Who Should I Start? Malik Willis or Brock Purdy

Thursday, January 9, 5:51 PM

Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis (thumb) returned to a full practice session on Thursday after he was limited on Wednesday. Jordan Love (elbow) was also limited on Wednesday and a full-go on Thursday, so both signal-callers should be ready to roll for the wild-card playoff game on Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Willis is dealing with a right-thumb injury that he apparently picked up on Sunday when he came on in relief of Love in the loss to the division-rival Chicago Bears in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The 25-year-old made two starts earlier this year when Love was sidelined with an injury and has appeared in seven games total, going 40-for-54 for 550 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Willis has been serviceable in limited duty for the Packers but won't carry any fantasy value into the postseason with Love looking good to go.

Wednesday, February 26, 3:13 PM

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday at the NFL Combine that the team has started negotiations with quarterback Brock Purdy on long-term contract extension. Despite a down year in 2024 in which he threw for 3,864 yards (career-low 65.9 completion percentage), 20 touchdowns and a career-high 12 interceptions in 15 starts, the 49ers are fully committed to the former seventh-round selection and have every intention of locking him into a long-term extension early this offseason. The speculation around the league is that Purdy will be making $55-60 million per year once he officially signs an extension with the Niners. Even in his down year in 2024, Purdy finished as the QB13 in fantasy and could easily bounce back in 2025 if running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) can stay healthy for a full season.