Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Daniel Jones 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 3.0-PPG advantage is real (20.4 to 17.4), and Patrick Mahomes's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Daniel Jones 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

The DraftCall app pushes alerts the moment Daniel Jones or Patrick Mahomes's status changes. Free.

Get the App

QBIndianapolis Colts#13

Daniel Jones

PPG

17.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,101

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

164

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 11

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

Daniel Jones

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

17.4 PPG20.4 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Daniel Jones: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #13 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Daniel Jones is producing at 79% 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.

Daniel Jones vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Daniel Jones and Patrick Mahomes are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Daniel Jones averaged 17.4 PPG across 13 games with the Indianapolis Colts, while Patrick Mahomes posted 20.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 3.0-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 Daniel Jones (3101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Daniel Jones is off Week 11 and Patrick Mahomes Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Daniel Jones is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Daniel Jones (age 28) 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 Daniel Jones by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Daniel Jones's 13. 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▾

StatJonesMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)17.420.4

Games Played1314

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)226286

Passing Yards3,1013,587

Passing TDs1922

Pass Yds/Game238.5256.2

Rushing Yards164422

Rushing TDs55

Total TDs2427

TDs/Game1.81.9

Age2830

Experience6 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 11Week 10

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Daniel Jones by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 17.4). 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Daniel Jones vs Patrick Mahomes

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Daniel Jones or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Daniel Jones's 17.4 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 Daniel Jones and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Daniel Jones averaged 17.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

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

Daniel Jones (IND) has a bye in Week 11, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Patrick Mahomes outscored Daniel Jones by 3.0 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.