Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Drake Maye vs J.J. McCarthy

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.7 PPG and 4,846 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. J.J. McCarthy (12.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Drake Maye as the starter and J.J. McCarthy as depth.

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

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QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER

Drake Maye

PPG

20.7

Games

Pass Yds

4,394

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

450

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

Drake Maye

J.J. McCarthy

Head to Head

20.7 PPG12.5 PPG

17 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and J.J. McCarthy at 57%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs J.J. McCarthy: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Drake Maye put up 20.7 fantasy points per game for the New England Patriots in 2025, while J.J. McCarthy managed 12.5 across 10 games with the Minnesota Vikings. A 8.2-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 8.2-PPG gap gives Drake Maye 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.

Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Drake Maye sits Week 14 while J.J. McCarthy is off Week 6. 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 Drake Maye at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. J.J. McCarthy is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Drake Maye (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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?

•Drake Maye outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 139 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Drake Maye contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatMayeMcCarthy

PPG (Half-PPR)20.712.5

Games Played1710

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)352125

Passing Yards4,3941,632

Passing TDs3111

Pass Yds/Game258.5163.2

Rushing Yards450181

Rushing TDs44

Total TDs3515

TDs/Game2.11.5

Age2323

Experience1 yrs1 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 6

Summary

Drake Maye outscored J.J. McCarthy by 8.2 PPG in 2025 (20.7 to 12.5). 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 Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 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 Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy average in 2025?▾

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 8.2 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Drake Maye (NE) 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 Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Drake Maye outscored J.J. McCarthy by 8.2 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.