Buccaneers bench Josh Freeman

Sep 25, 2013

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided to bench quarterback Josh Freeman for rookie Mike Glennon, according to league sources.

The Bucs are making the change now because they feel it is beneficial for Glennon with the bye week coming after Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, team sources told ESPN. He can start this week, then have two weeks for the coaches to review his performance and make corrections before the Bucs play the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 13.

Coach Greg Schiano, according to the sources, felt this was a more favorable scenario than having Glennon anticipating his first NFL start for two weeks.

"This league is about finding a franchise quarterback, and with Josh's roller-coaster career, we don't feel he's that guy," a team source said.

Schiano said Monday that Freeman was still his starter despite completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes during the Bucs' 0-3 start.

Fantasy Impact:

The writing was on the wall for Freeman after the Buccaneers drafted Glennon on the heels of Freeman's disastrous finish in 2012 (after posting top 10 fantasy QB numbers through the first 14 weeks). Freeman never had the full support of Schiano and it showed in his play in 2013. As for Glennon, he led the NCAA in interceptions (17), but was 9th in passing yards (4,031) and tied for 12th in touchdowns (31). His YPA (7.1) and completion percentage (58.5%) were very mediocre. We're not optimistic about his prospects for this season, but he does have a strong arm and can make all the throws, so there may be some good fantasy lines in his near future. He does have a couple of good WRs (Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams) and a pass-catching RB (Doug Martin) to throw to, so he's in a good situation, relatively speaking. Those skill players shouldn't be impacted too negatively by the switch at QB because Freeman wasn't playing well. Consider Glennon a QB3 with low-end QB2 upside if given a good matchup.

yesterday

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo (foot) listed as DNP Tuesday

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 6:31 PM EST

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his team’s pre-practice injury report at a Tuesday press conference and it was the same as Monday’s estimated one, so several key players are on the sideline ahead of Thursday’s game against the Rams.

Among them was RB Isaac Guerendo.

Related players: Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda

Fantasy Impact:

Guerendo had a great game in Week 14, but left with a sprained foot. Guerendo said afterward he felt great and it was just precautionary. However, we know by now we can't always trust when a player talks about his status for the following week. The DNPs for both Monday and Tuesday are not a great sign for Guerendo's chances to play in Week 15, which is a short week against the Rams on Thursday Night Football. Guerendo's practice status for Wednesday will hopefully will give us a better idea. Taylor would likely be next up for the 49ers if Guerendo can't go.

Moore: Eagles want to 'increase the likelihood' WR A.J. Brown gets the ball

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:49 PM EST

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s comment that the team’s passing offense needs to improve in the wake of Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Panthers has been the biggest topic of conversation of the week in Philadelphia and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got his chance to weigh in on it Tuesday.

Moore said he speaks to Brown and other members of the offense every week and said “the flows of seasons” call for weekly conversations about how to get the most out of the passing offense. Part of that process for this week is working on ways to get the ball to Brown after he was targeted four times against Carolina.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him,” Moore said, via a transcript from the team.

Fantasy Impact:

Brown came out and criticized the passing game after just getting by the Panthers in Week 14. The Eagles, thanks to Saquon Barkley, have been a run-first team this year, and it's largely worked, thanks also to an improved defense. DeVonta Smith has also voiced frustration recently. The Eagles aren't likely to stop giving Barkley the ball, but we've had a few stories in the news this week featuring unhappy WRs, and there can often be a bit of a change in the game plan to keep players happy. The Eagles host the Steelers this week, so things may not come easy again for the offense.

Steelers call WR George Pickens doubtful, outside chance to play

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 12:37 PM EST

The Steelers did not have receiver George Pickens for their Week 14 victory over the Browns and they are likely to be without him again against the Eagles on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference that Pickens could be characterized as doubtful for Week 15, but there is still an outside chance he’ll play.

Fantasy Impact:

The Steelers thought Pickens would play last week but was eventually ruled out. After Sunday’s contest, Pickens underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury was more significant than initially believed, the story said. Reports from those who follow the team on Monday mentioned it was unlikely Pickens would play, and that's certainly looking like the case.