Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

J.J. McCarthy vs Matthew StaffordWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.6 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Matthew Stafford is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.6 PPG and 4,708 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. J.J. McCarthy (12.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Matthew Stafford as the starter and J.J. McCarthy as depth.

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

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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

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

J.J. McCarthy

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

12.5 PPG20.6 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, J.J. McCarthy is producing at 57% of elite pace and Matthew Stafford at 94%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

J.J. McCarthy vs Matthew Stafford: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Matthew Stafford put up 20.6 fantasy points per game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, while J.J. McCarthy managed 12.5 across 10 games with the Minnesota Vikings. A 8.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Matthew Stafford carries a 8.1-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 Matthew Stafford posted 4707 yards and 46 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: J.J. McCarthy sits Week 6 while Matthew Stafford is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Matthew Stafford 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. Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•J.J. McCarthy is 15 years younger than Matthew Stafford (23 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

J.J. McCarthy vs Matthew Stafford: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	J.J. McCarthy	Matthew Stafford
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.5	20.6
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	125	350
Passing Yards	1,632	4,707
Passing TDs	11	46
Pass Yds/Game	163.2	276.9
Rushing Yards	181	1
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	15	46
TDs/Game	1.5	2.7
Age	23	38
Experience	1 yrs	16 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Matthew Stafford holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.6 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 Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 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 Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are J.J. McCarthy and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is J.J. McCarthy or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored J.J. McCarthy by 8.1 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.