Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deshaun Watson vs Jalen HurtsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 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. Deshaun Watson (12.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jalen Hurts as the starter and Deshaun Watson as depth.

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

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QBCleveland Browns#99

Deshaun Watson

PPG

12.2

Games

Pass Yds

2,105

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

185

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

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

Deshaun Watson

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

12.2 PPG18.8 PPG

11 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Deshaun Watson: 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, Deshaun Watson is producing at 55% 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.

Deshaun Watson vs Jalen Hurts: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns, 12.2 PPG) by 6.6 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Jalen Hurts carries a 6.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Deshaun Watson (2105 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.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jalen Hurts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Deshaun Watson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Deshaun Watson (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 Deshaun Watson by a projected 112 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Deshaun Watson's 11. 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.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deshaun Watson vs Jalen Hurts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deshaun Watson	Jalen Hurts
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.2	18.8
Games Played	11	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	134	301
Passing Yards	2,105	3,224
Passing TDs	12	25
Pass Yds/Game	191.4	201.5
Rushing Yards	185	421
Rushing TDs	2	8
Total TDs	14	33
TDs/Game	1.3	2.1
Age	-	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jalen Hurts holds the PPG edge with strong output at 18.8 points per game. Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Deshaun Watson or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 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 Deshaun Watson and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 6.6 points per game.

Do Deshaun Watson and Jalen Hurts share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Deshaun Watson and Jalen Hurts share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Deshaun Watson or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Deshaun Watson by 6.6 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.