Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs J.J. McCarthy

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Anthony Richardson outscored J.J. McCarthy by 7.0 PPG in 2025 with 25 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Anthony Richardson is the clear pick. J.J. McCarthy profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

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QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBMinnesota Vikings#32

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

19.5 PPG12.5 PPG

13 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means J.J. McCarthy carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs J.J. McCarthy: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts) averaged 19.5 PPG over 13 games in 2025, outscoring J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings, 12.5 PPG) by 7.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

That 7.0-point weekly advantage for Anthony Richardson is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like J.J. McCarthy (1632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Anthony Richardson is off Week 14 and J.J. McCarthy Week 6. 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

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

Did You Know?

•Anthony Richardson outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 119 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson played 13 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Anthony Richardson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Anthony Richardson scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Anthony Richardson added 580 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatRichardsonMcCarthy

PPG (Half-PPR)19.512.5

Games Played1310

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254125

Passing Yards2,7181,632

Passing TDs1811

Pass Yds/Game209.1163.2

Rushing Yards580181

Rushing TDs74

Total TDs2515

TDs/Game1.91.5

Age-23

Experience-1 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Anthony Richardson at 19.5 PPG, 7.0 points per game above J.J. McCarthy's 12.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 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 Anthony Richardson and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 7.0 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored J.J. McCarthy by 7.0 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.