By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Updated Aug. 31, 2018.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
There truly is no offseason in the NFL, and that applies to fantasy as well. Below, I gather some of the more interesting tidbits from the news and look at them with a fantasy perspective.
Aug. 13 Updates
Derrius Guice, RB, RedskinsDerrius Guice looked good against the Patriots in his first-ever NFL game, especially on a strong 33-yard run that ended up called back on a hold. His injury took him out of the action, but the initial diagnosis was an MCL sprain. Unfortunately, his MRI showed an ACL tear, ending his season.
Guice was slated for a significant early-down role and was slowly moving up the fantasy ranks for many. His loss will open up more opportunities for Chris Thompson, Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley. Thompson is the most talented back of the three, but is also more of a receiving back after having trouble as the lead back last season for a limited time. His value comes as a receiver. Perine and Kelley are built more for between-the-tackles running, but both have been inconsistent at best. They could end up sharing work, but Perine likely has the inside track for touches.
The wild card would be if the Redskins ended up signing another running back to compete with Perine and Kelley. There are a few still on the market, with Alfred Morris and Orleans Darkwa both viable and able to beat the incumbents. In deeper fantasy football leagues, both players are worth a pickup along with Perine and Kelley.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, 49ersJerick McKinnon received much better news when his MRI returned with a muscle strain diagnosis. There is no timetable for McKinnon’s return, but with Matt Breida also injured, there’s no doubt the 49ers ll put McKinnon in bubble wrap for as long as they need.
Matt Breida, RB and George Kittle, TE, 49ersMcKinnon’s backup and running-mate Matt Breida and 49ers starting tight end George Kittle both injured their shoulders in the team’s first preseason game, but both appear to have skirted a significant injury. Unfortunately, both will likely be sidelined until Week 1. That puts both in trouble of not seeing regular reps to start the season.
Deon Cain, WR, ColtsColts rookie receiver Deon Cain will miss the season with a torn ACL. He had received rave reviews in camp and was vying for significant playing time, but now Indianapolis’ weak receiving corps just got weaker. His injury should help boost Eric Ebron’s targets, who has one of the broader range of target outcomes on the team.
DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson, WRs, DolphinsDeVante Parker’s summer has not been a positive one in Miami. Reports continue to come out of drops and an inability to gain any separation. If he can’t turn things around quickly, there is a distinct chance that Albert Wilson could push Parker for snaps sooner than later.
Shaun Wilson and Charles Sims, RBs, BucsGreg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times believes the emergence of undrafted free agent Shaun Wilson could make veteran Charles Sims expendable. Rookie Ronald Jones is reportedly a work in progress in pass protection, so there’s a decent chance the Bucs will have a real need for a third-down back, which Wilson and Sims are qualified.
Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz, TEs, EaglesEagles rookie tight end Dallas Goedert had a strong preseason premiere, catching 4-of-5 targets for 66 yards and a touchdown Thursday night. Unfortunately, he’ll be behind Zach Ertz and can only hurt his upside while not getting enough work to make him a fantasy value. In a deeper league, Goedert should have some touchdown value, but his inconsistency means he will need Ertz to miss time before he can come close to his upside.
Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly, QBs, BroncosPaxton Lynch was awful Friday night against the Vikings, completing just 6-of-11 passes for 24 yards and an interception, while third-string quarterback Chad Kelly completed 14-of-21 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Lynch has yet to look good for more than two dropbacks in a row, while Kelly has a lot of potential and showed it off against the third-string defense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kelly take over the backup job sooner than later.
Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, RB, PackersPackers running back Aaron Jones returned to practice on Sunday after missing all but the first few days of camp. He has been out with lingering hamstring issues and has a lot of ground to make up after Jamaal Williams played well against the Titans, rushing just five times for 16 yards, but adding a tremendous eight-yard touchdown reception on which he made the defense look silly. Jones is also out the first two games due to a suspension for PEDs, which makes his slow start in training camp even more damaging to his possibilities for touches when he returns.
Devontae Booker and Royce Freeman, RB, BroncosDevontae Booker started Friday’s preseason game but shared work with Royce Freeman, who then went on to finish out the half and looked strong doing so. Freeman did face the second-string defense for much of his work, so him outplaying Booker wasn’t exactly on an even playing field, but it was a good step for Freeman to move toward securing the starting job.
Kerryon Johnson, RB, LionsThe Lions’ preseason game against the Raiders was a bit of a coming out party for rookie Kerryon Johnson, who rushed for 34 yards and had four catches for 33 yards, all while making defenders miss and carrying some on his back. Johnson also had a big 57-yard run called back.
Austin Ekeler, RB, ChargersChargers backup running back Austin Ekeler distanced himself from the pack in their first preseason game, rushing five times for 22 yards and catching two passes for 42 yards, and looking explosive doing so. He doesn’t have any stand-alone value at this point due to Melvin Gordon’s colossal usage both in the rushing and receiving game, but he makes for a nice lottery ticket, especially with Gordon’s high usage.
Vance McDonald, TE, SteelersSteelers tight end Vance McDonald is out with a foot injury, and coach Mike Tomlin won’t give any real updates to his status. McDonald is listed as Pittsburgh’s starting tight end, but he’ll need to make it back on the practice field to keep that designation. McDonald has a bunch of upside in the Steelers’ offense, but his injury history and current injury knock him down the rankings.
Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell, RBs, JetsIsaiah Crowell was forced from the Jets’ first preseason game with a head injury, which he suffered on a 16-yard screen that he took in for a touchdown. Crowell came in after Bilal Powell got the start, but also put up better numbers. The Jets will likely split time between Crowell and Powell like they did Matt Forte and Powell last season. The only good fantasy news in that scenario will be, well, nothing.
D.J. Moore, WR, PanthersD.J. Moore caught 4-of-6 targets for 75 yards against Buffalo in their preseason opener. Moore is one of the best rookie receivers in the league this year and appears to be on his way to significant playing time with the Panthers. He was running with the second and third units in this game, so he still needs to solidify his starting position, but this was a good start.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, PackersPackers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught 5-of-7 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown and looked good doing so. At 6-foot-4, 206 pounds with a 4.37-second 40, Valdes-Scantling has the physical traits to be a force in the league, but also has plenty of competition in Green Bay’s camp. If he can continue this level of play, he would be hard to keep out of the No. 3 receiver position.
Marlon Mack, RB, ColtsColts running back Marlon Mack suffered a hamstring strain in their first preseason game and should miss a couple of weeks. He currently is the lead back in what will likely be a reasonably spread-out committee but will need to get back and healthy to keep that job for Week 1.
Aug. 8 Updates
Antonio Callaway, WR, BrownsBrowns receiver Antonio Callaway was cited for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license. Unfortunately for Callaway, he is already in Stage 1 of the NFL’s Substance Abuse Program, so there will likely be a suspension forthcoming despite Calloway’s iron-clad defense of “it wasn’t mine.”
Lions RBsLions beat writer Dave Birkett believes LeGarrette Blount will start the season as the team’s goal-line back, especially with new head coach Matt Patricia coming from the team Blount rushed for 18 touchdowns for just a couple years ago. Blount will hurt Kerryon Johnson, but Johnson has looked great in camp and appears to be in the lead for the bulk of the running work, while also putting up good work as a blocker and receiver. At this point, I’d still only want Johnson out of the two, and hopefully, his ADP will take a slight hit with this news.
Tyrell Williams, WR, ChargersTyrell Williams is listed ahead of Mike Williams on the Chargers’ initial depth chart. Targets will likely be distributed more evenly after Keenan Allen gets his colossal share, and San Diego will play plenty of three-receiver sets due to a lack of a tight end, but Tyrell Williams has quietly been a reliable receiver over the last two seasons and should be a valuable fantasy asset, especially at his 71st wide receiver ADP.
Albert Wilson, WR, DolphinsThe Dolphins don’t have a starting position for Albert Wilson, so they’ve given him the dreaded he’ll-be-used-all-over-the-field treatment. That means he’ll get a couple rushing attempts and a target or two from all over the field. I like Wilson and think he could make some noise with full-time reps, but he’s going to need an injury, or for DeVante parker to implode, for him to see enough work to be a fantasy value.
Carson Wentz, QB, EaglesCarson Wentz will be held out of all the Eagles’ preseason games, and coach Doug Pederson thought he saw “a little hesitation” in Wentz’s knee on July 29th. This route isn’t a setback, as Wentz’s injury timeline always was cutting it close to being 100 percent for Week 1, so I’m glad they are cautious. The trouble is, Wentz’s ADP is too high for someone who will be cutting it close to play Week 1 and is coming off one of the best touchdown percentages in the history of the league.
Corey Coleman, WR, BillsCorey Coleman was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a song, and despite moving to an awful passing offense, it is still a step in the right direction from Cleveland, which was done with him. After letting him go, the Browns learned of Antonio Callaway’s run-in with the law, but in the end, they didn’t want Coleman, and he’s better off in a new environment. He likely doesn’t have significant fantasy value in Buffalo, but he’s going to see the field in that poor receiver corps.
Josh McCown, QB, JetsJosh McCown has been the “best quarterback” in camp this summer according to SNY. Adam Schefter made it sound like Sam Darnold had an excellent chance to start Week 1, but it looks like Darnold will need to outplay McCown in preseason to get his shot by Week 1. That doesn’t mean we won’t see Darnold, as there’s probably a 100 percent chance we will at some point, but McCown has the job right now.
Antonio Brown, WR, SteelersAntonio Brown’s quad injury appears to be just a blip on the radar. He will miss the first preseason game, although so will most of the fantasy players on the team. As long as he’s practicing again by this time next week, we can feel fine about his No. 1 fantasy receiver status.
Ryan Grant, WR, ColtsThe Ryan Grant No. 2 receiver designation for Indianapolis appears to be legitimate. Coach Frank Reich says that Grant and T.Y. Hilton have separated themselves from the rest of the receivers. Deon Cain has had a good camp, but Chester Rogers appears to have not done much to distinguish himself. Cain is a rookie and is likely inconsistent compared to Grant, so he’ll need to keep working while we grab Grant early in the season for what could be some solid stats.
Chris Herndon, TE, JetsJets tight end Chris Herndon is getting some praise of late, with the tight end coach saying, “He’s all ball.” I’m going to go ahead and take that as a good thing. He’s in competition with Jordan Leggett at the moment, and neither is likely to put up significant numbers, but in 2TE leagues, all starters will be taken, and Herndon is in the lead at the moment.
Aug. 6 Updates
Sony Michel, RB, PatriotsSony Michael will undergo a cleanup procedure on his knee after injuring it in practice last Wednesday. The procedure will keep him out of practice for at least 10 days, but the Patriots do expect him to be ready for Week 1. That might be fine if he were the only stud running back on a different team, but he will have trouble getting significant reps early in the season with Rex Burkhead and James White playing ahead of him. Michel’s injury does help Jeremy Hill and Mike Gillislee’s chances to make the team, but at this moment, the big boost goes to Rex Burkhead, moving him up the rankings while Michael drops.
Danny Amendola, WR, DolphinsDanny Amendola is listed as the starting slot receiver in Miami’s training camp depth chart. His place atop the depth chart goes along with what practice reports have been showing, which puts well-paid free agent Albert Wilson on the outside of the starting lineup behind Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker and Amendola. Amendola’s injury trouble is worrisome, but his ADP is still low enough to feel great about taking a flier on him at the moment.
Martavis Bryant, WR, SteelersRaiders’ coach Jon Gruden called out Martavis Bryant to “get out here and play better.” Bryant has missed some practices due to illness, and there was also speculation that he could be suspended again, so when you add in Gruden’s admonishment, we have a whole lot of negative news associated with Bryant. Maybe being called out will get him going but for now, I have no trouble only drafting him as a flier.
Isaiah CrowellIsaiah Crowell is expected to be a “big factor” this season according to ESPN Jets beat reporter Rich Cimini. Cimini also reports that coach Todd Bowles has been pleasantly surprised with Crowell’s receiving ability, which if true, should push Crowell’s workload into numbers that could be hard to ignore in fantasy. Bilal Powell doesn’t seem to be the coaches’ favorite back, and Elijah McGuire is injured, so Crowell’s value is on the upswing.
Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore, RBs, DolphinsKenyan Drake and Frank Gore are both listed as both No. 1 running backs on the Dolphins’ initial depth chart. Drake put up great numbers last season, but it looks like he’ll have to share work with Gore to an extent. Gore is a great blocker and can get those extra yards between the tackles, but at 35 years of age, he’ll have trouble pushing Drake all season.
Ryan Grant, WR, RedskinsRyan Grant is listed as a starter on the Colts’ first depth chart. Again, these early depth charts are often used as motivation for rookies and players not living up to their potentials, but Grant is a dependable, albeit not a superb, receiver. With Andrew Luck looking good so far in camp, Grant does have some re-draft value, but there are good targets around him who have yet to prove themselves.
Joe Williams, RB, 49ersSan Francisco’s running back Joe Williams appears to be vying for the third-string position behind Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon. After a lost rookie season, it looks like he’s firmly behind Breida, who has had a strong camp. Williams will need a strong camp and an injury to someone ahead of him to make an impact this season.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn StateAfter a slow start to training camp, Miami tight end Mike Gesicki has developed into one of Ryan Tannehill’s favorite targets, especially in the red zone. He is buried on the team’s initial depth chart, but there is no reason to believe it since he’s been practicing with the first-team offense. On a team without strong red-zone receivers, Gesicki could be in line for strong touchdown numbers.
Courtland Sutton, WR, TexansBroncos rookie receiver Courtland Sutton has made a significant impact in training camp, and NFL Network’s Jesse Palmer reports that members of Denver’s secondary say Sutton is the No. 3 receiver without question. The Broncos would probably prefer not to have a high-volume passing attack, as they’ll look to the defense to keep games close, so Sutton’s workload is likely going to be too inconsistent for most fantasy leagues, but he will play and appears to be the real deal.
Keke Coutee and Braxton Miller, WRs, TexansRookie Keke Coutee will miss a few weeks with a strained hamstring while his competition for slot work, Braxton Miller, has shown “signs of progress” according to coach Bill O’Brien. It’s not huge praise, but Coutee will need to come back sooner than later to stay in the competition.
Aug. 2 Updates
Doug Baldwin, WR, SeahawksThe news on Doug Baldwin just got a little worse, with Adam Schefter reporting that he may miss all of the preseason. Schefter went on to say that doctors are “hopeful and confident” Baldwin will be ready for Week 1. I guess you can be hopeful and confident but I’d rather them be confident, but I digress. I already had him in my top-10 wide receivers for this year, so I plan on knocking him down a few spots. He’s one of my favorite fantasy players for this season, but sometimes you have to be realistic and not take risks that you don’t need to make.
Chris Carson, RB and Tyler Lockett, WR, SeahawksChris Carson is still considered Seattle’s starting running back according to local beat writers, and I still want to give Rashaad Penny my endorsement, but his ADP is looking extremely risky in the fourth round at the moment. Carson’s ADP is going to skyrocket soon enough, but if you can get him in the 11th round, you need to go ahead and do that. We’ll have to see what Penny’s ADP does, but if it starts falling as it likely will, I’d feel better about grabbing him.
Blake Jarwin, TE, CowboysJust a reminder, the Cowboys are thin at receiver and tight end, so there is room for not-so-great players to have some fantasy value in Dallas this year. One of those players could be Blake Jarwin, who has been “the most impressive” tight end so far in camp according to beat writer Bryan Broaddus. Jarwin doesn’t have much competition, but if he’s starting, he has deep fantasy value. The Cowboys might not be Super Bowl contenders, but with their offensive line and Ezekiel Elliott, they should be able to move the ball enough to give their starting tight end some red-zone work.
Jordan Matthews, WR, PatriotsJordan Matthews is on injured reserve after a severe hamstring injury. He had been hyped to fill in for Julian Edelman during his four-game suspension, but that’s out the window now. Phillip Dorsett and Braxton Berrios look to be in contention for slot duties those first four games now. Their competition is one to keep an eye on for fantasy, but in the end, I expect Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski, along with Rex Burkhead and James White to see an uptick in work with Edelman out.
Terrelle Pryor, WR, JetsTerrelle Pryor is back to working with 11-on-11s in practice after working individually for the first week of camp. He has a battle to grab that No. 3 receiver job, but Pryor should have a fighting chance now that he’s healthy. We know what his physical attributes can bring to an offense, but after an awful 2017 in Washington, he’ll need to prove himself again.
David Njoku, TE, BrownsDavid Njoku is one of my favorite fantasy tight ends going into the season, but he is reportedly dropping too many passes in camp. I do expect him to clean that up, as drops are something a receiver can fix, whereas getting open is not, but with so many targets in Cleveland, he’ll need to prove himself as reliable before they give him a significant target share.
Josh Doctson, WR, RedskinsJosh Doctson landed hard on his shoulder and had to leave practice on Wednesday, but the diagnosis is an AC sprain, which isn’t something that would keep him out for long. The Redskins will likely give him more time than he needs, but he should still be available for their preseason games.
