Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Bo Nix vs Patrick Mahomes

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy play this season.

Patrick Mahomes has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.5-PPG advantage is real (20.4 to 17.9), and Patrick Mahomes's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Bo Nix is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBDenver Broncos#11

Bo Nix

PPG

17.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,931

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

356

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

QBKansas City Chiefs#4PPG LEADER

Patrick Mahomes

PPG

20.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,587

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

422

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Bo Nix

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

17.9 PPG20.4 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Bo Nix: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #11 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Bo Nix is producing at 81% 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.

Bo Nix vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Bo Nix averaged 17.9 PPG across 17 games with the Denver Broncos, while Patrick Mahomes posted 20.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 2.5-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 Bo Nix (3931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bo Nix has his bye in Week 12, and Patrick Mahomes rests in Week 10. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Bo Nix (age 26) 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 Bo Nix by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Bo Nix played 17 games in 2025 compared to Patrick Mahomes's 14. That durability gap means Bo Nix contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Bo Nix scored 30 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.8 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.
•Bo Nix is 4 years younger than Patrick Mahomes (26 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatNixMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)17.920.4

Games Played1714

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)304286

Passing Yards3,9313,587

Passing TDs2522

Pass Yds/Game231.2256.2

Rushing Yards356422

Rushing TDs55

Total TDs3027

TDs/Game1.81.9

Age2630

Experience1 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 10

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Bo Nix by 2.5 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 17.9). 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 Bo Nix or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Bo Nix's 17.9 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 Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Bo Nix averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bo Nix (DEN) has a bye in Week 12, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bo Nix or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Bo Nix by 2.5 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.