Who Should I Start? Jake Browning or Tyler Shough

Saturday, September 20, 8:43 AM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning will get the start in Week 3 versus the Vikings. With Joe Burrow (toe) out at least three months, Browning could remain in the role for the rest of the 2025 campaign. The 29-year-old took over in the Week 2 narrow win over the Jags after Burrow went down, finishing with 241 yards off 21-for-32 passing (65.6%). Although he added two touchdowns through the air, he also tossed three picks. With Cincinnati sitting at 2-0, Browning will try to keep the team in the win column on Sunday. The signal-caller started seven times in 2023, throwing for 1,868 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. While his statistical contributions weren't the worst, there was certainly room for improvement. With so many ailing quarterbacks in Week 3, Browning is worth starting in Superflex formats, considering he has Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown in his arsenal. He also can provide value for those participating in DFS contests. However, Browning may not be the safest option in single-QB setups. That won't change moving ahead unless he proves he can be more productive and mistake-free.

Tuesday, September 23, 2:58 PM

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough saw his first action of the season on Sunday, entering the game for his team's final drive in a blowout loss to the Seahawks. He threw twice on his three plays, missing an open tight end in the flat and sailing a deep pass out of bounds while taking a hit. Starting quarterback Spencer Rattler is now 0-9 dating back to last year, so any spark provided by Shough in his limited work could have fueled momentum for a quarterback change. Shough did not look impressive in the preseason, and although the sample size was tiny on Sunday, he still does not look ready to lead an NFL offense. With the Saints in line for an early pick in next year's draft, fantasy managers holding Shough might want to see what they can get for him the moment they hear rumblings of him starting a game.