Drew Lock

Medical tests cleared Sam Darnold of a hip fracture, though the quarterback will miss time following an MRI. Backup Drew Lock steps into the starter role after recording 187 passing yards, one touchdown, and zero turnovers in relief. Seattle will rely on their defensive more than ever to win games while Lock manages the offense.

All offensive pieces from Jaxon Smith-Njigba to AJ Barner will be downgraded slightly for fantasy football until Darnold returns.

It’s time for the NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs. It also means the latest in injury news to report before the teams release before gametime.

• Today, the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills head to Mile High Stadium to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Josh Allen has many bumps and bruises ailing him, but he will be “full go” for the matchup, absent receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers, who landed on the injured reserve last week, ending their season for an already-depleted wide receiver corps.
• Good news in that department came in the form of Curtis Samuel being activated from the list. He is active for the game and will jump right in as a weapon for Allen.
• Tight end Dalton Kincaid was limited all week (knee, calf) but has been playing through the injury of late. He will do so again on Saturday.
• Placekicker Matt Prater is good to go; it appears his quad injury is completely behind him.
• Running Back Ty Johnson (ankle) was only able to practice once this week, and on a limited basis. Expected to be the Bills’ No. 2 RB over Ray Davis. Johnson is officially out.
• The Denver Broncos have no notable injuries on the offensive side after a week of rest.

• The No. 6-seeded San Francisco 49ers will have to take on their rivals in Seattle without tight end George Kittle against the Seahawks.
• Wide receiver Jacob Cowing (IR) will not be activated before the game.
• Wideout Ricky Pearsall (PCL) is questionable and will be a game-time decision. Pearsall himself admitted a lack of explosiveness thanks to the injury but hopes to be on the field. Kyle Shanahan relayed that if he can play, there will be no snap count restrictions whatsoever.
• Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, already battling a quad injury, aggravated the injury in practice and was forced to cut the session short. Darnold maintains that he is “fine” and is “looking forward to being out there.” Seattle’s backup quarterback is Drew Lock.
• Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba missed practice on consecutive days this week, but neither absence was injury-related.

6 Buffalo Bills (12-5) at 1 Denver Broncos (14-3) – 4:30 PM ET

6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at 1 Seattle Seahawks (14-3) – 8:00 PM ET – Update coming soon

Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)

Quarterback Drew Lock was a 2nd round pick by Denver in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Missouri. He went 4-1 as a rookie and looked somewhat promising. That’s the brightest his career has looked. From there Lock was plagued with injuries and a suspension for violating Covid rules during the 2020 season. Lock spot played during the 2021 season when starter Teddy Bridgewater got injured. Lock did not play well enough to keep the starting spot. In 2022 Lock was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in the blockbuster trade for Russel Wilson. Denver gave up two first round picks, two second round picks, a fifth round pick, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, tight end Noah Fant and Lock all for Wilson. Drew Lock may be a Jeopardy answer for one of the worst NFL trades of all time. From there Lock has served as a backup for Geno Smith for the 22′ and 23′ season. Lock signed with the New York Giants for the 2024 season with the understanding that he was competing for the starting job. He only played a couple of games. Now Lock is back in Seattle on a 2 year deal.

Lock is not a viable fantasy player in any format. He may be a desperate Superflex option if starter Sam Darnold goes down with injury. Otherwise Lock has exhausted any chance of being a true NFL starting quarterback. At least Drew can rap on the sidelines.

Author: Jesse Baldwin

The Giants lost to the Falcons 34-7 Sunday and are on their way to the number one pick in the NFL Draft. Drew Lock was the starting QB in this one, and threw two pick-sixes to the Falcons defense. Lock did throw a TD pass to his own running back, Tyrone Tracy Jr., who had a nice toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone. Tracy ended the day with 11 touches for 69 total yards and the TD.

Malik Nabers was the target leader for the Giants with 14 looks, but caught only seven for 68 yards and no TD. Wan’Dale Robinson saw 12 targets, but caught only seven for 62 scoreless yards. It’s hard to see the upside in the Giants’ offense with Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito under center, save for Nabers as a PPR flex play.

– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb

The Giants need a quarterback and are in pole position for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They face a Falcons defense that gives up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Malik Nabers is the only pass catcher fantasy mangers will be considering playing in the fantasy playoffs. He holds a 40.2-percent Target Share over the last three games. He’s hard to bench with that kind of volume, especially in PPR leagues. The drawback is the Giants are expected to start Drew Lock, but Lock targeted Nabers 13 and 10 times, respectively, in his two starts (Weeks 13 and 14). If the rookie receiver can somehow manage a touchdown in the Giants’ offense, he is a smash start.

Tyrone Tracy has gotten volume that matters – 52 looks in the last three – but he is also a touchdown-dependent play. The Falcons are the 10^th-toughest matchup for opposing running backs and Tracy is dealing with an ankle injury that may hold him out of Sunday’s game. If the rookie RB can’t go, Devin Singletary would be in line for increased usage, but is not a week-winning play in the fantasy playoffs.

– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb