News: The Browns have signed quarterback Brian Hoyer, according to multiple reports.
Analysis: Hoyer is a dark horse candidate to start for the Browns and probably has a better chance to be their backup. He'll start camp behind Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell on the depth chart. Only Hoyer's relatives will draft him in Fantasy.
News: The Cardinals have waived quarterback Brian Hoyer. Signed off waivers by the Steelers in December, the Cards gave him a second-round tender as a restricted free agent and tried to trade him but couldn't find a trade partner.
Analysis: Hoyer completed 30 of 53 passes last season for 330 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. With Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton in town it appeared he'd never get a chance to play. Maybe he'll find a new club, though it probably won't do anything to his Fantasy value.
News: Quarterback Brian Hoyer signed his one-year tender with the Cardinals on Wednesday. He'll earn just over $2 million with the team, assuming he doesn't get cut first.
Analysis: Hoyer completed 30 of 53 passes last season for 330 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. There's been talk of him getting traded, but he's a longshot to start for anyone in 2013.
News: The Cardinals placed a second-round tender on quarterback Brian Hoyer, likely keeping him with the team in 2013. Hoyer is allowed to negotiate with other teams until April 19, but the Cardinals have the right to match any offer or receive a second-round pick as compensation.
Analysis: Hoyer completed 30 of 53 passes last season for 330 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He's a longshot to start for the Cardinals in 2013.
News: Cardinals quarterback Brian Hoyer completed 19 of 34 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown during Arizona's 27-13 loss at San Francisco in Week 17. Making his first career NFL start, Hoyer became the fourth different player under center for the Cardinals this season and completed 55.9 percent of his passes while also throwing an interception. He connected with wide receiver Michael Floyd on a 37-yard touchdown strike late in the fourth quarter for his first TD pass since Jan. 2, 2011, as a member of the Patriots.
Analysis: Hoyer exhibited poise in the early moments of Sunday's game and completed 7 of his first 13 passes, including three straight during one drive to help Arizona take an early lead. But Hoyer, who replaced the benched Ryan Lindley in last week's loss to Chicago, couldn't overcome San Francisco's stingy defense and turned in the latest subpar performance. Amazingly, Cardinals quarterbacks failed to throw for multiple touchdown passes in each of the last 12 games of the season. The situation hardly is welcoming for Fantasy owners as Hoyer should not be targeted in any formats for the 2013 campaign.
News: After more stunted progress in Week 16, the Cardinals' quarterback carousel lands on newcomer Brian Hoyer for the season finale at San Francisco. Hoyer will make his first career NFL start Sunday against the 49ers after being selected for the position over Ryan Lindley earlier this week. He will face a San Francisco defense that ranks fourth against the pass this season (199.7 yards allowed per game). "This is an opportunity I have waited a long time for," Hoyer told the team's official website. "I didn’t think it’d come with the Arizona Cardinals this year. But I am happy it did. When you get an opportunity like this you just have to prepare the best you can and make the most of it."
Analysis: Hoyer's journey this season has led him to an unexpected start as he began the year with Pittsburgh, but did not see any playing time. He replaced Lindley for the second half of last Sunday's loss to Chicago and completed 11 of 19 passes for 105 yards with an interception. "I also think from what we saw last week, he did some nice things in the game, and see if he can build off of that," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. The 49ers are hardly a favorable opponents and have permitted an average of 15.4 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Hoyer is not viewed as a worthwhile option for Week 17.
News: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt announced Wednesday that Brian Hoyer will start Week 17 against the 49ers. Hoyer came on for Ryan Lindley during the second half of Week 16 and completed 11 of 19 passes for 105 yards and an interception.
Analysis: Hoyer, who was claimed off waivers from the Steelers earlier in the month, was able to move the ball for the Cardinals last Sunday and will make his first career start against the 49ers. San Francisco needs to win in order to win the division title, however, so they should be at their best in Week 17. Plan on ignoring Hoyer in all Fantasy formats for the regular season finale.
News: Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday he is still evaluating the quarterback position and has not decided on a starter for the season finale against San Francisco. Newcomer Brian Hoyer replaced ineffective starter Ryan Lindley during the second half of the Cardinals' loss to Chicago in Week 16. "We haven’t even watched the tape with the team yet," Whisenhunt told the team's official website. "I’m hesitant until we go through some of those things. There are always situations that come up where you want to find out what was going through the player’s mind, what they were thinking, that all goes into the decision part of it."
