Joe Flacco vs Lamar Jackson: Who Should You Start?
Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Joe Flacco averaged 12.1 PPG across 13 games with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Lamar Jackson posted 17.1 PPG in 13 appearances for the Baltimore Ravens.
A 5.0-PPG gap gives Lamar Jackson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Joe Flacco threw for 2479 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Lamar Jackson posted 2549 yards and 21 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
One scheduling note: Joe Flacco is off Week 12 and Lamar Jackson Week 14. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
