Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Caleb Williams

Tuesday, January 6, 12:56 PM

The Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to tweak the final two years of the QB's contract on Tuesday, setting the stage for a decision on his future to be made by the third day of the new league year on March 13, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Cousins now has a guarantee for $67.9 million for the 2027 season that will vest on March 13. The restructure also includes reducing Cousins' 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to just $2.1 million. Atlanta's front office is in flux following the firing of general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday, but the Falcons could still move on from Cousins before March 13 as a post-June 1 release. A release of that kind would split the dead money on Cousins' contract over 2026 and 2027, as opposed to the team taking on the full amount in 2026. The 37-year-old played in 10 games this season, including starting the final seven following Michael Penix Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. Cousins was serviceable, throwing 10 TDs and five interceptions, but he probably isn't in the team's long-term plans at the position.

Friday, January 16, 9:30 PM

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was a top-10 fantasy signal-caller in his second year in the NFL, and although it wasn't always pretty, he has his team one win away from the NFC Championship. Williams led the Bears back from down 21-3 at halftime to beat the Green Bay Packers on Wild-Card weekend, throwing for a season-high 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 24-year-old has gone over 300 passing yards in two of the last three games and has tossed six touchdown passes to three interceptions in that span. Williams has an uncanny knack for extending plays outside the pocket and finding open receivers down the field in the second half with games hanging in the balance. Even though inclement weather is expected in Chicago on Sunday for the Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams, the former first overall pick will have top-three QB upside in fantasy against a Rams defense that has looked a lot more vulnerable late in the year.