Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Derek Carr 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 is the better play on a neutral week. 20.4 PPG with 3,999 yards gives a reliable baseline. Derek Carr at 15.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Patrick Mahomes higher, but do not fade Derek Carr entirely.

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

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QBNew Orleans Saints#99

Derek Carr

PPG

15.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,428

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

105

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

Derek Carr

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

15.8 PPG20.4 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Derek Carr: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Derek Carr is producing at 72% 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.

Derek Carr vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Deciding between Derek Carr and Patrick Mahomes is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New Orleans Saints quarterback put up 15.8 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs averaged 20.4 in 14. A 4.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.6 points favors Patrick Mahomes, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Derek Carr (3428 passing yards, 22 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: Derek Carr sits Week 12 while Patrick Mahomes is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Patrick Mahomes is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Derek Carr is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Derek Carr (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 Derek Carr by a projected 78 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derek Carr played 15 games in 2025 compared to Patrick Mahomes's 14. That durability gap means Derek Carr 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▾

StatCarrMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)15.820.4

Games Played1514

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)237286

Passing Yards3,4283,587

Passing TDs2222

Pass Yds/Game228.5256.2

Rushing Yards105422

Rushing TDs15

Total TDs2327

TDs/Game1.51.9

Age-30

Experience-8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 10

Summary

20.4 PPG for Patrick Mahomes versus 15.8 for Derek Carr in 2025. The baseline favors Patrick Mahomes, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derek Carr or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Derek Carr's 15.8 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 Derek Carr and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Derek Carr averaged 15.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.6 points per game.

When are Derek Carr and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derek Carr (NO) 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 Derek Carr or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Derek Carr by 4.6 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.