Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derek Carr vs Jaxson DartWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.3 PPG to Derek Carr's 15.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaxson Dart is the better play on a neutral week. 17.3 PPG with 2,759 yards gives a reliable baseline. Derek Carr at 15.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jaxson Dart higher, but do not fade Derek Carr entirely.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Derek Carr and Jaxson Dart in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

QBNew Orleans Saints#99

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

QBNew York Giants#14PPG LEADER

Jaxson Dart

PPG

17.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,272

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

487

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Derek Carr

Jaxson Dart

Head to Head

15.8 PPG17.3 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Derek Carr: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jaxson Dart: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Derek Carr is producing at 72% of elite pace and Jaxson Dart at 79%. That ranking gap means Jaxson Dart carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derek Carr vs Jaxson Dart: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Derek Carr and Jaxson Dart is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New Orleans Saints quarterback put up 15.8 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants averaged 17.3 in 14. A 1.5-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.5 points favors Jaxson Dart, 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.

Jaxson Dart offers meaningful rushing upside with 487 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Derek Carr (3428 passing yards, 22 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Derek Carr has his bye in Week 12, and Jaxson Dart rests in Week 8. 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: Derek Carr (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Jaxson Dart (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?

•Jaxson Dart outscored Derek Carr by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derek Carr played 15 games in 2025 compared to Jaxson Dart's 14. That durability gap means Derek Carr contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaxson Dart scored 24 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Jaxson Dart added 487 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derek Carr vs Jaxson Dart: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derek Carr	Jaxson Dart
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.8	17.3
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	237	242
Passing Yards	3,428	2,272
Passing TDs	22	15
Pass Yds/Game	228.5	162.3
Rushing Yards	105	487
Rushing TDs	1	9
Total TDs	23	24
TDs/Game	1.5	1.7
Age	-	23
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 8

Summary

17.3 PPG for Jaxson Dart versus 15.8 for Derek Carr in 2025. The baseline favors Jaxson Dart, 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Derek Carr vs Jaxson Dart

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Derek Carr vs Jaxson Dart

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derek Carr or Jaxson Dart in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaxson Dart has the edge at 17.3 PPG compared to Derek Carr's 15.8 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 Derek Carr and Jaxson Dart average in 2025?▾

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jaxson Dart averaged 17.3 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Derek Carr and Jaxson Dart's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derek Carr (NO) has a bye in Week 12, and Jaxson Dart (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derek Carr or Jaxson Dart a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jaxson Dart outscored Derek Carr by 1.5 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.