Aug. 1 Updates
Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, WRs, SeahawksDoug Baldwin will be out two weeks with a sore knee. Pete Carroll’s rambling response wasn’t exactly full of information, “He came into camp a little bit off, so we want to make sure that we take care of him. We know exactly what’s going on, and he’s doing some special treatments to make sure we’re taking care of him, and we want to bring him back in shape so we can get him ready for the long haul.” Hopefully, they are just cautious, and Baldwin is good to go for the third preseason game, but starting a maintenance regiment for Baldwin this early in the season is concerning. The good news is that Baldwin has been remarkably consistent by not missing a game since 2012.
If Baldwin does end up missing regular-season work, Tyler Lockett becomes the No. 1 receiver and gets a boost, but Baldwin’s absence would hurt this offense a tremendous amount and knock down the offensive upside of the whole team.
Chris Thompson, RB, RedskinsChris Thompson doesn’t believe he will be completely recovered from his broken fibula until November. This may just be a mental hurdle that he needs to make, as he is practicing and has looked good according to reporters. Derrius Guice is the no-doubt lead back and has proven that in practice and in meetings by most reports, but Thompson is too good to be limited in this offense if he is healthy. I expect training camp and a couple preseason games will get his mind right to play in the regular season, but we also need to allow for the possibility that he’ll need a little more time to get 100 percent.
Rishard Matthews and Taywan Taylor, WRs, TitansRishard Matthews is on Tennessee’s active PUP list with an undisclosed injury. Without any information on the injury or a timetable for a return, it is difficult even to speculate, but he has been seen at camp, and I’ll go ahead and speculate that they are taking it easy with him over something not too dire, but until we know for sure, draft with caution.
Matthews’ absence has allowed Taywan Taylor to see significant reps, including working on the outside. Taylor has gotten plenty of praise so far and appears to have the lead for the No. 3 receiver position when Matthews returns.
Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker, RBs, BroncosThe running back job in Denver appears to be a camp battle worth watching, but Royce Freeman should get the benefit of the doubt if it’s a close race. Devontae Booker has the institutional information in his brain cavity, but Freeman is the better prospect at this point and has shown enough so far to be considered the upside player. Booker would get the start Week 1 if Freeman crapped out, but I don’t see that happening. A committee might form, but Freeman is the guy to own if so.
Chad Williams, WR, CardinalsChad Williams opened training camp as the No. 3 receiver, behind Larry Fitzgerald and Brice Butler. It’s not a spot that will result in consistent fantasy numbers, but he’s a guy with No. 1 receiver upside and needs to rostered in all dynasty leagues. The reports from camp have been good, yet inconsistent, so I’m not targeting him in any season-long leagues at this point.
C.J. Prosise, RB, SeahawksPete Carroll is pretty much enthusiastic about anybody not dead, but C.J. Prosise has shown enough this training camp to push him into the third-down running back position once again. Prosise is a great talent, and if he could stay healthy, I’d be on board with a Chris Johnson-like 2,000 yards rushing, but the man cannot remain on the field. Rashaad Penny is still the guy in my mind to lead the Seattle running backs in fantasy points this year, and with all the Chris Carson and now Prosise hype, we might be in line for Penny’s ADP dropping into extreme value territory.
Andrew Luck, QB, ColtsAndrew Luck continues to air it out and look good doing so. He’s shown me enough to move him up my rankings and then let the chips fall where they may. He’s going to be risky no matter, but we know his upside, and then add in Frank Reich, who just helped Carson Wentz to one of the most efficient touchdown seasons ever, and Luck’s upside is worth taking that risk on.
Baker Mayfield, QB, BrownsBrowns coach Hue Jackson has had plenty of praise for their first-pick Baker Mayfield. So far, his accuracy and arm strength have shone through, and there’s little doubt that he will get his chance at some point, but Tyrod Taylor is still firmly in control of the Week 1 starting job. This Cleveland team is stacked with talent and will surprise some teams this year, especially since Jackson has relinquished many of the play-calling duties.
Michael Gallup, WR, CowboysCowboys rookie Michael Gallup continues to see first-team reps, and with the lack of talent at receiver, I doubt that will change. Gallup might not have the refined ability of Allen Hurns at this point, but Gallup looks to be the team’s best red-zone receiver, which gives him a boost and pushes him into fantasy value.
DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson, WRs, DolphinsDeVante Parker has disappointed so far in training camp, according to the Miami Herald. The team is looking for a spot for Albert Wilson since Danny Amendola is playing so well in the slot, so Parker’s snaps aren’t entirely secure at this point. Parker will need to step things up.
July 30 Updates
Tyler Eifert, TE, BengalsTyler Eifert tweaked his back during the spring and has been put on the PUP list to start training camp despite saying he feels great and that there is no setback. It appears the Bengals are going to insulate him from injury as much as they can, which could limit his snaps somewhat to start the season, but I expect they’ll give him plenty of work around the red zone to make up for that loss of work. He’s a no-doubt risk, but his ADP should start reflecting that even more now that he’s on the PUP.
Jordan Reed, TE, RedskinsIn other oft-injured tight end news, Jordan Reed says he feels “100 times better” than last season. His toes were in severe pain all last season, and he pushed the rest of his body to compensate, which in turn hurt his leg and hip. But now after surgeries in December and February, he says he is pain-free and now just getting his body back to where it was before the pain. No matter how many injuries he’s suffered, this is still good news for his prospects. It doesn’t give me faith that he’ll be injury-free, as he has never completed a full season, with 14 games being his most back in 2015, when he had a great fantasy season. His numbers are tantalizing when on the field, and if he’s healthy, he’s worth a pick, but you at least know the extreme risk involved.
Chris Carson, RB, SeahawksChris Carson continues to lead the running back pack in Seattle. Rashad Penny will get his shot based on his draft capital, but Pete Carroll has shown he will start someone based on merit over draft spot. Penny will get his shot, and we could easily see a committee, but at this moment, Carson has the lead.
Elijah McGuire, RB, JetsElijah McGuire suffered a fracture in his foot and could open the season on injured reserved. McGuire was in line to compete with Bilal Powell for third-down back duties, so Powell should have a clear path to that job once again.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BucsRyan Fitzpatrick is the no-doubt starting quarterback while Jameis Winston is out due to his three-game suspension. Fitzpatrick will face the Saints in New Orleans, then the Eagles and then the Steelers at home. The game against the Steelers should be his most productive due to their weak pass defense, which could push him into DFS and/or season-long league usefulness.
Mark Andrews, TE, RavensRavens rookie tight end Mark Andrews has missed the last three practices due to a soft-tissue injury. It’s not good for a rookie tight end to lose these practices and likely helps Hayden Hurst a little in his quest to get a more significant chunk of work. There are still a plethora of Ravens tight ends, so that we could end up with a committee at the position no matter, but if somebody can break away from the pack, he could have fantasy value.
Lamar Jackson, QB, RavensLamar Jackson has the legs and instincts to become a reliable fantasy quarterback, but so far in camp, he’s looked like a raw rookie, according to multiple reports. Joe Flacco’s job is looking safe at this point, but he’ll still need to win if he wants to hold off Jackson all season.
Alshon Jeffery, WR, EaglesAlshon Jeffery has been put on the PUP list to start training camp after offseason rotator-cuff surgery. There doesn’t seem to be any concern that he will be ready to go for the season, but it is something to monitor for fantasy.
Dalvin Cook, RB, VikingsDalvin Cook is a full-go for training camp. His health isn’t big news, as he was available for the offseason program, but it’s good news, because Cook is needed for a significant workload as the every-down back. Cook also plans on playing without a knee brace, which is great for his ability in space. Latavius Murray will spell Cook, but he’s not a good receiver, so Cook should see plenty of targets to make up for any between-the-tackles work that Murray snipes.
Anthony Miller, WR, BearsBears rookie Anthony Miller has gotten plenty of praise early on this training camp and appears destined to be the starting slot receiver for a team that should have plenty of targets up for grab. We may be putting too much on Matt Nagy’s offense to turn this team around due to John Fox being a dinosaur, but there’s no doubt that there will at least be an improvement in scheme and intent and Miller looks like he has a chance to shine.
Cameron Meredith, WR, SaintsEven though Sean Payton said he’d be “smart” with Cameron Meredith early in training camp, Meredith is already participating in 11-on-11s, which is a strong sign that he’ll get plenty of chances to push Ted Ginn for targets. Grab Meredith while his ADP is down.
LeSean McCoy, RB, BillsLeSean McCoy reported to camp and will practice as usual. The Bills’ front office will let his legal trouble play out, for now, pushing the responsibility toward the authorities and the NFL. Without any word from the NFL or reports from the police, we’ll be in the dark as to what the investigation might lead. Picking him in fantasy will remain a high-risk/reward endeavor, while Chris Ivory has more appeal as a possible starter.
Michael Gallup, WR, CowboysCowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan talked up Michael Gallup’s catch radius and how he could help make up for the loss of Jason Witten and Dez Bryant. Gallup was a consistent touchdown scorer in college and looks to be the best shot for the Cowboys around the goal line as a receiver, so I’m willing to give him a chance in fantasy based on that possible red-zone opportunity.
Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore, RBs, DolphinsKenyan Drake opened training camp as the starter, but Frank Gore was right there with him in first-team reps. Gore is going to win over the coaches in training camp because he is just a great all-around player but Drake is the better runner at this point in their respective careers. I expect we’ll see as much of Gore as the coaches feel they can get from him, but moving the ball across the field will likely end up being Drake’s job overall.
Antonio Callaway, WR, BrownsBrowns rookie receiver Antonio Callaway “tore up the defensive backs in one-on-one drills” on the first day of Browns’ training camp according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. There was never any doubt about his ability, but off-field trouble and a groin injury during offseason workouts have kept the hype on him down, but he could make a move in this offense with Josh Gordon out at the moment. Corey Coleman is penciled in for Gordon’s reps, but Callaway could throw a wrench in that plan. Josh Gordon could also show up at camp tomorrow, so this receiving group is quite talented but very much in flux. I’d still want Callaway on my dynasty team no matter.
Danny Amendola and Albert Wilson, WRs, DolphinsOffseason addition Danny Amendola has been working as the starting slot receiver in Miami so far in training camp and apparently, he and Ryan Tannehill seem to be clicking. Amendola is competing with Albert Wilson, who got a nice contract to go to Miami, which pointed toward Wilson having the edge over Amendola, but so far that is not the case. Wilson has had some praise thrown his way as well, but he’ll need to pass Amendola if he wants to get on the field. With Jarvis Landry gone and rookie tight end Mike Gesecki looking overmatched so far, the slot receiver should be in line for a good target share.
J’Mon Moore and Geronimo Allison, WRs, PackersJ’Mon Moore has worked with the first-team offense during training camp and looks to be in a real competition with Geronimo Allison for the No. 3 receiving job. Whoever wins that battle will likely be competing with Ty Montgomery for fourth on the target list, so the upside isn’t high, but when Aaron Rodgers is throwing the ball, the upside is higher than on other teams.
Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman, RBs, TexansLamar Miller dropped down to 217 pounds after playing around 225 pounds, but likely more, with the Texans. It always seems these slighter backs want to bulk up to become strong inside runners and take on more volume, but in the end, their volume doesn’t rise much due to loss of versatility. It makes me much happier to see a running back shed a few pounds before a season than add them, and for Miller, the loss of weight, added to D’Onta Foreman’s lingering injury, pushes him up the draft board for me.
Randall Cobb, WR, PackersRandall Cobb says he underwent minor ankle surgery six weeks ago, removing a piece of cartilage that was causing discomfort. He says he feels great through the first couple days of camp, so it does seem to be a non-issue at this point. Cobb’s numbers when Aaron Rodgers is his quarterback have been outstanding throughout his career, and he gets a good shot to have a comeback season with Jordy Nelson out of town.
John Brown, WR, RavensRavens receiver John Brown has made a name for himself at training camp so far. He’s always been a talented player but hasn’t been able to stay on the field. If we could count on his health, he’d be a slam-dunk WR3, but we can’t, so he remains a flier with upside.
Sam Bradford and Josh Rosen, QBs, CardinalsVeteran and oft-injured quarterback Sam Bradford has the inside track to start in Arizona this year. Bradford is a legitimate starter when healthy, but that isn’t the case that often. He’ll likely start the year if he’s still healthy by then, but Josh Rosen will get his chance at some point, be it by injury or team record.
July 26 Updates
Christian McCaffrey, RB, PanthersIt seems that Panthers coach Ron Rivera has turned into a Christian McCaffrey hype-man and is spouting nonsense about him handling 25 to 30 touches a game after averaging 12.3 touches a game last season. I guess Riverboat Ron always bets the over. There is no way in hell that McCaffrey averages 25 touches a game or 400 touches total this year. Le’Veon Bell was the only running back to hit 400 touches last season, and he’s probably going to fall apart before he hits 30 so let’s not put too much stock in Rivera’s flights of fancy. McCaffrey did add a few pounds, as he should see a few more rushing attempts this season, and with D.J. Moore and Greg Olsen added and back to the team, we probably won’t see McCaffrey hit his 113 targets from last season. I do see him topping his 197 touches from last season, but hitting 250 would likely mean that C.J. Anderson hasn’t panned out and I’d expect those to be rushing attempts, and McCaffrey averaged under four yards per carry last season on just 117 carries.
Andrew Luck, QB, ColtsColts coach Frank Reich expects Andrew Luck to play in their first preseason game this year. He will be given plenty of days off this training camp not to overwork him and keep him fresh for the season according to Reich, but so far so good. Luck was extremely motivated and said he felt great, for what it’s worth. There is still risk there, of course, but he will practice both Thursday and Friday of this week, and then we can assess his progress a little better.
Josh Gordon, WR, BrownsCleveland Browns GM John Dorsey was asked if he thought Josh Gordon would suit up this year and he said, “Yeah, I would think, absolutely.” If everyone is on the up and up, Gordon truly is taking the time to deal with mental health issues instead of dealing with a relapse that will get him suspended. Dorsey went on to say, “It could mean many things, a month, three, 10 days, 30 days.” There’s also a chance Gordon wants to avoid the Hard Knocks cameras, but at this point, we have to take a wait-and-see approach. That means we still need to be cautious when drafting him, but I’d still be willing to take a risk on him as a third or fourth receiver.
Cameron Meredith, WR, SaintsCameron Meredith avoided the PUP list to start training camp after tearing his ACL and MCL last year about this time. Sean Payton says the team will take it slow with him, but he will be practicing and get in the scrum. The Saints, for all of their offense, are somewhat thin at receiver and tight end, so Meredith has a decent shot to move into fantasy-worthy targets if he can push Ted Ginn Jr. early this fall. Meredith, if fully recovered, is better than Ginn at this point in his career, and that’s not a big knock on Ginn, as Meredith proved his worth in Chicago as a potential No. 1 receiver. Michael Thomas is the no-doubt No. 1, and Alvin Kamara should scoop up the second-most targets on the team, but Meredith has the potential to get to No. 3, and with his ability, he has upside.
D’Onta Foreman and Lamar Miller, RBs, TexansTexans running back D’Onta Foreman was placed on the PUP list after tearing his Achilles in Week 11 of last season. A torn Achilles is an extremely tough injury to recover from, so there is a chance he isn’t ready for Week 1 and that he won’t be the same player. No matter how his rehab goes, Foreman won’t have an easy time eating into Lamar Miller’s work, especially early in the season. Miller has been lackluster with Houston, but he was much better with DeShaun Watson under center and is the no-doubt receiving back on the team. We could see any number of oddball backs get work at the goal line along with Miller but at his ADP, he should have value this season.
Zay Jones, WR, BillsZay Jones saw a bunch of targets last season, yet did little to nothing with them. He then had shoulder and knee surgeries this offseason while also getting into a bizarre nude altercation with his brother on a 30th-floor balcony where he smashed his foot in the window while he was possibly trying to jump. Oh, and he was also heard yelling, “I’m going to fight for Jesus!” Today, he was placed on the NFI list and has a long way to go before getting back to the field.
Curtis Samuel, WR, PanthersThe Panthers placed Curtis Samuel on the PUP list and appeared just to be bringing him along slowly. I expect he’ll be practicing sooner than later after seeing some time on the field during off-season work. Samuel doesn’t have much fantasy value at this point with Greg Olsen and D.J. Moore in the fold. Samuel has ability, and I still like him in dynasty, but this year, he’ll need some help to be worthwhile in fantasy.
Trent Taylor and Dante Pettis, WRs, 49ersTrent Taylor will start training camp on the PUP list after offseason back surgery, but he is still slotted in as the starting slot receiver. Dante Pettis should get some good reps with him out, but as long as Taylor returns soon, Pettis will need to make a big splash to pass him. This is a situation to monitor, but Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, George Kittle and Jerick McKinnon are four strong targets. Taylor or Pettis will have a hard time getting the work they’ll need for fantasy relevancy. July 24 Updates
Josh Gordon, WR, BrownsBrowns wide receiver Josh Gordon tweeted out Monday morning that he would not be at the start of training camp saying he is missing the as part of his “overall health and treatment plan.” The Browns have put him on the non-football injury – NFI – list. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero says that Gordon isn’t suspended, which is good news, but this situation still has room to develop into something that keeps Gordon off the field during the season. I rather not draft him at all while we learn more, but I’m sure if he fell far enough, I’d still take a flier on him.
