Who Should I Start? Marcus Mariota or Lamar Jackson

Friday, January 2, 12:26 PM

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota was a stretch to make it back to play in the final game of the year after injuring his hand in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. The 32-year-old veteran was held out of the Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and will now miss a second straight game to end the year. Journeyman QB Josh Johnson will make a second straight start for the Commanders. Mariota ended up playing in 11 games (eight starts) this year while filling in for the injured Jayden Daniels, and he held his own, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added 297 yards on the ground and a TD.

Tuesday, January 13, 5:57 PM

Despite a disappointing 2025 season in which they failed to reach the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens are standing behind franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I want him to be my quarterback," owner Steve Bisciotti said on Tuesday. Baltimore's owner also said that Jackson, who is his own agent, seemed amenable to a new deal and made it clear he wants to get something done before free agency begins in March. There were rumors late in the 2025 season that the Ravens might consider trading the 29-year-old MVP in the offseason due to a rift with head coach John Harbaugh, but that pretty much ended when the Ravens surprisingly fired Harbaugh last week. Jackson missed several games due to a hamstring injury early in the season and just never looked like himself, finishing as the QB20 in fantasy points with 2,549 passing yards, 21 TDs, and seven interceptions. He also only ran for two touchdowns. With better health, Jackson will be a prime bounce-back candidate in 2026.