FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 6/19/2013 3:51pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder might be challenged by Matt Cassel for the starting job during the 2013 season.

Huddle Up: Ponder is still the starter in Minnesota, but the leash isn't particularly long with a quality backup plan like Cassel in the wings. Neither is on the fantasy radar; what fantasy owners are hoping for is enough from one or the other to keep Kyle Rudolph and Greg Jennings relevant.

Posted: 3/16/2013 10:58pm et

Minnesota Vikings QB Matt Cassel said he understands that he will be the No. 2 quarterback and that QB Christian Ponder will be the team's starting quarterback. "They said they're looking to bring somebody in with experience who could come in and basically be somebody who can step in if need be. The fact of the matter is, again, Christian is the starting quarterback. I think we'll have a great [meeting] room. I'm there to add value. I'm there to help him out in whatever capacity that is, and go from there," Cassel said.

Huddle Up: The Vikings' desperate need for a quality backup reared its head in the playoff loss to Green Bay, and it was a priority in the offseason. While the jury is still out on whether or not Ponder is the solution at quarterback, the Vikings' front office remains committed to giving him an opportunity to see what he can do with a better receiving corps; hence the Greg Jennings signing. However, they don't want to waste Adrian Peterson so having a veteran backup on hand in case Ponder falters or is injured is the smart move.

Posted: 3/14/2013 5:55pm et

QB Matt Cassel, released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the day, signed with the Minnesota Vikings and is expected to compete with QB Christian Ponder for the starting quarterback job next season.

Huddle Up: Cassel chose the Vikes over the Bucs, ostensibly because he'll have a better shot at beating out Ponder than Tampa's Josh Freeman.

Posted: 3/14/2013 2:00pm et

The Kansas City Chiefs have released QB Matt Cassel.

Huddle Up: A mere formality with the team dealing for Alex Smith in February and signing FA Chase Daniel earlier this week.

Posted: 2/28/2013 11:23pm et

The Minnesota Vikings could show interest in Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel if he is released this offseason because the Vikings want a veteran quarterback to pair with QB Christian Ponder.

Huddle Up: Cassel in purple makes more sense than the other rumor of the day which had the Arizona Cardinals reportedly showing some interest despite Cassel's lack of a big arm. The Vikings, on the other hand, throw a lot more underneath as evidenced by Ponder's paltry 6.1 yards per attempt -- a figure which ranked ahead of only the Jaguars' Blaine Gabbert (6.0) among starting QBs this past season.

Posted: 2/24/2013 12:54pm et

The Kansas City Chiefs have not given QB Matt Cassel the option to accept a pay cut in order to remain with the team.

Huddle Up: There's a new regime in town with Andy Reid at the controls and all indications are that Cassel's 4-year run in K.C. is over. Expect him to be released sooner rather than later.

Posted: 2/8/2013 11:16pm et

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the team is still evaluating QB Matt Cassel and that it is too early for the team to make a decision on him. "We're too early in the process to know that. We'll continue to evaluate it. We're evaluating him just like we do a free agent. That's what you do, and the thing about that is it takes time. I think he realizes that. That's how it works when there's a change," Reid said.

Huddle Up: Right now it looks like the Chiefs will use the first overall pick in the draft on a quarterback, but if their evaluation reveals something about Cassel they really like there are other options--including trading back in the draft. Plenty to consider between now and that day in April when Roger Goodell puts the Chiefs on the clock.

Posted: 1/16/2013 11:19am et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel, who was benched this season, will be due over $16 million in base salary over the next two seasons. It is likely Cassel will be cut.

Huddle Up: There are enough QB-needy teams that Cassel should at least find a camp to visit, but the luster is definitely off the one-time Tom Brady backup.

Posted: 12/3/2012 2:21pm et

The Kansas City Chiefs are not expected to bring QB Matt Cassel back next season.

Huddle Up: Cassel never lived up to his lofty contract, and the Chiefs will be looking for a new signal caller in 2013.

Posted: 11/19/2012 5:51pm et

Updating a previous item, Kansas City Chiefs QB Brady Quinn appears to be in line to start against the Denver Broncos in Week 12 after QB Matt Cassel was benched in the team's Week 11 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. 'I wanted to start Cassel, so I started Cassel,' head coach Romeo Crennel said. 'When I felt like I needed to make a change, I made the change to Quinn. So Quinn got into the game in the second half and then after this, I will evaluate it and I will let you know what I am going to do next week.'

Huddle Up: There seems to be some confusion over who the actual starter will be, but the improtant thing is that neither are fantasy options and both kill the value of the players around them.

Posted: 11/18/2012 7:23pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Brady Quinn entered the game Week 11 after the team decided to bench QB Matt Cassel in the third quarter.

Huddle Up: Cassel got the start only because Quinn didn't pass concussion tests until late in the week, and may have thrown his final pass for K.C. barring another injury to Quinn. However, neither QB could get the Chiefs into the end zone Sunday with Cassel finishing 8-of-16 for 93 yards and Quinn winding up 9-of-14 for 95 yards.

