NFL Player News

Jets quarterback Geno Smith's touchdown streak was not allowed to reach a full fifth game, as he was benched midway through Sunday's game against the Dolphins in Week 13.

Smith played just the first half of the game, and completed just 4 of 10 passes for 29 yards before being benched in favor of Matt Simms at halftime. He tossed his sixth interception in the last three games before being benched, giving him 19 on the season.

Smith didn't get off to a terrible start to the season, but he has slumped badly over the last month-plus. He has not thrown a touchdown over his last five games, while throwing eight interceptions and completing just 47.1 percent of his passes. It isn't clear whether Smith will have a chance to earn his starting job back in Week 14 against the Raiders, but it would not be a surprise to see Matt Simms starting next week for the Jets. 

The Chargers have listed their inactives for Week 13 at home against the Bengals. The following players were: King Dunlap, Eddie Royal, Jarret Johnson, Brad Sorensen, Brandon Taylor, Kwame Geathers and Willie Smith.

The Bills have made OG Antoine McClain, CB Brandon Smith, TE Chris Gragg, QB Jeff Tuel, OT J.J. Unga, RB Ronnie Wingo and LB Ty Powell inactive for Week 13 against the Falcons.

None of the seven players were listed on the team's injury report entering the game. They are all healthy scratches.

The Eagles inactive list for Week 13 against the Cardinals does not feature much in the way of surprises. Among the team's injured players, only safety Earl Wolff was unable to play Sunday.

The rest of the team's inactives list was made up of healthy scratches, including: linebacker Emmanuel Acho; quarterback Matt Barkley; offensive linemen Dennis Kelly and Matt Tobin;  running back Matthew Tucker; and defensive back Curtis Marsh. 

Texans quarterback Case Keenum is looking at an average matchup Week 13 against the Patriots.

New England rates 14th against opposing quarterbacks, allowing them to score 17.64 Fantasy points per game. Through 11 games, the team has given up 18 passing touchdowns. The Patriots have struggled a bit against the pass lately. In their last four games, the team has allowed 11 touchdowns through the air.

Keenum is trending in the opposite direction. After taking the league by surprise in his first three games, Keenum has been held in check his past two outings. He was replaced by Matt Schaub against the Raiders, and failed to score an offensive touchdown against the Jaguars. Until he can recapture his early promise, Keenum remains a risky Fantasy option.

For the first time in three career starts, Raiders rookie quarterback Matt McGloin failed to throw a touchdown pass during a 31-24 loss Week 13 at Dallas. McGloin completed 18 of 30 passes for one interception.

McGloin was credited with a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Holmes in the second quarter. However, the play was reviewed and the officials took the touchdown away after ruling Holmes' knee was down before he stretched the football across the goal line. One play later, Rashad Jennings had a 1-yard touchdown run.

McGloin had an efficient first half, completing 11 of 15 passes for 146 yards. He had a 103.8 quarterback rating as Oakland led 21-14 at the half.

McGloin was going for his first touchdown pass in the second half when a 20-yard pass into the end zone targeted for Jacoby Ford was picked off by Dallas cornerback Brandon Carr. It was McGloin's second interception in as many games.

The Raiders are back in action Week 14 at N.Y. Jets.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be trying to accomplish a career first when he takes on the Jets this Sunday. The second-year signal caller has yet to throw a touchdown against this AFC East foe, a trend he will look to change in Week 13.

Tannehill left one of the team's games against the Jets last season due to a leg injury, be he made it through the entirety of another without a touchdown. If he is to turn things around this week, he will do so against a team that has not been particularly strong against quarterbacks.

Opposing passers averaging 19.8 Fantasy points per game against the Jets this season, and have topped 20 points in three of the last four games. The Jets' stout run defense has pushed teams into plenty of passing situations, and they allow the 22nd-most passing yards in the league.

Tannehill is coming off his third 300-yard passing performance of the season, and should have a good opportunity to put up numbers. Unfortunately, with bye weeks in the past, Tannehill is more of a No. 2 Fantasy option at quarterback for Week 13. 

Jets quarterback Geno Smith is stuck in a rut in a bad way, and a Week 13 matchup against the Dolphins isn't likely to change things for the better. The Dolphins hold quarterbacks to the sixth-fewest Fantasy points per game this season.

Smith has just one overall touchdown over the last four games, a rushing score in Week 9. He has seven interceptions in that same span without a passing touchdown, and has completed fewer than 45 percent of his passes in each of the last three games.

The Dolphins are coming off a two-touchdown performance allowed to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, the first time in six games any quarterback has managed more than one touchdown or 15 Fantasy points against them.

Smith has yet to get a taste of these team's divisional rivalry, but his recent play suggests things might not go well for him this week. Smith should not be started in any Fantasy formats for Sunday's game. 

Matthew Stafford had a fantastic Thanksgiving game despite three turnovers on Thursday. In a victory, Stafford carved the Packers for 330 yards on 22 of 35 passing with three touchdowns. The turnovers were a couple of interceptions and a fumble when he was hit while attempting a pass.

Stafford's first score was on a 5-yard post route to little-used receiver Jeremy Ross, his first career receiving touchdown. He then hooked up with Calvin Johnson on a crossing route that Johnson ran into the end zone with. Finally he was the benefactor of a neat one-handed grab by Kevin Ogletree in the front right corner of the end zone for his third score. 

It's Stafford's first-ever win over the Packers in seven tries. He'll aim to upend the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 14 in what could be a matchup of two playoff teams.

The Packers will play their Thanksgiving afternoon game without Aaron Rodgers, who was expected to miss the game. Matt Flynn will start in his place, Scott Tolzien will back him up.

There is a sense that Rodgers could play in the Packers' Week 14 game vs. the Falcons.