Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Gardner Minshew vs Jalen HurtsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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. Gardner Minshew (12.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jalen Hurts as the starter and Gardner Minshew as depth.

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

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

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

Gardner Minshew

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

12.4 PPG18.8 PPG

12 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Gardner Minshew: 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, Gardner Minshew is producing at 56% 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.

Gardner Minshew vs Jalen Hurts: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Jalen Hurts put up 18.8 fantasy points per game for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025, while Gardner Minshew managed 12.4 across 12 games with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 6.4-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Jalen Hurts carries a 6.4-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 Gardner Minshew (2420 passing yards, 14 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. Gardner Minshew is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Gardner Minshew (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 Gardner Minshew by a projected 109 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Gardner Minshew's 12. 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

Gardner Minshew vs Jalen Hurts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Gardner Minshew	Jalen Hurts
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.4	18.8
Games Played	12	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	149	301
Passing Yards	2,420	3,224
Passing TDs	14	25
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	201.5
Rushing Yards	125	421
Rushing TDs	1	8
Total TDs	15	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. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 6.4 points per game.

Do Gardner Minshew and Jalen Hurts share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Gardner Minshew 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 Gardner Minshew or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Gardner Minshew 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.