Lamar Jackson vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?
Lamar Jackson and Marcus Mariota are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Lamar Jackson averaged 17.1 PPG across 13 games with the Baltimore Ravens, while Marcus Mariota posted 12.0 PPG in 11 appearances for the Washington Commanders.
A 5.1-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. Lamar Jackson threw for 2549 yards and 21 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.
