Joe Flacco vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?
The numbers tell a clear story here. Patrick Mahomes put up 21.2 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Joe Flacco managed 12.1 across 13 games with the Cincinnati Bengals. A 9.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.
Patrick Mahomes carries a 9.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Joe Flacco (2479 passing yards, 15 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: Joe Flacco sits Week 12 while Patrick Mahomes is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
