Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

J.J. McCarthy vs Jordan LoveWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jordan Love is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jordan Love is the better fantasy play this season.

Jordan Love is the better play on a neutral week. 15.7 PPG with 3,580 yards gives a reliable baseline. J.J. McCarthy at 12.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jordan Love higher, but do not fade J.J. McCarthy entirely.

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

QBGreen Bay Packers#21PPG LEADER

Jordan Love

PPG

15.7

Games

Pass Yds

3,381

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

199

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

J.J. McCarthy

Jordan Love

Head to Head

12.5 PPG15.7 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Jordan Love: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #21 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, J.J. McCarthy is producing at 57% of elite pace and Jordan Love at 71%. That ranking gap means Jordan Love carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

J.J. McCarthy vs Jordan Love: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between J.J. McCarthy and Jordan Love is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback put up 12.5 PPG in 2025 over 10 games; Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers averaged 15.7 in 15. A 3.2-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.2 points favors Jordan Love, 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. J.J. McCarthy threw for 1632 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Jordan Love posted 3381 yards and 23 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: J.J. McCarthy is off Week 6 and Jordan Love Week 11. 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

Jordan Love 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: 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. Jordan Love (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Jordan Love outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jordan Love played 15 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Jordan Love contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jordan Love scored 23 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 4 years younger than Jordan Love (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

J.J. McCarthy vs Jordan Love: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	J.J. McCarthy	Jordan Love
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.5	15.7
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	125	236
Passing Yards	1,632	3,381
Passing TDs	11	23
Pass Yds/Game	163.2	225.4
Rushing Yards	181	199
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	15	23
TDs/Game	1.5	1.5
Age	23	27
Experience	1 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

15.7 PPG for Jordan Love versus 12.5 for J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The baseline favors Jordan Love, 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 J.J. McCarthy or Jordan Love in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jordan Love has the edge at 15.7 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 Jordan Love average in 2025?▾

J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jordan Love averaged 15.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are J.J. McCarthy and Jordan Love's bye weeks in 2026?▾

J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Jordan Love (GB) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is J.J. McCarthy or Jordan Love a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jordan Love outscored J.J. McCarthy by 3.2 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.