Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

J.J. McCarthy is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.5 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

J.J. McCarthy is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, J.J. McCarthy and Geno Smith are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.9-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Geno Smith and J.J. McCarthy in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

QBMinnesota Vikings#32PPG LEADER

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Geno Smith

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

11.6 PPG12.5 PPG

15 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Geno Smith vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Geno Smith (11.6 PPG) and J.J. McCarthy (12.5 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two quarterbacks are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Geno Smith played 15 games for the Las Vegas Raiders; J.J. McCarthy suited up 10 times for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 0.9-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Geno Smith threw for 3025 yards and 19 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Geno Smith sits Week 13 while J.J. McCarthy 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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?

•J.J. McCarthy outscored Geno Smith by a projected 15 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Geno Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Geno Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Geno Smith scored 19 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 12 years younger than Geno Smith (23 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Geno Smith vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	12.5
Games Played	15	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	125
Passing Yards	3,025	1,632
Passing TDs	19	11
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	163.2
Rushing Yards	109	181
Rushing TDs	0	4
Total TDs	19	15
TDs/Game	1.3	1.5
Age	35	23
Experience	12 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 6

Summary

12.5 PPG for J.J. McCarthy versus 11.6 for Geno Smith in 2025. The baseline favors J.J. McCarthy, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Geno Smith vs J.J. McCarthy

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Geno Smith vs J.J. McCarthy

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Geno Smith or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, J.J. McCarthy has the edge at 12.5 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 J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 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 0.9 points per game.

When are Geno Smith and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Geno Smith or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

J.J. McCarthy outscored Geno Smith by 0.9 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.