Who Should I Start? Patrick Mahomes or Caleb Williams

Saturday, November 23, 2:41 AM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. The 29-year-old is coming off the team's first loss of the season and looking to bounce back. Mahomes threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the contest but coughed up the ball with two interceptions. The Chiefs quarterback has underperformed his fantasy expectations this season, but the Panthers will be a good spot for him to right the ship. The Panthers rank 26th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season, so Mahomes will have one of the most favorable matchups at the position. Mahomes is ranked QB8 in our RotoBaller rankings this week, making him a low-end QB1 option for fantasy. Given his favorable matchup, fantasy managers can feel more confident about starting Mahomes this week.

Saturday, November 23, 5:31 AM

This Sunday, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams presents a high-risk, high-reward fantasy option as he faces the Minnesota Vikings. After a solid performance in Week 11 against Green Bay, Williams completed 23 of 31 passes for 231 yards and added 70 rushing yards; he's looking to build on his momentum. Williams demonstrated improved poise in that game, getting the ball out quicker and evading pressure thanks to a more efficient scheme under the new offensive coordinator. This quicker release helped keep Williams upright against a Packers defense that's no slouch. However, Williams faces a much tougher test in Week 12 against a Vikings defense that blitzes at the second-highest rate in the league and has been tough on quarterbacks all season. Minnesota ranks 4th in points allowed per game and 5th in EPA per pass, making this a difficult matchup for any passer. If you're stuck with a quarterback on a bye or dealing with injuries, Williams could be a potential desperation play, but Minnesota's aggressive defense may cap his ceiling. In one-quarterback leagues, exploring other options is wise unless you're in a deeper format or need a true boom-or-bust gamble.