Marcus Mariota 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 Marcus Mariota managed 12.0 across 11 games with the Washington Commanders. A 9.2-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.
Patrick Mahomes carries a 9.2-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 Marcus Mariota (1695 passing yards, 10 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: Marcus Mariota sits Week 14 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.
