NFL Player News

Bills starting quarterback EJ Manuel (knee) participated in the media availability portion of Friday practice, but backup Thad Lewis was taking more reps, the Buffalo News has reported. The team has yet to announce who will play Sunday at New England.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has averaged 32.7 Fantasy points per game over his last three, with nine total touchdowns and no interceptions. 

If this sounds familiar, it's because Dalton did something very similar earlier in the season, from Week 6 to Week 8, when he averaged 34.3 Fantasy points per game, throwing 11 touchdowns in that three-game span. He then threw six interceptions in the next two games, the second coming against Baltimore, Dalton's Week 17 opponent. 

In that Ravens game, Dalton threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with 18 Fantasy points. Since that game, the Ravens have allowed just two quarterbacks to go over 20 Fantasy points, holding the other four to fewer than 15. They've allowed seven touchdowns in the six games since Week 10, while intercepting five passes.

Dalton has a ton of momentum right now, but the matchup isn't great. He carries an equal amount of risk and reward, and our rankings reflect that. He's a borderline starter at quarterback in most formats.  

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins was a hot Week 16 start, but it was mainly because of a favorable matchup against the Cowboys, following a surprisingly excellent performance in Week 15 against the Falcons. He threw for 197 yards and a touchdown last Sunday, and heads into a Week 17 matchup against the Giants with far less enthusiasm. 

Cousins is still an option for 2QB formats, but the Giants have been fairly solid against quarterbacks this season, allowing them to score 17.9 Fantasy points per league (putting them right around league average). Over the last nine games, however, the Giants have allowed opposing quarterbacks to go over 20 points just twice. And they've held quarterbacks to fewer than 10 points five times in that span, including Week 16, when Matthew Stafford managed just six Fantasy points. 

Cousins is a good quarterback, with some decent offensive weapons, but the Giants have been great against the pass lately. He can be started in 2QB formats, but can be left on the bench in most standard Fantasy formats. 

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is looking at a fantastic matchup Week 17 against the Vikings.

Minnesota is the worst team in the league against opposing quarterbacks. The team has allowed quarterbacks to average 26.20 Fantasy points per game, the highest rate in the league. They've given up a league-high 36 touchdowns in 15 games. In the past three games, the team has given up 10 passing touchdowns. 

Stafford has struggled as of late, tossing just one touchdown and five interceptions over the past three games. In his first game against Minnesota this season, Stafford threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns. The team has nothing to play for, so it's unclear whether Calvin Johnson will play.  If he's out, Stafford will be down his primary weapon in the passing game. If Johnson can go, Stafford is a good start. If not, he's questionable. 

Coming off his best performance in months, Jets quarterback Geno Smith is looking to finish his rookie season off well in Week 17 against the Dolphins.

Smith's performance last Sunday against the Browns, in which he passed for 214 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, stands in stark contrast to his performance the last time he faced the Dolphins. Smith completed just 4 of 10 passes and was benched in a 23-3 loss to the Dolphins in Week 13.

The Dolphins allow opposing quarterbacks to pass for 253.6 yards per game, but are holding them to just 15.4 Fantasy points per game, the sixth-lowest mark in the league. Smith is not a recommended start for the final game of the season against such a tough matchup. 

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will be seeking a bounce-back performance during his regular season finale at home against the Rams in Week 17.

Wilson completed 11 of 27 passes for a season-low 108 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in Week 16 against Arizona. Although the Seahawks have already clinched a playoff spot, Wilson still has something to play for, as his team is fighting for home-field advantage and an NFC West division title.

In his previous meeting against the Rams, Wilson threw for two touchdowns and no picks but was held to only 139 passing yards. He has been held under 150 yards passing four times this season. Opposing quarterbacks have scored only 16.27 Fantasy points per game this season. Consider Wilson a low-end starting option for the final week of the regular season.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will make his long-anticipated return from a broken collarbone against the Bears in a win-or-go home Week 17 contest.

Rodgers suffered his injury during his first meeting against Chicago at Lambeau Field in Week 9. He hit 1 of 2 passes for 27 yards before he was slammed to the turf by Bears defensive end Shea McClellin on a 3rd-down sack in the opening quarter of that game. He had only missed one career game before suffering a broken collarbone.

Rodgers was averaging 277.3 yards per game with a total of 15 touchdowns and four interceptions through eight games. The Bears have allowed 227.8 passing yards per game this season, which should work out in favor of Rodgers. Opposing quarterbacks have scored 17.07 Fantasy points per game this season.

All of out Fantasy experts have Rodgers ranked in the Top 5 for the final week of the regular season. You didn't keep him on your bench this long not to start him in his first game back. Consider him a must-start Fantasy option for Week 17.

Texans quarterback Case Keenum said he felt fine in practice Thursday and believes he will play Sunday at Tennessee. Keenum, who has been dealing with a right thumb injury, received the first-team reps and appears all but set to start against the Titans.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will start Week 17 against the Bears.

Rodgers has missed seven games due to a broken collarbone, but has been practicing in recent weeks. Head coach Mike McCarthy named Rodgers as the team's starter during Thursday's press conference. Rodgers was a full participant in practice Thursday. McCarthy said he knew Rodgers would start Tuesday, but waited until Thursday to make the announcement. The team that wins the game will head to the playoffs. 

Rex Ryan said Thursday that Jets quarterback Geno Smith has "come a million miles" this year in terms of his performance, per the New York Post.

Smith certainly improved dramatically in Week 16 against Cleveland. He completed 20 of 36 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and, for the first time since Nov. 3, zero interceptions. His 91.7 quarterback rating was his best since Week 5.