Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jalen Hurts vs Marcus Mariota

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

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. Marcus Mariota (12.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jalen Hurts as the starter and Marcus Mariota as depth.

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

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QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7PPG LEADER

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Jalen Hurts

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

18.8 PPG12.6 PPG

16 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jalen Hurts is producing at 85% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Jalen Hurts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jalen Hurts vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) averaged 18.8 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders, 12.6 PPG) by 6.2 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Jalen Hurts carries a 6.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Jalen Hurts offers meaningful rushing upside with 421 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Marcus Mariota (1695 passing yards, 10 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: Jalen Hurts is off Week 9 and Marcus Mariota Week 12. 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

If you can acquire Jalen Hurts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Marcus Mariota is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jalen Hurts (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Jalen Hurts outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 105 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota's 10. 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.
•Jalen Hurts is 5 years younger than Marcus Mariota (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatHurtsMariota

PPG (Half-PPR)18.812.6

Games Played1610

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)301126

Passing Yards3,2241,695

Passing TDs2510

Pass Yds/Game201.5169.5

Rushing Yards421297

Rushing TDs81

Total TDs3311

TDs/Game2.11.1

Age2732

Experience5 yrs10 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 9Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jalen Hurts holds the PPG edge with strong output at 18.8 points per game. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jalen Hurts or Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jalen Hurts has the edge at 18.8 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Jalen Hurts and Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 6.2 points per game.

When are Jalen Hurts and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 9, and Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen Hurts or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts outscored Marcus Mariota by 6.2 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.