Analysis: It's only fitting the Cardinals' constant shuffling under center would extend into the last game of the season. Arizona has used four different quarterbacks this season, and ranks near the bottom of the league in passing offense (186.5 yards per game). "At that position, you have to have stability, you have to have consistency of play, and we haven’t had that," Whisenhunt said. At this point, neither of the Cardinals' remaining quarterbacks are advisable Fantasy options as owners should seek other options in all formats for Week 17.
News:Brian Hoyer made his debut for the Cardinals in Week 16 against the Bears. He came on in the second half after starter Ryan Lindley threw a pick-six to Charles Tillman. Hoyer completed 11 of 19 passes for 105 yards with an interception in the 28-13 loss. "It's obviously not ideal, but football is football," said Hoyer, who spent three seasons as a backup in New England. "You just want to go out and play the best you can and definitely improve off of this and just try to make the most of the opportunity."
Analysis: The Cardinals seem to be pretty high on Hoyer and he could end up starting the season finale against the 49ers. Owners know that he would have minimal appeal in Fantasy if that were to happen so continue to ignore the 27-year-old in the majority of formats at this point.
News: Speaking with the Detroit media, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt explained what he saw in new quarterback Brian Hoyer. "[O]ne of our personnel guys was in New England with him and has always spoken highly of him," Whisenhunt said. "Obviously he went to Pittsburgh for a little while so we got some more information about him from some of our former colleagues there. All of it was very positive as far as being able to look at a quarterback and that's what you want to do. So that's why we brought him in here."
Analysis: Hoyer's barely played in the league, totaling 286 yards on 27 of 43 passes (62.8 comp. pct.) with a touchdown and an interception along with a rushing score. In four preseasons he has six touchdowns and two interceptions so he's probably a little bit better than what the Cardinals have at quarterback already but obviously no lock to be the cure for Larry Fitzgerald's statistical woes. We'll see if he gets a chance to play before the year ends.
News: The Cardinals claimed quarterback Brian Hoyer off waivers Monday. Hoyer was waived by the Steelers over the weekend.
Analysis: The Cardinals have gotten minimal production out of John Skelton and Ryan Lindley thus far so Hoyer will give them another option. Hoyer has been a backup his entire career, however, and poses minimal Fantasy value even if he sees some playing time down the stretch. Continue to ignore the 27-year-old in all formats.
News: Pittsburgh waived quarterback Brian Hoyer on Saturday and promoted cornerback Josh Victorian from the practice squad.
Analysis: Hoyer was not going to see any time behind center if he hadn't already for the Steelers. He has no Fantasy value at this time.
News: The Steelers announced Tuesday they signed quarterback Brian Hoyer.
Analysis: The Steelers are down to third-string quarterback Charlie Batch Week 12 at Cleveland because of injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich. Hoyer will back up Batch Sunday, but he should not be added in Fantasy.
News: The Patriots released quarterback Brian Hoyer on Friday, affirming Ryan Mallet as the backup signal-caller to starter Tom Brady for the beginning of the season, the Boston Globe reports. Hoyer has appeared in just 13 total games during his brief three-year NFL career.
Analysis: Hoyer was held in high regard -- for a backup -- and will likely draw several suitors among teams seeking a capable No. 2 quarterback. The 26-year-old signed a second-round tender during the offseason, but New England continues to show unpredictability in its roster maneuvers. Hoyer, who has completed 62.8 percent of his career passes, should be left off rosters in all Fantasy formats for now.
News: Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer signed his second-round tender and will make $1.92 million this season. There wasn't much of a market for an offer sheet at that level, and the Patriots think too highly of Hoyer to let him part in a trade for a lower pick.
Analysis: Hoyer will spend this season again backing up Tom Brady in New England. But with Ryan Mallett also on the roster, there's a decent chance that Hoyer will test free agency without restriction in 2013. For now, he's not worth owning.
News: Multiple outlets are reporting that the Patriots have tendered backup quarterback Brian Hoyer at the second-round level. That means another team would have to give up a second-round pick as compensation for Hoyer if they sign him to an offer the Patriots choose not to match.
Analysis: Hoyer isn't expected to garner attention from other clubs, especially at the second-round price. Expect him to back up Tom Brady in 2012, making him an irrelevant Fantasy pick unless Brady ... well, we don't even want to think about that happening again.
