Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Jimmy Garoppolo

Friday, November 7, 12:34 AM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (quad) was diagnosed with a quad contusion following Thursday's Week 10 loss against the Denver Broncos, head coach Pete Carroll told members of the media, including NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Smith briefly exited the game early in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Kenny Pickett, who attempted one pass. The veteran quarterback returned to the game, then left again with a "questionable" designation in the final minutes. Las Vegas did not get the ball back, and it's unclear whether Smith or Pickett would have earned snaps if the Raiders' offense returned to the field. The 35-year-old completed 16 of 26 passes for 143 yards and his league-leading 12th interception of the season. He also took six sacks. It remains to be seen whether Smith will play in Week 11. On a positive note, playing on Thursday night gives him a full 11 days to rest and recover before the Raiders return to action against Dallas.

Saturday, September 6, 9:56 PM

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay views quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as a "starting-caliber" option. Matthew Stafford is in line to start on Sunday versus the Houston Texans. However, with the veteran signal-caller battling a lingering back injury, the Rams are confident Garoppolo can fill in admirably if necessary. From a fantasy standpoint, Stafford has had a better career. Still, with concerns about his health, Garoppolo may get a chance to start at some point moving ahead. The 33-year-old played for the Patriots, 49ers, and Raiders before arriving in Los Angeles in 2024 to suit up for the Rams. In 82 regular-season contests, he's thrown for 15,828 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 52 interceptions off 67.4% passing while also leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2019. All things considered, Garoppolo doesn't have much fantasy value at the moment. If Stafford goes down this season due to the nagging back issue, Garoppolo could prove useful for those participating in deeper SuperFlex formats, especially with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at his disposal.