Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Jalen Hurts

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Jalen Hurts is the better fantasy play this season.

Jalen Hurts has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (18.8 to 14.9), and Jalen Hurts's 33 touchdowns show scoring upside. C.J. Stroud is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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QBHouston Texans#23

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7PPG LEADER

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Jalen Hurts

Head to Head

14.9 PPG18.8 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% 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.

C.J. Stroud vs Jalen Hurts: Who Should You Start?

C.J. Stroud and Jalen Hurts are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 PPG across 14 games with the Houston Texans, while Jalen Hurts posted 18.8 PPG in 16 appearances for the Philadelphia Eagles.

A 3.9-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 C.J. Stroud (3041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: C.J. Stroud sits Week 6 while Jalen Hurts is off Week 9. 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 Jalen Hurts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. C.J. Stroud is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: C.J. Stroud (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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 C.J. Stroud by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to C.J. Stroud's 14. 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▾

StatStroudHurts

PPG (Half-PPR)14.918.8

Games Played1416

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)209301

Passing Yards3,0413,224

Passing TDs1925

Pass Yds/Game217.2201.5

Rushing Yards209421

Rushing TDs18

Total TDs2033

TDs/Game1.42.1

Age2427

Experience2 yrs5 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 6Week 9

Summary

Jalen Hurts outscored C.J. Stroud by 3.9 PPG in 2025 (18.8 to 14.9). 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 C.J. Stroud or Jalen Hurts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 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 C.J. Stroud and Jalen Hurts average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Jalen Hurts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 6, and Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or Jalen Hurts a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored C.J. Stroud by 3.9 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.