UPDATE: Adam Schefter tweets: “Browns WR Josh Gordon did not have any slip ups or failed tests, per sources. His leave is a pro-active, defensive gesture to get extra counseling to try to ensure he does not have any of the setbacks that have marked his past. Those who know him say he has “worked his a** off.” This is good news, and I think calms things down enough to feel better about drafting Gordon, but the timing is still odd and shows that he really does need help, which I’m glad he’s getting, but caution in fantasy is still advised.
Devontae Booker, RB, BroncosBroncos beat writer Mike Klis expects Devontae Booker to start Week 1 this season. Kilis doesn’t just make things up for the fun of it, so I’m going to take this as at least an informed opinion and worry a little about Royce Freeman’s upside. Kilis believes Booker has improved since last season with pass protection and the playbook, which are two things that will need to be solid for whoever starts and are two things rookies have trouble with. In the final assessment, I believe Freeman leads this backfield and becomes a useful fantasy player. Hopefully, this news helps drop his ADP.
Jordan Howard, RB, BearsNew Bears coach Matt Nagy believes that Jordan Howard is a three-down back despite his frequent drops so far as a pro. Howard doesn’t look as stiff as some two-down backs, but those drops will hold him back if they continue. The good news for Howard is that he’s been working on his receiving technique with the coaches and it appears that they really want Howard to have some functionality as a receiver. It makes sense of course, as you don’t want to telegraph your plays by passing with Tarik Cohen and running with Howard, unless you are John Fox of course. Nagy’s offense won’t be nearly as predictable as Fox’s no matter how well Howard can catch, but it does look like the Bears will give him a chance to redeem himself and contribute as a receiver. This can only help his fantasy prospects.
David Johnson, RB, CardinalsDavid Johnson reported for the start of training camp and won’t hold out for a new contract. It does appear that after missing mini-camp, Arizona plans on rewarding him in some way financially, so maybe their talks have led to Johnson showing up for camp. Either way, it doesn’t look like we need to worry about Johnson’s status for fantasy.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, GiantsOdell Beckham Jr. will also report to camp like he said he would earlier this offseason. This appears to be a non-story. Draft him as usual.
Spencer Ware, RB, ChiefsSpencer Ware appears to be good to go for training camp. There was a little doubt after coach Andy Reid wasn’t forceful in his assessment of Ware earlier this offseason, but he got some work in during OTAs and will be ready for camp. He is firmly behind Kareem Hunt now but would get a big workload if Hunt were to miss any time.
Chris Carson, RB, SeahawksBob Condotta of the Seattle Times believes Chris Carson will go into training camp as the No. 1 running back, which seemingly contradicts Pete Carroll’s plan of making Rashad Penny the Seahawks’ three-down back after drafting him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Carson could be the safer play for them, as Penny was lackluster in pass protection in college, so there is a chance Carson does tentatively hold that No. 1 spot, but they will give Penny plenty of opportunities to pass him on the depth chart if that happens.
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, BearsReports out of Chicago show second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky as inconsistent so far this offseason. The report is, of course, based on mini-camp and OTA, which were short and with a new playbook. Trubisky’s learning curve will be steep moving from John Fox’s five plays, so there is reason to worry about his consistency, especially early in the season, but there is a lot of training camp and preseason left to gauge his progress, especially with the playbook and pass protection.
Lamar Jackson, QB, RavensRavens offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg says that rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson is “way ahead of the curve.” Beat writer Jamison Hensley sees quick improvement out of Jackson, which could be attributed to the many coaches on the staff who have coached dual-threat quarterbacks and Louisville’s pro-style offense. Jackson will likely see the field more than any other non-starting quarterback, as the Ravens will manufacture some touches for him based just on his big-play ability, but with Joe Flacco as the No. 1 right now, Jackson does have room to overtake him at some point this season. I believe we will see Jackson start a few games this year with a chance for more, and with his fantasy upside, be sure to grab him on teams you have deep benches.
Joe Flacco, QB, RavensIn desperation news, Joe Flacco has shown improved mobility according to the offensive coordinator. I take this to mean the Ravens are working to make their quarterback position less statuesque and Flacco is going to need to run more if he wants to hold Jackson off. The Ravens know what they have in Flacco, so him learning new wrinkles in the playbook is what they’re looking for, as he isn’t going to be putting any moves on linebackers at age 33. What he really needs to do is replicate the quarterback who led the Ravens to a Super Bowl and let him play.
Leonard Fournette, RB, JaguarsLeonard Fournette dropped a few pounds to play lighter this year and to help take some weight off his ankle. At 228 pounds, he’s at his lightest since high school, where I’m assuming he caused some linebackers to give up their dreams of college football. The weight loss is a good sign and has worked for other backs, and should work for Fournette, as his ankle and extra pounds appeared to slow him down. He gets a good schedule and an offense that will cater to him, which is helpful in fantasy.
Matt Breida, RB, 49ersRight now, Matt Breida has the 49ers’ No. 2 running back job, which should help Jerick McKinnon see a nice share of rushing and receiving attempts, along with goal-line work, according to beat writer Matt Maiocco. Maiocco project McKinnon to hit 1,500 all-purpose yards with a healthy season, which sounds about right.
July 18 Updates
Le’Veon Bell, RB, SteelersLe’Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to come to a deal on a contract, so Bell will once again get the franchise tag. Right now, the most likely scenario is for Bell to hold out until a week or two before the regular season and then prepare for the first week’s game. Bell will play out the 2018 season with the Steelers and then hit the open market next offseason. His agent and sources close to Bell have all seemed to agree on that plan, which ends up making Bell hard to pass on since we know the Steelers aren’t going to hold him back to save his health, which makes another 400-touch season very likely as long as he can stay upright.
Steelers RBsBell’s likely departure from Pittsburgh also pushes us to look for his replacement in dynasty leagues. James Conner looked like the next in line, but injuries and some inconsistent play have hurt his value to the team. Jaylen Samuels appears next in line, but he’s going to need to prove himself between the tackles. And Pittsburgh could also go after an early-round running back in the 2019 NFL Draft. If Bell were to be injured this season, I expect we’d see a committee approach unless Conner has taken a big step forward by that time.
LeSean McCoy, RB, BillsLeSean McCoy could be in some legal trouble or maybe not, but if he is implicated in his ex-girlfriend being beaten and robbed in any way by authorities, I expect him to be put on the commissioner’s exempt list indefinitely, much like Adrian Peterson was in 2016. The odds of that happening are impossible to know, but for now, I’ll be avoiding him entirely in fantasy until there is more clarity in this situation.
Cameron Meredith, WR, SaintsCameron Meredith hopes to be cleared for training camp. He believes that as long as there aren’t any setbacks, he’ll be ready to go. He was able to do individual drills during OTAs, but I think we can feel pretty secure about his ability to play Week 1 once cleared for camp from day one. He proved his ability in Chicago, and now he gets one of the best quarterbacks in the league throwing to him, so if everything works out, Meredith should have good upside, but I’d still like to see him practicing fully sooner than later.
Kenny Golladay, WR, LionsLions receiver Golden Tate heaped praise on second-year receiver Kenny Golladay when talking to Kyle Meinke of Michigan Live. Tate said, “I saw freakish catches, man. Some real freakin’ freakish catches. Kenny’s still a young guy trying to figure it out, but he’s moving at a great pace. If he can keep the mentality he has coming in, he studies and tries to get better every day, I’m telling you, this guy can be dominant. He’s a WR1 kind of guy.” There’s no doubt that Golladay has the makings of a top-tier receiver, and if you can find a way to pry him away in dynasty, do it now, but he will have some trouble this year reaching his potential with Marvin Jones ahead of him. Thankfully, the Lions don’t have a true No. 1 tight end, and Golladay will be the no-doubt No. 3 receiver, unlike last year. Jones is a reliable receiver, and he’s not going to be passed by Golladay this season, but I could see him cut into Jones’ overall numbers as he carves out a place for himself.
Brandin Cooks, WR, RamsRams receiver Brandin Cooks 5-year $80 million extension, but with just $20.5 million guaranteed. That’s still an investment, and one that makes me believe he should be considered a true No. 1 receiver, but for fantasy, he will have trouble getting the top targets that other true No. 1s receive. Jared Goff isn’t a great deep-ball passer, and with Todd Gurley, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods around, Cooks won’t be force-fed the ball. The investment in Cooks is a positive though, and the Rams seem to like what they’ve seen out of him in the offseason program, but for fantasy, his ADP isn’t exactly a value as the 18th receiver off the board.
Kenneth Dixon, RB, RavensKenneth Dixon has been fully cleared and will be ready to go day one of training camp. He is likely fighting for the receiving-back position along with Javorius Allen, but I like Dixon’s ability enough to pick him in that fight and be a worthwhile PPR player this season now that we know he is healthy.
Blake Jarwin, TE, CowboysDallas tight end Blake Jarwin appears to be in the lead for the starting tight end job in Jerryville, which probably isn’t that important in most fantasy leagues, but deep two- or three-tight end leagues should take notice.
Darren Sproles, RB, EaglesPhilly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski believes 35-year-old Darren Sproles, who is coming off a torn ACL, will likely be behind Corey Clement and do most of his work as a returner. That’s a pretty logical thought with Clement looking good last season and should calm fears of a three-headed backfield. Kempski also believes that Jay Ajayi will see a “much higher workload than he had a year ago.” Eagles’ coach Doug Pederson does like playing multiple running backs, but it looks as though the team will give Ajayi a shot to be a true lead back with Clement getting receiving work and on this offense, both roles should be good for fantasy.
Chris Herndon and Jordan Leggett, TEs, Jets
Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media believes Chris Hendon and Jordan Leggett will split work at tight end this season. Unless one is injured or takes a clear lead, the situation doesn’t look fruitful for fantasy.
Jets WRsThe New York Post believes that Quincy Enunwa will return to his slot position after missing last season. That would push Jermaine Kearse to the outside with Robby Anderson. There is room for Terrelle Pryor, ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen to make a move but at this point, they are trailing the group. Enunwa is a skilled player, but he will need to prove he is back, while Robby Anderson remains the No. 1 receiver with the most upside in fantasy.
Corey Davis, WR, TitansThe hype for Corey Davis remains high, with the latest coming from reliable beat writer Jim Wyatt. Wyatt says that Davis was one of the “stars” of the offseason and that he looked “smooth” making “spectacular catches.” Davis is a no-doubt talent, picked fifth overall last season, and was hindered in his rookie season by hamstring trouble while the Titans were bogged down across the board offensively. I still like the consistency of Rishard Matthews, but Davis can be a special player. His ADP is currently around the 27th wide receiver taken, so there isn’t a lot of wiggle room with Delanie Walker and Matthews in the picture, but his upside is worth getting a piece of when you can.
Cody Latimer, WR, GiantsCody Latimer currently has the No. 3-receiver job for the Giants, according to NJ Advance Media’s Matt Lombardo. Latimer has been a scout darling since being drafted by Denver, but he hasnever turned his potential into statistics. If he can hold onto his position, he still would be behind three strong receivers and rookie Saquon Barkley for targets, so Latimer’s re-draft appeal is limited, but this is still good news for his prospects in dynasty leagues.
July 10 Updates
Robert Turbin, RB, ColtsRobert Turbin received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL performance-enhancing drugs policy. He had been talked up as firmly in the group with Marlon Mack, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines to see work, but this likely puts him in a tight spot to win much work once he returns. Mack likely gets the most significant boost, as he leads the committee at the moment and needs all the extra work he can gather.
Aaron Jones, RB, PackersAaron Jones will miss the first two games of the regular season after pleading no-contest to a marijuana charge. I still think Jones has enough ability to make a name for himself in fantasy this season, but he’s giving Jamaal Williams a nice head-start on the early-down work, while Ty Montgomery should be in the lead for receiving-back duties.
Jordan Matthews, WR, PatriotsMike Reiss of ESPN believes that Jordan Matthews will benefit from Julian Edelman’s four-game suspension and see snaps out of the slot while he is gone. That’s an excellent spot to be in, and Matthews has shown ability in the past. He’s worth a grab in fantasy for the first quarter of the season.
Rex Burkhead, RB, PatriotsESPN’s Reiss also believes Rex Burkhead will continue to see goal-line work like last season, when he had seven rushing attempts and two targets from inside the opponent’s five-yard line, scoring five touchdowns on those attempts. That led all New England backs, while Burkhead only played in 10 games. The addition of Sony Michel will keep Burkhead from getting consistent work, but Michel still has to prove his ability to coach Belichick.
Chase Edmonds, RB, CardinalsArizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks believes rookie Chase Edmonds is on track to be a three-down back and someone who could step in to take over David Johnson’s snaps if he were injured. That’s a good bit of info, as Edmonds does have ability, and if we can pencil him in for every-down work, he becomes a valuable bench player in fantasy.
Derrick Henry, RB, TitansTerry McCormick of TitanInsider says it’s “not out of the question” that Derrick Henry could lead the team in rushing attempts yet still finish behind Dion Lewis in all-purpose yardage. This breakdown jibes with my thoughts, as Lewis is the more versatile back while Henry should be used mostly as an early-down runner. Much will depend on game-script in the second half of games to see if Henry is rolling with a lead or Lewis is in hurry-up while trailing, but I feel somewhat safe in targeting Lewis in all PPR-based leagues and Henry in standard leagues.
Cowboys TEs Dallas beat writer Bryan Broaddus believes Rico Gathers will end up being cut, leaving Blake Jarwin and Geoff Swaim to hold down the tight end role. Those are names to consider in your gargantuan 3-TE leagues, but there’s not enough talent there to expect much concerning fantasy.
Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, CardinalsCardinals beat writer Mike Jurecki calls Ricky Seals-Jones his breakout player for 2018. He expects Seals-Jones’ role to expand and liked what he saw in limited snaps last season. There is reason to believe Seals-Jones is an upgrade on Jermaine Gresham, and with few play-makers at receiver, Arizona needs Seals-Jones to step up. June 29 Updates
Jameis Winston, QB, Bucs Jameis Winston has been officially suspended for three games after sexually assaulting an Uber driver and won’t appeal the decision, which is probably a good idea since he’s getting off easy as it is. For fantasy, he becomes a tough sell, as in most leagues you won’t want to keep him on your bench for the first four games, especially once the waiver wire gets stacked with value. Any active fantasy player would have their hands tied with him taking up a roster spot and would quickly dump him for someone who might be able to actually help their team. That means he will likely be on waivers before Week 5 if you need a quarterback at that time.
Andrew Luck, QB, Colts We are going to get plenty of Andrew Luck updates throughout the offseason, especially now that he is throwing a ball, so they won’t always be that interesting, but his status will affect quite a few fantasy players on the Colts, and I’m going to be interested in whatever I can get. And according to the Indianapolis Star, Luck has started throwing more and hasn’t felt any pain. Last season, he started throwing more and did feel pain, and was ultimately shut down, so this is better than that!
Sammy Watkins, WR, Chiefs Reports out of Kansas City continue to be positive for Sammy Watkins, as he appears to be entirely on board with Andy Reid’s approach and has been seeing work from all over the field and in turn needing to learn the playbook from multiple positions. If he stays healthy, there’s no reason he can’t beat out Tyreek Hill for targets this year.
Ryan Switzer, WR, Raiders Coach Jon Gruden has nothing but praise for second-year receiver Ryan Switzer. “Switzer has come in here and not only been a punt returner, kick returner, he’s come in and been a force as a slot receiver. He’s really done well,” says Gruden. The Cowboys let Switzer walk this offseason, and the Raiders may have gotten a deal due to Dallas’ love affair with Cole Beasley and Tavon Austin. Switzer isn’t exactly a re-draft target, but he’s worth a bench spot on your dynasty team with the Raiders not exactly flush with talent at the position.
Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins ESPN’s John Keim says it would be surprising if Derrius Guice isn’t the Redskins’ starting running back Week 1. Keim isn’t exactly going out on a limb here, but all systems appear to be go where Guice is involved. He will have trouble securing a significant number of targets with Chris Thompson blocking him, but Jay Gruden was pleasantly surprised by Guice’s receiving skill during the offseason program, and I’m sure Washington will at least try to get him some work in the receiving game, as he is an excellent runner.
Josh Allen, QB, Bills Despite Josh Allen heading to camp as the third-string quarterback, ABC Buffalo believes he can win the job in camp, and when you look at his competition, nobody is going to argue much over that fact. Allen has a fantastic arm but will likely have trouble reading an NFL defense, especially his rookie year. That could be reason enough not to start him, but when you draft a guy that high and don’t have anyone better, he’s going to get some reps.
Nick Chubb, RB, Browns ESPN’s Pat McManamon says he wouldn’t be surprised if Nick Chubb beats out Carlos Hyde for early-down carries. This is all speculation at this point, but Chubb is likely the better between-the-tackles runner just due to wear and tear on Hyde’s body, and since Duke Johnson will be the receiving back, Chubb doesn’t need to be perfect at pass protection and route running. It should make the competition between Hyde and Chubb reasonably open, and Chubb likely has more upside if he wins the job.
