Who Should I Start? Trey Lance or Mac Jones

Sunday, January 4, 10:32 AM

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Trey Lance will make his first start of the season during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos. The former first-round pick is starting in place of Justin Herbert (coach's decision) as the Chargers look to keep their No. 1 quarterback healthy for the upcoming playoff stretch. Turning to Lance puts Los Angeles as a 14-point underdog, and they could still finish anywhere between the No. 5 and No. 7 seed in the AFC. The young quarterback has flashed upside in the past, and perhaps the Chargers still hope that he can live up to his first-round draft stock. However, the odds are stacked against him this week. For starters, the Broncos have an elite defense anchored by Patrick Surtain II and Nik Bonitto. Denver has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards and eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Furthermore, Lance is playing behind an offensive line that PFF ranked second-worst heading into Week 18. Every Chargers offensive lineman finished with a PFF grade below 70 last week. This is not the right time to start Lance in fantasy football. Managers should avoid him in all leagues.

Tuesday, February 17, 9:39 AM

The Minnesota Vikings could be looking to trade for a quarterback this offseason after former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness in his first full year as the starter. The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that "there is perhaps no candidate who checks more boxes for what the Vikings are looking for than San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones." There are a lot of things that could attract the Vikings' front office and head coach Kevin O'Connell. The 27-year-old is a former first-rounder, comes from a Kyle Shanahan offense, and pushes the ball over the middle of the field. He's still under contract with San Fran for another year, but his guaranteed salary for 2026 is only $1 million. The biggest obstacle to Jones potentially landing in Minnesota is the 49ers driving a "hard bargain" for him after he had a solid season filling in for the injured Brock Purdy. To land Jones, the Vikes might have to make the Niners an offer they can't refuse.