Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aidan O'Connell vs Cooper RushWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Aidan O'Connell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Aidan O'Connell is the better fantasy play this season.

Aidan O'Connell has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (12.8 to 11.1), and Aidan O'Connell's 16 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cooper Rush 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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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99PPG LEADER

Aidan O'Connell

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

2,650

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBDallas Cowboys#99

Cooper Rush

PPG

11.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,985

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Aidan O'Connell

Cooper Rush

Head to Head

12.8 PPG11.1 PPG

13 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Aidan O'Connell: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Aidan O'Connell is producing at 58% of elite pace and Cooper Rush at 50%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Aidan O'Connell vs Cooper Rush: The Full Breakdown

Aidan O'Connell and Cooper Rush are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Aidan O'Connell averaged 12.8 PPG across 13 games with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Cooper Rush posted 11.1 PPG in 10 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 1.7-PPG gap gives Aidan O'Connell 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. Aidan O'Connell threw for 2650 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Cooper Rush posted 1985 yards and 12 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Aidan O'Connell has his bye in Week 10, and Cooper Rush rests in Week 7. 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

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: Aidan O'Connell (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Cooper Rush (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Aidan O'Connell outscored Cooper Rush by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Aidan O'Connell played 13 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Rush's 10. That durability gap means Aidan O'Connell contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Aidan O'Connell scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aidan O'Connell vs Cooper Rush: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aidan O'Connell	Cooper Rush
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.8	11.1
Games Played	13	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	166	111
Passing Yards	2,650	1,985
Passing TDs	16	12
Pass Yds/Game	203.8	198.5
Rushing Yards	68	28
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	16	12
TDs/Game	1.2	1.2
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Aidan O'Connell outscored Cooper Rush by 1.7 PPG in 2025 (12.8 to 11.1). 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 Aidan O'Connell or Cooper Rush in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Aidan O'Connell has the edge at 12.8 PPG compared to Cooper Rush's 11.1 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 Aidan O'Connell and Cooper Rush average in 2025?▾

Aidan O'Connell averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Aidan O'Connell and Cooper Rush's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aidan O'Connell (LV) has a bye in Week 10, and Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aidan O'Connell or Cooper Rush a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Aidan O'Connell outscored Cooper Rush 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.