Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jalen Hurts 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 1.6-PPG advantage is real (20.4 to 18.8), and Patrick Mahomes's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jalen Hurts 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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QBPhiladelphia Eagles#7

Jalen Hurts

PPG

18.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,224

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

421

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

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

Jalen Hurts

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

18.8 PPG20.4 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen Hurts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #7 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jalen Hurts is producing at 85% of elite pace and Patrick Mahomes at 93%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Jalen Hurts vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 PPG across 16 games with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Patrick Mahomes posted 20.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 1.6-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.

Both are dual-threat quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts added 421 rushing yards and Patrick Mahomes chipped in 422, which gives them a higher weekly floor than traditional pocket passers when defenses take away the deep ball. That rushing production is the biggest reason their ceilings look different from drop-back QBs, and it is the stat that typically separates them on tough passing matchups.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jalen Hurts sits Week 9 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

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: Jalen Hurts (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 Jalen Hurts by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jalen Hurts played 16 games in 2025 compared to Patrick Mahomes's 14. That durability gap means Jalen Hurts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jalen Hurts scored 33 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 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▾

StatHurtsMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)18.820.4

Games Played1614

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)301286

Passing Yards3,2243,587

Passing TDs2522

Pass Yds/Game201.5256.2

Rushing Yards421422

Rushing TDs85

Total TDs3327

TDs/Game2.11.9

Age2730

Experience5 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 9Week 10

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Jalen Hurts by 1.6 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 18.8). 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 Jalen Hurts or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Jalen Hurts's 18.8 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 Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Jalen Hurts averaged 18.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jalen Hurts (PHI) has a bye in Week 9, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen Hurts or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Jalen Hurts by 1.6 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.