Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

J.J. McCarthy vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to J.J. McCarthy's 12.5 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 J.J. McCarthy by 7.9 PPG in 2025 with 27 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Patrick Mahomes is the clear pick. J.J. McCarthy 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.

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QBMinnesota Vikings#32

J.J. McCarthy

PPG

12.5

Games

Pass Yds

1,632

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

181

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

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

J.J. McCarthy

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

12.5 PPG20.4 PPG

10 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

J.J. McCarthy: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #32 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, J.J. McCarthy is producing at 57% 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.

J.J. McCarthy vs Patrick Mahomes: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Patrick Mahomes put up 20.4 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while J.J. McCarthy managed 12.5 across 10 games with the Minnesota Vikings. A 7.9-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

That 7.9-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 J.J. McCarthy (1632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: J.J. McCarthy sits Week 6 while Patrick Mahomes is off Week 5. 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

Patrick Mahomes is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. J.J. McCarthy is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. 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. 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 J.J. McCarthy by a projected 134 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to J.J. McCarthy'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.
•J.J. McCarthy is 7 years younger than Patrick Mahomes (23 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

J.J. McCarthy vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	J.J. McCarthy	Patrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.5	20.4
Games Played	10	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	125	286
Passing Yards	1,632	3,587
Passing TDs	11	22
Pass Yds/Game	163.2	256.2
Rushing Yards	181	422
Rushing TDs	4	5
Total TDs	15	27
TDs/Game	1.5	1.9
Age	23	30
Experience	1 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Patrick Mahomes at 20.4 PPG, 7.9 points per game above J.J. McCarthy's 12.5. 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 J.J. McCarthy or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 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 Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

J.J. McCarthy averaged 12.5 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 7.9 points per game.

When are J.J. McCarthy and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

J.J. McCarthy (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is J.J. McCarthy or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored J.J. McCarthy by 7.9 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.