Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Geno Smith

Saturday, November 22, 4:44 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will make his second start of the season on the road in Week 12 against the Saints, with the team losing Michael Penix Jr. (knee) to injury for the rest of the year. The 37-year-old started the team's Week 8 contest against the Dolphins, but unsurprisingly looked rusty, completing 21 of 31 passes for 173 yards and no scores (and zero interceptions). Expectations should not be high for managers considering the veteran as a streaming option, as he lost his job to Penix last year and was unable to wrest it back to begin 2025. Also, the Saints have been solid on defense, limiting opposing quarterbacks to the 17th-most fantasy points in the league, and they get the benefit of this game being played in New Orleans. With a low implied point total for Atlanta in this one (19), there isn't expected to be a lot of scoring, and if there is, it could come from the one-two punch of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier on the ground, especially given that top wide receiver Drake London (knee) will be out. As such, Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 in this matchup.

Saturday, November 22, 12:51 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith had an underwhelming game in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys, completing 27 of 42 pass attempts for 238 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Across 10 games, the 35-year-old has completed 66.3% of his pass attempts for 2,082 yards, 12 touchdowns, and a league-high 13 interceptions. Smith has also been sacked on 9.1% of his drop-backs as he plays with a Raiders offensive line that has been hit hard by both injuries and underperformance. The job won't get any easier for Smith in Week 12, as he'll take on star edge rusher Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns. Through 11 weeks, the Browns have allowed the fewest passing yards (1,874) and recorded the fifth most sacks (32) in the NFL. Even in two-quarterback formats, Smith profiles as a player for fantasy managers to avoid in Week 12.