Who Should I Start? Marcus Mariota or Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Monday, September 15, 3:41 PM

If Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) cannot play in Week 3, backup Marcus Mariota could be forced into action against his old team, the Las Vegas Raiders. After undergoing an MRI exam following last Thursday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers, Daniels was diagnosed with a sprained knee, which puts his availability for Week 3 this Sunday in question. Daniels' injury isn't considered a long-term one, but his status is in doubt for this weekend. The Commanders surely will play it safe with the 24-year-old Daniels. Mariota, 31, hasn't started in the NFL since he made 13 starts with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. Since then, he's appeared in six games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Commanders, throwing for 528 yards, five touchdowns, and a pick on 67 pass attempts. Mariota wasn't bad in spot duty in 2024 with Washington, although he'd be a low-upside, low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in Week 3 if he makes the start against the Raiders.

Saturday, September 13, 1:44 AM

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a lackluster Week 1, but his fantasy outlook improves considerably heading into a favorable Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. As the RB39 in Week 1, Tracy managed only 4.5 fantasy points with 24 rushing yards and 11 receiving yards, but he dominated the backfield with a 66.2% timeshare. This heavy workload, combined with the Cowboys' defensive struggles against the run, makes him an intriguing play. Dallas allowed a whopping 158 rushing yards in Week 1, the fifth-most in the NFL, and was the 23rd-ranked fantasy defense against running backs last season, giving up 22.67 fantasy points per game. Given the potential for a high-volume day, Tracy has a chance to deliver RB2 numbers.