Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacoby Brissett vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jacoby Brissett is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.2 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jacoby Brissett is the better fantasy play this season.

Jacoby Brissett is the better play on a neutral week. 16.2 PPG with 3,534 yards gives a reliable baseline. J.J. McCarthy at 12.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jacoby Brissett higher, but do not fade J.J. McCarthy entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBArizona Cardinals#18PPG LEADER

Jacoby Brissett

PPG

16.2

Games

Pass Yds

3,366

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

168

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBMinnesota Vikings#32

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jacoby Brissett

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

16.2 PPG12.5 PPG

14 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jacoby Brissett: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #18 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jacoby Brissett is producing at 74% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means Jacoby Brissett carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacoby Brissett vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Jacoby Brissett and J.J. McCarthy is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Arizona Cardinals quarterback put up 16.2 PPG in 2025 over 14 games; J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings averaged 12.5 in 10. A 3.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.7 points favors Jacoby Brissett, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Jacoby Brissett threw for 3366 yards and 23 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: Jacoby Brissett sits Week 14 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

Jacoby Brissett is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. J.J. McCarthy is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jacoby Brissett (age 33) 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?

•Jacoby Brissett outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacoby Brissett played 14 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Jacoby Brissett contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jacoby Brissett scored 24 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 10 years younger than Jacoby Brissett (23 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacoby Brissett vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacoby Brissett	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.2	12.5
Games Played	14	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	227	125
Passing Yards	3,366	1,632
Passing TDs	23	11
Pass Yds/Game	240.4	163.2
Rushing Yards	168	181
Rushing TDs	1	4
Total TDs	24	15
TDs/Game	1.7	1.5
Age	33	23
Experience	9 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

16.2 PPG for Jacoby Brissett versus 12.5 for J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The baseline favors Jacoby Brissett, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jacoby Brissett or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacoby Brissett has the edge at 16.2 PPG compared to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 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 Jacoby Brissett and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Jacoby Brissett averaged 16.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

When are Jacoby Brissett and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacoby Brissett (ARI) has a bye in Week 14, and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacoby Brissett or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jacoby Brissett outscored J.J. McCarthy by 3.7 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.