Who Should I Start? Patrick Mahomes or Michael Penix Jr.

Wednesday, November 26, 4:20 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, battled back from an 11-point deficit to defeat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12, and he will look to carry that momentum in their Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Mahomes completed 29 of 46 pass attempts (63%) for 352 yards and zero touchdowns. The superstar quarterback did not find the endzone through the air or on the ground while also taking four sacks and throwing an interception. It was a mixed bag for Mahomes because he set a new season-high in passing yardage, but he finished with zero touchdowns for the second time this year. Both of his zero-touchdown games have come in the past three contests, which is discouraging for fantasy managers, but he could turn it around this week. The Chiefs take on the Cowboys, who have given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Mahomes was listed on the injury report with a groin injury, but practiced in full all week and does not have an injury designation for Thursday's game. Mahomes is ranked QB1 in our RotoBaller rankings, meaning that fantasy managers can feel confident with him in their starting lineups.

Wednesday, November 26, 1:06 PM

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) had successful surgery on his knee on Tuesday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Penix had full reconstructive surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee, which will keep him out for the rest of this season and possibly for the start of the 2026 season next fall. The 25-year-old second-year signal-caller is facing a nine-month recovery, which will force Atlanta to rethink its long-term plan at the QB position this offseason. This is Penix's third ACL reconstruction in his career after he had two knee surgeries in college. Kirk Cousins will start the rest of the year under center for the Falcons, but depending on how he finishes the season, the Falcons could opt out of the final two seasons of his four-year deal.