Who Should I Start? Lamar Jackson or Caleb Williams

Friday, September 6, 9:35 AM

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put together some big numbers through the air and on the ground but came up just short of a comeback on Thursday night. The reigning MVP threw 26-for-41 with 273 yards and a touchdown while gathering 122 yards on 16 carries and one fumble. His accuracy left a bit to be desired while he was hurried almost all game, but his running numbers boosted his fantasy performance to be even better than his counterpart Patrick Mahomes. One thing to watch moving forward will be the growth of the offensive line as they replaced three starters this year, which could mean less time for Jackson to throw. As long as his ability to run is still there, Jackson will be a comfortable play for fantasy managers each week.

Friday, September 6, 4:56 PM

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is a high-risk, high-reward option as a borderline QB1 against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Williams displayed impressive potential during the preseason, with notable throws on the run and exceptional arm angles. However, this will be his first official game, so some growing pains are to be expected. In the preseason, Williams showcased his significant upside with a 13% big-time throw rate and 8.5 yards per attempt despite an adjusted completion rate of 61.1%. Williams must utilize his talented offensive weapons, including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet, to capitalize on his opportunities, especially given the Titans' potentially improved pass defense. Last year, Tennessee allowed the ninth-highest yards per attempt and CPOE and had the seventh-highest adjusted completion rate. However, they've bolstered their secondary with Quandre Diggs, Chidobe Awuzie, and L'Jarius Snead. While the Titans' secondary featuring Sneed (56.6 passer rating allowed in 2023), Roger McCreary, and Awuzie is seen as a strength, their safety corps could be a weak spot. The critical storyline will be how Williams performs in his debut, and leveraging his top targets notably Moore, Allen, and Odunze will be crucial.