Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 this morning. He's OUT, and the New England at Kansas City game initially scheduled for 4:25 p.m. Eastern on Sunday will be rescheduled to either Monday night or Tuesday night. As we saw with Steelers-Titans, though, that could change.
A practice squad quarterback for Kansas City has also tested positive. Both of those facilities are now being shut down as further testing occurs.
We sent a revised Weekly this afternoon. We ranked New England and Kansas City players as if the game will be played. You will need to confirm that and perhaps adjust your starting lineup (based in part on your risk tolerance) before kickoff of Sunday's games.
Today's update also includes updated injury information for the Monday night game between the Falcons and Packers.
If New England at Kansas City is played on Monday or Tuesday (seemingly more likely), the guess is that Brian Hoyer, not Jarrett Stidham, will start for New England. It's been Hoyer who's been active as New England's No. 2 quarterback the first three games. It's not certain, and potentially both guys could play. For that reason, neither one is recommended starter -- whoever plays certainly wouldn't be remotely comparable to a healthy Newton.
I'd give the edge to Hoyer, but would not consider him a likely top-20 quarterback. Too much risk there.
On the bright side, a more conventional quarterback might be a plus for the main receivers: N'Keal Harry, Julian Edelman. Can't hurt, at least based on last week. The running backs might be hurt a little, but Michel less likely to lose goal line carries.
Steelers-Titans was originally going to be pushed to Monday or Tuesday night. But after subsequent positive tests the next couple of days for Titans players, it was postponed to Week 7. That's something that could happen with this one, if additional Patriots or Kansas City players test positive tomorrow or Monday.
If you have key players from these rosters (and who doesn't?), best to look for similar alternatives in other games. There aren't a lot of similar guys to Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, of course, but better to get 15 points from a quarterback definitely playing than potentially getting a zero from one who isn't.
--Andy Richardson