Week 6 saw the Giants upset the Eagles behind an inspired Thursday performance from QB Jaxson Dart. On the ensuing Sunday night, the football world witnessed Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes explode for 4 TDs.
Both exciting signal-callers ranked in the top three in QB fantasy production for the week. Could Week 7 feature more of the same?
Let’s pit Mahomes and Dart against each other in an NFL Week 7 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em battle.
NFL Week 7: QB Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em — Jaxson Dart or Patrick Mahomes?
Why Start Patrick Mahomes?
- Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET bout with the Raiders has Mahomes going up against the 21st-ranked EPA/pass defense, via SumerSports.
- After slotting in as QB8 and QB11 in 2023 and 2024, Mahomes is back to QB1 for the first time since his MVP-winning 2022 campaign.
- Mahomes was Week 6’s only QB to top 30 fantasy points; Patriots stud Drake Maye came close with 27.2.
- Andy Reid is play calling is the highest pass rate over expected at +9.7% in the NFL, according to nfelo.
- Mahomes boasts the NFL’s best dropback success rate (57.5%, per NFL Pro) against zone coverage. Las Vegas runs it more frequently than all but one squad.
- The Raiders allow the ninth-fewest fantasy points to QBs. In five of six games, they’ve held opponents to QB18 production or worse.
- In two games against his bitter rivals last year, Mahomes was QB15 in Week 8 and QB19 in Week 13.
Patrick Mahomes PrizePicks Projections: 258.5 Pass Yards, 26.5 Rush Yards
Why Start Jaxson Dart?
- Sunday’s late-afternoon contest in Denver (4:05 p.m. ET) against a tough Broncos D may be Dart’s biggest test yet.
- Despite making just three starts, Dart ranks eighth among all QBs since 2000 for rushing yards in their first five games.
- Dart is one of three QBs to record 50 or more rushing yards in each of his first three starts, joining Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson.
- The first-round pick is fantasy QB8 in Weeks 4-6, slotting in just behind Maye and Mahomes last week.
- Between QBs Justin Fields and Hurts — the two closest to Dart on Ian Hartitz’s chart — Denver’s defense amassed 15 sacks. Yes, you read that correctly.
- According to NFL Pro, Dart has completed 74.6% of his passes when kept clean versus 48.0% under pressure.
- Entering Week 7, the Broncos rank fourth in fewest fantasy points allowed to the QB position. They’re third in EPA/pass yielded, too.
Jaxson Dart PrizePicks Projections: 168.5 Pass Yards, 44.5 Rush Yards, 219.5 Pass + Rush Yards
Start' Em, Sit' Em Verdict: Start Patrick Mahomes
As coaches and players are quick to remind folks of, football is oftentimes a game of matchups. That’s exactly what comes into play here, and it appears that one side has it easier than the other.
Mahomes might be all the way back to form, and WR Rashee Rice is making his season debut on Sunday, and fantasy's best current QB is facing a respectable, albeit totally unspectacular, Raiders defense to boot.
Dart’s rapid ascension is fun to watch. He’s emerging as a legitimate fantasy option for managers. Week 7, however, features a road contest against one of football’s best pass defenses. Additionally, between Hurts, Fields, the Chargers' Justin Herbert and Indy's Daniel Jones, the Broncos gave up all of 42 rushing yards.
Siding with experience and the advantage in matchup may be the logical play, so keep Patrick Mahomes as your starting QB, despite all the success from Dart recently.
Fantasy rankings and 2025 point totals are courtesy of FantasyPros.
Looking for breakdowns on more Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em clashes for the 2025 season? The Playbook is the best route to season-long NFL analysis.
Not only that, but PrizePicks real-money NFL game also presents picks for each game of Week 7 and beyond. Joining the fun is simple.
Just pick your players, predict More or Less for their projections, submit your Lineup, then win real rewards when you’re right.
