Who Should I Start? Marcus Mariota or Kyler Murray

Wednesday, October 22, 2:32 PM

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota will make his third start of the season on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect much production in a difficult matchup. Mariota has been serviceable in his limited action, completing 64.6% of his passes with a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while adding some mobility outside the pocket. However, he now faces a Chiefs defense that ranks among the league's best, allowing the fifth-fewest yards per game and just 17.7 points per contest, good for third in the NFL. To make matters worse, Mariota could once again be operating without two of his top pass-catchers as Deebo Samuel (heel) and Terry McLaurin (quad) both remain questionable. With limited weapons and a brutal defensive matchup, Mariota lacks fantasy upside and should remain on the waiver wire in all formats outside of deep superflex leagues.

Monday, October 20, 7:49 PM

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon reiterated on Monday that quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) will be the team's starting QB when he is healthy, but it's "too early to say" whether he'll be ready to return coming out of the bye to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. A mid-foot sprain has kept Murray out of the Cardinals' last two games, and although backup Jacoby Brissett has played well in his two spot starts, the team isn't ready to bench the struggling Murray. The 28-year-old Murray gives the Cardinals' offense more options because of his rushing abilities, but he has mostly underwhelmed in his five starts in 2025, failing to go over 220 yards passing in any game while tossing only six touchdowns and three interceptions. Meanwhile, Brissett has thrown for 599 yards, four TDs, and one pick the last two weeks with Murray inactive.