Who Should I Start? Joe Burrow or Jaxson Dart

Monday, December 29, 12:54 PM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cleveland Browns on Sunday, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Although both teams are eliminated from the playoffs, Taylor said starting Burrow gives the team the best chance to win, and the Bengals are trying to close out a disappointing 2025 season with a three-game winning streak. Since Week 11, Cincy's offense ranks fourth in the league in third-down conversions and is sixth in red-zone efficiency. On the defensive side of things, the Bengals rank eighth in the NFL in third-down conversions and are 12th in red-zone efficiency. In the Week 17 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Burrow went 24-for-31 passing for 305 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks. Burrow has made only seven starts in 2025 due to a turf-toe injury that required surgery, but he's now gone over 300 passing yards in back-to-back games with six TDs and no picks. Burrow will have a challenge to make it three straight 300-yard games to close out the year in Week 18 against a stout Browns defense.

Sunday, December 28, 7:47 PM

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 22 of his 30 pass attempts for 207 passing yards during Sunday's Week 17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He also rushed for 48 yards, took two sacks, and didn't turn over the football. The rookie didn't score any touchdowns through the air, but he did add two rushing touchdowns. Dart continues to showcase an impressive tendency to scamper into the end zone; he has 13 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns through 11 games. The Ole Miss product's willingness to put his body on the line for big plays will always cause managers to hold their breath, but you can't argue with the results so far. Dart has been one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the NFL this year, and he could make a late push for Rookie of the Year while scoring touchdowns and limiting turnovers. It doesn't look like New York will rest any key starters in Week 18, so Dart should be a low-end fantasy QB1 with all of the Giants' top weapons at his disposal.