News: Patriots QB Brian Hoyer, filling in for Tom Brady in a Week 17 rout of the Dolphins, completed 7 of 13 passes for 122 yards, including a 42-yard scoring strike to Brandon Tate.
Analysis: Hoyer looked capable at times on Sunday, but that will likely be the last action he sees before next preseason. Hoyer will be back as Brady's backup again in 2011, but remains a non-factor in Fantasy play.
News: Patriots backup QB Brian Hoyer saw game action for just the third time this season in Week 14 against the Bears. With New England leading 36-7 late in the fourth quarter, Hoyer came in for QB Tom Brady. He did not attempt a pass and finished with three carries for minus-2 yards in the victory.
Analysis: Playing behind one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, Hoyer rarely sees playing time for New England. All of his action this season has come in mop-up time and that will continue as long as Brady is healthy. Heading into Week 15 against the Packers, continue to ignore Hoyer in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Patriots QB Brian Hoyer replaced Tom Brady during New England's final drive of a Week 9 34-14 loss to Cleveland. Hoyer attemped two passes, one fell incomplete and the other was intercepted.
Analysis: Hoyer is the clear backup in New England and will only see the field in blowouts like this or if Brady gets hurt. Continue to ignore Hoyer in Fantasy play.
News: The Patriots drafted QB Zac Robinson in the seventh round of the NFL Draft at No. 250 overall. Robinson played at Oklahoma State and could compete with Brian Hoyer for the backup job behind Tom Brady.
Analysis: We expect Hoyer to win the job, but that doesn't mean he has much Fantasy value coming into the season. The only way you'll want Hoyer on your Fantasy team is if Brady gets hurt, but that just means you can add Hoyer off the waiver wire.
News: Patriots backup QB Brian Hoyer played Sunday at Houston but didn't do much. Hoyer was 8 of 12 passing for 71 yards. He also had one carry for 10 yards.
Analysis: Hoyer is the No. 2 QB for the Patriots behind Tom Brady. Don't look for Hoyer to play much in the playoffs, and he has minimal Fantasy value in all leagues.
News: Patriots QB Brian Hoyer and WR Matt Slater dressed for New England's Week 16 win against Jacksonville but failed to record an offensive stat.
Analysis: Hoyer and Slater have minimal Fantasy value and should not be used in any leagues in Week 17 at Houston.
News: Patriots WR Julian Edelman, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, TE Chris Baker and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 15 win at Buffalo but failed to record an offensive stat.
Analysis: None of these players have any real Fantasy value at this time, so continue to ignore them in Week 16 vs. Jacksonville.
News: NFL Network reports that there's still some doubt that QB Tom Brady will be able to play in Week 14 vs. the Panthers. Brady is questionable for the game with shoulder, finger and rib injuries that limited him in practice this week. "It's not a given that he will play," said NFL Network's Jason La Canfora said Sunday morning. Brian Hoyer, an undrafted rookie, would make his first NFL start if Brady can't go.
Analysis: We don't mean to put a chill into your spine here, but it's possible that Brady is sidelined for Week 14. Now it's very possible that the Patriots are using gamesmanship with their injury report and that Brady will be fine, but your best bet is to have a backup plan in place just in case Brady is ruled inactive. We'll be first to know whether or not he'll be active today on Fantasy Football Today, 11 a.m. ET here on CBSSports.com.
News: Patriots TE Benjamin Watson, WR Isaiah Stanback, WR Matt Slater, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 13 loss to Miami but didn't record an offensive stat.
Analysis: Watson is the only player in this group with Fantasy value, but he's horribly inconsistent and should be probably ignored along with all these other guys in Week 14 vs. Carolina.
News: New England backup QB Brian Hoyer saw some action on Monday night at New Orleans in Week 12. With the Patriots losing 38-17 with around four minutes remaining, coach Bill Belichik pulled Tom Brady and put in Hoyer. He finished 2 of 4 for 19 yards.
Analysis: Hoyer should never see the field and that would make everyone in New England happy. He won't be out there in Week 13 at Miami and should not be owned in Fantasy until Brady gets hurt.
News: Patriots WR Matt Slater, TE Chris Baker and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed but failed to record an offensive stat in Week 11 against the Jets.
Analysis: Baker is about the only player on this list that will usually appear on the stat sheet. Still, he doesn't produce enough to start regularly in Fantasy. It's probably best to keep these players out of active Fantasy lineups for Week 12. Next up for the Patriots is the Saints.
News: Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, WR Matt Slater, WR Sam Aiken and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 10 loss to the Colts but didn't record an offensive stat.
