Who Should I Start? Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts

Wednesday, August 13, 4:08 PM

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that the same players who didn't play at all in the preseason opener last week against the Indianapolis Colts won't play in their second preseason tilt versus the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, either. It means that key starters like quarterback Lamar Jackson won't be suiting up. Backup Cooper Rush could get more than a quarter of action this weekend. The 28-year-old Jackson didn't play at all last preseason, so don't be surprised if the same thing happens this year after he threw for a career-high 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 17 regular-season games a year ago. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP is at the top of his game and is a high-end, dual-threat QB1 for fantasy managers in 2025. Jackson isn't dealing with any sort of injury this summer.

Saturday, August 16, 12:51 PM

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is not expected to play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. Tanner McKee also isn't expected to suit up, paving the way for Dorian Thompson-Robinson to make his first start of the preseason. Kyle McCord should also see reps under center. Hurts also sat out last week's preseason opener, so his last chance to play in the preseason will come next Friday against the New York Jets. The 27-year-old didn't crack 3,000 passing yards in 2024 for the first time as a starter, but it didn't help that he sat out two games due to injury. The Eagles relied more on the ground with running back Saquon Barkley tearing it up, but Hurts still scored double-digit touchdowns on the ground for the fourth straight year. For his rushing TD prowess alone, he should be considered a top-five fantasy QB.