Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Desmond Ridder

Saturday, March 23, 9:37 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith will enter the 2024-25 campaign as the team's starter. New head coach Mike Macdonald has avoided the topic since taking over. However, he finally addressed the situation with NFL Media's Tom Pelissero. "Very confident in Geno," said MacDonald. "Geno's going to be our starter." The signal-caller had a down season in 2023-24, throwing for 3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also completed just 64.7% of his throws, a significant reduction from the previous year. But Smith was the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, so if anyone can turn things around, it's him. Yet, if he struggles during the season, he could find himself sitting behind Sam Howell, who was acquired by the Commanders just over a week ago. For now, fantasy managers shouldn't reach for Smith in drafts. With that in mind, while the 33-year-old might struggle at times, especially under a new head coach, he'll likely have more than a few productive fantasy showings.

Thursday, March 14, 1:30 PM

The Arizona Cardinals are acquiring former starting quarterback Desmond Ridder from the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, according to a source. Ridder squandered his chance as the full-time starter for the Falcons in 2023 by throwing for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games (13 starts), eventually being benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. The former third-round pick out of Cincinnati has also lost nine fumbles in 19 games (17 starts) in his two NFL seasons. Atlanta's signing of Kirk Cousins made Ridder expendable, and he'll now make for a solid backup option in Arizona for starter Kyler Murray. The 24-year-old obviously won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2024 now that he's firmly entrenched in a backup role.