Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Hendon Hooker

Monday, August 18, 10:29 PM

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (elbow) is dealing with "more of a muscle strain" in his elbow and is considered day-to-day with soreness, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Dalton left early from the team's preseason game on Saturday against the Houston Texans, but was able to throw during the individual portions of practice on Monday. The 37-year-old is one of the better backup quarterback options in the league and a reliable presence behind Bryce Young in Carolina. If Dalton were to miss time, Jack Plummer is the next quarterback up on the Panthers' depth chart. Neither Dalton nor Plummer would be a player to target in fantasy if pressed into action, but Dalton would likely do a better job of keeping Carolina's offense afloat.

Sunday, August 17, 1:26 AM

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker had his third straight subpar preseason showing on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins. The third-year signal-caller entered the game in the second half and completed just six of 13 passes for 61 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. Hooker was significantly outplayed by Lions quarterback Kyle Allen, who has started two out of the team's three preseason games and looks like the best option to back up Jared Goff when the regular season begins. Hooker was a third-round pick in 2023 and spent his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in college, so he may need more time to develop. However, he's already 27 and does not appear ready to be the team's QB2, which likely puts him on the roster bubble in Detroit.