Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Marcus Mariota 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. Marcus Mariota (12.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Marcus Mariota as depth.

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

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QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 12

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

Marcus Mariota

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

12.6 PPG20.4 PPG

10 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Marcus Mariota is producing at 57% 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.

Marcus Mariota 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 Marcus Mariota managed 12.6 across 10 games with the Washington Commanders. A 7.8-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Patrick Mahomes carries a 7.8-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 Marcus Mariota (1695 passing yards, 10 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: Marcus Mariota sits Week 12 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

If you can acquire Patrick Mahomes at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Marcus Mariota is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Marcus Mariota (age 32) 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 Marcus Mariota by a projected 133 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota's 10. 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▾

StatMariotaMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)12.620.4

Games Played1014

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)126286

Passing Yards1,6953,587

Passing TDs1022

Pass Yds/Game169.5256.2

Rushing Yards297422

Rushing TDs15

Total TDs1127

TDs/Game1.11.9

Age3230

Experience10 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Patrick Mahomes holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.4 points per game. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 7.8 points per game.

When are Marcus Mariota and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 12, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Marcus Mariota or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Marcus Mariota by 7.8 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.