Who Should I Start? Kenny Pickett or Cole Payton
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Kenny Pickett News
Monday, August 3, 8:27 AM
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that quarterback Kenny Pickett will start the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6, against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. No clear-cut starters will play in the game for the Panthers. Now that veteran Andy Dalton is no longer in Carolina, Pickett is the favorite to serve as Bryce Young's backup in 2026 in his first year with the team. The 28-year-old former 20th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 from the University of Pittsburgh is with his third different team in the last three years, having spent 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles and 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Pickett played in 11 games (three starts) the last two seasons and threw for only 479 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions with the Eagles and Raiders in a backup role. He will only become an option in the deepest of superflex leagues in 2026 if he's forced into the starting role if Young goes down with an injury.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cole Payton News
Friday, June 19, 5:50 AM
Eagles quarterback Cole Payton currently sits fourth on the Philadelphia depth chart behind Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton, but his long-term fantasy upside is as high as any of the non-first-round quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Both McKee and Dalton are in the final year of their contracts, and while the former could potentially seek greener pastures elsewhere in 2027, the soon-to-be-39-year-old Dalton may choose to call it a career after his 16th season in the league. Ironically, it is the lefty Payton who is perhaps best equipped to run an offense similar to the one helmed by Hurts, serving as the only other dual-threat quarterback on the roster after rushing for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns during his collegiate career at North Dakota State. At 6'3" and 223 pounds, and with the luxury of developing behind the scenes, Payton could eventually grow into one of the most fantasy-relevant backup quarterbacks in the league and is a must-stash player in superflex dynasty leagues.
Kenny Pickett vs. Cole Payton
Still trying to decide between Pickett and Payton? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kenny Pickett is projected to score 0.7 points this week while Cole Payton is projected to score 0.0 points.
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