Who should I start: Joe Burrow or Geno Smith? (2022 fantasy football) 

With Joe Burrow and Geno Smith, the fantasy quarterback rankings are getting interesting at the top, and these two have a lot to do with it.

First off, we have Cincinnati Bengals' shot caller and resident playmaker Joe Burrow. He is a former Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the entire NFL.

Then there is Geno Smith, a career journeyman who needed Russell Wilson to leave the Seahawks for Seattle to have his worth noticed. Both quarterbacks have a key role in fantasy football Week 9 lineups. For some, it might go down to a coin toss.

However, we aren't like the rest, and we have looked at what both quarterbacks have to offer. Also, we have studied how they can elevate your fantasy lineups, and how their upcoming fixtures can either make or mar their campaigns.

Verdict: Geno Smith might be enjoying a comeback player of the year season, but this is fantasy football, and unless you are Josh Allen, there's no way I'm picking you over Joe Burrow.

Joe Burrow is an absolute cheat code. He has the weapons and that mamba mentality. Since being selected by the Bengals as a number one pick, Joe Burrow has been one of the most important fantasy QBs on the market.

Why is Joe Burrow a better fantasy pick than Geno Smith?

In picking an answer to who you should start in your fantasy lineup, one should choose a quarterback that ticks most of the boxes and exudes the least red flags.

Burrow is that pick, as he has a plethora of feathers in his QB cap. First, he throws the ball to Ja'Marr Chase, a top-three receiver in the NFL.

This has led Burrow to the top two of the ranking without him being the most accurate or skillful passer on the Gridiron. On the other hand, Smith has no extraordinary wide receiver or tight end to throw to.

Also, Burrow has a more favorable next matchup in Week 9, with his Cincinnati Bengals facing off against the Carolina Panthers, a team amid a rebuild. The Seattle Seahawks, on the other hand, are up against the Arizona Cardinals, a franchise that has endured a tipsy-turvy season.

Last, but not least, is that Burrow operates in an offense that has a pretty non-existent running game, with him encouraged to sling the rock as many times as possible.

Geno, meanwhile plays for a Seattle Seahawks team that does a little bit of running and passing. Thus, his wide receivers will never get the targets that Burrow gets.

How have Joe Burrow and Geno Smith performed this season?

Burrow and Smith have had amazing starts to the season so far, and both quarterbacks are tearing it up for their franchises. They both rank in the top 10 in the official NFL fantasy league rankings for quarterbacks.

In terms of stats, Burrow is putting up a stat line of 2,329 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions in eight games played. Geno Smith, meanwhile, is putting up a stat line of 1,924 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions in eight games played.

It's also important to note that Joe Burrow ranks first in passing yards for all quarterbacks, while Smith ranks fourth in QBR score (66.6) among all quarterbacks.