NFL Player News

Case Keenum has gone from undrafted quarterback to practice squad quarterback to third-string quarterback to starting quarterback in less than two years. That last upgrade was confirmed Thursday by Gary Kubiak, who proclaimed Keenum the starter for the Texans.

Keenum will replace the injured Matt Schaub, though an impressive performance and a victory Sunday at Kansas City could vault him into that spot permanently. Keenum was believed to be behind T.J. Yates, but Kubiak selected him to start because he felt his struggling team needs a spark.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith has already faced the Patriots this season, and things didn't go especially well -- Smith was intercepted three times, didn't throw a touchdown, and finished with three Fantasy points. 

While the second time around really can't be much worse, Smith will probably end up on the wrong side of 20 Fantasy points yet again. He's without two of the team's top five receiving yard leaders (Santonio Holmes is injured and Kellen Winslow is suspended) and the Patriots have been tough against opposing quarterbacks, allowing 13.7 Fantasy points per game. 

Smith has just two games with multiple touchdowns this season and four with multiple interceptions. While he has value in the right matchups, Smith may struggle in Week 7 against a tough New England pass defense. 

Case Keenum has leapfrogged T.J. Yates on the depth chart and will start for the Texans at quarterback Sunday. Gary Kubiak announced the change in his Thursday press conference, stating his 2-4 team needs a spark.

"It's a tough decision cause both have done so well," Kubiak said.

It is assumed after starter Matt Schaub performed well in Week 6 before sustaining a foot injury that Keenum is merely his temporary replacement. But perhaps Keenum, who has yet to throw a pass in the NFL, could supplant Schaub if he leads the Texans out of their doldrums.

Let's make this simple. It doesn't matter which of the three quarterbacks plays for the Texans in Kansas City on Sunday. Fantasy owners shouldn't have any of them in their lineups.

Starter Matt Schaub has been a pick-prone train wreck most of the year and is dealing with a foot injury. Neither T.J. Yates or Case Keenum has proven enough in the NFL to earn enough trust to even be picked up off the waiver wire.

Add all that to the fact that the undefeated Chiefs are ranked first in the NFL in points allowed (65), turnovers (18), interceptions (10) and passing yards yielded per attempt (4.6) and it becomes clear that no Houston quarterback is worthy of Fantasy attention in Week 7.

It would be wise to leave Schaub on your bench even if deemed healthy enough to play.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is coming off a strong Fantasy stretch in which he's thrown three ouchdowns in each of the past two games, but that could end this week against the Panthers.

Carolina has held opposing quarterbacks to just 10.20 Fantasy points per game, which rates as best in the league. Through five games, the team has allowed four passing touchdowns to eight nterceptions.

Bradford is coming off his best stretch of season. Over the past two games, he's been able to carve up the Jaguars and the Texans, tossing six touchdowns to no interceptions. Bradford has credited his recent success to the emergence of running back Zac Stacy, who has picked up close to 80 yards in his two starts. While Stacy's running has helped the team get close to the end zone, Bradford has been vulturing his scores. Four of Bradford's six touchdowns during this period have come inside the five. 

Against the Panthers, the team could take a more conservative approach when they get close considering Carolina's strong passing defense. 

Though he is not expected to play in Week 7 against the Chargers, Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is clearly making progress with his hamstring injury. Gabbert was a limited participant in practice Wednesday. 

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has produced a mix bag of results this season, with two games of 25 or more Fantasy points, and four with 16 or fewer. He's failed to pass for a touchdown twice this season, and has yet to rush for a score. 

Wilson faces the Cardinals in Week 7, a team that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to score 19.3 Fantasy points per game. They're on a roll recently, though, allowing an average of 10.7 Fantasy points per game over their last three. No quarterback has rushed for more than 25 against the Cardinals this year, and they've faced runners like Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick. 

The Seahawks have thrown the third-fewest passes in the NFL, and while Wilson can help offset some of the lost passing value with rushing yards, it's usually not enough to make him a top option.

With a Thursday night game against a top defense, Wilson in best left on the bench for Week 7. 

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for at least four touchdown passes for the seventh time in his career Week 6 at Cleveland, which ties him for the second-most by a quarterback in his first five seasons. Stafford, who has 12 touchdown passes through six games, will look to add onto his season touchdown total Week 7 vs. Cincinnati.

Last week, Thad Lewis became the third quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns against the Bengals this season, joining Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer. However, no quarterback has thrown for more than two touchdowns against Cincinnati. Quarterbacks average 236.5 passing yards per game and 17 Fantasy points per week against the Bengals, which is tied for the 13th-lowest average in the league. 

Statistically, Stafford has done well in his career against the AFC. He's averaging 307.9 passing yards and has compiled 31 touchdown passes to seven interceptions in 12 career games against the AFC.

It's not going to be the easiest of matchups for Stafford Sunday, but he proved last week against a good pass defense he can thrive despite a tough matchup, so continue to roll with Stafford in all Fantasy formats.

Bills temporary starting quarterback Thad Lewis returned to the practice field on Wednesday after injuring his foot in the Sunday overtime loss to Cincinnati.

Lewis performed well against the Bengals in relief of starter EJ Manuel. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. He will remain the starter until Manuel returns despite the Monday signing of Matt Flynn.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is 7-3 in 10 career games against the NFC and has a 101.6 quarterback rating through two games against the NFC North this season. Dalton will look for his eighth career win against the NFC when the Bengals head to Detroit Week 7.

Dalton is coming off his fourth career game of 300-plus passing yards and three touchdowns during a 27-24 overtime win Week 6 at Buffalo. The Lions are going to present a little bit tougher of a challenge since quarterbacks average just 15.3 Fantasy points per week, which is the 10th-lowest average in the league.

Only Jay Cutler and Brandon Weeden have thrown multiple touchdowns against Detroit, but they have thrown multiple interceptions. In fact, quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven) against Detroit.

Dalton has been a somewhat disappointing Fantasy option in 2013. He hadn't surpassed 20 Fantasy points until Week 6. He was averaging 13.4 Fantasy points per week prior to his 30-point outburst (standard) last week. Since quarterbacks haven't performed well against Detroit, it's best to consider Dalton a No. 2 Fantasy option Week 7.