Who Should I Start? Taylor Heinicke or Justin Fields

Wednesday, August 28, 8:22 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers are acquiring quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Not only is starting quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) recovering from plantar fasciitis in his foot, but backup Easton Stick regressed in training camp and the preseason. The 31-year-old Heinicke will be an upgrade at the QB position behind Herbert entering the regular season next week. In Atlanta, the Falcons were expected all along to try and trade Heinicke after taking rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the first round in April. Heinicke made his NFL debut back in 2017 with the Houston Texans and has appeared in 38 games (29 starts) since then with four different teams. His best year came in 2021 with Washington, when he threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 picks on 321 pass attempts over 16 games (15 starts).

Tuesday, September 17, 1:02 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday that the plan is for quarterback Justin Fields to make another start in Week 3 against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday. The team is "readying itself" for Fields, while Russell Wilson (calf) won't be a full participant in practices just yet this week. "We'll stay in that mindset until something happens," Tomlin said. Fields hasn't been amazing in two starts to begin the year, but he's led the Steelers to two wins, hasn't turned the ball over and has completed a career-high 69.8% of his passes. For now, Pittsburgh isn't going to rush Wilson back from his calf strain, and if Fields continues to play well, there's a chance that Wilson may not get the starting job back. In addition to taking care of the football, the 25-year-old Fields has carried the ball 22 times for 84 yards. He'll be a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in Week 3 versus the Bolts.