Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jameis Winston vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Jameis Winston's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Patrick Mahomes outscored Jameis Winston by 9.5 PPG in 2025 with 27 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Patrick Mahomes is the clear pick. Jameis Winston profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jameis Winston and Patrick Mahomes in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

QBCleveland Browns#99

Jameis Winston

PPG

10.9

Games

Pass Yds

2,125

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

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

Jameis Winston

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

10.9 PPG20.4 PPG

10 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Jameis Winston: 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, Jameis Winston is producing at 50% 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.

Jameis Winston vs Patrick Mahomes: The Full Breakdown

Patrick Mahomes and Jameis Winston are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback averaged 20.4 PPG in 2025, a full 9.5 points per game ahead of Jameis Winston's 10.9 with the Cleveland Browns. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

The per-game difference of 9.5 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 Jameis Winston (2125 passing yards, 13 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Jameis Winston has his bye in Week 10, and Patrick Mahomes rests in Week 5. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Patrick Mahomes is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Jameis Winston is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jameis Winston (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 Jameis Winston by a projected 161 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Jameis Winston'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

Jameis Winston vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jameis Winston	Patrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.9	20.4
Games Played	10	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	109	286
Passing Yards	2,125	3,587
Passing TDs	13	22
Pass Yds/Game	212.5	256.2
Rushing Yards	45	422
Rushing TDs	1	5
Total TDs	14	27
TDs/Game	1.4	1.9
Age	-	30
Experience	-	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 5

Summary

20.4 PPG for Patrick Mahomes versus 10.9 for Jameis Winston in 2025. The baseline favors Patrick Mahomes, 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jameis Winston vs Patrick Mahomes

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 →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Jameis Winston vs Patrick Mahomes

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jameis Winston or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Jameis Winston's 10.9 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 Jameis Winston and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Jameis Winston averaged 10.9 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 9.5 points per game.

When are Jameis Winston and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jameis Winston (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jameis Winston or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Jameis Winston by 9.5 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.