Jake Browning vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?
Patrick Mahomes and Jake Browning are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback averaged 21.2 PPG in 2025, a full 9.9 points per game ahead of Jake Browning's 11.3 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
The per-game difference of 9.9 points favors Patrick Mahomes, 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.
Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jake Browning (771 passing yards, 6 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.
Jake Browning has his bye in Week 11, and Patrick Mahomes rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