June 26 Updates
Randall Cobb, WR, PackersPackers beat writer Michael Cohen saw Randall Cobb in a walking boot on his right foot. Cobb said it was “temporary” but would say if he had surgery or not. The Packers may ease him into work for training camp, but at the moment, I don’t see pushing his ranking down unless he misses significant time during camp. Cobb remains a value pick at his current ADP as the 41st receiver off the board.
Jameis Winston, QB, BucsJameis Winston is rumored to be facing a three-game suspension for alleged sexual misconduct with an Uber driver. We don’t know if he’ll be able to get that suspension reduced or what will happen exactly, but it does look like Ryan Fitzpatrick will get a chance to be an NFL starter yet again – if he can hold of Ryan Griffin for the backup role. Winston could drop far enough to have some value on a team that should be better offensively this season if you can stomach having him on your fake team.
Royce Freeman, RB, BroncosBroncos coach Vance Joseph says that rookie Royce Freeman “absolutely” can win the lead-back role. This proclamation comes after many local beat writers reported that Devontae Booker will go into training camp as the lead back and that Freeman would need to beat him out and get his chance down the road. This situation remains challenging to decipher, but Freeman has a better chance than Booker, as he should be a stronger interior runner and can catch the ball. The Broncos will look to win games with defense this season and hope for a strong running game to keep opponents off the field. Some sort of committee is likely, but I believe Freeman comes out as the lead of that committee and has some fantasy value.
Blake Bortles, QB, JaguarsBlake Bortles feels more comfortable in the Jacksonville offense now that the team is in its second year. His comfort is good news for the Jaguars and their offense, but they will continue to rely on their defense and running game while putting Bortles into positions to succeed on limited attempts. He most likely will end up having a better fantasy season than he is ranked, but his upside is capped, making more value and risk around quarterbacks with a broader range of outcomes.
Dez Bryant, WR, FADez Bryant says “the last problem I have is finding a team,” when a Twitter user told him he should be focusing on finding a team instead of whatever non-football thing he was doing at the time. I don’t know how accurate he is with that statement, but I do believe he will find a team unless he’s way too picky once training camp starts. Don’t avoid him entirely in your early best-ball drafts.
Martavis Bryant, WR, RaidersAccording to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Martavis Bryant hasn’t failed or missed a drug test. That’s good news for the Raiders after rumors that Bryant was on the verge of another suspension surfaced. There still might be another shoe just waiting to drop, but Tafur is a reliable reporter, and I’d guess if anything came from these rumors, it would be an incident unrelated to the NFL drug program.
LeSean McCoy, RB, BillsBuffalo News beat writer Vic Carucci believes Chris Ivory will take over as the goal-line back, which would help keep LeSean McCoy healthy. McCoy had 12 rushing attempts inside the opponent’s five-yard line last season and only scored a touchdown twice. With the Bills’ offensive line taking a step backward this year, this could be a good thing for McCoy to stay on the field. Out of McCoy’s eight touchdowns last season, five came from outside the opponent’s 10-yard line, and he’ll probably need to do something similar this season. He finished as the seventh-best fantasy back last season and should remain as top-10 back this year, even with this news.
Jamison Crowder, WR, RedskinsAlex Smith had praise for his slot receiver Jamison Crowder coming out of minicamp when asked, saying, “Super talented. Such great feel. Such great instincts. Such great vision.” Crowder also says he feels healthier after dealing with hamstring issues last season and believes Paul Richardson will open up the middle of the field for him. Add in that Alex Smith has been the third-best quarterback in quarterback rating when targeting slot receivers over the last five seasons. Plus, this is Crowder’s last season under contract, so he will have extra incentive.
Coby Fleener, TE, FACoby Fleener is still experiencing concussion-like symptoms after his fifth reported concussion of his career, which put him on injured reserve last season. It sure seems that his career should be over, at least for his health.
Chad Williams, WR, CardinalsArizona beat writer Darren Urban projects Chad Williams to beat out J.J. Nelson, Christian Kirk and Brice Butler for the No. 2 spot behind Larry Fitzgerald this season. That’s a fairly bold prediction, but with the competition he has, there’s no reason he can’t make that jump. My money is on Christian Kirk, but we also could see a pretty wide range of snaps after Fitzgerald. In most 12-team leagues, I won’t be drafting a wide receiver not named Larry Fitzgerald from the Cardinals.
June 17 Updates
Nyheim Hines, RB, ColtsThe Nyheim Hines hype continues to grow, as Indianapolis Star columnist Zak Keefer says that it is clear that the Colts have big designs for the rookie. So far, Hines has been lining up at multiple positions as a receiver and running back. He has big-play ability and great speed, so if he can get into double-digit touches, he should have fantasy value, especially with Andrew Luck at the helm.
Andrew Luck, QB, ColtsSpeaking of Luck, Andrew has finally started throwing a football and appears poised to be ready to go for training camp. There are caveats to that, as he wasn’t throwing a regulation NFL ball and wasn’t throwing at a high velocity. The good news is that he’s been throwing for a couple weeks now and his arm hasn’t dislodged from his shoulder. He’s still risky in fantasy until we see him going all out.
Elijah McGuire, RB, JetsThe Jets running back coach Stump Mitchell had high praise for second-year back Elijah McGuire, saying that he reminds him of LaDainian Tomlinson, and beat writer Manish Mehta has McGuire ahead of Bilal Powell as the third-down back at this point. McGuire does have ability and upside if he can harness that ability and also get opportunity. That opportunity would likely come if the Jets really do value him over Bilal Powell, who is a strong back in his own right, enough to let Powell go to save some money while keeping the cheaper McGuire. If that were to happen, it would make it much easier to invest in him as the receiving back alongside lead back Isaiah Crowell.
D.J. Moore, WR, PanthersD.J. Moore didn’t disappoint during his mid-summer work and appears set to line up across from Devin Funchess as the No. 2 receiver. That doesn’t give him a ton of targets on spec, as Greg Olsen will get his share as well, but if Moore can outplay Funchess, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility, he could become Carolina’s true No. 1 receiver in a hurry. Cam Newton’s completion rate isn’t going to magically change overnight, but Moore should be the best receiver he’s had since Steve Smith left.
Seahawks RBsThe Seahawks can’t stop gushing over Chris Carson, which should give Rashaad Penny backers some pause, but Pete Carroll also was complimentary of Penny’s pass protection, which was his weakest point during evaluation. Some concern about Penny’s workload is worth having, but the Seahawks didn’t draft him in the first round and talk him up as their every-down starter to then just scrap it all after Carson looked good without pads on. Training camp will give us a much better look into how this backfield will breakdown.
Martavis Bryant, WR, RaidersThe Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Michael Gehlken reports that the Raiders believe newly acquired Martavis Bryant will be receiving league discipline pertaining to the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. There’s no more information than that at this time, but Bryant would get a harsh suspension if he failed a drug test after being suspended for a whole year already. He could have skipped a test or meeting or something of that nature as well, so who knows how this will play out for sure, but it’s a bad look for the Oakland brass to be sure and an overall loss for the team’s offense if he misses a big chunk of time.
Corey Coleman, WR, BrownsNew Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley says that this is a make-or-break year for Corey Coleman. It’s his third season, and injuries and bad quarterback play have hurt him so far, and now he has more competition for targets but a better duo of passers as well. Antonio Callaway is hurt, but he should be ready for training camp and if he can show up, Coleman could be out of the starting lineup altogether. A trade is still a possibility, especially if that scenario were to play out.
Sammy Watkins, WR, ChiefsThere has been plenty of praise for the connection between Pat Mahomes and Sammy Watkins so far this offseason. Both players have looked great in camp and have shown ability working together. The upside in with the Chiefs is as high as any offense in the league right now, and if their weak defense stays weak, they could be forced to push that offense to its limit.
Tyrod Taylor, QB, BrownsThe Browns continue to be adamant that Tyrod Taylor is the starter, and their offensive coordinator called him the leader of the team. It does feel like Taylor has taken over that leadership role so far this offseason, and with good pieces all around him, there’s a chance he gets wins and holds onto the job for a while.
June 12 Updates
Ty Montgomery, RB, PackersThe Packers wide receiver-turned-running back Ty Montgomery lost ground last season to Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones due to injuries, but Montgomery is healthy now and appears to be right up there in the pecking order with Jones and Williams, per to beat reporter Rob Demovsky, and according to coach Mike McCarthy, that’s true. McCarthy loves Montgomery’s versatility, which should keep him involved in the offense even if Green Bay doesn’t want to give him the bulk of the between-the-tackles work after getting his ribs broken last season. This is good for Montgomery and should keep him fantasy relevant, but overall this backfield is almost impossible to pin down for fantasy. I’ll only be looking to grab whoever falls the furthest in drafts until there is more clarity.
Julian Edelman, WR, PatriotsJulian Edelman has been suspended for four games after a substance that wasn’t recognizable was detected in his sample. It appears scientists are still analyzing the substance, and who knows, but maybe he ends up not being suspended or we find out he is a mutant of some sort and will be banned from the NFL altogether. But if he serves his four games, it should help James White, Rex Burkhead and Chris Hogan to see upticks in work while he is gone, while Rob Gronkowski would continue to be the main target and will likely be even more consistent than usual during the absence.
Melvin Gordon, RB, ChargersChargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said that Melvin Gordon could see an uptick in receiving work with Hunter Henry done for the season. This makes sense, but Gordon already had a pretty high volume of targets, so a big increase seems unlikely. But if there were any thoughts of him losing work in the receiving game, we can put those to rest and continue to draft Gordon as a high-volume top fantasy back this season.
Sam Darnold, QB, JetsJets No. 1 pick Sam Darnold could end up as the No. 3 quarterback to start the season if they want to keep Teddy Bridgewater after training camp. Darnold is young and raw for the NFL, so he could easily start the season as an inactive while he learns. Of course, anything can happen if and when the win/loss record goes south, but there is a strong chance that Darnold doesn’t start the season behind center.
Browns RBsBrowns beat reporter Tony Grossi expects Carlos Hyde to be the starter over Nick Chubb Week 1. After that, Hyde will need to perform to keep the lead job. This seems practical, and even though Grossi is an incompetent beat writer, I expect this to be the case unless injuries surface. The Browns also just extended Duke Johnson for three years, so they aren’t going to now relegate him to a few third-down plays, which makes this backfield pretty spread out, especially when or if Hyde starts losing work to Nick Chubb. There is a lot of talent here, and all three players need to be on fantasy rosters, but their individual upsides are going to remain lower than their respective talents would allow.
Deshaun Watson, RB, TexansThe Texans say they don’t plan on limiting Deshaun Watson’s rushing attempts. As long as he is fully cleared, he is going to have the green light to take off, along with designed run plays in the mix. It will no doubt up his chances for contact but his injury last season was of the non-contact variety, and as long as he is smart, he can run and play it safe at the same time. We’ll see of course but this is good news for his fantasy upside, which is sky high.
Will Fuller, WR, TexansThe Texans also want to give Will Fuller more work this season. Last year, even when he was scoring touchdowns with Watson for a brief period of time, he wasn’t seeing enough targets to feel like he was a safe fantasy play. With no strong tight end and a rookie in the mix, I do expect Fuller to get his chance to step up this year. His trouble so far has been his inability to stay healthy. If Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and Fuller can stay healthy, they should all put up numbers.
Mike Gesicki, TE, DolphinsThe early reports out of Miami for rookie tight end Mike Gesicki have not been great, with the phrase, “looked lost at times,” dominating those reports. It is still early on, and as long as he can become competent, he should be the best option Dolphins have at tight end.
Mike Wallace, WR, EaglesReports out of Philadelphia have been positive for newly acquired receiver Mike Wallace. At this point, he is a seasoned veteran and has the skills to show for that moniker. He was a steady player on a bad Baltimore passing offense and should bring that steadiness to Philadelphia. There are a plethora of hungry mouths to feed with the Eagles, but the offense spreads the ball around well and Wallace has the No. 3 job sewn up. Don’t forget about him on draft day this year.
June 6 Updates
Kyle Rudolph, TE, VikingsKyle Rudolph had ankle surgery in February but was able to participate in team drills during OTAs. That’s a great sign and should have him on track for another top-10 tight end season. He has upped his stats over the last two seasons, and with the Vikings looking to make a push to the Super Bowl in 2018, I expect another solid season. He’s still not a player to reach for, however, due to his middling upside.
Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis, RBs, TitansTitans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur called Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis his 1A and 1B backs. This is our first real news on how the coaching staff views these two, and it appears to be in the realm of what many figured would be the case. So, a fairly even split seems in order, but that scenario would likely be better for Dion Lewis, as he has a wider range of abilities and would likely be called on more often due to his ability in the receiving game. If we were playing fantasy in 1975, I’d say that Henry is the man, but we aren’t; a player with diverse abilities should always win out in the long run.
Dalvin Cook, RB, VikingsDalvin Cook had been doing individual work in OTAs but was upgraded to team drills today. That’s good news of course and puts him on track to be a full participant in training camp. Cook is in line to see heavy use with Jerick McKinnon’s receiving prowess gone, so as long as he can hold up, Cook’s upside is top-5 running back in fantasy this year.
Terrelle Pryor, WR, JetsTerrelle Pryor had a “cleanup procedure” on his foot, and it was not a pedicure. He was seen with a walking boot at OTAs but is still on track for training camp. The Jets have a bunch of good to decent receivers to sort through this summer, and Pryor will need to show his value early and often to be considered a strong target in fantasy. We know he has tremendous ability but his year in Washington was a disaster.
PatriotsTom Brady and Rob Gronkowski showed up to minicamp. Woo-hoo.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, PanthersPanthers head coach Ron Rivera said Christian McCaffrey is able to handle a bigger workload, including carries between the tackles. This is good news for McCaffrey backers, although it’s hard to believe he’s going to see a big increase in carries with C.J. Anderson there. Jonathan Stewart was on his decline last season but Anderson should still be in his prime, which might not be Barry Sanders’ prime, but he can handle a good portion of the carries, keeping McCaffrey fresh as a receiver and runner. I’m not buying McCaffrey quite yet in standard leagues but am still high on him in PPR.
DeVante Parker, WR, DolphinsThe hype is growing for DeVante Parker, as beat writers are reporting that he’s spending time after practice with Ryan Tannehill, is in the building more than other players and has focused on his health and film study. None of these things mean all that much but Parker hasn’t been known as a dedicated football player, so it’s better than nothing.
James Conner, RB, SteelersSteelers backup running back James Conner says he is 100 percent and ready to take as many reps as possible while Le’Veon Bell holds out. This is good news for Conner, of course, but something to keep an eye on for fantasy, as Bell could be on another team sooner than we think.
Dez Bryant, WR, FADez Bryant has received many phone calls according to Ian Rapoport but is waiting for a winner and a 1-year prove-it deal so he can cash in next year. Who knows how this will turn out for Bryant but it does look like he will be playing once Week 1 rolls around, so don’t forget about him in your early and best-ball drafts.
Albert Wilson, WR, DolphinsAlbert Wilson has impressed this summer, showing Dolphins coaches his versatility as an outside and slot receiver. He didn’t have a chance to see a lot of work in Kansas City, but if he wins the slot job in Miami he’ll be replacing Jarvis Landry and will have a bunch of targets opened up for him. I like Danny Amendola but Wilson has more upside at this point. If he does win the job, I expect he’ll be a worthwhile fantasy player this year.
June 1 Updates
Jordan Howard, RB, BearsBears new head coach Matt Nagy was asked if Jordan Howard would be the bell-cow back and he responded, “In this offense, it’s more game specific, as to whether or not you need that.” This will likely be the answer from most good teams, so maybe the Bears are on their way but it does make it tough to rely on Howard as a top fantasy player. He’s still going to be their early-down and goal-line back like last season and should have more goal-line opportunities to help make up for game-script problems, so he should remain a decent standard league player but will again have trouble in PPR leagues.
Corey Davis, WR, TitansWe must take all OTA news with a grain of salt, but some beat writers have a bit more credibility than others, with Jim Wyatt being one of those guys. Wyatt is reporting that second-year wide receiver Corey Davis “continues to impress” during OTAs, which compared to last season is a refreshing change for the former No. 5-overall pick. Injuries kept Davis out of training camp and games last season, and he never was able to get anything going in 2017. He is a good player, and this Titans offense should be improved under offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who helped the Rams turn things around in a big way last season and was the Falcons quarterback coach when Matt Ryan won MVP.
Corey Grant, RB, JaguarsJacksonville offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett wants to get Corey Grant more work this year. Grant earned it with some great work on limited snaps last season and is the better receiver between himself and Leonard Fournette. That could mean fewer targets for Fournette, though it likely means that Grant will take T.J. Yeldon’s work. Jacksonville has the best defense in the league and will be able to run the ball a lot, so I’m not worried about Fournette, but with his injury history, I think Grant becomes a nice late-round pick and handcuff for Fournette.
Tyrell Williams and Mike Williams, WRs, Chargers
Chargers beat writer Eric Williams believes the loss of Hunter Henry means we’ll see a lot more three-receiver sets out of San Diego. Keenan Allen can’t really get many more targets than he did last season, which leaves Tyrell Williams and Mike Williams as the two players who likely stand to benefit the most. Tyrell has a head start on Mike, and that’s how I would draft them this season although Mike is worth a flier later.
