Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

J.J. McCarthy vs Joe BurrowWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Burrow is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.8 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Joe Burrow is the better fantasy play this season.

Joe Burrow has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.3-PPG advantage is real (16.8 to 12.5), and Joe Burrow's 17 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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QBMinnesota Vikings#32

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

QBCincinnati Bengals#15PPG LEADER

Joe Burrow

PPG

16.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,809

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

J.J. McCarthy

Joe Burrow

Head to Head

12.5 PPG16.8 PPG

10 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Joe Burrow: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, J.J. McCarthy is producing at 57% of elite pace and Joe Burrow at 76%. That ranking gap means Joe Burrow carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

J.J. McCarthy vs Joe Burrow: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.5 fantasy points per game in 10 games. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) came in at 16.8 PPG over 8 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Joe Burrow carries a 4.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. J.J. McCarthy threw for 1632 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Joe Burrow posted 1809 yards and 17 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 6 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Joe Burrow 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: 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. Joe Burrow (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Joe Burrow outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•J.J. McCarthy played 10 games in 2025 compared to Joe Burrow's 8. That durability gap means J.J. McCarthy contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Burrow scored 17 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 6 years younger than Joe Burrow (23 vs 29), 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

J.J. McCarthy vs Joe Burrow: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	J.J. McCarthy	Joe Burrow
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.5	16.8
Games Played	10	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	125	134
Passing Yards	1,632	1,809
Passing TDs	11	17
Pass Yds/Game	163.2	226.1
Rushing Yards	181	41
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	15	17
TDs/Game	1.5	2.1
Age	23	29
Experience	1 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Joe Burrow holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.8 points per game. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start J.J. McCarthy or Joe Burrow in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Burrow has the edge at 16.8 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 J.J. McCarthy and Joe Burrow average in 2025?▾

J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Joe Burrow averaged 16.8 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 4.3 points per game.

Do J.J. McCarthy and Joe Burrow share a bye week?▾

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

Is J.J. McCarthy or Joe Burrow a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Joe Burrow outscored J.J. McCarthy by 4.3 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.