NFL Player News

Bills quarterback Thad Lewis might be the least likely starter among those available for Week 9 against Kansas City after being sidelined again Thursday in practice with a rib injury. Lewis has started the last three games, but was not seen during the media availability portion of the session, per ESPN.

Jeff Tuel and Matt Flynn split first-team reps Wednesday. Rookie starter E.J. Manuel returned on a limited basis after missing three weeks with a knee injury, but will not play Sunday.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is one of the hottest at his position in Fantasy right now, with three straight weeks of 30-plus Fantasy points, spurred on by 11 passing touchdowns (against two interceptions) in his last three games. 

But go back to the three games before his recent run, and Dalton was slumming it -- 30 total points from Week 3 to 5. He didn't throw a touchdown against the Browns (Week 4) or Patriots (Week 5), and was in the midst of a four game interception streak. His recent three-game run came against relatively easy competition -- the Bills, Jets, and Lions are among the 15 teams who have given up the most Fantasy points this year to opposing quarterbacks -- while the Dolphins (Dalton's Week 9 opponent) have given up the 10th-fewest. In fact, Miami has allowed 24 total points to quarterbacks over the last three games, and only one has passed for a touchdown. 

The fact that Dalton has to play on Thursday, which has been very bad to offenses this season, doesn't help matters. There's a chance that he simply rides momentum into Week 9 and keeps up his excellent play, but Fantasy owners shouldn't go overboard with expectations. 

Dalton is worth a start in a bye-heavy week, but his owners should recognize that he was in a major slump before a string of nice matchups popped up on the schedule. 

Do you want to know who will start at quarterback for the Bills Week 9 vs. Kansas City? Well, apparently the Bills want to know that answer as well. 

Bills quarterback Jeff Tuel delivered a surprising message when talking to reporters Wednesday after splitting the first-team reps at practice with Matt Flynn since Thad Lewis was sidelined by a rib injury.

"Coach Marrone walked in to the room and said, 'It could be anyone," Tuel said about the quarterback situation for Week 9.

Lewis has been the starter the last three games with EJ Manuel sidelined by a knee injury. Manuel practiced on a limited basis with the second-team offense Wednesday and appears inching closer to a return as well.

Bruised ribs prevented Bills quarterback Thad Lewis from practicing on Wednesday. Jeff Tuel was taking the first-team reps, per WGR.

Lewis played throughout Sunday against New Orleans with the ailment, but struggled with three fumbles and an interception.

Starter E.J. Manuel remains sidelined with a knee injury, but has ramped up his recovery and could be close to returning.

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.