Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Dak Prescott 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 1.9-PPG advantage is real (20.4 to 18.5), and Patrick Mahomes's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Dak Prescott is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBDallas Cowboys#9

Dak Prescott

PPG

18.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,552

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

177

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

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

Dak Prescott

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

18.5 PPG20.4 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Dak Prescott: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #9 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Dak Prescott is producing at 84% 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.

Dak Prescott vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Dak Prescott averaged 18.5 PPG across 17 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while Patrick Mahomes posted 20.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 1.9-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 Dak Prescott (4552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

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: Dak Prescott (age 32) 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 Dak Prescott by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dak Prescott played 17 games in 2025 compared to Patrick Mahomes's 14. That durability gap means Dak Prescott contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dak Prescott scored 32 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.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatPrescottMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)18.520.4

Games Played1714

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)315286

Passing Yards4,5523,587

Passing TDs3022

Pass Yds/Game267.8256.2

Rushing Yards177422

Rushing TDs25

Total TDs3227

TDs/Game1.91.9

Age3230

Experience9 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 10

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Dak Prescott by 1.9 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 18.5). 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 Dak Prescott or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Dak Prescott's 18.5 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 Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Dak Prescott averaged 18.5 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 1.9 points per game.

Do Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Dak Prescott or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Dak Prescott by 1.9 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.