Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Tyrod Taylor

Thursday, August 21, 6:05 PM

Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton (elbow) is being held out of the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt. Starter Bryce Young will also be held out, leaving QB duties on Thursday to Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins, who was just signed on Monday. The 37-year-old Dalton suffered a muscle strain in his right elbow in the team's second preseason tilt last Saturday against the Houston Texans. While the injury isn't considered overly serious, Dalton is strictly focused on being available for the club's Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Red Rifle is purely a backup at this point in his career. In six games (five starts) played last year in Carolina when Young was benched, he threw for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Saturday, September 20, 6:59 AM

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor will take the field this Sunday in an exploitable matchup with the hosting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 36-year-old hasn't drawn a start since Week 17 of the 2023 season during his time with the Giants, but he'll get the nod in Week 3 with Jets' starter Justin Fields (concussion) battling a concussion. Taylor isn't a world-beater, but he's at least an average thrower of the football. Fortuitously, he'll square off against a Buccaneers defense that's allowed 235.5 passing yards per game - the ninth-most in the league. The Jets figure to continue relying on their ground attack, but Tampa Bay has been excellent in that regard (76.5 yards allowed per game [fifth-fewest]). It wouldn't be surprising to see the team air it out slightly more than they have through the first two weeks, particularly with Baker Mayfield and the Bucs pushing the pace. He's RotoBaller's QB21 ahead of Week 3, and can be left on waivers for the time being sans two-quarterback formats.