AaronRodgers

News: 2 days agoRodgers is among the key players who will be held out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Panthers, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: Rodgers will sit out a third consecutive preseason game, as will No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf and star pass rushers T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. The veteran quarterback will have to wait until the Steelers' Week 1 opener to take on his former team, the Jets, on the road and make his debut in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme. Mason Rudolph will start under center once again Thursday.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Rodgers signed with the Steelers and, though he will be the team's starter in 2025, he is unlikely to provide starting-caliber fantasy numbers, as at age 41, his high fantasy upside is a thing of the past. After posting zero weekly finishes better than ninth in his prior most recent full season (2022), he managed one finish better than eighth in 2024. He's still able to put up passing numbers (top 8 in attempts, yards and TDs last season), but is a nonfactor with his legs (107 rushing yards last season was actually his highest since 2020).�In Pittsburgh, Rodgers will be working in Arthur Smith's run-heavy scheme with a shaky supporting cast. He's well off the fantasy radar.