Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy play this season.

Patrick Mahomes is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.4 PPG and 3,999 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Andy Dalton (9.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Andy Dalton as depth.

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

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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBKansas City Chiefs#4PPG LEADER

Patrick Mahomes

PPG

20.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,587

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

422

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

9.8 PPG20.4 PPG

10 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Patrick Mahomes at 93%. That ranking gap means Patrick Mahomes carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Patrick Mahomes: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games in 2025, outscoring Andy Dalton (Carolina Panthers, 9.8 PPG) by 10.6 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 10.6-PPG gap gives Patrick Mahomes 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.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Andy Dalton (1925 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: Andy Dalton is off Week 11 and Patrick Mahomes Week 5. 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 Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Andy Dalton is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Patrick Mahomes (age 30) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Patrick Mahomes outscored Andy Dalton by a projected 180 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. That durability gap means Patrick Mahomes contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Patrick Mahomes scored 27 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Patrick Mahomes added 422 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Patrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	20.4
Games Played	10	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	286
Passing Yards	1,925	3,587
Passing TDs	10	22
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	256.2
Rushing Yards	42	422
Rushing TDs	0	5
Total TDs	10	27
TDs/Game	1.0	1.9
Age	-	30
Experience	-	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 5

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Andy Dalton by 10.6 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 9.8). 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 Andy Dalton or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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 Andy Dalton and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 10.6 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Andy Dalton by 10.6 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.