 to 12.5). 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 Aaron Rodgers or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Aaron Rodgers has the edge at 14.2 PPG compared to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 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 Aaron Rodgers and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Aaron Rodgers averaged 14.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Aaron Rodgers and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Rodgers (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Rodgers or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Aaron Rodgers outscored J.J. McCarthy by 1.7 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.