QB13 Mahomes: rushing spike unsustainable post-ACL; stale passing game limits upside.
Ian Hartitz ranks Patrick Mahomes as QB13, a dramatic downgrade from his historical elite status. While Mahomes averaged north of 20 fantasy points per game in 2025 (his first time since 2022), nearly all of that production came from rushing rather than passing. His passing fantasy points per game remained flat at 15 PPG from 2023–2025, but his rushing production spiked from 2.4 to 2.7 to 5.2 PPG—a career-high that Hartitz does not expect to sustain. Hartitz cites Mahomes' torn ACL and advancing age as reasons to expect regression in rushing production. He also expresses skepticism that Eric Benemy's return as offensive coordinator will significantly improve the Chiefs' stale passing game, noting the offense remains a concern given aging Travis Kelce, Rasheed Rice's knee injury and limited route tree, Xavier Worley's injury history, and Taekquin Thornton as the primary deep threat. Despite Mahomes' elite talent, Hartitz expresses deep concern about fading him at his lowest price ever, comparing this fade to his 2024 Lamar Jackson fade, which he calls 'a horrible idea' that 'terrified' him—yet he still believes the fade is justified given the offensive context.
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View Patrick Mahomes 2026 fantasy football value pagePlayer profile with fantasy value, ADP, projections, news, and source-backed STACKED insightsQB13 Patrick Mahomes. That is such a wild thing to be saying out loud... he did almost all of that on the ground... In 2023, he had 15.1 fantasy points per game from passing and then he was at 15 and then even last year still at 15. It's the rushing. He went from 2.4 to 2.7 to 5.2 last season... I just don't expect to continue coming off the torn ACL and he is going to be another year older... I'm not convinced that Eric Benemy returning home is simply going to turn this, you know, stale low adop passing game into their pass explosive self... Fading Patrick Mahomes at his lowest price terrifies me, but I do get it.
Patrick Mahomes fantasy football FAQ
- What did Fantasy Football with Ian Hartitz say about Patrick Mahomes?
- Ian Hartitz ranks Patrick Mahomes as QB13, a dramatic downgrade from his historical elite status. While Mahomes averaged north of 20 fantasy points per game in 2025 (his first time since 2022), nearly all of that production came from rushing rather than passing. His passing fantasy points per game remained flat at 15 PPG from 2023–2025, but his rushing production spiked from 2.4 to 2.7 to 5.2 PPG—a career-high that Hartitz does not expect to sustain. Hartitz cites Mahomes' torn ACL and advancing age as reasons to expect regression in rushing production. He also expresses skepticism that Eric Benemy's return as offensive coordinator will significantly improve the Chiefs' stale passing game, noting the offense remains a concern given aging Travis Kelce, Rasheed Rice's knee injury and limited route tree, Xavier Worley's injury history, and Taekquin Thornton as the primary deep threat. Despite Mahomes' elite talent, Hartitz expresses deep concern about fading him at his lowest price ever, comparing this fade to his 2024 Lamar Jackson fade, which he calls 'a horrible idea' that 'terrified' him—yet he still believes the fade is justified given the offensive context.
- Is this good or bad for Patrick Mahomes's fantasy football value?
- STACKED tags this as a negative fantasy football signal for Patrick Mahomes (QB KC). QB13 Mahomes: rushing spike unsustainable post-ACL; stale passing game limits upside.
- Where can I see Patrick Mahomes's full 2026 fantasy outlook, projections, and ADP?
- Patrick Mahomes's complete 2026 fantasy football outlook — projections, ADP movement across every platform, injury context, and all source-backed STACKED insights — is on their STACKED player profile.