Who Should I Start? Mason Rudolph or Kenny Pickett

Sunday, November 23, 10:56 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph will earn the start against the Chicago Bears in Week 12 after Aaron Rodgers (wrist) was ruled out pregame, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rodgers was pushing to play, but the team decided to hold him out. This will be Rudolph's first start of the season, but he also earned significant snaps after Rodgers exited last Sunday. In that game, he completed 12 of 16 pass attempts for 127 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. This week, the veteran will face off against a Bears defense that leads the league in interceptions but has also allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. He's a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes.

Friday, December 12, 5:38 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett will make the start on Sunday against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Pete Carroll announced on Friday. Geno Smith (shoulder, back) injured his right throwing shoulder in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos and has not practiced all week. This will be Pickett's first start for the Raiders since they acquired him from the Cleveland Browns earlier this season. In relief of Smith last Sunday, Pickett went 8-for-11 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown against Denver. Pickett played in five regular-season games (one start) and two playoff games as part of the Eagles' Super Bowl run last year. The Raiders think Smith has a good chance to return in Week 16 against the Texans, but if Pickett plays well this weekend, the team might stick with him. In a bad matchup on the road in potentially snowy weather, Pickett shouldn't be considered as anything more than a low-end, low-upside QB2 streamer in superflex leagues this weekend.