Joe Flacco vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Joe Flacco and Marcus Mariota is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.1 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Joe Flacco averaged 12.1 PPG with the Cincinnati Bengals across 13 games, and Marcus Mariota posted 12.0 with the Washington Commanders in 11.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Joe Flacco threw for 2479 yards and 15 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.
Joe Flacco has his bye in Week 12, and Marcus Mariota rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
