Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Justin Herbert

Saturday, December 6, 11:42 AM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 234 yards and one touchdown in last week's 27-24 loss to the Jets, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers, each with at least two targets apiece. The veteran QB now has an unremarkable 3:1 TD:INT in three starts this season, and heads into a tough matchup in Week 14 against the Seahawks. Seattle's defense has yielded just 152.7 yards per game passing over their last three contests (sixth-fewest) and is middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs. The game will be played indoors in Atlanta, but with the Falcons missing their top receiver, Drake London (knee), and with an implied team total of just 19 points, they are not expected to find the end zone frequently. It all points to Cousins being a very low-end QB2 for Sunday's showdown.

Saturday, December 6, 4:18 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey remains the most reliable target in the passing game heading into Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles, posting a 4-39-1 stat line on six targets last week. McConkey is quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to guy under pressure, commanding a team-high 20% target share and a 34% first-read rate. The Eagles have a top-10 secondary, and with Herbert (hand) questionable, the Bolts are expected to adopt a run-heavy game plan, likely decreasing overall passing volume. If Herbert is ruled out and Trey Lance starts, all receivers face a significant downgrade. RotoBaller ranks McConkey as WR17 this week. Given his reliable connection with Herbert in high-pressure situations, he can be considered a low-end WR2 even with the expected decrease in passing attempts. Temper expectations and production if Herbert is ruled out.