Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Malik Willis

Monday, October 20, 12:05 PM

Carolina Panthers veteran backup quarterback Andy Dalton is in line to start in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills, and possibly beyond, after Bryce Young suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 7 win over the New York Jets, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Young is expected to miss Week 8 against Buffalo, putting Dalton in place to make his first start of 2025. The 37-year-old stepped in for the injured Young in the fourth quarter of Sunday's ugly 13-6 win over New York and went 4-for-7 for 60 yards and no touchdowns. The Red Rifle made five starts for the Panthers last year when Young was benched and completed 66.7% of his pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions. Dalton will most likely be asked to be more of a game manager, with the Panthers likely leaning heavily on both running backs Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard. At best, he'll likely be nothing more than a low-end QB2 streamer for a couple of weeks in superflex leagues with Young sidelined.

Tuesday, August 19, 12:31 PM

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that backup quarterback Malik Willis will play in the preseason finale on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers also plan on playing some or most of their starters, at least for a little bit. We would be surprised if starting QB Jordan Love (thumb) plays this weekend after having a minor surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb last week. The 26-year-old Willis went 6-for-14 for 83 yards on the first three possessions of the second preseason game last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts. Love is fully expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September, so Willis is primed to open the season as Green Bay's backup signal-caller. The former third-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 played in seven games in his first year with the Packers in 2024 and led the team to two wins with Love sidelined by injury.