Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Rush vs Patrick MahomesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

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. Cooper Rush (11.1 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Cooper Rush as depth.

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

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QBDallas Cowboys#99

Cooper Rush

PPG

11.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,985

Pass 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 5

The Edge Chart

Cooper Rush

Patrick Mahomes

Head to Head

11.1 PPG20.4 PPG

10 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Cooper Rush is producing at 50% 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.

Cooper Rush vs Patrick Mahomes: The Full Breakdown

Patrick Mahomes and Cooper Rush are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback averaged 20.4 PPG in 2025, a full 9.3 points per game ahead of Cooper Rush's 11.1 with the Dallas Cowboys. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 9.3-PPG gap gives Patrick Mahomes the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Patrick Mahomes offers meaningful rushing upside with 422 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Cooper Rush (1985 passing yards, 12 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Cooper Rush has his bye in Week 7, and Patrick Mahomes rests in Week 5. 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. Cooper Rush is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cooper Rush (age 27) 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 Cooper Rush by a projected 158 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Patrick Mahomes played 14 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Rush'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

Cooper Rush vs Patrick Mahomes: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Rush	Patrick Mahomes
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.1	20.4
Games Played	10	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	111	286
Passing Yards	1,985	3,587
Passing TDs	12	22
Pass Yds/Game	198.5	256.2
Rushing Yards	28	422
Rushing TDs	0	5
Total TDs	12	27
TDs/Game	1.2	1.9
Age	-	30
Experience	-	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 5

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Cooper Rush by 9.3 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 11.1). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cooper Rush or Patrick Mahomes in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Cooper Rush's 11.1 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 Cooper Rush and Patrick Mahomes average in 2025?▾

Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 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 9.3 points per game.

When are Cooper Rush and Patrick Mahomes's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Rush or Patrick Mahomes a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Cooper Rush by 9.3 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.