Who Should I Start? Marcus Mariota or Caleb Williams

Saturday, September 7, 3:32 PM

The Washington Commanders have placed quarterback Marcus Mariota (chest) on injured reserve and have signed quarterback Sam Hartman from their practice squad. Mariota, who sustained a chest injury during Wednesday's practice, will be sidelined until at least early October. Washington had signed Mariota to a one-year, $6 million contract before drafting Jayden Daniels with their second-round pick. Mariota, a former No. 2 overall pick in 2015, had agreed to either mentor or start as needed for the team. This marks Mariota's first season with the Commanders after previous stints with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie from Notre Dame will step in as the third-string quarterback behind Daniels, the starter, and Jeff Driskel, the new backup, for the start of the season.

Monday, September 16, 2:39 AM

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a promising start in Houston on Sunday but struggled in the second half. The No. 1 overall pick was impressive early, completing all five passes for 55 yards on the Bears' opening drive, including two notable third-down completions to DeAndre Carter and DJ Moore. Williams finished the first half with 12 completions on 15 attempts for 91 yards, but frequent mistakes by the Bears undermined his performance. The team had four false starts and a delay of game right after a TV timeout, failed to convert a third-and-1 with a quarterback sneak, and barely managed a fourth-and-inches conversion from the shotgun. The rookie also threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the second half, compounding the challenges. Despite these issues, Williams and the Bears had a chance to win with 1:37 left on the clock. Williams connected with Rome Odunze for a 27-yard gain on the first play of the drive, but two plays later, Danielle Hunter sacked him for an eight-yard loss, and a fourth-down pass to Odunze fell incomplete after a miscommunication. Williams ended the game with 23 completions on 37 attempts for 174 yards and two interceptions. With seven sacks and frequent pressure, Williams was forced into hurried throws and poor decisions. Until the Bears' offense improves, Williams is not a viable starting fantasy quarterback.