Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Marcus Mariota

Tuesday, September 22, 10:21 AM

Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has become a waiver-wire priority in two-QB superflex leagues going into a Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Starting signal-caller Jayden Daniels (elbow) suffered another dislocated elbow in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys after he missed time last year with the same injury. Daniels is most likely going to miss multiple weeks, which makes the 32-year-old veteran Mariota more interesting as a short-term option in fantasy. In relief of Daniels on Sunday, Mariota went 11-for-16 passing for 111 yards and a touchdown in the 37-20 blowout loss in Dallas. Mariota will have a pretty low floor this Sunday if he starts against Seattle's stout defense, but his waiver-wire argument is based more on the fact that Daniels will probably end up missing multiple weeks. The former second overall pick will not come with much upside overall, but he has plenty of experience (12 NFL seasons, 105 career games) and has some decent receiving options in Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, and Antonio Williams. In 11 games (eight starts) for Washington last year when Daniels was injured, Mariota threw for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while adding 50 rushing attempts for 297 yards and a TD on the ground.