Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or Jalen Hurts

Saturday, November 1, 12:19 PM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder) is planning to play in his team's Week 9 matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Flacco has an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, which could certainly impact his performance, but the veteran is at least going to give it a go in Week 9. In three starts for Cincinnati this season, Flacco has completed 64.3% of his pass attempts for 784 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He's also averaging over 40 pass attempts per start with the Bengals, which makes him an appealing high-volume fantasy option. Cincinnati may opt for a more run-heavy game plan in Week 9 to try to protect Flacco. Still, he profiles as a solid fantasy QB2 in a favorable matchup against Chicago. If Flacco is unable to finish the game, the Bengals would likely be forced to turn to backup quarterback Jake Browning.

Sunday, October 26, 9:30 PM

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led his team to a 38-20 Week 8 victory over the New York Giants by completing 15 of 20 pass attempts for 179 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The 27-year-old has now thrown for 1,677 yards, 15 touchdowns, and one interception through his first eight games of 2025. Hurts' production as a passer was critical because he was held under 25 yards rushing for the fourth straight game in Week 8. Hurts has also scored just one rushing touchdown over the last five weeks after scoring four across the first three. Given that Philadelphia typically operates in a run-heavy fashion, Hurts will likely need to be better as a rusher going forward to provide elite fantasy production. Still, he remains a must-start fantasy quarterback as the Eagles hit their Week 9 bye.