Justin Fields vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?
Justin Fields and Marcus Mariota are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Justin Fields averaged 16.0 PPG across 9 games with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Marcus Mariota posted 12.0 PPG in 11 appearances for the Washington Commanders.
A 4.0-PPG gap gives Justin Fields 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. Justin Fields threw for 1259 yards and 7 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 scheduling note: Justin Fields is off Week 6 and Marcus Mariota 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.
