NFL Player News

Jets quarterback Geno Smith snapped out of his offensive funk last week against the Raiders, but he may not have what it takes to keep things going in a difficult matchup against the Panthers in Week 15.

Smith completed 16 of 25 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Week 14 against Oakland. He'll face a Carolina defense that has allowed only 216.8 passing yards per game, which is the fifth fewest allowed this season. Opposing quarterbacks have scored 12.08 Fantasy points per game against the Panthers this season.

Smith has only thrown for multiple touchdowns twice this season and has been way too unreliable to trust. Fantasy owners should avoid Smith for Week 14.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be evaluated Friday, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. 

Rodgers was a limited participant in practice Thursday, leaving a chance that he's activated for Week 15. McCarthy said Rodgers "did a little more than [Wednesday]." He is typically evaluated Wednesday and Friday each week. Rodgers has missed the past five games due to a collarbone injury. 

The Cowboys are preparing for both Matt Flynn and Aaron Rodgers, according to the Star-Telegram. 

Rodgers has not been cleared to return from a broken collarbone yet, but the team doesn't want to take any chances. "We’ve got to go out there and prepare for both," defensive end George Selvie said. He added that the Packers employ a different scheme with Rodgers at quarterback, so the team needs to be prepared for both situations. Rodgers has been participating in team drills, and seems close to returning. 

Frustrated by their lack of scoring over the last four weeks, during which they have averaged 12.3 points, Redskins are preparing to give quarterback Kirk Cousins his first start of the season and just the second of his career Week 15 at Atlanta.

They've picked a good time to ease him in. The Falcons rank 20th against the pass, surrendering 245.8 yards per game. They've also allowed the highest quarterback rating and the fourth-most Fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Then again, they stepped up against an inexperienced quarterback last week, sacking the Packers' Matt Flynn five times. Flynn still threw for 258 yards and a touchdown, but the point is the Falcons won't just roll over for Cousins.

The Redskins as a whole are in disarray right now, with unrest at head coach as well as quarterback, so the environment isn't right for Cousins to succeed. Why take a chance on him at this crucial stage of the season?

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has produced six touchdowns and eight turnovers his past three games. He completed a season-low 10 passes in the Week 14 blizzard in Philadelphia. After all that, he's the No. 3 Fantasy quarterback.

Stafford plays the Ravens on Monday Night Football, and fortunately the game is at Ford Field. In 29 career home games, Stafford has accounted for 65 touchdowns (6 rushing). He's been dynamite against the AFC, too, throwing 36 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 14 games.

The Ravens give up the 9th-fewest Fantasy points (17.2 per game) to opposing quarterbacks. But Matt Cassel (22 points) and Ben Roethlisberger (23) fared well the past two weeks vs. Baltimore. Stafford is better than those guys, has better weapons. He's expected to get back running back Reggie Bush from a calf injury.

Consider Stafford a top-5 play Week 15.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers "took some 11-on-11 reps with the first-team offense in practice Wednesday," reports ESPN.com, citing tight end Andrew Quarless as the source. Rodgers broke his collarbone Nov. 4 and has not yet been cleared to play.

Rodgers "looked real good today," Quarless said, per the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "It was good to see him out there."

Green Bay visits Dallas on Sunday.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said quarterback Aaron Rodgers (broken collarbone) didn't appear to be in pain during Wednesday's practice, but suggested reporters ask Rodgers directly, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Rodgers, however, won't talk to the media until Thursday.

Rodgers did more in practice Wednesday than he did last week. His status remains uncertain for Sunday at Dallas. 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did more throwing on the run Wednesday than he did in practice last week, reports ESPN.com. Rodgers, who's coming back from a broken collarbone, said he felt pain in last week's workout.

No word yet on how Rodgers felt Wednesday. Matt Flynn will start Sunday in Dallas if Rodgers doesn't get cleared.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins was informed he'll start Sunday's game in Atlanta instead of Robert Griffin III. "Certainly with human nature you're going to have a heightened sense of urgency now that you know, but it shouldn't change anything in the way I get ready," he told reporters.

Cousins said he was told by coaches only that he's starting Week 15. There was no mention of what will happen Weeks 16-17.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins took the first-team snaps in practice Wednesday, with Rex Grossman getting the second-team reps, reports the Washington Post. It's another indication Cousins will start Sunday at Atlanta over Robert Griffin III.

Griffin took no snaps in the portion of practice open to the media, the report said.