DraftCall
DraftCallFantasy Football

Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Jalen Hurts vs Jayden DanielsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Jayden Daniels's 16.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy play this season.

Jalen Hurts is the better play on a neutral week. 18.8 PPG with 3,645 yards gives a reliable baseline. Jayden Daniels at 16.3 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jalen Hurts higher, but do not fade Jayden Daniels entirely.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App
QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7PPG LEADER
Jalen Hurts
PPG
18.8
Games
16
Pass Yds
3,224
Pass TDs
25
Rush Yds
421
Rush TDs
8
Bye
Week 10
QBWashington Commanders#17
Jayden Daniels
PPG
16.3
Games
7
Pass Yds
1,262
Pass TDs
8
Rush Yds
278
Rush TDs
2
Bye
Week 7

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Jalen Hurts
Jayden Daniels

Head to Head

18.8 PPG16.3 PPG
16 GP7 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Jayden Daniels: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jalen Hurts is producing at 85% of elite pace and Jayden Daniels at 74%. That ranking gap means Jalen Hurts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jalen Hurts vs Jayden Daniels: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels for your lineup, you are not alone. Jalen Hurts finished the 2025 season at 18.8 PPG for the Philadelphia Eagles (16 games), and Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 for the Washington Commanders (7 games).

That 2.5-point weekly advantage for Jalen Hurts is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jayden Daniels (1262 passing yards, 8 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Jalen Hurts has his bye in Week 10, and Jayden Daniels rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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: Jalen Hurts (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Jayden Daniels (age 25) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

  • Jalen Hurts outscored Jayden Daniels by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jayden Daniels's 7. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jalen Hurts vs Jayden Daniels: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJalen HurtsJayden Daniels
PPG (Half-PPR)18.816.3
Games Played167
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)301114
Passing Yards3,2241,262
Passing TDs258
Pass Yds/Game201.5180.3
Rushing Yards421278
Rushing TDs82
Total TDs3310
TDs/Game2.11.4
Age2725
Experience5 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jalen Hurts at 18.8 PPG, 2.5 points per game above Jayden Daniels's 16.3. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

DraftCall app on iPhone

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jalen Hurts vs Jayden Daniels

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 Jalen Hurts vs Jayden Daniels

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 Jalen Hurts or Jayden Daniels in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Jayden Daniels's 16.3 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 Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels average in 2025?

Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 PPG over 7 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels's bye weeks in 2026?

Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Jayden Daniels (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen Hurts or Jayden Daniels a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Jalen Hurts outscored Jayden Daniels by 2.5 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.