Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Joe Burrow 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. Joe Burrow at 16.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Patrick Mahomes higher, but do not fade Joe Burrow entirely.

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

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QBCincinnati Bengals#15

Joe Burrow

PPG

16.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,809

Pass 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

Joe Burrow

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

16.8 PPG20.4 PPG

8 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Burrow: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #15 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Burrow is producing at 76% 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.

Joe Burrow vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Deciding between Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback put up 16.8 PPG in 2025 over 8 games; Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs averaged 20.4 in 14. A 3.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.6 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 Joe Burrow (1809 passing yards, 17 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Both share a Week 10 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Patrick Mahomes is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Joe Burrow is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Joe Burrow (age 29) 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 Joe Burrow by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Joe Burrow's 8. 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.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatBurrowMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)16.820.4

Games Played814

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)134286

Passing Yards1,8093,587

Passing TDs1722

Pass Yds/Game226.1256.2

Rushing Yards41422

Rushing TDs05

Total TDs1727

TDs/Game2.11.9

Age2930

Experience5 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 10

Summary

20.4 PPG for Patrick Mahomes versus 16.8 for Joe Burrow 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 Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Joe Burrow's 16.8 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 Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Joe Burrow averaged 16.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

Do Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Joe Burrow 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 Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Joe Burrow by 3.6 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.