Who Should I Start? Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson

Monday, August 18, 6:20 PM

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that he expects quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the starters to play in Friday's preseason finale against the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs typically haven't played their starters in the preseason finale under Reid, but they'll change it up and give Mahomes and the starting offense a few series later this week. The 29-year-old two-time MVP played only three snaps in the preseason opener but still managed to throw a touchdown. Mahomes is no longer a high-end fantasy QB1 after the Chiefs offense took a step back last year, with the six-time Pro Bowler throwing for under 4,000 yards for the first time as a full-time starter. KC's offense just lacked any kind of downfield threat due to injuries to their receiving corps. A bounce-back is possible, though, and the Chiefs want to get back to being explosive downfield as an offense.

Wednesday, August 13, 4:08 PM

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that the same players who didn't play at all in the preseason opener last week against the Indianapolis Colts won't play in their second preseason tilt versus the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, either. It means that key starters like quarterback Lamar Jackson won't be suiting up. Backup Cooper Rush could get more than a quarter of action this weekend. The 28-year-old Jackson didn't play at all last preseason, so don't be surprised if the same thing happens this year after he threw for a career-high 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 17 regular-season games a year ago. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP is at the top of his game and is a high-end, dual-threat QB1 for fantasy managers in 2025. Jackson isn't dealing with any sort of injury this summer.