Posted: 11/2/2012 12:12am et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel was 19-of-29 for 181 yards, an interception and a fumble Thursday night in a 31-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

Huddle Up: Cassel, who got the start with Brady Quinn inactive with a concussion, now has 7 fumbles and 11 interceptions in 7 games this season, making opposing defenses must-starts when K.C. comes up on the schedule.

Posted: 10/30/2012 12:33pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel will start against the San Diego Chargers in the team's Week 9 game Thursday, Nov. 1, with QB Brady Quinn (head) dinged up.

Huddle Up: This is good news for Dwayne Bowe owners. Despite winding up with a relatively quiet game, Bowe was immediately targeted for his only two catches when Cassel came into the game against the Raiders last week. Hopefully Cassel gets it out of his head that he is Jamaal Charles.

Posted: 10/29/2012 5:09pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Brady Quinn (concussion) is undergoing tests for a possible concussion and is not at the practice facility Monday, Oct. 29. QB Matt Cassel is expected to take snaps with the first team at practice.

Huddle Up: Quarterbacking for the Chiefs is proving to be a hazardous job.

Posted: 10/17/2012 11:21am et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel was back at practice Tuesday, Oct. 16, cleared for noncontract drills, and head coach Romeo Crennel expects him to be OK by the time the team comes back from their bye week. Cassel was having no trouble moving around. "I feel great, yeah," Cassel said. "I've passed all the tests and done all that."

Huddle Up: Cassel has been sidelined by a concussion, but he is slated to return to practice and share first-team reps with Brady Quinn. The Chiefs are on the bye this week so we'll enjoy a week or so of quarterback controversy before KC needs to pick between the two.

Posted: 10/11/2012 12:55pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel (concussion) has been ruled out for the team's Week 6 game.

Huddle Up: That means Brady Quinn will make his first NFL start since 2009, and, sadly, that might not be a bad thing for K.C,. in light of Cassel's 14 turnovers this season. As for the value of the Chiefs' other fantasy standouts, RB Jamaal Charles and WR Dwayne Bowe, this move shouldn't have a big effect either way.

Posted: 10/10/2012 7:16pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel (concussion) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Huddle Up: Things are looking rather iffy this week for Cassel, who suffered a concussion late in this past Sunday's game against the Ravens. Bank on Brady Quinn getting his first start since 2009 Sunday when the Chiefs travel to Tampa.

Posted: 10/8/2012 4:26pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel (concussion) has not been ruled out for Week 6 yet but it appears unlikely that he will be able to play.

Huddle Up: Those planning to use Cassel for a week 6 probably shouldn't count on the fan favorite.

Posted: 10/8/2012 11:40am et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel suffered a concussion in the Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens. With a bye in Week 7, the team might rest Cassel until Oct. 28 when the team plays the Oakland Raiders in Week 8. Chiefs fans cheered in when Cassel suffered the injury and left the game. OT Eric Winston was not pleased by the crowd's reaction. "...When you cheer somebody getting knocked out, I don't care who it is, and it just so happened to be Matt Cassel, it's sickening. It's 100 percent sickening," Winston said. "I've been in some rough times on some rough teams. I've never been so embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there."

Huddle Up: It's true that Cassel hasn't played particularly well, but cheering an injured player is definitely uncool. If Cassel remains sidelined, Chiefs fans will be rewarded with Brady Quinn under center.

Posted: 10/7/2012 4:03pm et

Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 5 game against the Ravens because of a head injury and did not return. He was replaced by Brady Quinn.

Huddle Up: Cassel was buried in the pocket by the Ravens' 340-pound Haloti Ngata was taken to the lockerroom. Cassel had entered the game with 10 turnovers and added four more (2 picks, 2 fumbles) in three quarters Sunday while throwing for only 92 yards.

Posted: 10/6/2012 6:12pm et

The Kansas City Chiefs could decide to part ways with QB Matt Cassel after this season and not suffer from a significant cap hit. The Chiefs have already paid Cassel $40.5 million over the first three years of a six-year deal and only have modest base salaries remaining. As a result, the team can make a move and still have plenty of money left over.

Huddle Up: In the meantime, the key fantasy question is will Cassel and the Chiefs' starting QB job part ways this season? Cassel has only 5 TD passes and double the number of the turnovers (10) for a struggling, 1-3 team.

Posted: 8/14/2012 4:54pm et

The Kansas City Chiefs depth chart remains unchanged as they approach their second preseason contest against the St. Louis Rams Saturday, Aug. 11. QB Brady Quinn is still the backup quarterback behind QB Matt Cassel, with QB Ricky Stanzi as the third option. WR Dwayne Bowe is still listed as the seventh-string flanker since he has yet to show up to training camp.

Huddle Up: No K.C. team official will admit as much on record, but the Chiefs are hoping beyond hope that Cassel plays close to a full season after missing the team's final 7 games in 2011 with a broken right hand. Quinn is a first-round disappointment who's with his third team in 3 seasons, while Stanzi is an untested 2nd-year QB.