Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Patrick Mahomes vs Russell WilsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Patrick Mahomes is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.4 PPG to Russell Wilson's 14.2 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. Russell Wilson (14.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Patrick Mahomes as the starter and Russell Wilson as depth.

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

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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

QBPittsburgh Steelers#99

Russell Wilson

PPG

14.2

Games

Pass Yds

2,890

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

155

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Patrick Mahomes

Russell Wilson

Head to Head

20.4 PPG14.2 PPG

14 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Patrick Mahomes: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #4 at the position). Russell Wilson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Patrick Mahomes is producing at 93% of elite pace and Russell Wilson at 65%. That ranking gap means Patrick Mahomes carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Patrick Mahomes vs Russell Wilson: The Full Breakdown

Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback averaged 20.4 PPG in 2025, a full 6.2 points per game ahead of Russell Wilson's 14.2 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 6.2-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 Russell Wilson (2890 passing yards, 18 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Patrick Mahomes has his bye in Week 5, and Russell Wilson rests in Week 9. 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. Russell Wilson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Patrick Mahomes (age 30) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Russell Wilson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Patrick Mahomes outscored Russell Wilson by a projected 105 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•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

Patrick Mahomes vs Russell Wilson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Patrick Mahomes	Russell Wilson
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.4	14.2
Games Played	14	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	286	199
Passing Yards	3,587	2,890
Passing TDs	22	18
Pass Yds/Game	256.2	206.4
Rushing Yards	422	155
Rushing TDs	5	2
Total TDs	27	20
TDs/Game	1.9	1.4
Age	30	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 9

Summary

Patrick Mahomes outscored Russell Wilson by 6.2 PPG in 2025 (20.4 to 14.2). 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 Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Patrick Mahomes has the edge at 20.4 PPG compared to Russell Wilson's 14.2 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 Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson average in 2025?▾

Patrick Mahomes averaged 20.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Russell Wilson averaged 14.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 6.2 points per game.

When are Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Russell Wilson (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Patrick Mahomes outscored Russell Wilson by 6.2 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.