Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jalen Hurts vs Matthew Stafford

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Matthew Stafford is the better play on a neutral week. 20.6 PPG with 4,708 yards gives a reliable baseline. Jalen Hurts at 18.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Matthew Stafford higher, but do not fade Jalen Hurts entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Jalen Hurts

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

18.8 PPG20.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jalen Hurts is producing at 85% of elite pace and Matthew Stafford at 94%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jalen Hurts vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

Deciding between Jalen Hurts and Matthew Stafford is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback put up 18.8 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams averaged 20.6 in 17. A 1.8-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.8 points favors Matthew Stafford, 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 Matthew Stafford (4707 passing yards, 46 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: Jalen Hurts sits Week 9 while Matthew Stafford is off Week 8. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Jalen Hurts (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Jalen Hurts by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jalen Hurts's 16. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 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 11 years younger than Matthew Stafford (27 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatHurtsStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)18.820.6

Games Played1617

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)301350

Passing Yards3,2244,707

Passing TDs2546

Pass Yds/Game201.5276.9

Rushing Yards4211

Rushing TDs80

Total TDs3346

TDs/Game2.12.7

Age2738

Experience5 yrs16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 9Week 8

Summary

20.6 PPG for Matthew Stafford versus 18.8 for Jalen Hurts in 2025. The baseline favors Matthew Stafford, 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 Jalen Hurts or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Jalen Hurts's 18.8 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 Jalen Hurts and Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Jalen Hurts and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 9, and Matthew Stafford (LAR) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen Hurts or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Jalen Hurts by 1.8 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.