Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Joe Burrow

Sunday, August 24, 1:17 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith looked sharp in Sunday's preseason finale, leading the first-team offense on a 60-yard scoring drive in his lone series. The veteran capped the drive with a 17-yard strike to rookie wideout Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the end zone. Smith has shown poise throughout camp, and with Chip Kelly's up-tempo offense beginning to click, expectations are rising in Las Vegas. While Smith enters the year projected as a fantasy QB2, his efficiency and potential volume in a suddenly explosive system could make him a sneaky value pick in deeper formats.

Friday, August 29, 9:35 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals believe that quarterback Joe Burrow "just enjoyed the best training camp of his career," according to Jeff Howe of the Athletic. The 28-year-old is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign, amassing career-highs in passing yards (4,918), touchdowns (43), and completion percentage (70.6). Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough to lead the team into the postseason. Without question, the Bengals defense struggled last season. While not much is expected to change on that front, Burrow is ready to spearhead one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki all received new deals in the offseason. In addition, Chase Brown was one of the league's most improved running backs. All things considered, it appears Burrow has all the tools necessary to finish the year as the top fantasy quarterback. However, the offensive line must keep him upright, especially since he's had issues staying healthy over the years. Chase, Higgins, and Brown will also need to avoid the injury report.