Who Should I Start? Michael Penix Jr. or Spencer Rattler

Tuesday, July 22, 6:31 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was taken eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft, enters training camp this summer as the team's unquestioned starter under center after starting the final three games of last season after Kirk Cousins was benched. While the 25-year-old southpaw signal-caller has plenty to work on heading into his first full season as the starter, the Falcons offense did average 32 points a game in his three starts to close out 2024. Nobody should be drafting Penix this fall as a QB1 in fantasy, but he is one of the more intriguing young QBs in the NFL and could eventually join the ranks of QB1s if he can stay healthy. If that is going to happen, the Washington alum is going to need to be more accurate on the short and intermediate throws. Penix has plenty of weapons and is not a bad QB2 in superflex leagues, but his lack of rushing will cap his fantasy ceiling.

Wednesday, July 23, 3:07 PM

With Derek Carr's retirement this offseason, the New Orleans Saints are splitting first-team reps between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. Rattler will get Wednesday's reps while Shough will receive first-team reps on Thursday. Rattler completed just 57% of his passes last season, tossing four touchdowns and five picks in seven appearances. Shough, a strong-armed rookie from Louisville, was selected 40th overall by the Saints in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and is competing with Rattler for the Saints' starting quarterback gig. With no clear leader emerging, this competition could stretch through training camp. The uncertainty under center adds risk to the fantasy outlooks of Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave, both of whom depend heavily on quarterback efficiency for consistent volume and red-zone production.