Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jared Goff 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 2.9-PPG advantage is real (20.4 to 17.5), and Patrick Mahomes's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jared Goff 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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QBDetroit Lions#12

Jared Goff

PPG

17.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,564

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

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

Jared Goff

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

17.5 PPG20.4 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Jared Goff: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #12 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jared Goff is producing at 80% 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.

Jared Goff vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jared Goff averaged 17.5 PPG across 17 games with the Detroit Lions, while Patrick Mahomes posted 20.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 2.9-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 Jared Goff (4564 passing yards, 34 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: Jared Goff sits Week 8 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: Jared Goff (age 31) 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 Jared Goff by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jared Goff played 17 games in 2025 compared to Patrick Mahomes's 14. That durability gap means Jared Goff contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jared Goff scored 34 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.0 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▾

StatGoffMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)17.520.4

Games Played1714

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)298286

Passing Yards4,5643,587

Passing TDs3422

Pass Yds/Game268.5256.2

Rushing Yards45422

Rushing TDs05

Total TDs3427

TDs/Game2.01.9

Age3130

Experience9 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 10

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Jared Goff by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 17.5). 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 Jared Goff or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Jared Goff's 17.5 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 Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Jared Goff averaged 17.5 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 2.9 points per game.

When are Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jared Goff (DET) has a bye in Week 8, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jared Goff or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Jared Goff by 2.9 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.