Who Should I Start? Aidan O'Connell or Stetson Bennett IV

Wednesday, August 27, 10:27 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (wrist) was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Wednesday, per an announcement from the team. O'Connell suffered a fractured wrist in the team's final preseason game, which is expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks. O'Connell's placement on the Reserve/Injured list guarantees that he will miss at least the team's first four games, although the six-to-eight-week timeline indicates it will most likely be a longer absence. The Raiders acquired quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Browns on Monday to take O'Connell's place as the backup behind Geno Smith. Neither Pickett nor O'Connell will have any fantasy value in 2025 unless Smith were to get injured.

Saturday, August 16, 11:34 PM

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett IV completed 28 of his 40 pass attempts for 324 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during Saturday's preseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also took a sack and rushed for four yards. Bennett led four successful scoring drives, including a game-winning touchdown drive that put the Rams ahead with just 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He has played the entirety of the Rams' first two preseason games, totaling five touchdowns and just one interception. He has a firm grasp on the third-string quarterback role behind Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, and given that both of those players are older veterans who could be near the ends of their careers, Bennett's strong preseason could bode well as he auditions for a larger role in the future.