Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs Jared GoffWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jared Goff is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.5 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jared Goff is the better fantasy play this season.

Jared Goff is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.5 PPG and 4,609 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 Jared Goff 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

QBDetroit Lions#12PPG LEADER

Jared Goff

PPG

17.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,564

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Geno Smith

Jared Goff

Head to Head

11.6 PPG17.5 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Jared Goff: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #12 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% of elite pace and Jared Goff at 80%. That ranking gap means Jared Goff carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Geno Smith vs Jared Goff: The Full Breakdown

Geno Smith and Jared Goff are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 PPG across 15 games with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Jared Goff posted 17.5 PPG in 17 appearances for the Detroit Lions.

A 5.9-PPG gap gives Jared Goff 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. Geno Smith threw for 3025 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Jared Goff posted 4564 yards and 34 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Geno Smith sits Week 13 while Jared Goff is off Week 6. 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 Jared Goff 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. Jared Goff (age 31) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Jared Goff outscored Geno Smith by a projected 100 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jared Goff played 17 games in 2025 compared to Geno Smith's 15. That durability gap means Jared Goff contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jared Goff scored 34 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Jared Goff is 4 years younger than Geno Smith (31 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Geno Smith vs Jared Goff: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	Jared Goff
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	17.5
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	298
Passing Yards	3,025	4,564
Passing TDs	19	34
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	268.5
Rushing Yards	109	45
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	19	34
TDs/Game	1.3	2.0
Age	35	31
Experience	12 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 6

Summary

Jared Goff outscored Geno Smith by 5.9 PPG in 2025 (17.5 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 Jared Goff in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jared Goff has the edge at 17.5 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 Jared Goff average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jared Goff averaged 17.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.9 points per game.

When are Geno Smith and Jared Goff's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 13, and Jared Goff (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Geno Smith or Jared Goff a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jared Goff outscored Geno Smith by 5.9 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.