Analysis: Green-Ellis and Aiken have minimal potential as reserve options but will need players on the depth chart to falter before they see playing time. Keep them and Slater and Hoyer on waivers for now.
News: Patriots WR Brandon Tate, WR Matt Slater, TE Chris Baker and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 9 win over the Dolphins.
Analysis: All of these guys are backups and have no Fantasy value at this time. Ignore them in Week 10 at Indianapolis.
News: Patriots QB Brian Hoyer had three rushes for 17 yards in a Week 7 rout of the Buccaneers in London. He came into the game late as a garbage-time replacement for Tom Brady.
Analysis: Hoyer might get some more action this season if the Patriots are up big again, but he has no Fantasy value at the moment. New England is off in Week 8.
News: The Titans couldn't even stop New England when Brian Hoyer, a free agent rookie from Michigan State, took over for Tom Brady on the second series of the third quarter with the score 52-0 in Week 6. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 52 yards in his pro debut and scored on a 1-yard run on his first series.
Analysis: Hoyer's performance might have given the Patriots some hope in the event Brady ever went down with a serious injury again. But Brady is healthy and was quite productive Week 6 -- six touchdowns -- so Hoyer will remain on the bench. It's safe to ignore him in Fantasy heading into Week 7 against the Bucs.
News: Patriots TE Chris Baker, WR Matt Slater, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, TE Michael Matthews, WR Sam Aiken and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed but failed to record an offensive stat Week 5 against the Broncos.
Analysis: Baker and Green-Ellis will occasional post a decent stat line, but they don't do it enough on a consistent basis to matter much in Fantasy. Most of these players have little to no Fantasy value. Keep them reserved heading into Week 6 against the Titans.
News: Patriots TE Michael Matthews, WR Matt Slater, TE Chris Baker and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 4 win vs. the Ravens but failed to produce an offensive stat.
Analysis: None of these players should be used in the majority of Fantasy leagues. Ignore all of them in Week 4 at Denver.
News: Patriots TE Michael Matthews, WR Matt Slater, WR Sam Aiken and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 3 win vs. the Falcons but failed to produce an offensive stat.
Analysis: None of the players listed above have much Fantasy value, if any. Keep them on waivers.
News: Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, WR Sam Aiken and QB Brian Hoyer all dressed for New England's Week 2 loss to the Jets but failed to produce an offensive stat.
Analysis: None of the players listed above have much Fantasy value, if any. Keep them on waivers.
News: New England TE Michael Matthews and backup QB Brian Hoyer were not needed in Week 1's win over the Bills on Monday night. Neither played in the game.
Analysis: Hoyer remains a solid handcuff to Tom Brady and could be needed should the scenario that made Matt Cassel a rich man happen again this season. Until that time, however, he's not needed in Fantasy play. Matthews will not be a viable Fantasy option this season, either.
News: The Patriots have trimmed their quarterbacks to two on the depth chart by releasing Andrew Walter on Friday. Walter, signed by the Patriots on Aug. 3 four days after he was waived by Oakland, appeared to have made the team as Tom Brady's backup when the club let go of Kevin O'Connell earlier in the week. Undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer, who played the entire game in New England's 38-27 comeback win over the New York Giants, is the only other quarterback currently on the roster. Hoyer, who took every offensive snap for the Patriots, completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and no interceptions, although most of that was against New York's backups.
Analysis: Hoyer is currently the passer who would replace Brady if he went down with another significant injury. That said, Hoyer will probably wind up as a third-string quarterback with the Pats anyway as New England will likely acquire another quarterback. Don't draft Hoyer at this point.
News: Rookie Brian Hoyer staked his claim to be Tom Brady's backup. After Eli Manning and David Carr passed the Giants to a 21-point first-quarter lead, Hoyer brought the Patriots back for a 38-27 exhibition victory Thursday night. The undrafted free agent from Michigan State helped his chances to become Tom Brady's primary backup by throwing for one touchdown and leading three drives that ended with BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing for scores.
Analysis: Hoyer, who took every offensive snap for the Patriots, completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and no interceptions, although most of that was against New York's backups. Their other quarterback, Andrew Walter, was picked up a month ago when Oakland cut him. He's still learning the offense. Hoyer might be Brady's backup to begin the season, but it won't do Fantasy owners much good since he can't get stats from the bench. Hoyer is at best a handcuff option for Brady owners.
