Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Aidan O'Connell vs Jalen HurtsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Aidan O'Connell's 12.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy play this season.

Jalen Hurts is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 18.8 PPG and 3,645 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Aidan O'Connell (12.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jalen Hurts as the starter and Aidan O'Connell as depth.

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

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Aidan O'Connell

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

2,650

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7PPG LEADER

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Aidan O'Connell

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

12.8 PPG18.8 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Aidan O'Connell: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Aidan O'Connell is producing at 58% of elite pace and Jalen Hurts at 85%. That ranking gap means Jalen Hurts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aidan O'Connell vs Jalen Hurts: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas Raiders, 12.8 PPG) by 6.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.0-PPG gap gives Jalen Hurts 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.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Aidan O'Connell (2650 passing yards, 16 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 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 Jalen Hurts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Aidan O'Connell is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Aidan O'Connell (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Jalen Hurts (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Jalen Hurts outscored Aidan O'Connell by a projected 102 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Aidan O'Connell's 13. That durability gap means Jalen Hurts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jalen Hurts scored 33 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Jalen Hurts added 421 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aidan O'Connell vs Jalen Hurts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aidan O'Connell	Jalen Hurts
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.8	18.8
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	166	301
Passing Yards	2,650	3,224
Passing TDs	16	25
Pass Yds/Game	203.8	201.5
Rushing Yards	68	421
Rushing TDs	0	8
Total TDs	16	33
TDs/Game	1.2	2.1
Age	-	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

Jalen Hurts outscored Aidan O'Connell by 6.0 PPG in 2025 (18.8 to 12.8). 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 Aidan O'Connell or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Aidan O'Connell's 12.8 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 Aidan O'Connell and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

Aidan O'Connell averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 6.0 points per game.

Do Aidan O'Connell and Jalen Hurts share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Aidan O'Connell and Jalen Hurts share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Aidan O'Connell or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Aidan O'Connell by 6.0 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.