Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Matthew Stafford vs Patrick Mahomes

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.2-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBKansas City Chiefs#4

Patrick Mahomes

PPG

20.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,587

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

422

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Matthew Stafford

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

20.6 PPG20.4 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Matthew Stafford is producing at 94% of elite pace and Patrick Mahomes at 93%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Matthew Stafford vs Patrick Mahomes: Who Should You Start?

This is a genuine coin flip on paper. Matthew Stafford finished the 2025 season at 20.6 PPG over 17 games with the Los Angeles Rams, while Patrick Mahomes clocked in at 20.4 across 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs. A 0.2-point gap means any given week could go either way.

With a margin this thin, season averages are not the deciding factor. Weekly variables like opponent defense, game script, and injury status carry more weight than a fraction of a PPG. The right start in Week 6 might be the wrong start in Week 14.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Matthew Stafford (4707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Matthew Stafford is off Week 8 and Patrick Mahomes Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Matthew Stafford (age 38) 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?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Patrick Mahomes by a projected 3 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Patrick Mahomes's 14. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 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 8 years younger than Matthew Stafford (30 vs 38), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatStaffordMahomes

PPG (Half-PPR)20.620.4

Games Played1714

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)350286

Passing Yards4,7073,587

Passing TDs4622

Pass Yds/Game276.9256.2

Rushing Yards1422

Rushing TDs05

Total TDs4627

TDs/Game2.71.9

Age3830

Experience16 yrs8 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 10

Summary

20.6 PPG for Matthew Stafford versus 20.4 for Patrick Mahomes in 2025. The baseline favors Matthew Stafford, 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 Matthew Stafford or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Patrick Mahomes's 20.4 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 Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 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 0.2 points per game.

When are Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford (LAR) 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 Matthew Stafford or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Patrick Mahomes by 0.2 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.