Chad Hansen, WR, JetsSecond-year receiver Chad Hansen appears to be in line to make a move this offseason and could crack the starting lineup, as the Jets really like him according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The Jets’ receiving group has plenty of startable players, so he doesn’t have a cake walk into becoming a starter, but there are plenty of questions surrounding all of their receivers as well. Hansen is worth holding onto in dynasty at the very least.
Josh Rosen, QB, CardinalsArizona coach Steve Wilks has already said that rookie quarterback Josh Rosen can win the starting job over Sam Bradford, so the reports that Rosen is impressing his coaches and absorbing the playbook are good signs that he may be on track to start. If he can just be even with Bradford in the coaches’ minds, they will lean toward their future.
Rico Gathers, TE, CowboysDallas coach Jason Garrett didn’t have much positive to say about third-year tight end Rico Gathers, saying that Gathers is still in his early stages of development and that he needs to play more football. Gathers had a good preseason last year but then had a concussion and was put on I.R. It doesn’t look like he’s close to becoming a factor even with Jason Witten gone. We will most likely see a committee approach and not many targets for Dallas tight ends this season.
Allen Robinson, WR, BearsBears receiver Allen Robinson participated in OTAs on Wednesday and appears on track to be a full-go for mini-camp and training camp. It is a good sign, as he will be learning a new offense – as will all of his teammates.
Raiders RBsYou know we are in OTAs when Doug Martin is being praised, but it is what it is, as beat writer Scott Bair says the coaches have been impressed with Martin. He does get an offensive line upgrade and Marshawn Lynch was lightly used much of last season to keep his old body fresh, so there is a decent chance this backfield turns into a committee, but I still like Lynch to lead the way.
May 23 Updates
OTAs or Organized Team Activities have started up, so we, the NFL consumers, will get spoon fed some news that probably doesn’t matter all that much, but it sure is better than nothing if you are craving information like I am. OTAs are voluntary, so if your favorite player isn’t there, who cares really, but for the players who are there, we get to see if they caught a pass or ran more than five feet!
Just as I started writing the News and Notes for today, Adam Schefter reported on Twitter that Hunter Henry has torn his ACL and is done for the year. This is awful for the Chargers, as Henry was on the precipice of being unleashed as the no-doubt starter on a team that is stacked on both sides of the ball. But this is football and also fantasy football, so we trudge on. Virgil Green is the backup tight end, but there’s a decent chance Antonio Gates will return to play a role. If that’s the case, there isn’t much fantasy upside for tight end in San Angeles. If the Chargers stick with Green, or pick up Coby Fleener or Julius Thomas without adding Gates, maybe there could be some value for fantasy there, especially in two-tight end leagues, but most of these avenues lead to dead ends. There will be added targets for Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams and Mike Williams, if he shows up this year.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, 49ersNewly acquired running back Jerrick McKinnon was very active as a pass catcher for the 49ers on the first day of OTAs. This was to be expected, but it does reinforce the fact that McKinnon is going to have a ton of work as a receiver in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and be a hot commodity in PPR leagues this year. You won’t be getting him at a discount.
Deshaun Watson, QB, TexansDeshaun Watson participated in 7-on-7 drills and individual work on the first day of OTAs, and appears to be ahead of schedule. It looks like there is nothing to worry about if you’re in on Watson picking up where he left off last season. I don’t want to pay full price for his amazing start, but I don’t see a lot of reasons to feel like he is going to regress a bunch this year.
Terrelle Pryor, WR, JetsTerrelle Pryor suffered an ankle injury this offseason and did not participate in OTAs. We know his upside and also his downside, and right now, it is hard to believe he has a good chance to reach his potential with the Jets this season. There is still a lot of time left for him to prove himself again, but there’s no reason to draft him yet.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, JetsTeddy Bridgewater is a participant at OTAs, which is great compared to where he seemed to be. He took reps ahead of Sam Darnold, but we know Darnold is the future of this franchise, so Bridgewater could be auditioning for another team right now.
Josh Reynolds, WR, RamsRams sophomore receiver Josh Reynolds had surgery for a torn labrum he suffered in last season’s wild-card game and will likely have trouble being healthy for training camp. He has a lot of potential, but the signing of Brandin Cooks pushed Reynolds back to the No. 4 receiver. Reynolds will need an injury to move up this season.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, DolphinsRyan Tannehill is participating at OTAs without a brace, which he used all last offseason, and his knee should be better off to start this year than it was last year due to his surgery. Tannehill isn’t a bad quarterback, but he also hasn’t been able to put together any kind of consistency. He will be better than Jay Cutler though, which means there is some hope for Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker.
Donte Moncrief, WR, JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars’ website has Donte Moncrief as a starter and his $9.6 million salary for 2018 would back that up. This receiving group is full, so Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole and second-round pick D.J. Chark are going to need to fight for playing time after Marquise Lee and Moncrief.
May 21 Updates
Terrance Williams, WR, CowboysTerrance Williams drove his Lamborghini into a light pole at 3 am and then ran off. He was later found riding an electric bicycle near his house a couple hours later. I would end this story right there for the artistic starkness/hilarity of it all but in reality, these are misdemeanor charges and likely won’t keep Dallas’ starting wide receiver from scoring no touchdowns like he did last season.
Darren Sproles, RB, EaglesBeat writer Eliot Shorr-Parks said it would “not be surprising at all” if Darren Sproles led the Eagles in running back snaps this year. That should give those who are high on Jay Ajayi and/or Corey Clement some pause. Of course, there was already some pause just based on how Philaldelphia’s backfield looked last season, but with LeGarrette Blount out of town, it did look a little better for Ajayi until Sproles was brought back. Before his injury last season, Sproles was easily the snap leader with 51 and 72 percent of the running back snaps in the first two games, while Blount had 35 and 9 percent to Wendell Smallwood’s 23 and 20 percent. Ajayi did lead the way after Week 13 but that was without Sproles in the mix. Sproles’ age is something that could hold him back this season but he could start out as the lead guy in a pass-heavy offense with Ajayi taking the in-between-the-tackles work.
Julio Jones, WR, FalconsJulio Jones wants a salary bump and is planning on sitting out OTAs. He is easily the Falcons best player and is in good standing with the fans and ownership so there’s a good chance they give him a little something to keep him placated. There’s really no reason to worry about his playing status this year for fantasy.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, GiantsOdell Beckham Jr. will report for OTAs next week after going to minicamp last month. We’ll see how things play out, but it’s a good sign that he isn’t playing hardball at the moment and is there for voluntary workouts. He is on the last year of his deal, and the Giants better do everything they can to keep him on board.
Jets TEsBeat writer Darryl Slater thinks second-year tight end Jordan Leggett is in the lead for the starting job right now. The Jets did draft Chris Herndon and picked up Clive Walford after the Raiders let him go, so there is plenty of competition there, so much competition that there’s a good chance nobody becomes a target hog in this offense. I’ll be staying away from the situation in normal 12-team, one tight end leagues.
Chris Godwin, WR, BucsChris Godwin got some support from his offensive coordinator Todd Monken this week, as he said that Godwin deserves to start. That’s good news after he was behind Adam Humphries last season and outplayed him. Godwin should see similar target numbers to DeSean Jackson this season, pushing into the 80s or 90s, which could get him into the top-40 fantasy wide receivers with his ability.
David Johnson, RB, CardinalsDavid Johnson, once again, has set his goal at 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards, which he came close to in 2016. His wrist injury kept him out all last season, but thankfully, he didn’t have any leg or ankle damage and should be 100 percent and likely to see a huge workload on a team devoid of talent depth on offense. The acquisition of Sam Bradford and Josh Rosen should at least keep the offense from becoming a complete disaster, as they are both accurate with short to medium passes, which will be in Johnson’s wheelhouse. If he stays healthy, there is a good chance he can hit those numbers and once again be a top fantasy player.
Tarik Cohen, RB, BearsThe Tarik Cohen hype is going to be off the charts this summer. New Bears head coach Matt Nagy continues to talk him up, saying he is “giddy” about his ability. He wants to use Cohen all over the formation and has compared him to Tyreek Hill, who he used well in Kansas City. We probably shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, as 10 to 15 touches a game is still likely his max, but those touches should have big-play potential, especially with Cohen’s abilities.
Broncos TEsJeff Heuerman will start the offseason as Denver’s No. 1 tight end, but if Jake Butt is healthy, he could push Heuerman for work. We’ll want to pay attention to this battle in camp, because if one player can win the majority of the work, he could have some fantasy worth.
May 8 Updates
Christian McCaffrey, RB, PanthersThe Carolina Panthers signed ex-Bronco C.J. Anderson to a 1-year deal. This hurts Christian McCaffrey’s upside, but I’m not all that down on McCaffrey now. He had 197 touches last season and finished with the 10th-most PPR fantasy points for a running back while Jonathan Stewart touched the ball 206 times and did not finish as the 10th-best PPR back. I was worried that a role where McCaffrey would need to push 200 rushing attempts would end up hurting him in the long run. Yes, his upside would be much higher, but I love him as a receiver and expect he’ll see his 200-plus touches and push toward 90 receptions. It’s a blow to his stock, but isn’t going to cut him out of my top-10 PPR backs.
Rashaad Penny, RB, SeahawksSeahawks coach Pete Carroll believes rookie Rashaad Penny can be a three-down back. They haven’t been able to sustain a running game since Marshawn Lynch retired, so they are going to put their support behind the guy they chose earlier in the draft than many expected. There are a bunch of backs in Seattle still, with Mike Davis, Chris Carson, J.D. McKissic and C.J. Prosise; and all besides Prosise have shown they have some ability. As long as Penny doesn’t completely flop, however, he’ll be given the opportunity to succeed, and he’s a good enough back to do so.
Browns QBsHue Jackson continues to reiterate that Tyrod Taylor is his quarterback. Of course, that doesn’t mean much coming from Jackson after he threw quarterbacks in and out of games last year. There’s little doubt that if Baker Mayfield looks good in training camp and preseason, he’ll get his shot earlier than later. That sucks for Taylor, as he is a good quarterback and really could start in this league, but you don’t sit the first-overall pick if he can compete.
Coby Fleener, TE, FAThe Saints released Coby Fleener. Wow, what a dud he was. He managed good fantasy points per snap in Indianapolis with Andrew Luck, but he never really blossomed into a good tight end, despite heading to New Orleans to take the place of oft-used Jimmy Graham. Fleener will get picked up, but won’t be a fantasy target no matter where he ends up.
Jets QBsUnlike Hue Jackson, Jets coach Todd Bowles did allow for the possibility of Sam Darnold starting Week 1 if he could beat out Josh McCown. I expect McCown will hold the job down to start unless Darnold really shines, but just like the other first-round quarterbacks, Darnold won’t be on the bench for long.
Cowboys TEsDallas plans on using a committee at tight end with Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers and rookie Dalton Schultz. If one of these guys can distance himself from the pack, he could have fantasy value this year, but the pack isn’t overly good at playing tight end in the NFL. Swaim could be the Cowboys’ safest bet, as he’s actually caught a pass in an NFL game, but Gathers and Jarwin have more upside. There’s nothing clear about this competition, but hopefully we’ll see someone come out on top and have some fantasy appeal.
Cardinals TEsJermaine Gresham is the starting tight end for Arizona, although he may not even be ready to go Week 1 after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of last year. That pushes Ricky Seals-Jones to the top for all of OTAs, training camp and preseason, and with a dearth of proven wide receivers on the team, Seals-Jones could push himself into fantasy consideration this season.
Lamar Jackson, QB, RavensRavens coach Jon Harbaugh said they are taking things one year at a time with the quarterback situation. He’s also praised Lamar Jackson’s arm and accuracy recently – like he’d have said otherwise. Jackson is clearly in line to take over as the starter next season unless he tanks. That change could also come this year if Flacco continues to decline, so if you are drafting rookie quarterbacks in your dynasty league, be sure Jackson is high on your list.
Dez Bryant, WR, FADez Bryant turned down a 3-year deal worth $21 million from the Ravens, which he probably shouldn’t have, as nobody else seems interested. He has declined a lot recently, but it’s tough to believe he couldn’t transition to the slot and have enough success to be a useful player. We’ll see how low Bryant is willing to go, because it looks like he’s going to need to quell his ego a bit to play this year.
Colts RBsMarlon Mack had shoulder surgery this offseason and will miss OTAs, but he is expected back for training camp. That should give rookie Nyheim Hines an opportunity to impress the coaches without Mack around and possibly build from there. I do expect this backfield to be a committee of some sort, but Hines has the ability to be a play-maker, and even a committee job could push him into fantasy lineups.
Cody Latimer, WR, GiantsPost-hype player Cody Latimer appears to be in the lead for the Giants’ No. 3 wide receiver job. His measurables and college tape didn’t show up in Denver. Maybe a change in scenery will do him some good.
Derrius Guice, RB, RedskinsDespite rumors that Derrius Guice fell in the draft for behavioral reasons, nothing has come up that points to anything that would hurt his chances of playing and succeeding in Washington.
April 4 Updates
Brandin Cooks, WR, RamsThe Los Angeles Rams continue to wheel and deal, this time trading for Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks. They had already made a splash with their defensive acquisitions, but this seals the deal as far as putting together a team to win today versus a few years from now. Cooks isn’t a dominant receiver who can beat anyone, but he is great in space and should be a great outlet for Jared Goff as the No. 1 receiver; however, Cooks won’t be so far above all the other receivers to be force-fed the ball like someone like Nuk Hopkins in Houston. I do worry that the Rams’ defense may be too good to push Goff to pass the ball more than 25 times a game while Todd Gurley runs over the world, but we can’t always count on an all-star defense to play as an all-star unit, especially early in the season.
Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, WRs, Rams
This move isn’t great for Robert Woods or Cooper Kupp, but I don’t think it destroys either’s fantasy value. The Rams’ No. 1 receiver is going to see some really tough cornerback matchups this coming season, and Woods and Kupp will need to step up. Additionally, I expect this offense to be balanced enough to keep these receivers’ usage up, although their upsides will be capped. Goff is the only player who gets a no-doubt arrow pointing up for this trade.
PatriotsThe Patriots let Cooks go, sticking with their plan to not overpay for wide receivers, or anyone really. They still have Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Malcolm Mitchell. This is of course a big boost for Edelman and Hogan, but could push Dorsett or Mitchell back into the sleeper race.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, GiantsJason La Canfora reports that the Patriots aren’t gearing up for a trade of Odell Beckham Jr. after receiving the Rams’ No. 1 pick. Beckham could be insane in New England offense, but the team still has a decent set of receivers, plus the chances of Beckham being traded are still pretty slim, even with a great offer.
Robby Anderson, WR, JetsRobby Anderson had his felony charges dropped and now will just have a misdemeanor of reckless driving to deal with. That’s good news for his status, but there is a chance he still sees a short suspension after a previous run-in with authorities last offseason. He needs to stay out of trouble, but for now I’m still on board with him as a good fantasy receiver this season.
Bucky Hodges, TE, JetsThe Jets are looking for tight end help and signed Bucky Hodges. There was some draft hype around him, and in Minnesota, he was behind Kyle Rudolph, so there is some hope that a new team could work out for Hodges, but he’s only a flier in dynasty leagues at this point.
Jordan Reed, TE, RedskinsJordan Reed had surgery on his toes and will likely miss OTAs. It was a problem for him last season, so hopefully he can get past that particular injury, but he remains a tough player to rely on in fantasy due to his numerous injuries. If he’s healthy, you have a top fantasy tight end, which means you can’t ignore him in drafts, but you also don’t want to overpay for an upside that you may never see.
Brice Butler, WR, CardinalsBrice Butler signed with the Cardinals on a 2-year contract. Butler always seemed to have a big play in him with Dallas, but hardly saw opportunities. He will compete with J.J. Nelson for the No. 2 spot and has the ability to win that job if he can get the offense down.
March 22 Updates
Michael Crabtree, WR, RavensMichael Crabtree signed with the Ravens for a 3-year, $21 million contract. Despite their offense being running back oriented, Mr. Crabs should be able to see an increase in targets and plenty of red-zone work. He should be a safe re-draft player this season.
LeGarrette Blount, RB, LionsThe Lions signed LeGarrette Blount to a 1-year deal. I expect they’ll also draft someone, but Blount will more than likely be the lead back this season, which means early-down work and all short-yardage work, including at the goal line. Ameer Abdullah isn’t as good as Theo Riddick as a receiver and not as good as Blount between the tackles, so he’s pretty much dead weight at this point. The Lions would be best served using the duo of Blount and Riddick, and if they do phase out or trade Abdullah, I like Blount and Riddick’s fantasy value this season.
Christine Michael, RB, ColtsThe un-dead Christine Michael must have found some fresh brains in Indianapolis, as they’ve re-signed him after he was injured last season in minicamp. Michael has the skill-set to be a productive player and has shown some of that on the field, but his chances of digging out of his grave and making it as a top fantasy play are going to be tough. The Colts might be one of the best teams for his chances of success because they don’t have much at the running back position at the moment, but that could change in the draft.
