Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel will get the start against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, according to the NFL's Around The League Twitter. The information comes from head coach Leslie Frazier, who says that Christian Ponder will serve as Cassel's backup.
Matt Cassel to start for Vikings, is a fantasy wildcard with job on the line
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel will get the start in Week 6. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Cassel was signed to be Ponder's backup this offseason, but had to make the start in Week 4 due to Ponder suffering a fractured rib. Cassel had a good game and the Vikings ended up winning their first of the season, besting the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It was always expected that Cassel would get the start going forward, at least until the team signed free agent quarterback Josh Freeman, who was recently released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Freeman seems to have more upside than either Cassel or Ponder, but he hasn't been taking first team reps and would seem to need more time to get a grasp of the offense.
Fantasy Impact: If you were depending on Ponder for your fantasy teams, then you had bigger problems. If you’re now depending on Cassel or even banking on the future of Freeman, again, you have some pretty significant problems. That said, Cassel might be fighting for his job on Sunday and could certainly have a big game if given the opportunities. He’s probably worth a start for the sheer randomness that could happen at this point. He certainly has receiving options.
• Week 6 fantasy football rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
