Who Should I Start? Sam Howell or Hendon Hooker

Wednesday, January 1, 5:04 PM

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team doesn't plan on playing backup quarterback Sam Howell in their Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 17, but it sounds as though they plan to play all of their starters this weekend to close out the season. Howell has played only 25 offensive snaps in his first year in Seattle and didn't look particularly confident in the rare instances he got into a game this year. Despite dealing with a nagging knee injury of late, the 34-year-old Geno Smith should start and play all of the Week 18 game, lining him up as a QB1 option this week with so many starters across the league being rested in the season finale. Smith enters Week 18 as the QB13 in overall fantasy points with 4,097 passing yards, 17 TDs and 15 interceptions in 16 games.

Sunday, February 2, 2:32 PM

According to Bill Barnell of ESPN.com, the Detroit Lions could release quarterback Hendon Hooker during the offseason. Barnwell noted that since the team re-signed veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater late in the season, it appears that the Lions do not view Hooker as a potential starting quarterback. Hooker was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He did not see the field during his rookie season but was able to log 32 snaps this past season. Hooker went 6-for-9 with 62 yards. He added two yards on five rushing attempts. Seeing that the team did not want to enter the postseason with Hooker as the No. 2 option is a telling sign. In addition, the Lions also signed Jared Goff to a four-year extension last May, signaling him as the QB1 for the foreseeable future. Hooker only carries low-end stash value in deeper superflex dynasty formats, as he could be given an opportunity to compete for a backup role elsewhere.