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Head to Head

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Jayden Daniels vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Jayden Daniels's 16.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy play this season.

Patrick Mahomes is the better play on a neutral week. 20.4 PPG with 3,999 yards gives a reliable baseline. Jayden Daniels at 16.3 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Patrick Mahomes higher, but do not fade Jayden Daniels entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBWashington Commanders#17
Jayden Daniels
PPG
16.3
Games
7
Pass Yds
1,262
Pass TDs
8
Rush Yds
278
Rush TDs
2
Bye
Week 7
QBKansas City Chiefs#4PPG LEADER
Patrick Mahomes
PPG
20.4
Games
14
Pass Yds
3,587
Pass TDs
22
Rush Yds
422
Rush TDs
5
Bye
Week 5

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Jayden Daniels
Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

16.3 PPG20.4 PPG
7 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Jayden Daniels: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #17 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jayden Daniels is producing at 74% 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.

Jayden Daniels vs Patrick Mahomes: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Jayden Daniels and Patrick Mahomes for your lineup, you are not alone. Jayden Daniels finished the 2025 season at 16.3 PPG for the Washington Commanders (7 games), and Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 for the Kansas City Chiefs (14 games).

That 4.1-point weekly advantage for Patrick Mahomes is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jayden Daniels (1262 passing yards, 8 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Jayden Daniels has his bye in Week 7, 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. Jayden Daniels is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jayden Daniels (age 25) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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 Jayden Daniels by a projected 70 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Jayden Daniels's 7. 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.
  • Jayden Daniels is 5 years younger than Patrick Mahomes (25 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jayden Daniels vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJayden DanielsPatrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)16.320.4
Games Played714
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)114286
Passing Yards1,2623,587
Passing TDs822
Pass Yds/Game180.3256.2
Rushing Yards278422
Rushing TDs25
Total TDs1027
TDs/Game1.41.9
Age2530
Experience1 yrs8 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 7Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Patrick Mahomes at 20.4 PPG, 4.1 points per game above Jayden Daniels's 16.3. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jayden Daniels or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Jayden Daniels's 16.3 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 Jayden Daniels and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?

Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 7 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.1 points per game.

When are Jayden Daniels and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?

Jayden Daniels (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jayden Daniels or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Patrick Mahomes outscored Jayden Daniels by 4.1 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.