Who Should I Start? Justin Fields or Michael Penix Jr.

Friday, November 21, 10:24 AM

Heading into their Week 12 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets announced that veteran Tyrod Taylor will be taking over for Justin Fields as the team's starting quarterback. The demotion is the next rough patch in what's been a rocky first season in New York for Fields. Across nine games, the 26-year-old has completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. While Fields remains a threat with his legs (383 rushing yards, four touchdowns), he's averaged a career-low 6.2 yards per pass attempt while taking a sack on 11.7% of his drop-backs. Unless Taylor were to get injured, Fields is not expected to be re-inserted as the Jets' starter this season. It remains to be seen whether Fields will stay in New York for the 2026 season or if he will get another shot to be a starter elsewhere, but he's unlikely to carry fantasy value in redraft leagues for the remainder of 2025.

Wednesday, November 26, 1:06 PM

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) had successful surgery on his knee on Tuesday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Penix had full reconstructive surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee, which will keep him out for the rest of this season and possibly for the start of the 2026 season next fall. The 25-year-old second-year signal-caller is facing a nine-month recovery, which will force Atlanta to rethink its long-term plan at the QB position this offseason. This is Penix's third ACL reconstruction in his career after he had two knee surgeries in college. Kirk Cousins will start the rest of the year under center for the Falcons, but depending on how he finishes the season, the Falcons could opt out of the final two seasons of his four-year deal.