Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett

Monday, October 20, 11:44 AM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco is a strong streaming option ahead of Week 8 with six NFL teams on bye. This coming weekend will feature 2025's largest bye week, with quite a few high-powered offenses taking a game off. While Flacco projects to be a nice fill-in for the diminished slate, he's been excellent either way, posting 561 yards and a 5:0 TD:INT ratio since being traded to the Bengals. Moreover, he's slated for two juicy matchups ahead of the team's Week 10 bye in the New York Jets and Chicago Bears. If he can keep up his recent string of performances, it isn't out of the question that the 40-year-old can become a consistent fantasy starter. For all the flak he's taken over the years, Flacco has performed well when given the weapons to succeed.

Thursday, September 4, 9:39 AM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) logged a full practice on Wednesday and is cleared to suit up in Week 1 when the Raiders face the New England Patriots. Pickett began the offseason with the Cleveland Browns but was traded to the Raiders in exchange for a fifth-round pick. The former first-round pick has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but appears to have moved past it. Fantasy managers should expect Pickett to operate as the backup option to Geno Smith. Currently, Aidan O'Connell (wrist) is on the injured reserve, which means Pickett will likely be given all of those opportunities under center if Smith were to miss time. Last season, Pickett spent time as Jalen Hurts' backup in Philadelphia but was deployed as a starter across his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. He is only worth a look in deeper superflex leagues if he were to take over the starting job.