Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Lamar Jackson 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 3.9-PPG advantage is real (20.4 to 16.5), and Patrick Mahomes's 27 touchdowns show scoring upside. Lamar Jackson 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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QBBaltimore Ravens#16

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

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

Lamar Jackson

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

16.5 PPG20.4 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Lamar Jackson is producing at 75% 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.

Lamar Jackson vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.5 fantasy points per game in 13 games. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) came in at 20.4 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Patrick Mahomes carries a 3.9-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 Lamar Jackson (2549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Lamar Jackson has his bye in Week 7, and Patrick Mahomes rests in Week 10. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Lamar Jackson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Lamar Jackson (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 Lamar Jackson by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Lamar Jackson'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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatJacksonMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)16.520.4

Games Played1314

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)215286

Passing Yards2,5493,587

Passing TDs2122

Pass Yds/Game196.1256.2

Rushing Yards349422

Rushing TDs25

Total TDs2327

TDs/Game1.81.9

Age2930

Experience7 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Patrick Mahomes holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.4 points per game. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 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 3.9 points per game.

When are Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson (BAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Lamar Jackson by 3.9 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.