Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs Jalen HurtsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 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. Geno Smith (11.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jalen Hurts as the starter and Geno Smith 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#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

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

Geno Smith

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

11.6 PPG18.8 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% 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.

Geno Smith 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 Geno Smith managed 11.6 across 15 games with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 7.2-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 7.2-PPG gap gives Jalen Hurts 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.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Geno Smith (3025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Geno Smith sits Week 13 while Jalen Hurts is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jalen Hurts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Geno Smith is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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 Geno Smith by a projected 122 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Geno Smith's 15. 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.
•Jalen Hurts is 8 years younger than Geno Smith (27 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Geno Smith vs Jalen Hurts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	Jalen Hurts
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	18.8
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	301
Passing Yards	3,025	3,224
Passing TDs	19	25
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	201.5
Rushing Yards	109	421
Rushing TDs	0	8
Total TDs	19	33
TDs/Game	1.3	2.1
Age	35	27
Experience	12 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 10

Summary

Jalen Hurts outscored Geno Smith by 7.2 PPG in 2025 (18.8 to 11.6). 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 Geno Smith or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 7.2 points per game.

When are Geno Smith and Jalen Hurts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 13, and Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Geno Smith or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Geno Smith by 7.2 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.