Who Should I Start? Tyrod Taylor or Geno Smith

Friday, December 12, 12:26 PM

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor (groin) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Taylor injured his groin early in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins and was unable to practice this week. Justin Fields (knee) has also been ruled out for a second straight week, leaving rookie Brady Cook to make his first NFL start this weekend in Jacksonville. The Jets will also be without rookie tight end Mason Taylor (neck), leaving Cook with limited options against the first-place Jags. Taylor, who had taken over for Fields as the starter under center, will try to make his way back for a Week 16 date with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Dec. 21. Avoiding all of the Jets' offensive skill players this weekend is probably a good strategy in fantasy in Week 15.

Wednesday, December 17, 4:06 PM

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Wednesday that there's "a good chance" that quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) returns to start this Sunday against the Houston Texans in Week 16, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Smith suffered a right-shoulder injury in the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos and did not play in Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup Kenny Pickett couldn't lead the Raiders to any points, and thus the 35-year-old Smith will get his starting gig back this weekend in an extremely difficult matchup on the road against the Texans, who have the best defense in the NFL. It's good news for the Raiders' offensive skill players, but for fantasy football, Smith will be a low-end QB2, at best, in superflex leagues in Week 16 if he returns. Smith has led one of the worst offenses in the league in 2025 in his first year in Vegas, throwing for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his 13 starts. UPDATE: Smith returned to Wednesday's practice.