Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

J.J. McCarthy vs Trevor Lawrence

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Trevor Lawrence is the better fantasy play this season.

Trevor Lawrence is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 19.9 PPG and 4,366 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 Trevor Lawrence 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

The DraftCall app pushes alerts the moment J.J. McCarthy or Trevor Lawrence's status changes. Free.

Get the App

QBMinnesota Vikings#32

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

QBJacksonville Jaguars#5PPG LEADER

Trevor Lawrence

PPG

19.9

Games

Pass Yds

4,007

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

359

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

J.J. McCarthy

Trevor Lawrence

Head to Head

12.5 PPG19.9 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Trevor Lawrence: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, J.J. McCarthy is producing at 57% of elite pace and Trevor Lawrence at 90%. That ranking gap means Trevor Lawrence carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

J.J. McCarthy vs Trevor Lawrence: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Trevor Lawrence put up 19.9 fantasy points per game for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, while J.J. McCarthy managed 12.5 across 10 games with the Minnesota Vikings. A 7.4-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Trevor Lawrence carries a 7.4-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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. J.J. McCarthy threw for 1632 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Trevor Lawrence posted 4007 yards and 29 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: J.J. McCarthy sits Week 6 while Trevor Lawrence 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

If you can acquire Trevor Lawrence 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: 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. Trevor Lawrence (age 26) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Trevor Lawrence outscored J.J. McCarthy by a projected 126 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trevor Lawrence played 17 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy's 10. That durability gap means Trevor Lawrence contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trevor Lawrence scored 38 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Trevor Lawrence added 359 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatMcCarthyLawrence

PPG (Half-PPR)12.519.9

Games Played1017

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)125338

Passing Yards1,6324,007

Passing TDs1129

Pass Yds/Game163.2235.7

Rushing Yards181359

Rushing TDs49

Total TDs1538

TDs/Game1.52.2

Age2326

Experience1 yrs4 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 6Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Trevor Lawrence holds the PPG edge with strong output at 19.9 points per game. J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on J.J. McCarthy vs Trevor Lawrence

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start J.J. McCarthy or Trevor Lawrence in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trevor Lawrence has the edge at 19.9 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 J.J. McCarthy and Trevor Lawrence average in 2025?▾

J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Trevor Lawrence averaged 19.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.4 points per game.

When are J.J. McCarthy and Trevor Lawrence's bye weeks in 2026?▾

J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Trevor Lawrence (JAX) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is J.J. McCarthy or Trevor Lawrence a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Trevor Lawrence outscored J.J. McCarthy by 7.4 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.