Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Rush vs Jalen HurtsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy play this season.

Jalen Hurts is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 18.8 PPG and 3,645 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Cooper Rush (11.1 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jalen Hurts as the starter and Cooper Rush as depth.

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

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QBDallas Cowboys#99

Cooper Rush

PPG

11.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,985

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7PPG LEADER

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Cooper Rush

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

11.1 PPG18.8 PPG

10 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Cooper Rush is producing at 50% of elite pace and Jalen Hurts at 85%. That ranking gap means Jalen Hurts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cooper Rush vs Jalen Hurts: The Full Breakdown

Jalen Hurts and Cooper Rush are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback averaged 18.8 PPG in 2025, a full 7.7 points per game ahead of Cooper Rush's 11.1 with the Dallas Cowboys. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 7.7-PPG gap gives Jalen Hurts 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.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Cooper Rush (1985 passing yards, 12 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Cooper Rush has his bye in Week 7, and Jalen Hurts rests in Week 10. 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 Jalen Hurts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Cooper Rush is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cooper Rush (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Jalen Hurts (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Jalen Hurts outscored Cooper Rush by a projected 131 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Rush's 10. That durability gap means Jalen Hurts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jalen Hurts scored 33 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Jalen Hurts added 421 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Rush vs Jalen Hurts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Rush	Jalen Hurts
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.1	18.8
Games Played	10	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	111	301
Passing Yards	1,985	3,224
Passing TDs	12	25
Pass Yds/Game	198.5	201.5
Rushing Yards	28	421
Rushing TDs	0	8
Total TDs	12	33
TDs/Game	1.2	2.1
Age	-	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

Jalen Hurts outscored Cooper Rush by 7.7 PPG in 2025 (18.8 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 Cooper Rush or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 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 Cooper Rush and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 7.7 points per game.

When are Cooper Rush and Jalen Hurts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Rush or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Cooper Rush by 7.7 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.