Patrick Mahomes vs. Dak Prescott: Which QB Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?

2025 was a down year for the Chiefs, as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The team struggled to remain competitive, and Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in Week 15, ending his season. The good news is that Kansas City expects him to be ready for Week 1. Will he return to form and be a fantasy football hero?

It was an excellent year for Dak Prescott, who threw for more than 4,000 yards for the fourth time in his career. Most of the key offensive players are back in Dallas, so it could be another season in which Prescott anchors a fantasy championship.

We’re going to take a deep dive into both quarterbacks and tell you which one to add to your fantasy football team.

Patrick Mahomes vs. Dak Prescott: Which QB Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?

The Case for Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott is like a Porsche parked in the driveway of a dilapidated house. He’s been among the top quarterbacks in the NFL, but the Cowboys have missed the playoffs in five of his ten seasons. In each of the last four seasons in which Prescott has played at least 16 games, he’s passed for more than 4,400 yards.

Last year, he was one of the busier quarterbacks in football, ranking second in pass attempts (600) and first in completions (404). Not only did volume contribute to his production, but he was also efficient, ranking tenth in the league in passer rating (99.5) and in EPA per dropback (+0.12).

Prescott was highly involved in the offense to compensate for the struggling defense. The Cowboys’ defense ranked last in points allowed per game (30.1) and 30th in total yards allowed per game (377.0).

The Case for Patrick Mahomes

Last year, Patrick Mahomes encountered things he’s never faced in his NFL career: failure and setbacks. Even with Mahomes under center, the Chiefs did not look like a contender and were just 6-8 when he tore his ACL.

This was his first major injury, but as a leader on the field, he is well-positioned to recover and bring the Chiefs back into contention.

Leading up to his injury, he was a valuable fantasy quarterback and ranked QB2. Despite missing the final four games, he finished the year as the QB11 and ranked higher than seven quarterbacks who played 15 or more games.

Mahomes was valuable in fantasy because he was heavily involved in the offense, leading the league with 42.6 dropbacks per game.

That was largely due to a lack of production in the run game. Last year, the Chiefs ranked 25th in rushing yards per game (106.9). They made an impactful offseason move by signing reigning Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III.

The Chiefs have ranked among the top ten in pass-play percentage in each of the last eight seasons, but it looks like they will try to change that this year. That means fewer snaps with Mahomes throwing the ball.

Who Should You Draft In Fantasy Football: Patrick Mahomes or Dak Prescott?

With the return of key offensive contributors and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, nothing should change in Dallas. Prescott could again be near the top of the leaderboard for pass attempts.

Prescott also has the pass catchers to help him. On most teams, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens would each be the top receiver, and Prescott will throw to both of them every week.

Prescott also had an excellent season, even with a strong run game, as running back Javonte Williams finished tenth in carries (252) and eighth in rushing touchdowns (11).

The Cowboys improved in the offseason by signing former Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, trading for former Packers linebacker Rashan Gary, and drafting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. This defense could be better, but it won’t be elite, and the game script could favor Prescott's passing.

Players Mentioned in this Article

PatrickMahomesQ
QBKC
PPG
20.4
Proj
15.7
DakPrescott
QBDAL
PPG
18.2
Proj
17.6

Published Aug 28, 2026, 4:00 AM ET

Patrick Mahomes vs. Dak Prescott: Which QB Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?