Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Marcus Mariota threw for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns last week against San Francisco. The 2-touchdown game was just the third of what has been a disappointing season for Mariota. And things don't look to get any easier this week against the Rams, who have allowed multiple touchdown passes in just four games this season. Mariota should not be in your lineup.
Week 15 at San Francisco 49ers
Mariota's nightmare of a season continued last week when he threw for just 159 yards and 2 interceptions. He also ran for just 11 yards on 2 carries. At this point, with Mariota dealing with knee and hamstring soreness, he's just not a player who should be in your lineup. Heck, the way he's played of late, he might be better off not being in the Titans' lineup.
Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals
Marcus Mariota threw for just 150 yards and a touchdown last week, though he salvaged the game by running for a score and gaining 23 yards on the ground. Mariota has now been under 200 passing yards in each of the past two games and has just two multiple-passing TD games this season. Arizona has given up 20 passing TDs this season. Mariota is on the outside looking in on the QB1 tier.
Week 13 vs. Houston Texans
If you're still relying on Marcus Mariota as your starter, you're likely on the outside looking in on the playoffs in your league, especially after his 184-yard, 1-touchdown, 2-interception stinker last week. He didn't even give you much in the running game, adding 4 yards on 3 carries. Houston's defense doesn't offer much resistance and he did have 2 rushing TDs against the Texans earlier this season, but Mariota isn't anything more than a QB2 this week, even with a good matchup.
Week 12 at Indianapolis Colts
Marcus Mariota's up-and-down season continued last week in Pittsburgh as he threw for 306 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score but threw 4 interceptions. This week he faces an Indianapolis defense he threw for 300 yards and a score against back in Week 6. Mariota should bounce back this week in a must-win game for the Titans if they hope to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.
Week 11 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Marcus Mariota threw for 264 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception against a tough Bengals defense last week. He also ran 6 times for a season-high 51 yards to put together a decent outing. He'll get the Steelers at home this week, where they have been particularly stingy, allowing just 2 touchdown passes and no quarterback to post more than 167 yards. Mariota is a borderline-QB1 this week, mostly because of his scrambling ability and the fact the Steelers are without Joe Haden.
Week 10 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Marcus Mariota threw for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns with an interception last week. It marked just his second 2-touchdown game of the season in what has become a disappointing year. Cincinnati's pass defense hasn't been bad and the Bengals have given up multiple TD passes just three times this season. Mariota is a low-end QB1 this week in a tough matchup.
Week 9 vs. Baltimore Ravens
With a week off to rest his injured hamstring, Marcus Mariota should be able to scramble again, which helps his value. But Baltimore has been tough to throw against, allowing less than 200 yards through the air in each of its past four games. Mariota is on the outside looking in on being a QB1 this week, even with six teams on a bye.
Week 7 at Cleveland Browns
Marcus Mariota returned from a week off because of a hamstring injury to throw for 306 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception. Unfortunately, he was very immobile because of the injury. But he made it through none worse for the wear and the scrambling ability will come back, likely after the team's bye next week. Cleveland's leaky secondary has already allowed 14 passing touchdowns this season. Mariota is a decent QB1 start this week against the 32nd-ranked defense against opposing quarterbacks.
Week 5 at Miami Dolphins
Marcus Mariota rushed for 2 touchdowns last week. That was the good news. The bad news was that he threw for just 96 yards and 2 interceptions before leaving with a hamstring injury. He's been limited in practice this week and could wind up being a game-time call. Even if he does play, Mariota figures to be limited to playing from the pocket. That limits his upside. If you've got another option, you'd better have him ready, even though the Dolphins have allowed at least 249 passing yards in each game this season.
