Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Rush vs Jared GoffWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jared Goff is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.5 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jared Goff is the better fantasy play this season.

Jared Goff is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.5 PPG and 4,609 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 Jared Goff 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

QBDetroit Lions#12PPG LEADER

Jared Goff

PPG

17.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,564

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cooper Rush

Jared Goff

Head to Head

11.1 PPG17.5 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jared Goff: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #12 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Cooper Rush is producing at 50% of elite pace and Jared Goff at 80%. That ranking gap means Jared Goff carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cooper Rush vs Jared Goff: The Full Breakdown

Jared Goff and Cooper Rush are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Detroit Lions quarterback averaged 17.5 PPG in 2025, a full 6.4 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 6.4-PPG gap gives Jared Goff 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. Cooper Rush threw for 1985 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Jared Goff posted 4564 yards and 34 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Cooper Rush has his bye in Week 7, and Jared Goff 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

If you can acquire Jared Goff 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. Jared Goff (age 31) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Jared Goff outscored Cooper Rush by a projected 109 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jared Goff played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Rush's 10. That durability gap means Jared Goff contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jared Goff scored 34 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Rush vs Jared Goff: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Rush	Jared Goff
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.1	17.5
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	111	298
Passing Yards	1,985	4,564
Passing TDs	12	34
Pass Yds/Game	198.5	268.5
Rushing Yards	28	45
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	12	34
TDs/Game	1.2	2.0
Age	-	31
Experience	-	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

Jared Goff outscored Cooper Rush by 6.4 PPG in 2025 (17.5 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 Jared Goff in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jared Goff has the edge at 17.5 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 Jared Goff average in 2025?▾

Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jared Goff averaged 17.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.4 points per game.

When are Cooper Rush and Jared Goff's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Jared Goff (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Rush or Jared Goff a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jared Goff outscored Cooper Rush by 6.4 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.