Who Should I Start? Joshua Dobbs or Mason Rudolph

Saturday, August 16, 6:36 PM

New England Patriots quarterback Joshua Dobbs completed 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 106 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during Saturday's preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. The veteran backup looked solid, albeit against the Vikings' second-team defense. With only Drake Maye and Ben Wooldridge alongside him in the Patriots' quarterback room, Dobbs is in line to earn the backup job ahead of Week 1. The 30-year-old has seen increased opportunities over the last few seasons, including the 2023 campaign in which he threw for 13 touchdowns with the Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. He spent 2024 backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco but did attempt 47 passes through two games (one start). If Maye were to suffer an injury, Dobbs possesses the experience, mobility, and arm needed to keep the Patriots competitive down the stretch.

Tuesday, November 18, 11:12 AM

With Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (wrist) dealing with a fracture in his left wrist, backup quarterback Mason Rudolph may be in line to make the start in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears. Rudolph finished Pittsburgh's Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and played well, completing 12 of 16 pass attempts for 127 yards and a touchdown. Across 32 career games (18 starts), Rudolph has completed 64.1% of his pass attempts for 4,754 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. At 30 years old, Rudolph is an established NFL quarterback with limited upside. However, he could be a decent streaming option off the waiver wire for fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats. Rodgers has not yet been ruled out for Week 12, so managers will need to monitor his progress throughout the week before moving to Rudolph.