Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

C.J. Stroud is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

C.J. Stroud is the better fantasy play this season.

C.J. Stroud is the better play on a neutral week. 14.9 PPG with 3,250 yards gives a reliable baseline. J.J. McCarthy at 12.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft C.J. Stroud higher, but do not fade J.J. McCarthy entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBHouston Texans#23PPG LEADER

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

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

C.J. Stroud

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

14.9 PPG12.5 PPG

14 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means C.J. Stroud carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between C.J. Stroud and J.J. McCarthy is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Houston Texans quarterback put up 14.9 PPG in 2025 over 14 games; J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings averaged 12.5 in 10. A 2.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.4 points favors C.J. Stroud, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. C.J. Stroud threw for 3041 yards and 19 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.

C.J. Stroud has his bye in Week 8, and J.J. McCarthy rests in Week 6. 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: C.J. Stroud (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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?

•C.J. Stroud outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 41 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•C.J. Stroud played 14 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means C.J. Stroud contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•C.J. Stroud scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	12.5
Games Played	14	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	125
Passing Yards	3,041	1,632
Passing TDs	19	11
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	163.2
Rushing Yards	209	181
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	20	15
TDs/Game	1.4	1.5
Age	24	23
Experience	2 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 6

Summary

14.9 PPG for C.J. Stroud versus 12.5 for J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The baseline favors C.J. Stroud, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start C.J. Stroud or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, C.J. Stroud has the edge at 14.9 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 C.J. Stroud and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud outscored J.J. McCarthy by 2.4 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.