Daniel Jones or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Jones edges Marks on role certainty, but neither is a strong start

Jones is the better of these two sits: his starting-QB role gives him a more dependable volume path than Marks’ shared backfield. The edge is real but limited—Marks has the softer matchup and Houston’s stronger scoring outlook, while Jones’ run-heavy, play-action offense still needs efficient distribution and play extension to deliver a useful ceiling. Jones wins the comparison, not a comfortable QB start; his main risk is a modest passing ceiling if the offense cannot sustain drives.

What flips it: A clear, sustained shift toward lead-back work for Marks.

Sources: colts.com · Sep 23, 2026 · CBS Sports · Sep 21, 2026

AI editor

Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones

QB20INDvs HOU

Projected Points

Sit· medium
Woody Marks

Woody Marks

RB44HOUvs IND

Projected Points

Sit

Daniel Jones’s market

PASS YDS
O/U 205.5
-117 / -114
Passing Yards Props →
PASS TD
O/U 1.5
+166 / -214
Passing Touchdowns Props →
INT
O/U 0.5
-121 / -105
Interceptions Thrown Props →
RUSH YDS
O/U 9.5
-113 / -113
Rushing Yards Props →

Woody Marks’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 27.5
-115 / -110
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 1.5
-153 / +120
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 10.5
-115 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+270
Anytime Touchdown Props →
HOU@
INDSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
HOU@
INDSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Daniel Jones

Sit· medium

Starting QB with mobility and play-extension ability. Rebounded as an efficient distributor in a run-heavy, play-action offense.

QB20 at 14.0 projected points is below the starter line in 12-team leagues, and a middling HOU matchup (20 of 32) offers no upside boost.

  • Mobility and play extension can rescue a possession when the designed offense stalls.
  • Slayton’s reunion adds a speed element, though it does not guarantee more targets.

The call

  • Consensus QB20 with a 14.0-point projection puts Jones outside the top-12 starting tier. In a one-QB 12-team league he's a bench or streaming-depth option.
  • The HOU matchup ranks 20 of 32 on the DvP composite. That's middle of the pack, and it rests on a 2-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so it gives no real reason to chase him.
  • A 22.0 implied team total and a 1.5-point spread point to a close, average-scoring game rather than a shootout that would push QB volume.
  • The Darius Slayton reunion items are unverified headlines about speed and opportunity. They don't change his projection this week. Jones is fine as a superflex or 2QB fill-in, but sit him in standard formats.

Latest on Jones

Darius Slayton excited for reunion with Daniel Jones, opportunity with Colts

The Colts signed Slayton to add explosiveness to their offense with wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) slated to be placed on injured reserve.

colts.com · Sep 23, 2026
QB Daniel Jones, S Cam Bynum know that WR Darius Slayton can bring speed to Colts offense

Slayton spent the last seven years of his career with the New York Giants, and six of those were with Daniel Jones.

colts.com · Sep 23, 2026
5 Colts Things: Daniel Jones & offense handle Steve Spagnuolo's blitzes, Laquon Treadwell steps up, Kapena Gushiken flashes in Week 2 loss to Chiefs

The Colts' overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs saw some positive developments, but it wasn't enough to avoid an 0-2 start to the 2026 season.

colts.com · Sep 21, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Woody Marks

Sit

RB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB44: IND is the 5th-softest matchup vs RBs, 8% target share.

  • Marks’ between-the-tackles role offers little pass-game cushion if Montgomery gets more work.
  • CBS reports the near-even split held for a second straight week, making a sudden workload jump hard to bank on.

Latest on Marks

Role

Woody Marks and David Montgomery split snaps almost evenly for a second straight week in Week 2, with Montgomery playing 42 snaps to Marks' 38 against the Bengals; Marks projects as an RB3/4 for Week 3 vs. the Colts.

CBS Sports · Sep 21, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricDaniel JonesWoody Marks
Projected points
Consensus rankQB20RB44
Opponent vs positionHOU · 20 of 322-game sampleIND · 28 of 322-game sample
Passing Yards26 of 32—
Passing TDs21 of 32—
Passing Completions14 of 32—
Passing Attempts13 of 32—
Interceptions25 of 32—
Rushing Yards—31 of 32
Rushing TDs—29 of 32
Rushing Attempts—30 of 32
Receptions—21 of 32
Receiving Yards—31 of 32
Anytime TD—25 of 32
Target share—8%
Reception share—11%
Implied total · spread22.0+1.523.5-1.5
Depth chartQB1RB2
Snap share100%50%
Start/Sit record2–0—

Recent form

Daniel Jones — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs KC
Week 1vs BAL

Woody Marks — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs CIN
Week 1vs BUF

Signal breakdown

  • 14.0 vs 8.7 projected PPR pointsDaniel Jones +
  • Rank 20 vs 44Daniel Jones +
  • Opponent DvP rank 20 vs 28 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 22.0 vs 23.5 team pointsWoody Marks +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 100% vs 50% snap shareDaniel Jones +

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