Who Should I Start? Patrick Mahomes or Tua Tagovailoa


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
23.7 17.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Patrick Mahomes News

Patrick Mahomes on Track to Start Week 1

Tuesday, September 8, 9:37 AM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) has led the team from Day 1 of training camp, reportedly looking as sharp as he has in years, and NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reports that he is on track to start Week 1 in a Monday Night divisional matchup with the Broncos. The two-time MVP tore his ACL in Week 15 of the 2025 season, but head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Tuesday that there is a "pretty good chance" he'll be under center to begin his tenth season. Mahomes was the fantasy QB2 at the time of his injury, having run for a career-high 422 yards and five rushing scores to that point, but with him less than nine months removed from knee surgery, there are lingering questions about how he'll be used in 2026, and he enters the season as RotoBaller's QB13.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
20.2 5.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Tua Tagovailoa News

Tua Tagovailoa Could Be on a Short Leash if Named Starter

Saturday, September 5, 11:25 AM

NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport expects Tua Tagovailoa to be on "a little bit of a short leash" if he is named the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. Tagovailoa is competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the QB1 role in Atlanta. Penix is recovering from a partial ACL tear that he suffered in November 2025, which required surgery. Penix was fully cleared to practice in late August, but his timeline for returning to game action remains unknown. Tagovailoa struggled in the preseason, and his confidence seems to be waning. Rapoport noted that Penix would likely be the starter if he were healthy, but that Atlanta is left in "limbo" in terms of what to do at the quarterback position right now. The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year contract worth $1.215 million in March. Tagovailoa has a current Yahoo ADP of 201 and is best left on the waiver wire in all standard leagues as things currently stand.


Patrick Mahomes vs. Tua Tagovailoa

Still trying to decide between Mahomes and Tagovailoa? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Patrick Mahomes is projected to score 23.7 points this week while Tua Tagovailoa is projected to score 20.2 points.