Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Derek Carr vs Jalen HurtsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.8 PPG to Derek Carr's 15.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy play this season.

Jalen Hurts is the better play on a neutral week. 18.8 PPG with 3,645 yards gives a reliable baseline. Derek Carr at 15.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jalen Hurts higher, but do not fade Derek Carr entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBNew Orleans Saints#99

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

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

Derek Carr

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

15.8 PPG18.8 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Derek Carr: 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, Derek Carr is producing at 72% 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.

Derek Carr vs Jalen Hurts: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Derek Carr and Jalen Hurts is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New Orleans Saints quarterback put up 15.8 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles averaged 18.8 in 16. A 3.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.0 points favors Jalen Hurts, 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.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Derek Carr (3428 passing yards, 22 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Derek Carr has his bye in Week 12, and Jalen Hurts rests in Week 10. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Jalen Hurts is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Derek Carr is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Derek Carr (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 Derek Carr by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Derek Carr's 15. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derek Carr vs Jalen Hurts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derek Carr	Jalen Hurts
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.8	18.8
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	237	301
Passing Yards	3,428	3,224
Passing TDs	22	25
Pass Yds/Game	228.5	201.5
Rushing Yards	105	421
Rushing TDs	1	8
Total TDs	23	33
TDs/Game	1.5	2.1
Age	-	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 10

Summary

18.8 PPG for Jalen Hurts versus 15.8 for Derek Carr in 2025. The baseline favors Jalen Hurts, 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 Derek Carr or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Derek Carr's 15.8 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 Derek Carr and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Derek Carr and Jalen Hurts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derek Carr (NO) has a bye in Week 12, and Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derek Carr or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Derek Carr by 3.0 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.