Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was not only the top-scoring quarterback in fantasy football in 2018, but he was the top player overall. It doesn’t matter if you were playing standard scoring, points per reception or a hybrid scoring system — Mahomes was still the top scorer for all three. Mahomes was good for nearly 400 fantasy points through a 15-game season, and only in PPR scoring did Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey get close to Mahomes’ level of production.
It’s rare for a quarterback to go in the first round in fantasy football drafts. During the past two seasons only Aaron Rodgers had an average draft position in the first round. Typically the difference between a No.1 and a No. 2 quarterback isn’t all that much. In previous seasons you were looking at a difference of maybe 10 fantasy points, but in 2018 it was a difference of over 70 fantasy points. That’s a significant jump and one that’s worthy of more attention than it’s getting.
On the surface taking a quarterback in the first round in fantasy football seems crazy, but Mahomes showed no signs of slowing down in 2018. What will he look like a year wiser and with a better defense playing for the Chiefs? What’s the worst type of regression that Mahomes could possibly face in his second year as an NFL starter? No quarterback has a more stable situation right now than Mahomes. He’s got the watchful eye and guidance of Andy Reid. He’ll still have two playmakers who were top fantasy performers at their positions (Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce). He’s bound for another great year.
Mahomes should be a first-round quarterback in fantasy football in 2019 and the first quarterback off the board. There were eight running backs and four receivers who scored over 200 fantasy points last season. If those players are off the board when you pick, Mahomes is the top option. Arguments could even be made for taking Mahomes ahead of players like Todd Gurley and Antonio Brown given their tumultuous ends to the 2018 season.
