Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Brian Hoyer

Wednesday, February 25, 8:43 AM

New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said that the team is "trying to see every possible avenue we can go next year at quarterback" and that incumbent quarterback Geno Smith is "definitely one of those options." Smith battled through a miserable season in his first year with the Raiders in 2025. Across 15 starts, the 35-year-old completed 67.4% of his pass attempts for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. The Raiders went 2-13 in Smith's starts, and Las Vegas fired former head coach Pete Caroll at the conclusion of the year. Smith is just one year removed from throwing for over 4,300 yards with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, and he made back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023. He could have more in the tank in a more favorable offensive environment than the one he experienced in 2025. However, the Raiders are widely expected to select University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If that happens, Smith would likely profile as a temporary starter in Las Vegas at best, if he even remains on the team's roster.

Friday, March 8, 8:37 PM

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders parted ways with quarterback Brian Hoyer. The journeyman signal-caller has bounced around the league over the year. He's appeared in 79 regular season games, tossing for 10,899 yards and 53 touchdowns (37 picks) off 59.3% passing. He hasn't done much in the last few seasons, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by throwing for just 231 yards, along with two picks. At any rate, there could be a market for Hoyer, who has established himself as a quality backup during his career. But even if the 38-year-old finds a new team, that doesn't mean he'll draw attention from managers in fantasy drafts heading into the new season.