Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Joe Burrow

Monday, December 15, 2:59 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) has a chance to return to practice this week and play in the team's Week 16 game against the Texans, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Smith was unable to practice in any capacity leading up to the Raiders' Week 15 contest with the Eagles and was officially ruled out on Saturday, leaving Kenny Pickett to make his first start for Las Vegas. Pickett was unable to throw for even 65 yards in the shutout loss to the Eagles, rendering all Raiders players unusable for fantasy. Carroll noted that the team will know more about Smith's status on Wednesday. Whether or not he's able to suit up carries major fantasy implications for managers who were able to slip into the semifinals with Brock Bowers or Ashton Jeanty and are now wondering if they'll need to make the difficult decision to leave them on the bench.

Monday, December 15, 3:40 PM

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that quarterback Joe Burrow will start the rest of the season despite the team being officially eliminated from the playoffs, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. When asked why Burrow will continue to play, Taylor said, "Because we want to win." Burrow suffered a turf-toe injury in Week 2 that required surgery, and the 29-year-old didn't make his return until Week 13. The former first overall pick threw for 545 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions on 49-for-82 passing in his first two games back before going 25-for-39 for 225 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks in Sunday's 24-0 shutout loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Burrow has thrown costly pick-sixes in each of the last two weeks and seemed to question his long-term future in Cincy last week. For fantasy football purposes, Burrow will be a strong QB1 option in Week 16 versus the Miami Dolphins.