Who Should I Start? Jared Goff or Baker Mayfield

Friday, August 8, 2:31 PM

In the Detroit Lions' second preseason game on Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, starting quarterback Jared Goff will not suit up, giving third-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker the start. Kyle Allen made the start in the first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers and played the entire first half. Allen and Hooker, who went 3-for-6 for 18 yards, combined to throw three interceptions in the opener, so head coach Dan Campbell is looking for better communication, execution and ball movement on Friday. Allen and Hooker are in a close competition to be Goff's backup entering the 2025 season, according to Lions beat writer Tim Twentyman. If Hooker can get off to a good start against Atlanta and keep the offense moving, he could separate himself from Allen a bit in the backup competition this summer.

Wednesday, August 20, 10:28 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will not play in the team's final preseason game against the Bills. Instead, the Buccaneers will lean on Teddy Bridgewater and Kyle Trask to lead the offense in the team's final tune-up. After losing wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) to injury in a gruesome-looking fall in their latest preseason game, it is unlikely the team will play any of their starters. Mayfield finished 2024 as a top-five fantasy quarterback in his lone year with Liam Coen as offensive coordinator. Josh Grizzard steps into the coordinator role this year, and the expectation is that the Buccaneers should once again field a high-powered unit. Currently, RotoBaller's QB8, there is some concern that Mayfield is being drafted near his ceiling. With McMillan expected to start the season on injured reserve and veteran Chris Godwin (ankle) likely headed for the PUP list, it wouldn't be unexpected to see the Buccaneers' offense start slowly before eventually rounding into form.