Who Should I Start? Marcus Mariota or Josh Allen

Monday, September 29, 12:07 PM

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota got going late in the 34-27 loss to his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 4, in what could be his final start with Jayden Daniels targeting a return from his knee sprain in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mariota finished Sunday's loss by going 16-for-27 passing for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He added two carries for 20 yards and was sacked twice for a loss of nine yards. The 31-year-old veteran's touchdown passes went to receivers Luke McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel Sr. In two games in place of the injured Daniels, Mariota has been decent, completing 64.6% of his 48 pass attempts for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. It's not a lock that Daniels will play in Week 5, but if Mariota makes a third straight start, he'll be a low-end QB2 play against a tough Chargers defense on the road.

Saturday, October 11, 1:35 PM

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen will face his toughest challenge of the season when the team heads to Atlanta to take on the league's top-ranked defense. The Falcons have been dominant, allowing just 244 total yards per game, including a league-low 135 passing yards. Monday night's clash features the NFL's two leaders in time of possession, with Buffalo averaging 34:09 and Atlanta close behind at 33:30, setting up a physical, clock-controlling battle. While the Falcons have padded their numbers against Marcus Mariota and J.J. McCarthy, they did hold Baker Mayfield to just 159 passing yards in Week 1. Allen's dual-threat ability and offensive weapons should still allow him to produce, but expectations should be tempered--he's best viewed as a mid-tier QB1 in what could be a grind-it-out matchup.