Who Should I Start? Brett Rypien or Desmond Ridder

Wednesday, March 13, 4:14 PM

Veteran free-agent quarterback Brett Rypien is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The 2019 undrafted free agent has thrown for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 10 career games with the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams. He spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets last year but did not appear in a game. The Bears are expected to select Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Justin Fields is rumored to be on the trade block. That said, Rypien has a path to the backup role in 2024. Based on his career so far, he is not anywhere close to the fantasy radar.

Thursday, March 14, 1:30 PM

The Arizona Cardinals are acquiring former starting quarterback Desmond Ridder from the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, according to a source. Ridder squandered his chance as the full-time starter for the Falcons in 2023 by throwing for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games (13 starts), eventually being benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. The former third-round pick out of Cincinnati has also lost nine fumbles in 19 games (17 starts) in his two NFL seasons. Atlanta's signing of Kirk Cousins made Ridder expendable, and he'll now make for a solid backup option in Arizona for starter Kyler Murray. The 24-year-old obviously won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2024 now that he's firmly entrenched in a backup role.