Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jayden Daniels vs J.J. McCarthyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jayden Daniels is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.3 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jayden Daniels is the better fantasy play this season.

Jayden Daniels has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (16.3 to 12.5), and Jayden Daniels's 10 touchdowns show scoring upside. J.J. McCarthy is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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QBWashington Commanders#17PPG LEADER

Jayden Daniels

PPG

16.3

Games

Pass Yds

1,262

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

278

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

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

Jayden Daniels

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

16.3 PPG12.5 PPG

7 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jayden Daniels: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #17 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jayden Daniels is producing at 74% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means Jayden Daniels carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jayden Daniels vs J.J. McCarthy: The Full Breakdown

Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 PPG across 7 games with the Washington Commanders, while J.J. McCarthy posted 12.5 PPG in 10 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 3.8-PPG gap gives Jayden Daniels 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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Jayden Daniels threw for 1262 yards and 8 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.

One scheduling note: Jayden Daniels is off Week 7 and J.J. McCarthy Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jayden Daniels at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. J.J. McCarthy is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jayden Daniels (age 25) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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?

•Jayden Daniels outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•J.J. McCarthy played 10 games in 2025 compared to Jayden Daniels's 7. That durability gap means J.J. McCarthy contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•J.J. McCarthy scored 15 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jayden Daniels vs J.J. McCarthy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jayden Daniels	J.J. McCarthy
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.3	12.5
Games Played	7	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	114	125
Passing Yards	1,262	1,632
Passing TDs	8	11
Pass Yds/Game	180.3	163.2
Rushing Yards	278	181
Rushing TDs	2	4
Total TDs	10	15
TDs/Game	1.4	1.5
Age	25	23
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

Jayden Daniels outscored J.J. McCarthy by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (16.3 to 12.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jayden Daniels has the edge at 16.3 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 Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 7 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jayden Daniels (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jayden Daniels outscored J.J. McCarthy by 3.8 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.