Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derek Carr vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derek Carr is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.8 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derek Carr is the better fantasy play this season.

Derek Carr has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.3-PPG advantage is real (15.8 to 12.5), and Derek Carr's 23 touchdowns show scoring upside. J.J. McCarthy is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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QBNew Orleans Saints#99PPG LEADER

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

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

Derek Carr

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

15.8 PPG12.5 PPG

15 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Derek Carr: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Derek Carr is producing at 72% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means J.J. McCarthy carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derek Carr vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Derek Carr and J.J. McCarthy are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Derek Carr averaged 15.8 PPG across 15 games with the New Orleans Saints, while J.J. McCarthy posted 12.5 PPG in 10 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 3.3-PPG gap gives Derek Carr 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. Derek Carr threw for 3428 yards and 22 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.

Derek Carr has his bye in Week 12, 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

If you can acquire Derek Carr at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. J.J. McCarthy is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Derek Carr (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. 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?

•Derek Carr outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derek Carr played 15 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Derek Carr contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Derek Carr scored 23 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derek Carr vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derek Carr	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.8	12.5
Games Played	15	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	237	125
Passing Yards	3,428	1,632
Passing TDs	22	11
Pass Yds/Game	228.5	163.2
Rushing Yards	105	181
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	23	15
TDs/Game	1.5	1.5
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 6

Summary

Derek Carr outscored J.J. McCarthy by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (15.8 to 12.5). 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 Derek Carr or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derek Carr has the edge at 15.8 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 Derek Carr and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Derek Carr and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derek Carr (NO) has a bye in Week 12, and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derek Carr or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Derek Carr outscored J.J. McCarthy by 3.3 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.