Mark Andrews or Terry McLaurin: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Andrews has the sharper touchdown path; McLaurin brings the broader role

Andrews can turn Baltimore’s strong scoring outlook into a direct TE payoff because he is a red-zone mismatch, not just a beneficiary of team points. McLaurin’s higher projection reflects a broader role, but the gap is less decisive when comparing a WR with a TE, and his recent spike followed by quieter weeks shows real volatility. Andrews’ lower snap share and Tennessee’s thin-sample matchup read keep his touchdown case from pulling ahead; neither start offers a clear edge.

What flips it: A verified increase in Andrews’ snap share would tip this toward him.

AI editor

Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

TE15BALvs TEN

Projected Points

Start· low
Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin

WR22WSHvs IND

Projected Points

Start

Mark Andrews’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-156 / +122
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 34.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+150
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Terry McLaurin’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
+116 / -148
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 50.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+235
Anytime Touchdown Props →
TEN@
BALSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
IND@
WSHSun, Oct 4, 9:30 AM ETView the game →

Why Mark Andrews

Start· low

TE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.

A 25% target share on a 28.0-point implied offense outweighs a tough, thin-sample TEN matchup. TE15 makes him a fringe TE1 start.

  • Andrews’ red-zone mismatch gives Baltimore’s scoring chances a direct path to him.
  • His target share is strong for this pair, but Tennessee’s apparent TE softness comes from only a three-game sample.

The call

  • Usage is the anchor. A 25% target share over 3 games is TE1-caliber volume, even with a modest 65% snap share.
  • The offense should score. A 28.0 implied team total means plenty of red-zone trips, and Andrews has touchdown upside on every one.
  • The matchup looks bad on paper: TEN ranks 5 of 32 vs TEs. That is only a 3-game sample at 0.25 confidence, so don't overweight it.
  • Risks: the -8.5 spread could produce a run-heavy second half that cuts his routes, and a 10.0 projection at TE15 sits near replacement level. Pivot only if you have a TE ranked inside the top 12 with a softer matchup. The ESPN headline about Mike Clay being 'conflicted' is unverified and doesn't change the read.

Latest on Andrews

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Terry McLaurin

Start

WR1 and offensive centerpiece. Explosive vertical route-runner with elite release package; missed time in 2025.

Start — WR22 consensus, projects WR25 this week: 26.0 implied team total, 24% target share.

  • McLaurin’s WR1 role and larger snap footprint give him the broader route-volume foundation.
  • His recent spike followed by quieter outings makes the higher projection less secure than it first appears.

Latest on McLaurin

What's next for Jayden Daniels, Commanders after elbow injury?

Experts weigh in on Daniels' latest injury and what it means for him, the Commanders and their collective futures.

ESPN · Sep 25, 2026
Terry McLaurin not worried about slow start to season

John Keim explains why Terry McLaurin has patience amid the Commanders' 0-2 start.

VideoESPN · Sep 24, 2026
Commanders say clip didn't reflect team response to Daniels injury

After a short video clip showed a number of Commanders walking past Jayden Daniels as he was being helped by medical personnel Sunday, many players fired back at the takes being spouted on social media, emphasizing, "It's bulls--- what people are saying."

ESPN · Sep 24, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricMark AndrewsTerry McLaurin
Projected points
Consensus rankTE15WR22
Opponent vs positionTEN · 5 of 323-game sampleIND · 15 of 323-game sample
Receptions6 of 3214 of 32
Receiving Yards1 of 3228 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3215 of 32
Targets6 of 325 of 32
Anytime TD9 of 3214 of 32
Target share25%24%
Reception share25%17%
Implied total · spread28.0-8.526.0-1.5
Depth chartTE1WR1
Snap share65%77%
Start/Sit record1–2—

Recent form

Mark Andrews — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs DAL
Week 2vs NO
Week 1vs IND

Terry McLaurin — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs SEA
Week 2vs DAL
Week 1vs PHI

Signal breakdown

  • 10.0 vs 12.9 projected PPR pointsTerry McLaurin +
  • Rank 15 vs 22Mark Andrews +
  • Opponent DvP rank 5 vs 15 (32 = softest)Terry McLaurin +
  • Implied 28.0 vs 26.0 team pointsMark Andrews +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 65% vs 77% snap shareTerry McLaurin +

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