FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 3/25/2013 11:38pm et

Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said he is embracing the backup role with the team. "I wanted to find a nice role for me to come in and more than likely help a young guy," Fitzpatrick said. "I thought that would be something that was important to look for and for me a great opportunity to come in. For me, (it's) a great opportunity to come in and help Jake. I don't know Jake at all, but I want to be there for him and be ready to play if anything happens."

Huddle Up: Fitz had his run as a starter in Buffalo; now he's ready for a long career holding a clipboard and helping Jake Locker with his Sudoku.

Posted: 3/19/2013 1:19am et

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with free-agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick on a two-year contract Monday, March 18. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

Huddle Up: Fitzpatrick replaces Matt Hasselbeck as the backup to Jake Locker.

Posted: 3/17/2013 11:49pm et

The Cincinnati Bengals could show interest in free-agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills) if he is not able to find a starting job.

Huddle Up: With the starting options looking rather slim for Fitz, who fizzled out in Buffalo, Cincy likely will starting looking better by the day.

Posted: 3/12/2013 6:11pm et

Updating a previous report, the Buffalo Bills have released QB Ryan Fitzpatrick after he rejected a restructured contract that the team offered him.

Huddle Up: The Bills are officially in the QB market as Fitzpatrick's release leaves journeyman Tavaris Jackson, Wildcat specialist Brad Smith and second-year man Aaron Corp as the only quarterbacks on the roster. College prospect Ryan Nassib, who played for new Bills coach Doug Marrone at Syracuse, now is even more of a draft possibility for Buffalo.

Posted: 2/21/2013 1:27pm et

The Buffalo Bills have not approached QB Ryan Fitzpatrick about restructuring his contract; however, the team is not ruling out the possibility.

Huddle Up: According to the Buffalo News, Fitzpatrick already has received $21 million of the 6-year, $62 million deal he signed during the 2011 season, but in light of the Bills' back-to-back 6-10 seasons and Fitzpatrick's rather mediocre 79.1 and 83.3 passer ratings, a restructured deal and Buffalo bringing in a serious challenger for the starting job could be in Fitz's immediate future.

Posted: 2/13/2013 11:54pm et

The Buffalo Bills may ask QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to restructure his contract in order to reduce his $10.45 million salary cap figure for next season. If the team decides to release Fitzpatrick before he is to receive his $3 million roster bonus, he would still count $10 million against the salary cap because of bonus money that has already been paid to him.

Huddle Up: With Buffalo fully expected to pursue alternatives at the quarterback position, most likely in the draft, it would make sense for them to ask Fitzpatrick to reduce his salary. Whether Fitz sees it the same way, however, remains to be seen.

Posted: 1/22/2013 10:17pm et

Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson wants to see the team bring in another quarterback to give QB Ryan Fitzpatrick some serious competition for the starting job. 'Because competition brings out the best in us,' Johnson said. 'If we went out and got another quarterback, who knows what'll happen? Fitz may still win, or the other guy my win. Let it happen like that.' However, Johnson is still confident the team can win with Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Fitzpatrick was ranked 32nd out of 33 quarterbacks this year with a 27.5 completion percentage on passes that traveled at least 20 yards.

Huddle Up: Nothing like a vote of confidence from your top target ...

Posted: 12/24/2012 9:54pm et

Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey said QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Week 17 because he gives the team the best chance to win. Gailey said QBs Tyler Thigpen and Tarvaris Jackson will not see playing time during the game.

Huddle Up: Fitz hasn't done much for his owners lately, with no 250-yard passing games and only 1 contest with 2 or more passing TDs since Week 10.

Posted: 12/24/2012 11:46am et

Buffalo Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is unlikely to return to the team in 2013. Fitzpatrick has received $21 million of the six-year, $62 million contract he signed in October 2011, and it will not cost the Bills any more to cut him than to keep him on the team. Fitzpatrick is due a $3 million roster bonus in March. If he gets cut before that bonus is paid, then he will count $10 million against the team's salary cap in 2013. If Fitzpatrick is on the roster, his cap number for 2013 will be $10.45 million. Fitzpatrick's base salaries going forward are $4.25 million in 2013, $4.35 million in 2014, $7.2 million in 2015, $8.75 million in 2016 and $9.45 million in 2017.

Huddle Up: Either way the Bills take a $10 million cap hit for Fitzpatrick next year. And since he hasn't panned out as the franchise quarterback they had hoped, the best move might be to start over with a new signal caller in 2013.

Posted: 10/9/2012 4:07pm et

Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey said he still has confidence in QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and is not planning on making a quarterback change. "Not right now, no," Gailey said when asked about a quarterback change.

Huddle Up: Fitzpatrick has been better in fantasy than reality as he ranks 12th among QBs (Huddle Performance scoring) with an average of 21.5 fantasy points per game. Most concerning, though, are his 8 interceptions. Only Matt Cassel and Brandon Weeden (9 apiece) have thrown more.

Posted: 6/28/2012 12:52pm et

Former Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly said QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has to play better for the team to take the next step. 'He has to play better and I think he knows it,' Kelly said. 'He doesn't need me to tell him that. I'll tell you what, though, I'm more excited about this year than any of the last 10 years at least. I know that.'

Huddle Up: Kelly and Fitzpatrick couldn't be more different on the surface. Kelly got a beer-soaked degree at University of Miami; Fitzpatrick attended Harvard. Kelly had a cannon for an arm; Fitzpatrick is a touch passer. However, there are some similarities. Fitzpatrick played through injuries last year just like Kelly did throughout his Hall of Fame career. Fitzpatrick also has eight fourth-quarter comebacks in barely two full seasons, clearly possessing that same gunslinger mentality that Kelly had.