Team news: Dallas Cowboys | Page 14

It’s time to turn to Bailey Zappe. Full stop. Give him every starter rep in practice. Build a simple offense around what he can do.

It probably won’t win a lot of games. The body of evidence we have suggests Zappe won’t be a successful NFL quarterback. But you can’t keep turning to Mac Jones. He’s broken.

Related players: Will Grier, Malik Cunningham

This is just one opinion and has nothing to do with the Patriots ultimate decision heading into Week 13. But it makes some sense. The story said with Jones on the field, it feels like the entire team is just waiting for him to make a crippling mistake. The story added the team seems to have no interest in Cunningham playing quarterback (considering the coaches have kept him from his natural WR position as much as possible). The team doesn't seem likely to turn to a QB that's still on the waiver wire, so the Pats appear ready to close out the season with one or more of the four options on their roster.

Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) is out again Sunday, while WR George Pickens (shin) fully participated today and is good to go against the Bengals.

Related Players: Diontae Johnson, Allen Robinson

Pickens' target participation has predictably plummeted since the return of Diontae Johnson, and he has 104 total receiving yards in his last four games combined. Will new OC Eddie Faulkner get Pickens going in Week 12? It's possible, but he can't be trusted as more than a FLEX play at this point.

Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb was estimated as a limited practice participant Monday with an ankle injury. But he was upgraded to full participation Tuesday and guarantees he will play Thanksgiving Day.

Lamb was quotes in the story as saying, “I’m straight. I’ll be out there,” Lamb said, via Todd Archer of ESPN. He's been perhaps the hottest fantasy player as of late and owners should again have high expectations heading into a game with the Commanders.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will be making the call on the team’s starting quarterback for this week’s game against the Giants and he wasn’t in a sharing mood when it came to his thoughts on the matter on Tuesday.

“I’ve told all the players the same thing: Be ready to go. Hopefully they will be,” Belichick said.

Related players: Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Will Grier, Malik Cunningham

As the story said, Jones has started every game this year, but he was pulled in favor of Zappe for the final drive of the team’s Week 10 loss to the Colts. Grier is also on the 53-man roster and Cunningham is on the practice squad, but Belichick didn’t bite when asked at his press conference if he’s made a decision about who will be under center on Sunday. From a fantasy standpoint, this isn't a decision that should impact most leagues outside of the very deepest.

The Patriots will come off their bye this week to take on the Giants on the road. At this point, there’s not much clarity as to who will be the starting quarterback.

Related players: Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Will Grier

We may have to wait another day or two to find out who will get the start, but despite a matchup against the Giants, the starter will likely not be a great fantasy option anyway.

The Jets waived running back Michael Carter on Tuesday, the team announced.

Related players: Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook, Israel Abanikanda

Carter wasn't happy when the team went out and signed Cook before the season started, but Cook - as it turns out - hasn't really been a factor this year. The release of Cook means the team will likely give the RB3 duties to the rookie Abanikanda, the story said, who was a fifth round pick this past spring. Those in the dynasty world had hopes on Abanikanda going to a team that would have used him more than the Jets, at least to this point. But Abanikanda's role should increase, and he's a Cook injury away from being the team's RB2. He's at least worth picking up in deeper leagues.

Question: Is Mac Jones still the team’s No. 1 quarterback?

Bill Belichick: “We have a lot of things to work on this week as a team. We’ll work through those. That is what we are going to do this week.”

Related players: Will Grier, Bailey Zappe

At this point, it's anyone's guess what the Patriots do at QB heading into Week 11. Jones was 15-for-20 for 170 yards but did throw another interception. Strangely, the team went to Zappe on their final drive needing a touchdown to win. Zappe eventually threw an interception to end the game. If Jones doesn't start, it could be Zappe or maybe Grier - or maybe Malik Cunningham makes a return. Those in deep two-QB or superflex leagues should pay attention to this situation this week.

Diontae Johnson popped up today as a DNP with a hamstring injury. That's not good news.

Related Players: George Pickens, Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin III

Upsetting news, so fresh off the IR. Pickens began to pop when Johnson was away from the field, but there's an argument to be made that Johnson could help Pickens truly hit some upside potential down field with both playing. Robinson and Austin are nominally interesting in deep leagues for desperate owners.