NFL Player News

Eagles rookie quarterback Matt Barkley will have to wait a little longer to make his first career start. Eagles coach Chip Kelly made the announcement Wednesday quarterback Nick Foles will return from a concussion to start Week 9 at Oakland in place of the injured Michael Vick (hamstring).

Barkley has come off the bench the last two games, replacing Foles in Week 7 vs. Dallas and replacing Vick in Week 8 vs. N.Y. Giants.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has posted solid numbers against the Bears in 10 career matchups against them. But over the last four, Rodgers has been spectacular, completing 69.6 percent of his throws for 1,090 yards and 12 touchdowns with two interceptions. That's a 117.2 passer rating and three touchdown passes per meeting.

Rodgers enters Week 9 on a tear. He's leading an offense that hasn't punted in the last five quarters. While Rodgers is missing a few top receivers, he's benefitting from a resurgent running game that's kept defenses off balance. Rookie Eddie Lacy has run for 395 yards over the past four games. Over that span, Rodgers has seven touchdown passes and one interception.

The Bears rank in the middle of the pack in defending opposing quarterbacks. They've given up at least one passing touchdown every game.

Rodgers is a can't-miss top-5 play Monday night.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been a mish-mash of good and bad the last two weeks. While he has two straight sub-200 yard passing games, he's also thrown for multiple touchdowns in both. And while he's thrown two interceptions in each game, Tannehill's pass attempts were among his three most in 2013. 

It all adds up to a season without a game over 19 Fantasy points. But he has managed performances of 16, 17, 18, and 19. He's tantalizingly close to being good, but Tannehill just can't get over that hump.

It's safe to expect more of the same in Week 9 for a Thursday night game against Cincinnati. The Bengals have been wildly uneven this season, allowing opposing quarterbacks to score five, 25, 32, and seven Fantasy points in their last four games. And things have been unpredictable on top of that -- Tom Brady was that five-point game, while Thad Lewis had the 25. 

Even with plenty of quarterbacks on bye this week, Tannehill hasn't shown enough to earn a starting spot. He's best left on benches in most leagues. 

Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith has been mired in a cold spell statistically since throwing three touchdowns during a Week 5 win at Atlanta. Smith has been held without a passing touchdown in two of his last three games, accounting for two touchdowns (one passing) and eight turnovers (five interceptions) in that span.

Smith's fortunes might not be changing Week 9 vs. New Orleans. Through seven games against the Saints, quarterbacks are averaging 12.9 Fantasy points per week, which is the third-lowest average. Quarterbacks are averaging 246.6 passing yards per game, but have totaled more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (eight). Quarterbacks have also lost five fumbles against New Orleans, and only Matt Ryan and Jay Cutler have thrown multiple touchdowns.

Smith is like any other rookie quarterback -- he's experiencing the ups and downs of being a first-year signal caller. He's hasn't been a reliable start for Fantasy owners and is not a recommended option Week 9 with a tough matchup on the docket.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw for only 139 yards against the Rams, but it's hard to blame him considering he was under constant pressure, getting sacked seven times. He threw a pair of touchdown passes to salvage his Fantasy performance.

Wilson found Golden Tate for both scores, the first coming on a 2-yard slant in the second quarter. In the third, Wilson lofted a deep one for Tate, who snatched it over corner Janoris Jenkins and pranced his way to an 80-yard touchdown.

Wilson hit 10 of 18 throws, with his receivers dropping a couple throws. Wilson ran three times for 16 yards.

Wilson, who's tossed five touchdowns without an interception the past two weeks, plays the Buccaneers in Week 9.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak announced Monday Case Keenum will start at quarterback Week 9 vs. Indianapolis instead of Matt Schaub, who is reportedly dealing with torn ligaments in his ankle. Though, Kubiak stressed this was a performance-based decision.

"Matt's health is fine. It's a decision based on what I saw take place last week (at Kansas City) with Case," Kubiak said.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued his dominance of the Vikings in Week 8, hitting 24 of 29 throws for 285 yards and two touchdowns. He added 31 yards on six carries and led an offensive machine that did not punt or commit a turnover.

Rodgers has thrown 13 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last four starts against Minnesota. Green Bay's 44 points Sunday night were the most it ever scored in the Metrodome.

Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for two first-half scores, the first an 11-yard strike into tight coverage. Then Rodgers burned the blitz by rifling a short throw to Nelson, who sprinted 76 yards for a touchdown. 

Rodgers has thrown five touchdowns and no interceptions the past two weeks and is up to 15 touchdown passes this season. He plays the Bears in Week 9.

A blowout of the Jets on Sunday allowed two little-used skill position players to dent the scoresheet for the Bengals. Quarterback Josh Johnson did not throw a pass, but he did rush for 17 yards on three carries. Running back Cedric Peerman added 11 yards on six attempts.

Wideouts Marvin Jones and A.J. Green didn't leave many catches or yards for others, but tight end Tyler Eifert did contribute two receptions for 23 yards and wideout Dane Sanzenbacher added two more for 18 yards. Fellow wide receiver Mohamed Sanu caught one pass for 24 yards before leaving with a right shoulder injury.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins relieved an injured Robert Griffin III late in Sunday's contest against the Broncos in Week 8.

Cousins was picked off by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on his first series, who took it back 75 yards for a touchdown. Two plays later, Cousins was picked off again by Shaun Phillips to put the game out of hands for Washington.

Cousins completed 5 of 9 passes for 48 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 45-21 defeat. He could be in line to play Week 9 against the Chargers if Grifffin is not healthy enough to play.

Rookie quarterbacks tend to have ups and downs. Consider the game Sunday one major downer for Geno Smith.

The Jets quarterback completed 20 of 30 passes for 159 yards, but a pair of pick-sixes in the second half doomed him to a 51.9 quarterback rating and some piling on by the Bengals in their 49-9 victory.

Smith absorbed four sacks and seven quarterback hits. He now has five interceptions and just one touchdown pass in his last three games. He threw for just 78 yards in the second half before the Jets tossed in the towel and backup Matt Simms. But before he turned into an observer, he threw one interception that Chris Crocker ran 32 yards with for a touchdown and another that Adam Jones sprinted 60 yards with for another score.

He will try to rebound in Week 9 against the visiting Saints.