Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Joe Flacco 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 clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.4 PPG and 3,999 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Joe Flacco (11.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Joe Flacco as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBCincinnati Bengals#37

Joe Flacco

PPG

11.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,479

Pass TDs

Rush 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 Flacco

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

11.3 PPG20.4 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Flacco: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Flacco is producing at 51% 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 Flacco vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Patrick Mahomes put up 20.4 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Joe Flacco managed 11.3 across 13 games with the Cincinnati Bengals. A 9.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Patrick Mahomes carries a 9.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Joe Flacco (2479 passing yards, 15 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Flacco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Joe Flacco (age 41) 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 Joe Flacco by a projected 155 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Joe Flacco'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.
•Patrick Mahomes is 11 years younger than Joe Flacco (30 vs 41), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatFlaccoMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)11.320.4

Games Played1314

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)147286

Passing Yards2,4793,587

Passing TDs1522

Pass Yds/Game190.7256.2

Rushing Yards35422

Rushing TDs15

Total TDs1627

TDs/Game1.21.9

Age4130

Experience17 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Patrick Mahomes holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.4 points per game. Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Joe Flacco or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Joe Flacco's 11.3 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 Flacco and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 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 9.1 points per game.

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

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

Patrick Mahomes outscored Joe Flacco by 9.1 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.