NFL Player News

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer has been a solid Fantasy option over two games this season -- completing 55 passes for 590 yards and five touchdowns. But his Week 5 opponent, the Bills, have seven interceptions in their last two games, and are holding opposing quarterbacks to under 20 Fantasy points (19.5) on the season. Additionally, this week's game takes place on Thursday night -- which has essentially been a kiss of death for Fantasy statistics, dating back to last season. 

Still, Hoyer has two talented pass-catchers in Jordan Cameron and Josh Gordon. And the Bills have given up 678 passing yards in the last two games. Buffalo has also been remarkably consistent in yielding exactly two passing touchdowns in each of the first four games to opposing quarterbacks. 

Hoyer has proven to be a decent Fantasy asset, but the combination of a hot Bills pass defense (which may see the return of star safety Jairus Byrd this week) and the Thursday night matchup makes him a better bench option for Week 5. 

Jets quarterback Geno Smith has struggled with turnovers through the first four games. His 11 turnovers are tied with Giants quarterback Eli Manning for the most in the NFL.

Because of his struggles, Jets coach Rex Ryan is considering returning to a system of play calling he used with Mark Sanchez in 2009. The red-yellow-green traffic light system is a way of designating risk to plays. Red are plays where Sanchez was told to be cautious, green is where he could be aggressive and yellow was in the middle.

"I’ve been thinking about it," Ryan said Wednesday, per the New York Daily News. "Kind of a fine line, as you guys even talked about it earlier, about being aggressive but being smart with it as well.

"We want to be aggressive, there’s no question, you want to be aggressive, but you don’t want to do something to the detriment of your football team. Clearly, turning the football over, has been a real problem, not just this season but the last couple of seasons as well. And we all know what that leads to."

Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert should show improvement in his Week 5 road test at St. Louis Sunday. Mostly that is because he couldn't get much worse after two games. Missing Weeks 2 and 3 due to hand injury, Gabbert has totaled 300 passing yards in two games with no touchdowns and five interceptions for the Jaguars.

We believe that Gabbert will make an improvement against the Rams considering St. Louis has only intercepted one pass this entire season and that came back in Week 1 against Carson Palmer and Arizona. They have given up seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the last three games against Matt Ryan, Tony Romo and Colin Kaepernick.

All that said, Gabbert is not nearly as efficient as any of the four quarterbacks that have squared off against the Rams to this point. St. Louis' secondary will be hawking his passes all afternoon. He may show improvement, but he's still not expected to put up big numbers. Gabbert is barely recommended for any Fantasy formats for Week 5. At best he can be considered a low-end No. 2 option in deeper leagues.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford averaged well over 300 yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game after his first two games of this season. He's averaging just 221 yards and one TD in his last two games as he's taken a step back after three straight losses.

Bradford had five touchdown passes and two picks in his first two games and has two TDs and one INT in his last two as he gets set to play at home against lowly Jacksonville Week 5 on Sunday. The Jaguars, who Bradford has never before faced, are giving up the 10th-most Fantasy points per game to opposing QBs this season.

In fact, although they haven't allowed more than 260 passing yards to any one QB thus far, the Jaguars have allowed nine touchdown passes in four games compared to picking off just two passes. Russell Wilson and Tarvaris Jackson combined for 331 yards with five TDs and one pick Week 3.

There is no double for Fantasy owners that Bradford will have a better game Sunday than he's been having recently. That said, Fantasy owners can still consider Bradford just a solid No. 2 Fantasy QB for Week 5.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson failed to throw a touchdown pass Week 4 for just the third time in 22 career starts (including playoffs). Wilson will look to avoid making it four times in 23 starts when the Seahawks travel to Indianapolis Week 5.

The bad news for Wilson is that quarterbacks haven't had great success against Indianapolis, averaging 10 Fantasy points per week, which is the lowest average in the league. In fact, quarterbacks have totaled two passing touchdowns to six interceptions against the Colts, and the last two quarterbacks -- Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert -- to face Indianapolis haven't thrown a touchdown.

Wilson hasn't been a very good Fantasy option this season. He's thrown for more than one touchdown just once in four games. It's a real shame too since he had a strong finish to the 2012 regular season, throwing for multiple touchdowns six times in the last nine games. 

Week 5 doesn't present a favorable matchup, so if you can lean on another quarterback, then consider keeping Wilson on your bench. Alternative options include Brian Hoyer, Jay Cutler, Sam Bradford, Andy Dalton and Alex Smith.

Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith heads to Atlanta trying to keep his job. He's committed 11 turnovers in four games, and if he's as careless as he was against Tennessee he could soon find himself watching Matt Simms play.

Smith won't have Santonio Holmes (hamstring) to throw to, and Stephen Hill is dealing with a concussion. The offensive line is in flux, with rookie Brian Winters reportedly replacing Vladimir Ducasse at left guard. The odds are stacked against Smith playing well in the Georgia Dome.

The Falcons have been generous to opposing quarterbacks, ranking 26th in pass defense. But this is a desperate Atlanta team that will enjoy facing Smith after seeing Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the first four weeks. Even in two-quarterback leagues, Smith is not a Fantasy option.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was no match for Drew Brees on Monday night. While Brees was nearly perfect, Tannehill threw three interceptions and lost a fumble in the blowout loss.

It wasn't all Tannehill's fault, as he was under a lot of pressure. He took four sacks and has been sacked an NFL-high 18 times this season. Tannehill's arm was hit on his final interception.

Tannehill's night began going south in the second quarter, when he was stripped by linebacker Curtis Lofton on a scramble. It was Tannehill's league-high sixth fumble, and third he's lost. Tannehill fumbled nine times last year as a rookie.

Tannehill was later picked off by corner Jabari Greer, who anticipated receiver Brian Hartline's route. Tannehill finished 22 of 35 for 249 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown to tight end Charles Clay. His passer rating was 57.9.

Tannehill will try to bounce back Week 5 against the Ravens.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Monday he's not ready to bench rookie quarterback Geno Smith, who was responsible for four turnovers Sunday against the Titans.

"It’s not a thought at this point right now," Ryan said. "Not a thought."

Ryan added he would like to see Smith take the sack than rather turn the ball over. Smith has 11 turnovers through four games, which is tied for Giants quarterback Eli Manning for the league lead.

"You can’t buy experience," Ryan said. "With that being said, we still have to do a much better job with Geno in particular [thinking], ‘I have to protect the football at all costs.’ You can’t be nonchalant about it. You have to protect the ball. You can talk about it until you’re blue in the face. But when it happens, now you see it over and over. That’s the way we can improve."

Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert had an awful return to the lineup Sunday against the Colts after missing two games with a hand injury. Gabbert completed 17 of 32 passes for 179 yards and three interceptions.

Gabbert has no touchdowns and five interceptions through two games. Yet, he continues to have the backing of his head coach. Gus Bradley said Monday his confidence is "stronger" in Gabbert after watching tape of Sunday's loss vs. Indianapolis.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said Monday quarterback Brian Hoyer will start Thursday vs. Buffalo, even with quarterback Brandon Weeden (thumb) cleared to play. Hoyer has led Cleveland to two straight wins in Weeden's absence.

Although, Chudzinski left the door open for Weeden to reclaim the starting job by saying the quarterback situation will remain a week-to-week decision instead of naming Hoyer the starter the rest of the season.