Who Should I Start? Aaron Rodgers or Anthony Richardson Sr.

Friday, December 26, 8:16 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left wrist) is listed on the team's injury report but practiced in full all week and does not carry an injury designation ahead of a Week 17 divisional showdown with the Cleveland Browns. Still, his status as the starter will be worth monitoring. The Green Bay Packers are set to host the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, and if the Ravens lose, Pittsburgh will clinch the AFC North title before Sunday's contest kicks off. In that scenario, the Steelers could opt to start Mason Rudolph and rest Rodgers ahead of the playoffs. If Rodgers does play, he could struggle to provide fantasy value on the road against a Cleveland defense that has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Additionally, he will be without his top wide receiver, as DK Metcalf begins a two-game suspension following an altercation with a fan in Week 16. Desperate fantasy managers could view Rodgers as a low-end QB2 if he starts, but this situation is best avoided if possible.

Wednesday, December 24, 11:45 AM

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Wednesday that quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) will not be activated off Injured Reserve for the team's Week 17 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old suffered an orbital fracture in pre-game warmups that has had him on Injured Reserve since mid-October. Richardson Sr. opened the season as the backup quarterback in Indianapolis behind Daniel Jones (Achilles), who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 14. With both Jones and Richardson Sr. unavailable, the Colts brought 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement in a last-ditch effort to save their season. Rivers has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 397 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions across two starts and appears to be in line to make his third start in Week 17. It's unclear whether Richardson Sr. will return this season or whether he would take the starting job away from Rivers once activated.