Who Should I Start? Joe Burrow or Michael Penix Jr.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.7 | 9.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Joe Burrow News
Monday, February 9, 10:00 AM
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said over the weekend that the Cincinnati Bengals won't entertain trade offers for quarterback Joe Burrow this offseason and will instead look to spend and build around him. Rapoport expects teams to call the Bengals after Burrow expressed some discontent with the organization during the 2025 season, but the franchise signal-caller is not expected to go anywhere. More than anything, the Bengals will probably spend on the defensive side of the ball to help supplement what is already a strong offensive unit. The 29-year-old Burrow only made eight starts in 2025 due to a turf toe injury that required surgery, and he threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Staying healthy has been an issue for the former No. 1 overall pick, but with one of the best receiving duos in the NFL, Burrow should be primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2026 as a QB1 in fantasy if he can stay on the field.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.2 | 9.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Michael Penix Jr. News
Tuesday, February 24, 1:14 PM
The Atlanta Falcons continue to be non-commital on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) being their starter under center in 2026, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "I'm not big on giving out positions in February. I think you guys know how I feel about Michael, and I'm excited about his trajectory. I also know he's focused on his rehab, which is the right thing to do," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. Penix is recovering from a torn left ACL in 2025, so it's understandable for Atlanta's new front office and coaching staff to be non-committal on him going into next season. Penix expects to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season this fall, but the reality is we won't have a better idea of his availability until this summer. The former first-rounder wasn't all that impressive in 2025 before his injury, and he's now rehabbing from his third torn ACL. Penix is determined to heal up and return as the starter, but he'll have to prove it to the team's new brass first. Now might be a perfect time to buy low on Penix in dynasty/keeper leagues, although his injury history dating back to college is worrisome.
Joe Burrow vs. Michael Penix Jr.
Still trying to decide between Burrow and Penix Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Joe Burrow is projected to score 24.7 points this week while Michael Penix Jr. is projected to score 19.2 points.
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