Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jalen Hurts vs Michael Penix Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Michael Penix Jr.'s 13.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Jalen Hurts outscored Michael Penix Jr. by 5.4 PPG in 2025 with 33 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Jalen Hurts is the clear pick. Michael Penix Jr. profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7PPG LEADER

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBAtlanta Falcons#29

Michael Penix Jr.

PPG

13.4

Games

Pass Yds

1,982

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jalen Hurts

Michael Penix Jr.

Head to Head

18.8 PPG13.4 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Michael Penix Jr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jalen Hurts is producing at 85% of elite pace and Michael Penix Jr. at 61%. That ranking gap means Jalen Hurts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jalen Hurts vs Michael Penix Jr.: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Jalen Hurts and Michael Penix Jr. is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback put up 18.8 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Michael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons averaged 13.4 in 9. A 5.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.4 points favors Jalen Hurts, 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.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Michael Penix Jr. (1982 passing yards, 9 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 Michael Penix Jr. rests in Week 11. 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

Jalen Hurts is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Michael Penix Jr. is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jalen Hurts (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Michael Penix Jr. (age 26) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Jalen Hurts outscored Michael Penix Jr. by a projected 92 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Michael Penix Jr.'s 9. 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 Michael Penix Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jalen Hurts	Michael Penix Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	18.8	13.4
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	301	121
Passing Yards	3,224	1,982
Passing TDs	25	9
Pass Yds/Game	201.5	220.2
Rushing Yards	421	70
Rushing TDs	8	1
Total TDs	33	10
TDs/Game	2.1	1.1
Age	27	26
Experience	5 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

18.8 PPG for Jalen Hurts versus 13.4 for Michael Penix Jr. in 2025. The baseline favors Jalen Hurts, 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 Jalen Hurts or Michael Penix Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Michael Penix Jr.'s 13.4 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 Michael Penix Jr. average in 2025?▾

Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Penix Jr. averaged 13.4 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 5.4 points per game.

When are Jalen Hurts and Michael Penix Jr.'s bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Michael Penix Jr. (ATL) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen Hurts or Michael Penix Jr. a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Michael Penix Jr. by 5.4 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.