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Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Joe Flacco or Patrick MahomesWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Patrick Mahomes over Joe Flacco in 2026.

Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG in 2025 to Joe Flacco's 11.3, a 9.1 point per game edge. Both play quarterbacks, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit. Patrick Mahomes is Tier 1 at the position, Joe Flacco is Tier 7.

The Bottom Line

Patrick Mahomes is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.4 PPG and 3,999 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Joe Flacco (11.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Joe Flacco as depth.

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

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QBCincinnati Bengals#37

Joe Flacco

PPG

11.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,479

Pass TDs

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

Joe Flacco

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

11.3 PPG20.4 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Flacco: Tier 7 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Flacco is producing at 51% 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.

Joe Flacco 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 Joe Flacco managed 11.3 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 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

If you can acquire Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Flacco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Joe Flacco (age 41) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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 Joe Flacco by a projected 155 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Joe Flacco's 13. 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.
•Patrick Mahomes is 11 years younger than Joe Flacco (30 vs 41), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joe Flacco vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joe Flacco	Patrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.3	20.4
Games Played	13	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	147	286
Passing Yards	2,479	3,587
Passing TDs	15	22
Pass Yds/Game	190.7	256.2
Rushing Yards	35	422
Rushing TDs	1	5
Total TDs	16	27
TDs/Game	1.2	1.9
Age	41	30
Experience	17 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Patrick Mahomes holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.4 points per game. Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Joe Flacco or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Joe Flacco's 11.3 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.

Should I draft Joe Flacco or Patrick Mahomes in 2026 fantasy football?▾

Patrick Mahomes is the earlier pick. He averaged 20.4 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Joe Flacco's 11.3, a 9.1 point per game edge over a full season. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Joe Flacco and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 9.1 points per game.

When are Joe Flacco and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Flacco (CIN) 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 Joe Flacco or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Joe Flacco by 9.1 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.