Logan Paulsen, TE, FalconsThe Falcons signed Logan Paulsen to a 1-year deal after they let Levine Toilolo go. Toilolo was comically bad as an offensive player, and Paulsen should be an upgrade as a blocker and a receiver. Austin Hooper is the starter, but Paulsen could cut into his upside. I will likely stay away from both in redraft this season.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, RaidersMarshawn Lynch restructured his contract and is now guaranteed $4.5 million and will be the Raiders’ starter this season. Doug Martin could push him for starter work, but Martin has been so bad over the last two seasons that we’d need to see a huge improvement before worrying too much about him. On the whole, I do expect the Raiders to not run Lynch into the ground at his age, but Jon Gruden is an off fella and might just “this guy” him into dust.
Eric Ebron, TE, ColtsThe Colts signed Eric Ebron after the Lions released him, which makes for a crowded tight end group, once again, in Indianapolis with Jack Doyle P.I. and Ebron as both starting-caliber players. Andrew Luck is used to playing in 2TE sets, and both of these players can get enough work to put up fantasy numbers as long as T.Y. Hilton is the only stud receiver on offense.
Luke Willson, TE, LionsWith Eric Ebron gone, the Lions needed a tight end and got Luke Willson, formerly of the Seahawks and a “wow” catchphrase. If Wilson is the receiving tight end for the Lions, we can draft him in fantasy, but his upside will be minimal.
The JaguarsThe Jaguars released Allen Hurns and also let Allen Robinson walk while extending Blake Bortles’ contract, so there is no doubt that they have decided to go with a 100-percent run game with Leonard Fournette while possibly throwing a few passes to newly acquired tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. I might have exaggerated at some point in the previous sentences, but there is no doubt that Jacksonville has its blinders on when it comes to the passing game and instead want to make the defense and running game the keys to success. The acquisition of Seferian-Jenkins is a good one, but Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief, Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole are all similar in ability, with no one player able to elevate this group like Hurns and Robinson did a couple years ago. There will be times when each of this core group of receivers has a strong game or two and we’ll pick them up off the waiver wire, but sooner than later that receiver will crap out and we’ll be cursing the Jaguars’ offense.
Ryan Grant, WR, ColtsThe Colts signed Ryan Grant after the Ravens screwed him over so they could sign a recently cut Michael Crabtree. He’ll be making significantly less than what the Ravens dangled in front of him, allowed him to nibble on and then tore away with uproarious laughter. But he should get a good opportunity to start and catch passes from a hopefully healthy Andrew Luck. Grant is a good player and with enough targets would be useful for fantasy, so don’t sleep on him as long as word about Luck isn’t apocalyptical.
Josh Johnson, QB, RaidersThe Raiders signed Josh Johnson who hasn’t thrown a pass since 2011 but Jon Gruden drafted him and now that he’s a coach again, he seems to have started an NFL retirement village. Maybe Johnson and Doug Martin can form a softball league and can play some of the older Warriors players for a case of Natty Light.
Donte Moncrief, WR, JaguarsDonte Moncrief’s 1-year contract is worth $9.6 million and is fully guaranteed. That puts a new light on this deal and how the Jaguars value him. He has an abundance of ability, but poor quarterback play, injuries and plenty of inconsistency has made him useless for fantasy so far in his career. Now he goes to a team with a middling quarterback, a run-based offense and a plethora of decent receivers.
Danny Woodhead, RB, FADanny Woodhead announced his retirement. It is a sad day for all scrappy football players, i.e. Bill Belichick.
March 16 Updates
Jordy Nelson, WR, RaidersThe Raiders signed Jordy Nelson to a 2-year, $15 million contract and then cut Michael Crabtree. This move seems like an odd swap, as Nelson looked like he slowed down a lot last year and Davante Adams outplayed him. You can look to Nelson’s touchdown numbers with Aaron Rodgers early in last season, but those were mostly close-range scores with a top-three quarterback throwing him the ball. Nelson is a couple years older than Crabtree and has more injury history dragging him down, while Crabtree has been the model of efficiency and touchdowns with the Raiders. I don’t get it, but this is what happened. Nelson will start opposite Amari Cooper, likely looking at top-35 receiver value, as Cooper should see more targets as the clear No. 1.
Ryan Grant, WR, FARyan Grant’s contract with the Ravens has been voided. The Ravens overpaid in getting him, and when Michael Crabtree became available Grant somehow failed his physical, voiding his contract and making him a free agent again. He’s likely screwed now, as he won’t find a team willing to give him that kind of money again.
Michael Crabtree, WR, FACrabtree will now visit the Ravens, and there’s a good chance they will sign him after this Grant debacle. Crabtree would be the no-doubt No. 1 in Baltimore and likely would continue to hold decent fantasy value in that capacity, even with the elite Joseph Flacco throwing balls around his general vicinity.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, JaguarsAustin Seferian-Jenkins signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a 2-year deal. He played well last season, proving he still has starter ability, but didn’t land in the best situation for targets. He will remain a good red-zone player and should get enough touchdowns to be useful in 2TE leagues.
Doug Martin, RB, RaidersOakland signed Doug Martin to a 1-year contract. He was awful last season and doesn’t look like he has starter ability anymore. NFL Network’s Mike Silver says the Raiders are also going to keep Marshawn Lynch, who has a year left on his deal, while DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard remain with the team. I expect Lynch to lead the way as long as he sticks with the team, while seeing plenty of rest with Martin and friends fighting for work behind him.
Tyler Eifert, TE, BengalsThe Bengals re-signed Tyler Eifert to a 1-year deal. His value will rest on if he can stay healthy, which he hasn’t been able to do over the last two seasons. His ADP will likely fluctuate with training camp news about his health, so if you do buy him, make sure it’s not after a report of him jumping over a car or something.
March 15 Updates
Jerick McKinnon, RB, 49ersJerick McKinnon signed a 4-year, $30 million contract with the 49ers, making him the fourth-highest paid running back in the league. Many will scoff at that, but he is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. His ability as a receiver and to create in space is what Shanahan wants and McKinnon has it to spare. He played well last season, totaling nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns in relief of Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray, but the Vikings offense wasn’t suited for his style, while the 49ers offense is. Much will depend on his ADP, but I will target him in all PPR leagues this year.
Carlos Hyde, RB, BrownsCarlos Hyde signed a 3-year, $15 million contract with the Browns. The Browns also have Duke Johnson and this duo could be a strong one in real life football and possible fake life football as well, but his usage isn’t going to be consistent. I like Hyde’s ability and with the Browns upgrading all over the field on offense, there should be more scoring opportunities for this team, but they won zero games last year and expecting a big enough turnaround to fit multiple fantasy players is asking a lot.
A.J. McCarron, QB, BillsA.J. McCarron signed a 2-year contract worth $10 million to join the Bills. He should get a chance to start, but he’s clearly making backup money and whoever the Bills take at quarterback in the first round will likely start sooner than later, as McCarron’s ability is backup level and the Bills are devoid of talent on offense. It’s a situation to run from in fantasy.
Rex Burkhead, QB, PatriotsThe Patriots re-signed Rex Burkhead to a 3-year deal. He’ll still be competing with James White and Mike Gillislee for touches and the patriots will also likely grab a back later in the draft. His fantasy prospects are helped by the departure of Dion Lewis, but as usual, the Patriots backfield is always tough to gauge from week-to-week. He’s a player with good upside in this offense though and should lead the way in fantasy points as long as he can stay healthy.
Eric Ebron, TE, FAThe Lions released Eric Ebron, saving them $8 million on their cap. His inconsistency is a problem, but he’s also shown enough to warrant plenty of interest on the market. Tight ends are notably slow to get going in the NFL and Ebron has put up good enough numbers to be considered an above average tight end in this league. I have a feeling the Lions will regret letting him go.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, FAJeremy Maclin was released by the Ravens. He’s just not the same receiver he once was. Injuries and now the dreaded 30-year mark have him on the downside of a strong career. He should be able to latch on somewhere, but will need to prove he’s healthy and productive before investing in him for fantasy.
Trevor Siemian, QB, VikingsTrevor Siemian has been traded to the Vikings to serve as Kirk Cousins backup. The Broncos gave up a seventh-round pick and Siemian for a fifth-round pick. Siemian isn’t very good, but he should be a decent backup, which the Broncos need behind Case Keenum. This is likely a decent sign that Chad Kelly could be in line for that backup job and makes for a decent dynasty hold.
Quincy Enunwa, WR, JetsThe Jets put a second-round tender on Quincy Enunwa. He has plenty of talent and will start for the Jets, but his upside will be limited in the New York offense. I’d still bet on his talent in dynasty, but I won’t be targeting him in redraft.
Tom Savage, QB, SaintsTom Savage will hold the clipboard on the Saints’ bench this year after starting in Houston last season. He’s slow and not very good.
Julius Thomas, TE, FAThe Dolphins released Julius Thomas. Injuries and a fall off after not getting targets from Peyton Manning have caught up with him, and he’s lost all fantasy appeal no matter where he lands.
March 14 Updates
Kirk Cousins, QB, VikingsKirk Cousins is now a Viking. He signed a fully guaranteed 3-year deal for $86 million and will join the Vikings already stacked roster. With Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph filling out the skill positions on offense, Cousins should continue to be a top fantasy quarterback. He has his flaws, but he should be able to provide a consistent level of ability that will be a step up from Case Keenum, and I expect the fantasy numbers to remain strong for all involved.
Case Keenum, QB, BroncosThe Denver Broncos settled for Case Keenum to run their offense this season by signing him to a 2-year, $36 million contract. They did this before Kirk Cousins had even signed with the Vikings, so it appears they just weren’t going to spend the money for Cousins. That decision might make sense, but I believe they are conceding that they aren’t a team with the players to make it to another Super Bowl anytime soon. They will likely try to compete with Keenum, but should draft a quarterback early and work at finding their leader for the future. Keenum did keep his receivers in good fantasy numbers last season and will be a step up from the trash heaps the Broncos hve had the last two seasons at quarterback. They have retained Demaryius Thomas and plan on keeping Emmanuel Sanders, so those two should see a bit of a bump from last season, but I’m not going to put them as breakout stars with Keenum, as Thielen and Diggs are better receivers at this point in their careers.
Allen Robinson, WR, BearsAllen Robinson is now a Chicago Bear. This is a great signing for them, as they had no receivers worth mentioning after Cameron Meredith went down in preseason last year. Robinson is coming off a bad injury, but one that others have recovered from and we know what he can do when getting good targets, as seen by his 80 reception, 1,400 yards, 14 touchdowns in 2015 with Blake Bortles throwing him the ball. Thankfully for Robinson and those who roster him in dynasty leagues, John Fox is no longer the coach in Chicago, while Matt Nagy takes over as head coach and Mark Helfrich becomes the offensive coordinator. Both coaches are a step or three above Fox on the offensive-mind scale and should help Mitch Trubisky exponentially.
Trey Burton, TE, BearsThe Bears also signed tight end Trey Burton, who has shown a lot of upside when given playing time. Burton, Robinson, Cameron Meredith, Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen are a group that Chicago’s new offensive-minded coaches can do something with. Much will depend on how quickly Trubisky develops, but he did show flashes last season, which lead me to believe that he can succeed in a well-schemed offense with solid players. We can’t ink in 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns for Robinson, but at least he’ll be in an environment that has potential.
Jimmy Graham, TE, PackersThe Green Bay Packers have signed Jimmy Graham. Graham was in talks with the Saints, but the Packers likely needed him more with Jordy Nelson leaving town and Randall Cobb regressing over the last few seasons. Graham looked slow in Seattle, but he also was a red-zone killer with 10 touchdowns last year. I could easily see a similar line for Graham in 2018 as last season. His receptions and yardage will likely see a slight uptick, but his true value will be as a touchdown scorer.
Jordy Nelson, WR, FAThe Packers released Jordy Nelson, clearing over $10 million in cap space. He looked slow last season and was only boosted up early in the year by the great arm of Rodgers and seeing a healthy number of targets in the red zone. With Jimmy Graham in town, Nelson would have likely lost a chunk of those red-zone targets anyway. He will hook up with another team, but he appears to be on the downside of his career.
Josh McCown, QB, JetsJosh McCown re-signed with the Jets on a 1-year deal for $10 million. McCown was good last season, especially for Josh McCown, and the Jets needed him at least another season. They will likely draft a quarterback and could bring in another veteran, but McCown has some upside as a fantasy quarterback, as seen by a nice stretch of games last season.
Marqise Lee, WR, JaguarsWith Allen Robinson out of town, the Jaguars signed Marqise Lee to a 4-year contract and took a flier on Donte Moncrief. Lee has been their most productive receiver of late, and Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, Allen Hurns and, now, Moncrief will make for a crowded group of receivers. They will fight it out for targets, but Lee will be the de facto No. 1 and likely the most consistent option for Blake Bortles.
Sam Bradford, QB, CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are giving Sam Bradford a 1-year deal for $20 million, with $15 million guaranteed. It’s a pretty stout number for the oft-injured quarterback, but their options were dwindling fast with Cousins going to Minnesota and Keenum to Denver. Bradford looked great the few seconds he was able to play last season, and if he could stay healthy, I’d be on board for the Cardinals, but he surely hasn’t proven that ability and Arizona’s offensive line was not good last season. Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson should make life easier for Bradford, but only if he can stay upright.
Drew Brees, QB, SaintsThere was some inkling that Drew Brees might not sign with the Saints, but in the end, there never really was any doubt by him as he signed a team-friendly 2-year deal, with only one year guaranteed. It would have been interesting to see what he could do elsewhere at his age, but this was easily the best choice for all involved. He’s no longer going to put up the huge numbers he is used to as long as the Saints’ defense and running game continue to flourish, but he should be a steady fantasy player if you don’t overpay.
Paul Richardson, WR, RedskinsPaul Richardson has signed with Washington for a 5-year, $40 million contract, with $20 million guaranteed. Richardson had a strong 2017 season and cashed in on it, but will have a lot of competition for targets next season on a team that may not be as good as it has been offensively. Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed, Josh Doctson and Chris Thompson will all deserve targets, and I don’t feel confident that this offense will be able to accommodate that many mouths to feed.
Danny Woodhead, RB, FADanny Woodhead was released by Baltimore. Injuries have held him back the last two seasons, and now at 33 years old, age could catch up with him, but there is about a 99 percent chance he ends up on a 1-year deal with the Patriots.
Taylor Gabriel, WR, BearsTaylor Gabriel signed with the Bears, adding yet another offensive play-maker to their arsenal. I don’t expect much from him for fantasy, as he likely will have a hard time finding consistent touches in what is starting to look like a stacked offense, but he is a nice piece to help Trubisky take a big step forward this season.
Isaiah Crowell, RB, JetsIsaiah Crowell has signed with the Jets. He has shown signs of being an above-average back, but has also shown the opposite more often than not. He will be their lead back, but will lose some work to Bilal Powell. I believe Crowell can be a productive back still, but he’ll need to stay healthy and for the Jets to carry some leads into the second half of games.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, JetsThe Jets have also signed Teddy Bridgewater to a 1-year contract. Josh McCown signed earlier in the day and was told he would be the starter, but Bridgewater is the younger player and the Jets will likely want to see what he can do unless McCown has them in the hunt for the playoffs. I like this signing for the Jets, but Bridgewater has a way to go before we can call him fantasy relevant.
Sammy Watkins, WR, ChiefsSammy Watkins has moved on from L.A. to Kansas City to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes. Watkins has been fool’s gold for some time now, but always flashes enough to keep hope alive for his development and upside. I am one of those who loves his ability, but I’ve grown weary of him not living up to expectations. Thankfully, he gets a strong-armed quarterback in Mahomes, who should be able to target him deep, which is where Watkins’ bread and butter lies. Much will depend on his ADP and how he is valued in Kansas City, but I’m willing to give Watkins another shot with the Chiefs because I see that defense continuing to be poor while the offense will need to put up big points through the air with Mahomes chucking away.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, GiantsThe recently released Jonathan Stewart has signed with the Giants. The Giants have Wayne Gallman, Paul Perkins and could draft Saquon Barkley still, while Stewart has fallen off the last two seasons. Unless the Giants get Barkley, they will likely remain bogged down at the running back position for fantasy.
Mike Glennon, QB, CardinalsMike Glennon signed with the Cardinals to backup Sam Bradford, which means he has a good chance to start at some point this season and become yet another Cardinals quarterback that stinks up the desert.
John Brown, WR, RavensThe Ravens have signed John Brown and Ryan Grant. Brown has shown ability in his career, but has also had trouble with injuries and the side effects of Sickle Cell. Grant hasn’t shown as much as Brown, but the Ravens gave him a $10 million signing bonus for some reason. This may mean the Ravens are letting Mike Wallace go, but it also means they will likely be a subpar passing offense once again. I won’t be targeting any of Baltimore’s pass catchers this year.
Dion Lewis, RB, TitansDion Lewis has signed with the Tennessee Titans. Wow! The Titans knew they needed someone with Derrick Henry due to his inability in the receiving game, but Lewis is more than just a receiving back. Coach Mike Vrabel is going after some of his old team’s players like Lewis, so he knows what he is getting and there is little doubt that Lewis will be given a chance to prove himself in a competition with Henry. We could easily see Lewis just take over the DeMarco Murray role in this offense and push Henry for lead back touches.
