Who Should I Start? Gardner Minshew or Hendon Hooker

Friday, June 6, 3:50 PM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew II (collarbone) has been throwing during voluntary organized team activities. Minshew broke his collarbone in 2024 while with the Las Vegas Raiders and was limited to 10 games (nine starts), in which he threw for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his only year in the desert. Now that he's recovered from the injury, the 29-year-old signal-caller is expected to open the 2025 season as the backup to starter Patrick Mahomes, with Bailey Zappe likely being named the third-stringer. Minshew was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts, but he'll be off the fantasy radar completely in his seventh season in the NFL as long as Mahomes stays healthy.

Wednesday, May 14, 3:40 PM

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker missed nearly his entire rookie campaign in 2023 while recovering from a torn ACL, and he appeared in just three games last year. Overall, he completed three of his six passing attempts for 62 yards. The former third-round pick out of Tennessee is competing with Kyle Allen for the backup job behind Jared Goff this offseason, and quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell said Hooker is "off to a good start." The 27-year-old hasn't been able to take command of the backup role, which isn't a promising sign, but he remains an intriguing deep-league superflex stash in the event of a Goff injury. Hooker tallied 2,079 yards and 25 touchdowns in 49 collegiate games and would have a fantastic supporting cast to work with if he is ever called into action.