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Head to Head

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Malik Willis vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Malik Willis's 12.8 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. Malik Willis (12.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Malik Willis as depth.

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

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QBGreen Bay Packers#30
Malik Willis
PPG
12.8
Games
4
Pass Yds
422
Pass TDs
3
Rush Yds
123
Rush TDs
2
Bye
Week 11
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
Malik Willis
Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

12.8 PPG20.4 PPG
4 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Malik Willis: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #30 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Malik Willis is producing at 58% 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.

Malik Willis vs Patrick Mahomes: The Full Breakdown

Patrick Mahomes and Malik Willis are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback averaged 20.4 PPG in 2025, a full 7.6 points per game ahead of Malik Willis's 12.8 with the Green Bay Packers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 7.6-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 Malik Willis (422 passing yards, 3 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Malik Willis has his bye in Week 11, 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

If you can acquire Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Malik Willis is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Malik Willis (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 Malik Willis by a projected 129 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Malik Willis's 4. 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

Malik Willis vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatMalik WillisPatrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)12.820.4
Games Played414
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)51286
Passing Yards4223,587
Passing TDs322
Pass Yds/Game105.5256.2
Rushing Yards123422
Rushing TDs25
Total TDs527
TDs/Game1.31.9
Age2730
Experience3 yrs8 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 5

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Malik Willis by 7.6 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 12.8). 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 Malik Willis or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Malik Willis's 12.8 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 Malik Willis and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?

Malik Willis averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 7.6 points per game.

When are Malik Willis and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?

Malik Willis (GB) has a bye in Week 11, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Malik Willis or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Patrick Mahomes outscored Malik Willis by 7.6 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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