Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Jayden Higgins

Friday, October 24, 6:16 PM

Andy Dalton is making his first start of the 2025 season for the Carolina Panthers. Regular starter Bryce Young is listed as doubtful to start in Week 8 with an ankle injury. This week, Dalton faces Buffalo's run-funnel defense. The Bills have allowed 13.6 fantasy points per game to QBs over the last four weeks, which is fourth-best in the league. That number may be skewed because the Bills also rank 30th in fantasy points per game allowed to running backs in that span. The backup quarterback for Carolina started in five games for the team last season. In those outings, he registered 13 fantasy points on average, with two of those performances being under five points each. He passed for 989 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions in those starts. Compared to 2024, Dalton has better receivers, such as standout rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan, and improving second-year receiver Xavier Legette. Because the Panthers may lean on the running game, Dalton may only be an adequate QB2 to start in Superflex formats.

Saturday, October 25, 9:27 AM

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins has a huge opportunity in front of him in Week 8, as his team hosts the 49ers on Sunday afternoon. The Texans won't have Nico Collins (concussion) or Christian Kirk (hamstring), so Higgins should step up into one of the primary wide receiver roles for C.J. Stroud. The second-round pick has struggled to get much going this season, with only nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in his six games. He didn't have any catches on Monday Night Football in Seattle, coming up empty for the first time this season. Higgins did play a season-high 48 snaps in that contest, and he should get more work and more targets this week. The chances will be there, but it remains to be seen if he'll rise to the challenge. He is the No. 52 WR this week in RotoBaller's rankings, and he's extremely high risk even though the potential for a breakout is definitely present.