Daniel Jones vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?
Daniel Jones and Marcus Mariota are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback averaged 18.0 PPG in 2025, a full 6.0 points per game ahead of Marcus Mariota's 12.0 with the Washington Commanders. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
Daniel Jones carries a 6.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Daniel Jones threw for 3101 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Marcus Mariota posted 1695 yards and 10 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
