Who Should I Start? Desmond Ridder or Max Brosmer

Wednesday, December 31, 12:36 PM

Veteran free-agent quarterback Desmond Ridder is being signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad on Wednesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Jordan Love (concussion) and Malik Willis (shoulder) are both dealing with injuries, and the Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed going into the playoffs, so Ridder could be elevated for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Ridder, the former third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of Cincinnati, has bounced around the league the last couple of years. The 26-year-old has not appeared in an NFL game since 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Ridder was with the Bengals during the summer and also spent two separate stints with the Vikings. If Ridder is elevated to the active roster this weekend, he'll likely serve in a backup role behind Clayton Tune if both Love and Willis are inactive.

Wednesday, December 24, 3:38 PM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer will start for the team in a Christmas Day meeting with the Detroit Lions, but the chance to play doesn't mean fantasy managers should go anywhere near this matchup. Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy (hand) will miss another game, while backup Carson Wentz (shoulder) is already out for the year, thrusting the undrafted rookie into the spotlight. Brosmer's first and only start in the NFL so far was a total disaster: he threw no touchdowns and four interceptions in a loss at Seattle, the first of which was a wild, ill-advised heave while being sacked that the Seahawks returned for a game-changing touchdown. Brosmer played admirably after McCarthy departed last week, and the Lions have allowed more air yards than any team in the NFL, which gives some hope. Even so, the odds are stacked against Brosmer, who has played only out of desperation and is facing a short week to boot. Fantasy managers still playing this weekend almost certainly can find a higher-rated option.