FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 5/2/2013 1:34pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder (elbow) had an MRI on his elbow after the bone bruise flared up several weeks after the season. He went to the emergency room fearing it was a blood clot. He said it's fine now, though.

Huddle Up: Ponder's third season in the Twin Cities will be a big one for the QB after 2 seasons of mixed results. Matt Cassel is in and Joe Webb is out as the No. 2 QB, but make doubt, it's Ponder's show as he tries to guide the team to the postseason for the second straight year.

Posted: 4/21/2013 4:56pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder remains the unquestioned starter entering his third NFL season. However, if he goes into a protracted slump like last season, the coaching staff could be inclined to take a look at QB Matt Cassel, who will make $3.7 million this season even if he doesn't take a snap. Cassel fits the system of offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave better than QB Joe Webb, who is expected to serve as the third QB and play some WR.

Huddle Up: In 26 career starts, Ponder has a pedestrian 31 passing TDs and only 2 300-yard games. Granted, the Vikings are going to have to significantly beef up their WR corps with Percy Harvin now a Seahawk, but any way you slice it, Ponder is entering a crucial season.

Posted: 1/8/2013 10:14pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder (elbow) will not need surgery in the off season.

Huddle Up: Ponder showed flashes early and then again late in the 2012 season, but the Vikings will be looking for more next fall in the QB's third -- and crucial -- NFL season.

Posted: 1/6/2013 10:44pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder (triceps, elbow) said a deep bruise in his triceps muscle was the reason he did not pay in Saturday night's Wild Card playoff game. Ponder was on the injury list because of an elbow injury but said his elbow was fine. Ponder said the injury affected his velocity as well as his arm angle.

Huddle Up: A cold January night outside at Lambeau didn't exactly help Ponder's cause, but in any case, the QB now has plenty of time to heal as he's expected to remain relatively unchallenged in returning as the Vikings' starting QB again next season.

Posted: 1/5/2013 10:17am et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder is fully expected to make the start against the Green Bay Packers in the team's Wild Card game this weekend, according to head coach Leslie Frazier. However, the team may have had to alter their game plan to account for Ponder's injury, and there is a chance he could aggravate the injury.

Huddle Up: Maybe the Vikings should just take it easy with Ponder and give the ball to Adrian Peterson more. Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good plan. Ponder played well in last week's win over the Packers but threw a couple critical interceptions in his last visit to Green Bay. Perhaps this gives the Vikings a built-in reason to go to the bullpen for Joe Webb if Ponder struggles early.

Posted: 12/3/2012 4:43pm et

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said he would not rule out the possibility of benching QB Christian Ponder if his play is hurting the team but does not think Ponder is at that point yet. 'If things get to a point where your number one (quarterback) is really costing you some situations that could preclude winning you do have to do what's best for the football team,' Frazier said. 'That's always the case, it's always about what's best for the team.'

Huddle Up: With all the rookie and 2nd year QBs making a splash in the league, the Vikings may be losing patience with Ponder's development.

Posted: 10/31/2012 11:02pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder (knee) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Huddle Up: Ponder should be good to go health-wise this week, but his recent play should have his fantasy owners more than a little wary. Ponder's 7 interceptions all have come over the past 4 games, and he's only topped 300 passing yards once this season. Throw in the Week 9 matchup against the Seahawks' defense on the road, and it's highly advisable to examine other starting QB options this week where possible.

Posted: 10/10/2012 7:27pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder (knee) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Huddle Up: There should be no health worries here for Ponder, who's completing 69 percent of his passes this season and has a favorable matchup this Sunday against a Redskins' defense giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Posted: 9/26/2012 6:25pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder threw only five of his 35 attempted passes in Week 3 at least 15 yards downfield and four of those passes were incomplete. Eight of his passes were behind the line of scrimmage.

Huddle Up: This is the definition of nitpicking in light of Ponder's eye-opening fantasy outing (198 passing yards, 33 rushing, 3 total TDs) against a formidable 49ers defense. Moreover, the Vikings' deep passing game should get a boost with WR Jerome Simpson off suspension and eligible to play this Sunday against the Lions.

Posted: 8/24/2012 3:51pm et

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave wants QB Christian Ponder to dive head first when he scrambles because he believes it is less of an injury risk then diving in feet first. Musgrove believes diving head first gives defenders less time to hit the quarterback as well as a smaller area to hit. Musgrove is fine with Ponder going feet first if there is no defenders around him.

Huddle Up: Apparently Musgrove does not follow convention. Hopefully he is right and Ponder does not get injured diving head first, otherwise there could be hell to pay. This could also lead to a fumble or two.

Posted: 8/16/2012 9:53pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder said he believes the team can make the playoffs this upcoming season. 'I think so. In our minds, we have a good team,' Ponder said. 'Obviously, we've still got a lot of things to get better at in the next two weeks. Last year, we were in so many games. Could have easily been 10-6 instead of 3-13. That's a good sign. We were close last year, and we're only going to get better this year.'

Huddle Up: Whoa, Christian. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The difference between 3-13 and 10-6 is more than just coming up short in some close games. There are a number of issues the Vikes need to deal with -- including Adrian Peterson's injury situation, making defensive improvements and Ponder's own development in his second year -- before Minnesota can start making postseason plans. Additionally, last time we checked, the Vikings are in one of the NFL's toughest divisions, the NFC North, where each of the other 3 teams has made the playoffs the past 2 seasons.