March 10 Updates
Jarvis Landry, WR, BrownsThe Cleveland Browns went trade crazy on Friday, acquiring Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor. Landry is a good receiver and was a receptions machine in Miami. His transition to Cleveland could hurt his numbers, but getting Taylor at least softens that transition, as he’ll have a veteran quarterback throwing him the ball. In the end, I don’t love the deal for Landry because I could see him losing targets, especially with Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman and David Njoku needing work as well. Then, there’s a good chance the Browns will go after Saquon Barkley, who will likely be a usage machine under Hue Jackson. The good news is that Cleveland’s offense should improve markedly this coming season and Landry will be a key part of that.
Tyrod Taylor, QB, BrownsTyrod Taylor is a good enough quarterback that he will likely be the Browns’ starter Week 1 while whoever they pick at quarterback in the first round will probably back him up to start. From there, anything could happen, of course, but I do like this move, especially when it looked like A.J. McCarron was their first choice. Taylor has decent fantasy value, as this offense has gained two top receivers in Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon, and likely a top running back who can also catch passes. Additionally, Taylor’s ability as a rusher will always boost his fantasy numbers.
Derrick Henry, RB, TitansThe Titans released DeMarco Murray, which pushes Derrick Henry into the starting running back role in Tennessee. Henry has shown big-play ability, but his consistency hasn’t been great. He’s a beast, and I expect games in which he can get 20 rushing attempts will also be great fantasy games, but his lack of receiving ability will make it tough for him when the Titans are trailing and are in comeback mode. Much will depend on who they bring in to be their receiving back, but I believe Henry’s upside will always be slightly limited without a strong receiving component to his game. This could be a good time to sell him in dynasty. I still think he has a productive career and is very much worth being on your team, but his value could be higher than it should be, so it’s worth sending out some offers.
Torrey Smith, WR, PanthersTorrey Smith was traded to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Daryl Worley. The Eagles were just shopping Smith before they released him, so this was a windfall for them. The Panthers very much needed a deep threat last season after letting Ted Ginn walk, but Smith has been in the league a while now and just hasn’t shown that he can be the guy. If the Panthers don’t bring in anyone else, Smith will have some fantasy value, but his upside will remain limited due to his own limitations as a receiver.
DeShone Kizer, QB, PackersDeShone Kizer was traded to the Packers, as he wasn’t needed after the Tyrod Taylor acquisition. The Packers weren’t prepared for Aaron Rodgers getting injured last season, and they very much needed to upgrade their backup situation. Kizer might not be a big upgrade over Brett Hundley, but Hundley didn’t show much of anything while Kizer at least put some decent work on tape whenever he wasn’t turning the ball over.
Mike Evans, WR, BucsMike Evans signed a 5-year, $82.5 million contract extension with $55 million guaranteed. This deal puts him as the second-highest paid receiver in the league and will likely push other top receivers to want similar money. Expect Odell Beckham Jr. to work at getting more cash sooner than later.
Doug Martin, RB, FARaiders coach Jon Gruden sat down with Doug Martin and, of course, loved “this guy!” He could be looking to sign him, but Martin has been bad over the last two seasons and doesn’t deserve much of a contract at this point.
March 6 Updates
A.J. McCarron, QB, BengalsCleveland coach Hue Jackson remains very interested in A.J. McCarron according to Peter King. This isn’t exactly breaking news, as Jackson tried to get him via trade during last season, but it appears Cleveland’s plan is to go after McCarron and draft a rookie quarterback with an early-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. McCarron isn’t anything special, but he will hold down the fort for a first-rounder. This situation is quite similar to the Bears with Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky last season, and it could easily play out the same way. For that to happen though, the Browns will need to draft well at quarterback, but maybe this time that will work out better than like every other time.
Carson Wentz, QB, EaglesPeter King also reports that the Eagles are confident that Carson Wentz will be ready for Week 1 after tearing his ACL in December. If that confidence continues, they will likely look to trade Super Bowl MVP and the record holder for most touchdown passes in a game Nick Foles.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, PatriotsIan Rapoport had reported that Rob Gronkowski decided to continue playing this upcoming season, but Peter King says the final decision hasn’t been made. The speculation won’t end until Gronkowski announces he is returning or he’s back with the team, but the odds strongly lean toward him playing.
The BrownsSticking with Peter King’s latest Monday Morning Quarterback, he also writes that Saquon Barkley was given a perfect grade by one NFL team and that he would be shocked if the running back fell out of the top-five picks. The rumor mill has the Browns going after Barkley with the first pick and then a quarterback at No. 4, but they could easily miss out on their No. 1 quarterback, whoever that is, if they went that route. It’s an interesting conundrum, but getting the best running back and their best quarterback prospect is going to be delicate, which probably isn’t the Browns’ sweet spot.
Le’Veon Bell, RB, SteelersIt doesn’t look like the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell will get a deal done before they franchise tag him for $14.5 million. The money is great for Bell, but it’s not long term, which is what any running back is looking for due to the short nature of the position’s lasting power. They still have until July 16th to get a deal, so there is a chance, but it’s looking worse than it was a couple weeks ago.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, VikingsTeddy Bridgewater’s fate this coming season is still very much up in the air, but he of course would like a starting job or at the very least, the opportunity to compete for a starting job. After his awful injury, he likely won’t get a long-term deal, but he’s probably just looking for an opportunity to prove that he is back. The teams that don’t get Kirk Cousins will all take a long look at Bridgewater.
Kirk Cousins, QB, TBAThe teams that don’t get Kirk Cousins look to be every team not named the Minnesota Vikings at the moment. According to beat writer Ralph Vacchiano, the Jets believe Minnesota all but has the Cousins sweepstakes all sewn up. The reports are piling up in favor of the Vikings, which really does appear to be the best place for him to make a run at a championship sooner than later, although the Broncos do have a good defense and receivers. Denver, however, isn’t likely to have those things much longer, which should push the organization to overpay if needed.
Dez Bryant, WR, CowboysThere are mixed signals concerning Dez Bryant’s future with the Cowboys. Jerry Jones says he wants him back, but also said,”it takes two to do anything with his contract,” which likely means they would like to restructure the $16.5 million cap hit that Bryant has in 2018. Bryant has fallen off over the last couple seasons, but he’s also Dallas’ best receiver, with not much behind him. A restructured deal to help the Cowboys with their cap hit would make sense, but who knows what will happen here.
Jimmy Graham, TE, SeahawksThe prevailing winds led us to believe Jimmy Graham was done in Seattle, and now NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that is a fact and that the Saints may want him back. There are other tight end-needy teams like the Ravens and Packers that could go after him, but the familiarity in New Orleans is something Graham might want. If he were to return to New Orleans, the new-look offense with the running game taking a much bigger role than when Graham was there would hurt Graham’s upside, which would be especially bad for those fantasy players hoping him to return to his old Saints self. Most will realize that Graham has slowed down due to injuries and age, but he is still a great red-zone threat, which would make the Saints even more dynamic near the goal line.
March 1 Updates
Jonathan Stewart, RB, FAThe Carolina Panthers have released Jonathan Stewart. What started as a promising career has been sidetracked by injuries and running back committees and over the last two seasons he’s just been bad. He will likely find his way to another team, but will need to score touchdowns to have any fantasy value and I doubt any teams are looking at him as just a goal line back.
Marlon Mack, RB, ColtsFrank Gore won’t be re-signed by the Colts, which leaves Marlon Mack at the top of the running back pecking order for now. That could change of course, but Mack showed signs of talent last season. We’ll see who else the Colts bring in, but it will likely be a rookie that will compete for touches with Mack.
Ty Montgomery, RB/WR, PackersThe Packers’ GM says that Ty Montgomery could be a hybrid receiver/runner next season. That kind of sounds like a made-up role that won’t have much actual impact, especially if they keep Randall Cobb and have Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams stay healthy. Montgomery will likely need the Packers to let Cobb go and be moved into Cobb’s slot position, but that is just conjecture at this point. Montgomery’s stock is low at the moment, but he has the talent to produce if the opportunity allows.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, PatriotsAfter contemplating retirement, Rob Gronkowski has decided to keep on playing, according to Ian Rapoport. With his multiple back injuries and concussions, Gronkowski wisely contemplated moving on to a more Hollywood-centric occupation, but he’s still quote good at what he does on the field. It’s just speculation, but I’d think another injury-plagued season could push him to retirement fairly easily at this point.
Eli Manning, QB, GiantsThe Giants continue to be 100 percent behind Eli Manning as their quarterback, and new head coach Pat Shurmur believes Manning has multiple years left. He likely could continue playing for multiple years, but he’s declined rapidly and isn’t going to be leading his team into any Super Bowls. The Giants appear to be zeroing in on Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall, so Manning’s heir likely won’t be from that pick, but it would behoove them to invest in a quality rookie at the position.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, RaidersCoach Jon Gruden says he is counting on Marshawn Lynch this season and also babbled on about GPS and analytics and, as usual, sounded like a cave man, but it does appear that Lynch is going to be the lead back for 2018 and that Gruden will likely use him as one. That would mean more work for Lynch than former Head Coach Jack Del Rio gave him last season, which could also mean Lynch’s body might break down, but when he is playing, he’ll likely have more upside on a game-to-game basis than last season.
Joe Mixon, RB, BengalsThe Bengals plan on using Joe Mixon as their every-down back next season, according to their director of player personnel. Mixon didn’t live up to the hype last season, but a full workload each week sure would give him more chances to thrive.
Kareem Hunt, RB, ChiefsAndy Reid says he wants to use Kareem Hunt more in the passing game this coming season. If that is true, and I think it probably is, Hunt’s fantasy upside would move right up against the top-tier running backs. He’s already a first-round draft pick for 2018, but if he can stay on the field more often on third downs, he becomes a solid first-rounder with upside for top-five status.
Matt Forte, RB, JetsMatt Forte has announced his retirement. It’s a sad day for PPR enthusiasts everywhere and for those who like to watch a great back cut through defenses. On a better team, his numbers would have rivaled Le’Veon Bell’s, but this is the way of the NFL, as many players have found out as they were mired in poor organizations. The Jets will likely bring in someone to compete with Bilal Powell and Elijah McGuire, and unless that player is a no-doubt star, this backfield could again look ugly for fantasy.
Feb. 27 Updates
Kirk Cousins, QB, FANFL.com’s Gil Brandt believes there is mutual interest between the Vikings and Kirk Cousins, and Brandt even predicted that is where Cousins would end up. This also coincides with the Vikings deciding not to put the franchise tag on Case Keenum today and letting him test free agency. The Vikings are built to win right now, and Cousins is a solid quarterback who would be an upgrade over Keenum, so there’s no doubt the move would make sense. Of course, Denver is also a strong team that lacks a quarterback, while the Jets and Browns will likely be needed to drive Cousins’ asking price up, so this thing could still go in many different directions, but right now, the odds that Minnesota lands Cousins have gone up.
Blake Bortles, QB, JaguarsThe Jaguars signed Blake Bortles to a new 3-year, $54 million deal with $26 million up front. It’s a team-friendly amount, but it does take them out of the running for Kirk Cousins. They likely wouldn’t have paid up for Cousins anyway, and after him, unless Drew Brees miraculously leaves the Saints, the pickings are pretty slim. Bortles isn’t good, and I’d probably rather have some of the slim pickings, but the devil you know and all that. The Jaguars should draft a quarterback and maybe bring in a veteran to compete, which would make sense, as Bortles could be usurped by someone like Sam Bradford or Josh McCown, but as it is, the Jaguars will need to win with defense and a running game as they continue to not ask much from their quarterback.
Tyler Eifert, TE, FATyler Eifert has been cleared for OTAs after micro-disc surgery. He is a free agent and will likely end up with a 1-year deal so teams don’t have to take a long-term risk on his health. He’s a great player and, in the right offense, would be a strong fantasy tight end if he can stay healthy. His ADP will likely rise if he lands on a good offense and continues to show progression, but he’ll remain a risk, as he has yet to put in a full season.
Cardinals QBMike Jurecki of Arizona Sports believes the Cardinals will draft a quarterback and bring in veterans to compete at the position instead of going all-in on Kirk Cousins. Jurecki mentions that a much-needed upgrade at offensive line needs to happen first for any quarterback to have a chance at true success. The Broncos, Vikings and Jets remain the front runners in the rumor mill to get Cousins, while the Jaguars are out of the running after signing Blake Bortles to a deal.
Danny Woodhead, RB, RavensDanny Woodhead is likely going to be a cap casualty with Kenneth Dixon returning and Alex Collins stepping up last season. Baltimore is also likely to grab a running back at some point for depth, and Woodhead just costs too much for his poor impact last season. In the right spot, he can still be a PPR fantasy player, but we’ll need to see how that all shakes out.
Trey Burton, TE, FATrey Burton turned down a contract offer from the Eagles and will likely be a hot commodity in free agency as one of the best tight ends on the market. The Packers are always a spot where fantasy players hope a tight end can go and up his stats by getting Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback, but the Packers have been unable to get a tight end to work out. If they grab Jimmy Graham or Burton, however, I’d be on board.
D’Onta Foreman, RB, TexansD’Onta Foreman could be the starting running back next season in Houston according to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. Lamar Miller had a poor season and has yet to show the ability to be a difference-making every-down back. The Texans could cut him and save over $5 million in cap space, or they could push them into a competition for the starting job. Either way, there’s a decent chance that Miller will lose enough work to Foreman to make Miller a tough sell in fantasy.
Jarvis Landry, WR, DolphinsJarvis Landry remains likely to be traded, with the Ravens, Browns and 49ers as likely trade partners. Pierre Garcon mans the slot in San Francisco, and I don’t like either of those players if they are playing on the edge, but the Ravens and Browns need Landry more. The 49ers, however, would likely be his best landing spot for fantasy.
Feb. 21 Updates
Bucs RBsDoug Martin has been released by Tampa Bay. This was expected after Martin’s suspension, injuries and ineffectiveness over the last two seasons. Martin will likely find some takers, but on a short-term prove it deal, which is kind of his specialty, but I’m not going to invest much of anything in him for fantasy this season. This news currently leaves Peyton Barber as the starting back, especially with Chris Simms a free agent. There is no doubt the Bucs will bring in other backs and grab somebody in the 2018 NFL Draft, so I wouldn’t go out and grab Barber now, as this is likely the highest he’ll be valued in fantasy.
Kirk Cousins, QB, TBAThe New York Jets are reportedly “willing to pay whatever it takes” to sign Kirk Cousins. And the New York Post’s Brian Costello reports they would be willing to pay $60 million in the first year of his contract. Cousins also reportedly wants to go to a contender, which isn’t the Jets quite yet. Maybe he’d go somewhere like Denver if the money was close, but if it’s not, he’ll be hard pressed to pass on a windfall of cash. If I had to put odds on it, I’d go with those two teams as the frontrunners, with Arizona and Minnesota in the second tier.
Dolphins RBsThe Dolphins almost had C.J. Anderson in 2016, but Denver matched their offer to keep him. It looks like Denver will move on from Anderson, which would give the Dolphins and Anderson’s old offensive coordinator, Adam Gase, another shot at him. This wouldn’t be good news for Kenyan Drake’s fantasy prospects though. We would likely see a committee like Drake had with Damien Williams before he was injured.
Eric Ebron, TE, LionsDetroit appears to be keeping Eric Ebron despite his $8.25 million payday this coming season. That’s good for his fantasy prospects, as a new team would have paid him less and might not have given him the starting job. He has yet to do anything to feel good about him as your starting fantasy tight end, but the upside remains after yet another strong finish to the season. Be cautious, but don’t give up on him completely.
Allen Robinson, WR, JaguarsAllen Robinson is likely to get the franchise tag coming off his injury. Jacksonville wants to keep him, but also want to see him stay healthy for a year. He’ll get paid well with the tag and could set himself up for a big payday with a strong season. Robinson is too talented to hold down statistically for long, but he will also have his ceiling capped in a run-first offense with Blake Bortles as his quarterback.
Jets RBsThe New York Jets don’t consider Bilal Powell as a starting running back according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Matt Forte will be let go, but the Jets will likely look for another back in free agency or the draft, and they will continue to use Elijah McGuire as will. Powell has shown fine ability when given the chance, but it doesn’t look like he’ll ever get the chance to test himself against a full season as the lead back. The Jets’ running back situation will likely once again be one to avoid unless a clear starter emerges.
Case Keenum, QB, VikingsCase Keenum should return in 2018 as the starting quarterback according to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Teddy Bridgewater will likely sign again with the Vikings and continue his return from a devastating injury, and could become competition for Keenum at some point. This of course would take the Vikings out of any bidding war for Kirk Cousins, which isn’t really their style anyway. Some continuity for a team coming of a strong season isn’t all that bad for its fantasy players, and Keenum would have some value, especially with a strong receiving corps.
Feb. 17 Updates
There truly is no offseason in the NFL, and that applies to fantasy as well. Below, I gather some of the more interesting tidbits from the news and look at them with a fantasy perspective.
