Phillip Walker Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game vs. the 49ers. "He's making progress," HC Stefanski said Friday. "He's getting better. He's very disappointed. He wants to play. He wants to be able to compete with his teammates, so he's just got to focus on getting better every day." We'll see if Watson can make it back for Week 7. QB P.J. Walker gets the start against San Francisco. You should try to avoid the Browns passing game in fantasy lineups.

CBS Sports' Josina Anderson is told that Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will not play vs. the 49ers on Sunday. He's about three weeks removed from a bruised rotator cuff that reportedly might take up to six weeks to fully heal. If Watson is indeed out this weekend, Cleveland will start QB P.J. Walker, who has seven career starts across the past three seasons. Walker sports a 57.5% completion rate, 6.4 yards per pass attempt, and five TDs vs. 11 INTs. A Walker-led passing game has very little chance against San Francisco.

Insider Mary Kay Cabot spoke to an orthopedic surgeon who said the bruised rotator cuff that Browns QB Deshaun Watson is currently dealing with generally takes 2-6 weeks to fully heal. Watson will be three weeks removed from the injury this Sunday. OC Alex Van Pelt said Thursday that Watson's status for this weekend's game is "up in the air." It sounds like there's at least a chance that he's sidelined beyond Week 6.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday. That’s a concern with Cleveland coming off the bye week. Watson seems genuinely iffy for this weekend’s game vs. the 49ers. HC Kevin Stefanski said that QB P.J. Walker will get the start in that one if Watson is out. A Walker-led offense would have very little chance to move the ball against San Francisco.

The Bears released QB P.J. Walker on Sunday. The veteran inked a two-year, $4.15 million with the team this offseason, though his performance in the preseason was spotty. Walker concluded with 11 completions on 23 attempts for 96 passing yards with one TD, one interception, and a 55.7 passer rating. With Walker gone, the Bears' QB2 job looks to be in the hands of rookie Tyson Bagent, a UDFA from D-II Shepherd University. Dynasty managers in superflex leagues now have an idea of who will take over should injury befall starter Justin Fields at any point. Consider Bagent worthy of a speculative add in deep dynasty superflex leagues.

The Panthers announced Tuesday that QB Sam Darnold will start Sunday's game against the Broncos. Darnold himself will be far from a real fantasy-lineup option for that matchup, and we're not sure he improves the outlook for the offense on whole. But a move away from Baker Mayfield can't be bad for D.J. Moore's target shares. Moore drew 27.2% of Panthers targets in the 11 games Darnold started last season. He has garnered just 22.6% target share in Mayfield's 5 starts this year.

Panthers HC Steve Wilks said Monday he hasn't decided yet who will start at QB for Sunday's game against the Broncos. he added that he'll make the decision ahead of Wednesday's practice. Baker Mayfield stunk (again) in the Week 11 loss to Baltimore. P.J. Walker is coming off a groin injury that kept him out of that game. Sam Darnold has yet to play this year after opening the season on IR. This decision might not really matter for fantasy football purposes outside of determining whether Mayfield will stick around and continue to silence WR D.J. Moore.

An ankle injury for QB P.J. Walker pressed Panthers QB Baker Mayfield back into the starting lineup for Sunday's game in Baltimore. And Mayfield delivered more of what got Carolina's offense started so slowly this season. He threw for just 196 yards, 0 TDs and 2 INTs on 21-of-33 passing. WR Terrace Marshall was the only Panther to tally more than 26 receiving yards. He caught 3 balls or 76 on a team-high 6 targets. D.J. Moore managed just 3 catches for 24 yards on 5 targets. Bet on Mayfield bowing back out of the lineup as soon as someone else is ready.

The Panthers announced Monday morning that QB Baker Mayfield will start Sunday's game at Baltimore. That's because P.J. Walker suffered a high-ankle sprain in Thursday's win over the Falcons, interim HC Steve Wilks revealed. Mayfield most recently tallied 155 yards and 2 TDs in 2nd-half mop-up duty of the lopsided Week 9 loss at Cincinnati. Before that, of course, he played terrible through the 1st 5 games. The team also reportedly has "some interest in seeing Sam Darnold in action at some point," a ringing endorsement by way of ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Here's hoping you don't need to use a Carolina QB in your fantasy football lineup anytime soon.

The Panthers will start QB P.J. Walker again Thursday night against the Falcons. Walker got pulled for Baker Mayfield at halftime of Sunday's lopsided to the Bengals, and Carolina activated QB Sam Darnold from IR on Monday morning. But the short week leading up to their next game likely contributed to the decision not to make a starter switch. Walker, of course, threw for 317 yards in the Week 8 win at Atlanta. Keep in mind, though, that he only completed 52.8% of his passes in that game and generated 62 of his yards on the single Hail Mary-style throw to WR D.J. Moore at the end of regulation. We'd still try not to use Walker in fantasy football lineups. We'll see about the team's QB plans beyond Week 10.

The Panthers activated QB Sam Darnold (ankle) from IR. He's been practicing for a couple of weeks but is now evidently ready for game action. We'll see who Carolina goes with at QB vs. the Falcons this weekend. QB P.J. Walker was benched at halftime of the loss to the Bengals. QB Baker Mayfield played his best football of the season over the 2nd half, completing 14 of 20 passes for 155 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs.

Panthers QB Baker Mayfield replaced QB P.J. Walker at halftime of Sunday's game vs. the Bengals. Carolina headed to the break down 35-0, with Walker 3-of-10 for 9 yards, 0 TDs and 2 TDs. We'll see how Mayfield fares and in which direction the Panthers go at QB the rest of the way.

Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks said Monday that he's sticking with QB P.J. Walker for the Week 9 game against the Bengals. Walker followed an efficient passing day in the Week 7 win over the Bucs with 317 yards in Sunday's OT loss to the Falcons. Walker completed just 52.8% of his passes for the game, with a game-tying 62-yard TD at the end of regulation and an INT. Walker doesn't make for a great fantasy play himself. He has been good for WR D.J. Moore through 2 starts, though.

Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks said Monday that QB P.J. Walker will start this weekend's game vs. the Falcons, even if QBs Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are ready to return from their ankle injuries. Walker was efficient in Sunday's shocking win over the Bucs, completing 16 of 22 passes (73%) for 177 yards (8.1 YPA), 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Most importantly, he got WR D.J. Moore going. The pair connected on 7 of 10 targets for 69 yards and 1 score. Walker remains a bottom-barrel fantasy option, but Moore is back in the WR3 mix for Week 8.

The Panthers list QB Baker Mayfield (ankle) as doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Bucs. Interim HC Steve Wilks already named QB P.J. Walker the starter for that one. But it looks like Mayfield might be ready to return for Week 8. Fantasy owners, of course, can continue to avoid the situation.

Panthers HC Steve Wilks said Wednesday that QB P.J. Walker will start Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Walker threw for just 60 yards before leading the Week 6 loss with a neck issue. It doesn't sound like the team is concerned about that injury. The Panthers also designated QB Sam Darnold to return from IR Wednesday, though we'll see if he's ready for a spot on the active roster this week. Jacob Eason served as Walker's backup in Week 6.