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Head to Head

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Mac Jones vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Mac Jones's 11.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy play this season.

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. Mac Jones (11.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Mac Jones as depth.

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

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QBSan Francisco 49ers#33
Mac Jones
PPG
11.8
Games
11
Pass Yds
2,151
Pass TDs
13
Bye
Week 8
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
Mac Jones
Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

11.8 PPG20.4 PPG
11 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Mac Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #33 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Mac Jones is producing at 54% 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.

Mac Jones 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 Mac Jones managed 11.8 across 11 games with the San Francisco 49ers. A 8.6-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 8.6-PPG gap gives Patrick Mahomes the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Mac Jones (2151 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Mac Jones sits Week 8 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. Mac Jones is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Mac Jones (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 Mac Jones by a projected 146 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Mac Jones's 11. 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

Mac Jones vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatMac JonesPatrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)11.820.4
Games Played1114
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)130286
Passing Yards2,1513,587
Passing TDs1322
Pass Yds/Game195.5256.2
Rushing Yards60422
Rushing TDs05
Total TDs1327
TDs/Game1.21.9
Age2730
Experience4 yrs8 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 8Week 5

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Mac Jones by 8.6 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 11.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Mac Jones or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Mac Jones's 11.8 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 Mac Jones and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?

Mac Jones averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 8.6 points per game.

When are Mac Jones and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?

Mac Jones (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Mac Jones or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Patrick Mahomes outscored Mac Jones by 8.6 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.

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