Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jared Goff vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jared Goff is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.5 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jared Goff is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Jared Goff outscored J.J. McCarthy by 5.0 PPG in 2025 with 34 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Jared Goff is the clear pick. J.J. McCarthy 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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QBDetroit Lions#12PPG LEADER

Jared Goff

PPG

17.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,564

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

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

Jared Goff

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

17.5 PPG12.5 PPG

17 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jared Goff: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #12 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jared Goff is producing at 80% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means Jared Goff carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jared Goff vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Jared Goff and J.J. McCarthy is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Detroit Lions quarterback put up 17.5 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings averaged 12.5 in 10. A 5.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.0 points favors Jared Goff, 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. Jared Goff threw for 4564 yards and 34 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.

Both share a Week 6 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Jared Goff 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: Jared Goff (age 31) 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?

•Jared Goff outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jared Goff played 17 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Jared Goff contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jared Goff scored 34 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 8 years younger than Jared Goff (23 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
•Both players share a Week 6 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jared Goff vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jared Goff	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.5	12.5
Games Played	17	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	298	125
Passing Yards	4,564	1,632
Passing TDs	34	11
Pass Yds/Game	268.5	163.2
Rushing Yards	45	181
Rushing TDs	0	4
Total TDs	34	15
TDs/Game	2.0	1.5
Age	31	23
Experience	9 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

17.5 PPG for Jared Goff versus 12.5 for J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The baseline favors Jared Goff, 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 Jared Goff or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jared Goff has the edge at 17.5 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 Jared Goff and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Jared Goff averaged 17.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

Do Jared Goff and J.J. McCarthy share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jared Goff and J.J. McCarthy share a Week 6 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Jared Goff or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jared Goff outscored J.J. McCarthy by 5.0 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.