J.J. McCarthy vs Tua Tagovailoa: Who Should You Start?
The gap between J.J. McCarthy and Tua Tagovailoa is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.1 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. J.J. McCarthy averaged 13.7 PPG with the Minnesota Vikings across 10 games, and Tua Tagovailoa posted 12.6 with the Atlanta Falcons in 14.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. J.J. McCarthy threw for 1632 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Tua Tagovailoa posted 2660 yards and 20 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
J.J. McCarthy has his bye in Week 6, and Tua Tagovailoa rests in Week 12. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
