Jacoby Brissett vs Jalen Hurts: Who Should You Start?
Jacoby Brissett and Jalen Hurts are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jacoby Brissett averaged 16.8 PPG across 14 games with the Arizona Cardinals, while Jalen Hurts posted 19.1 PPG in 16 appearances for the Philadelphia Eagles.
A 2.3-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 Jacoby Brissett (3366 passing yards, 23 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: Jacoby Brissett sits Week 11 while Jalen Hurts is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.