A.J. McCarron, QB, BengalsA.J. McCarron has won his grievance with the Bengals and will become a free agent. The Bengals tried to do him like any insurance company would, by saying it was his fault and not theirs, but an independent arbiter found that he should have been placed on the football injury list instead of the non-football injury list, which in turn makes him an unrestricted free agent instead of restricted. This is great for McCarron, who will get to enter a frenzied quarterback market and likely make more money that he deserves. Browns coach Hue Jackson seems to love the guy, so that’s an automatic possibility out of the gate, but there will be plenty of suitors. He likely will be someone’s starting quarterback to start the season.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ersJimmy Garoppolo got paid and will continue as the 49ers starter. This is nowhere near breaking news, but it is good news for the 49ers, who are looking pretty smart right now. They will also look to give him some more weapons this offseason and it sure appears that Garoppolo has the makeup to be a quality starter in this league, with good fantasy upside in a Shanahan led offense. Fantasy football is about looking forward and the 49ers passing game is worth investing in.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, CardinalsLarry Fitzgerald says he will return next season for his 15th season. He played well last year and put up great stats, so this isn’t exactly a surprise. He will have an uphill challenge to repeat those numbers with a new coach in town and no quarterback yet. We’ll need to see who Arizona ends up with before we can project Fitzgerald’s stats, but he will likely catch a lot of passes again, but yardage and touchdowns will pivot on if they can find him a functioning passer.
Le’Veon Bell, RB, SteelersThe word out of Pittsburgh has been somewhat upbeat about Le’Veon Bell remaining a Steeler. The latest is that GM Kevin Colbert says they have a “strong desire” to keep him, which seems like an obvious statement, but at least it feels like they are willing to do a bit more for him than they were last off season. March 6 is when they would need to put the franchise tag on him, but they could do that and still negotiate a new deal. That means both sides have time and we are going to hear a lot of rumors about this one.
Devontae Booker, RB, BroncosESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold says the team “seems intent” on Devontae Booker as their starting running back. He expects the team to let C.J. Anderson go to give Booker the keys to the place. He has been below average so far statistically in his first two seasons, but did show a little more in limited work last season. De’Angelo Henderson would then move up to backup status, but there’s no reason to believe that Henderson wouldn’t get his shot if Booker continues his not great on field play. I’d want Henderson on my fantasy team bench, especially if the Broncos end up with Kirk Cousins.
Ty Montgomery, WR, PackersESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky thinks that Ty Montgomery should return to his wide receiver role after fighting injuries all season as he tried to be the lead back. This makes sense now with both Jamal Williams and Aaron Jones showing enough ability to be the lead backs. This also may be the best idea for him as a fantasy player as well. If the Packers release Randall Cobb, they’ll save 9.5 million dollars, which is likely to happen. They could re-sign him of course, but there is a shot that they will feel good enough with Montgomery in the slot role and let Cobb stay gone.
Dion Lewis, RB, PatriotsThe rumor mill has Detroit as a landing spot for free agent Dion Lewis. Lewis should have a good mix of suitors after playing extremely well for the Patriots at the end of the season. He had a lead back workload and stayed healthy, which has been a problem for him. The Lions are in desperate need of a quality lead back and Lewis would fit the bill, but he’ll likely have multiple choices. There are better spots for him to land for fantasy, but Detroit is by no means a bad spot for him. Don’t let those Lewis shares go.
Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, WRs, BroncosEmmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas have big contracts this coming season, but it appears that Denver will keep them and their contracts in the hopes of recruiting Kirk Cousins. If that works out, then I think we can expect a bounce back year for both, but if they end up going with a first round QB, the offense will again likely sputter.
Jimmy Graham, TE, SeahawksJimmy Graham will be a big name this free agency and Baltimore is one spot that would be a good fit. Ben Watson is old as dirt and none of their young guys emerged as a threat. He might not get the red zone work like he did in Seattle, but he would have a higher upside on a team where he would likely be one of the top two targets.
Chad Kelly, QB, BroncosBroncos quarterback Chad Kelly will be healthy this offseason and depending on what they do at quarterback, he could be in the mix if he makes a good showing. I like his ability and think he’s very much worth a stash in dynasty.
Robby Anderson, WR, JetsRobby Anderson’s latest brush with the law doesn’t seem to have pushed the Jets to do anything in response, so he will likely continue to be their starting wide receiver. The biggest concern is a suspension, which I’d expect to be on the light side. He’ll be on thin ice moving forward, but if you can get him cheap, I think his upside remains good enough to take his risk on.
Chris Thompson, RB, RedskinsWashington reportedly will stick with their core group of running backs this season. Samaje Perine, Rob Kelly and Chris Thompson aren’t a strong group, but Thompson’s big play ability should continue to shine.
Feb. 1 Updates
Kirk Cousins, QB, TBAThe biggest news to come out during the perpetual pre-Big Game hype has been the Alex Smith trade to Washington. It is an interesting turn of events, as Smith is four years older than Kirk Cousins and Cousins has put up better numbers over the last few years. Cousins probably benefits from this trade, as we know he’ll be going to the highest bidder and there are plenty of teams that need a capable quarterback. And really, that’s all I can call him, capable or good, but not great. Of course, there have been plenty of not-great quarterbacks who win it all, so a landing spot like Denver would give Cousins a decent shot of at least making a run at the Super Bowl. His Bovada team odds are as follows: Jets – 8/5, Broncos – 7/4, Cardinals – 4/1, Browns – 5/1, Bills – 9/1, Giants – 14/1, Jaguars – 14/1, and Dolphins – 20/1. I’d put my money on Denver, but I’m just going to assume he’ll take the most money and worry about winning later.
Alex Smith, QB, RedskinsAlex Smith will likely have more trouble now that he is in Washington. The Redskins aren’t a team ready to win, as seen by their collapse due to injuries last season. Smith, like Cousins, is a good quarterback, and if Smith had landed somewhere like Jacksonville or Denver, I’d be on the bandwagon, but I expect he’ll struggle on a team with less talent than the one he had in Kansas City. His skill set, however, should be a good one for Jamison Crowder and Chris Thompson to continue playing at a good fantasy level.
Pat Mahomes, QB, ChiefsWith Smith gone, Kansas City will go with second-year player Patrick Mahomes. There is no doubt that Mahomes has a better set of skills than Smith and a higher upside as a player. If Andy Reid and company can mold him and their offense well, there’s no telling how good he can be.
Blake Bortles, QB, JaguarsBlake Bortles had wrist surgery recently, and his timeline for recovery is unknown, but NFLN’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Jaguars are still planning on him as their starter next season. He was good enough to get them to the AFC Championship game, so it makes some sense, but he’s also shown enough rotten football to warrant an upgrade at the position.
PatriotsThere isn’t much news coming out of Minnesota other than Tom Brady’s hand and Rob Gronkowski’s head, both of which will be fine for the game this Sunday.
Adrian Peterson, RB, TBAAdrian Peterson will be released by the Cardinals and will likely have trouble finding a suitor he will feel comfortable with, as far as money and playing time go. He still had a little juice left in Arizona, but was quickly injured after a few games. Peterson can likely find a team as long as he’s willing to be a bit player.
Andrew Luck, QB, ColtsIan Rapoport is reporting that Andrew Luck is very close to throwing again and that he will be working with quarterback gurus Tom House and Adam Dedeaux. House has been helping Tom Brady over the last five years with mechanics and arm strength, and well, Brady has done okay. I won’t truly believe Luck is back until I see him winging the ball down field, but this news is better than it could have been.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, SteelersBen Roethlisberger reportedly has told teammates his plan is to play for three more seasons. After contemplating retirement last offseason, this is probably helpful news for the Steelers as they look to find his replacement. Roethlisberger looked awful to start 2017, but after his horrid five-interception game against the Jaguars in Week 5, he went on a tear, ranking as the fifth-best fantasy quarterback for the last 11 games of the season.
Jan. 24 Updates
Derek Carr, QB, RaidersDerek Carr says that his back injury stayed with him and was something he had to deal with throughout the 2017 season. This is probably the best news a Carr backer could hear at the moment, as he looked off for much of the year. With new head coach Jon Gruden back, this team could go in a lot of different directions, but Carr will need to show that he is healthy and back on track as a starting quarterback in this league if he is to return to fantasy relevance.
Le’Veon Bell, RB, SteelersPeter King believes the Raiders will make a run at free agent Le’Veon Bell this offseason. The Steelers could still franchise tag him, but will have to clear cap room first. If not, Bell will go to whoever gives him the most money. The Raiders’ overall roster needs upgrades throughout, so the money Bell will take up could be spent more wisely elsewhere. But, this is the first of many rumors about what might happen to Bell in free agency. The main thing for fantasy, is to grab James Conner in case Bell moves on. Conner is hurt, but should recover. The Steelers would likely grab a running back in the 2018 NFL Draft if Bell is gone, but Conner would be first in line.
Giants hire Pat Shurmur as Head Coach Pat Shurmur will take over the head coaching job for the Giants after helping Minnesota get to the NFC Championship game. He’ll likely be a bit more conservative as far as passing volume, but can’t be much worse than Ben McAdoo as far as total offense goes. Shurmur will likely need to hit on a young quarterback sooner than later if he wants to turn things around in New York.
Browns re-tool staff The Steelers let Todd Haley go and the Browns quickly swooped in and grabbed him. The Browns didn’t get rid of Hue Jackson, but they did make him fairly obsolete, as Haley will now call the plays and former Kansas City General Manager John Dorsey and former Green Bay director of football operations Eliot Wolf will take over as GM and assistant GM. Jackson will have trouble getting a majority say with better personnel people around.
Josh McCown, QB, JetsJosh McCown will play again in 2018. He’ll be 40, but showed enough for a bad Jets team, that he will have teams that want him. I expect the Jets will re-sign him and look to the 2018 NFL Draft for his replacement.
Robby Anderson, WR, JetsMcCown’s go-to receiver in 2017, Robby Anderson, was arrested and charged with harm to a public servant/family, reckless driving, eluding police, and resisting arrest last weekend. It’s his second arrest, but the Jets are likely to keep him around if he doesn’t get a third strike. We’ll see how it plays out, but you’d think Anderson would lay low now that he is accumulating arrests. Anderson was a highlight for the Jets and is on the right path as a player if he can grow up.
Vikings QBs The Vikings’ quarterback situation is very much up in the air. Coach Mike Zimmer won’t commit to Case Keenum, so there’s a decent chance Keenum will move on. Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford have ability and likely more upside than Keenum, but neither are locks. It’s not the best situation to be in, but the Vikings do have options compared to many other teams. Whoever does win out will have some fantasy relevance with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen as the top receivers.
Blake Bortles, QB, JaguarsBlake Bortles could be let go without Jacksonville receiving a cap hit, so there is a decent chance the team will do its best to upgrade at the position. Bortles showed us this season that he can be a good game manager, while letting the defense and running game do the heavy lifting, but with so much talent, it would behoove the Jaguars to upgrade at quarterback. There are plenty of names out there, but Kirk Cousins and Alex Smith would be upgrades and would be the least likely to faceplant with a new team.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, VikingsJerick McKinnon wants to pursue becoming a lead back, so that leaves Minnesota out of the picture with Dalvin Cook there. McKinnon has the ability to be a lead back, but he needs to find a spot quickly before he’s over the hill. I love his ability, but he’ll need to end up in a prime spot to be a top fantasy player.
Colts likely to hire Josh McDaniels as Head Coach It looks like Josh McDaniels will become the new head coach for the Colts at some point soon. He really is a great hire for the Colts, especially if Andrew Luck can return completely healthy. I would be all-in on the Indianapolis’ offensive starters if that ever comes to pass.
Jeremy Hill, RB, BengalsJeremy Hill looks like he won’t be retained by the Bengals, so he will likely end up signing with a team as a backup. His days as a fantasy asset are over.
Tyler Eifert, TE, BengalsTyler Eifert will be a free agent on March 14. His upside isn’t in doubt, as he’s shown that he is a force, especially in the red zone, but two back surgeries and a knee surgery will keep teams from going all-in on him. If he lands in a good spot, he could be worth a fantasy spot next season, but will likely be overvalued based on his upside rather than his inability to stay healthy.
Jan. 16 Updates
Allen Robinson, WR, JaguarsAllen Robinson believes he will be able to pass a physical before free agency begins in March. His upside in a non-Blake Bortles run offense could be great, so his landing spot this spring is going to be interesting to fantasy players. I’m hoping for Robinson to join the 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo, but of course he will end up going where the money is, which could be a wide variety of destinations.
DeMarco Murray, RB, TitansIf the Titans cut DeMarco Murray, his $6.5 million salary would be completely wiped from their books, and after a lackluster and injury plagued 2017, that will likely happen. He will land with another team, but at a greatly reduced salary and role.
Le’Veon Bell, RB, SteelersLe’Veon Bell has threated to retire if the Steelers place the franchise tag on him again this season, and the tag is exactly what will likely happen. It is worth $14.5 million, so that would be a good chunk to leave on the table for retirement, but it’s not completely out of the realm of possibilities.
Rex Burkhead, RB, PatriotsAccording to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Rex Burkhead is expected to play in the AFC Championship game in Foxborough. He would hurt James White’s upside, but I just don’t see Dion Lewis’ snaps being cut into after his recent play.
Zay Jones, WR, BillsZay Jones reportedly played through a torn labrum all season, which in many ways is a positive, as he caught just 36 percent of all his targets and was just awful for the majority of the season. This development gives us some hope for a turnaround when healthier next season.
Devonta Freeman, RB, FalconsDevonta Freeman says he played with sprains to both his MCL and PCL toward the end of the season. It seemed evident, especially in the Falcons’ playoff loss to the Eagles, when Tevin Coleman obviously outplayed Freeman. Freeman may need surgery, but will opt not to if it is something he can avoid. Either way, he should be ready to go for next season and will likely continue to be the lead back, but with Coleman cutting into his work.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ersJimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers believe a deal will get done, but if it can’t, then they could give him the franchise tag. Either way, Garoppolo will be a 49er next season. They’ll need to upgrade their receiving group, but will have Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin to build onto.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, CardinalsLarry Fitzgerald is noncommittal about playing next season, but there’s no doubt he still has the ability, after catching 109 passes in 2017. He also says that Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians retiring won’t impact his decision, but I think whomever the Cardinals hire as head coach will. I think the odds are good that Fitzgerald will return for another year though.
Alex Smith, QB, ChiefsIt is expected that Kansas City will move on from Alex Smith and move ahead with Patrick Mahomes. After Smith’s best season as a pro, many will find this a hard pill to swallow, but Smith isn’t going to improve on 2017, as I believe it will go down as his career best. Meanwhile, Mahomes has a better raw skill-set and a higher theoretical upside, which is probably needed if Kansas City wants to compete for a Super Bowl.
Brice Butler, WR, CowboysBrice Butler says he won’t re-sign with the Cowboys unless they promise him a starting job. It does make sense, as he’s shown his worth in limited playing time, while Terrance Williams and even Dez Bryant have underperformed. Butler is an intriguing name for fantasy players this offseason.
Jets RBsMatt Forte will likely be cut after an injury-plagued season. Bilal Powell is the best running back the Jets have at the moment, but they will likely look to get younger. I don’t think we can expect one back to dominate the backfield in 2018 unless the Jets end up grabbing someone in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, which I doubt will happen.
Sammy Watkins, WR, RamsThe Rams appear ready to franchise tag Sammy Watkins. Watkins didn’t see a big role in his first season with the Rams, but he was also brought in late and just wasn’t integrated into the offense fully. With Sean McVay and Jared Goff already off to a great start together, I expect Watkins to become a much larger part of the offense next season.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, DolphinsRyan Tannehill should be 100 percent for training camp after partially tearing his ACL early on this season. He may not be a Super Bowl quarterback, but he sure has been better for the Dolphins than Jay Cutler was. Tannehill will be their starting quarterback next season and should help their offensive players more than Cutler did in 2017.
Alex Collins, RB, RavensThe Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh won’t commit to Alex Collins as their lead back after a strong 2017. Harbaugh says they will look to “upgrade everything.” The Ravens also have Kenneth Dixon, Buck Allen and Danny Woodhead at the moment. It looks like this will be a messy situation for fantasy, but Collins did prove himself enough to be in the conversation for lead back.
Jan. 11 Updates
Antonio Brown, WR, SteelersAntonio Brown returned to practice on Monday and has been practicing in full all week. He says he will be ready to go Sunday against Jacksonville, and it appears that is the case. Brown had the best game of any wide receiver against the Jaguars this season, catching 10 passes for 157 yards against them in a Week 5 loss, but he also saw a whopping 19 targets as Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions. If Brown sees 19 targets again, the Steelers probably aren’t playing the game they planned on.
Jay Ajayi, RB, EaglesJay Ajayi was rested a little last week to give his chronic knee injury some rest. He is practicing in full this week and should be in line for the majority of the work in the backfield, as he’s slowly taken over the role. After watching Nick Foles flail around for the last couple games, the Eagles would probably be smart to force the run game against Atlanta, but the Falcons’ run defense is a good unit.
Rex Burkhead, RB, PatriotsRex Burkhead continues to practice this week, but he was seen with a noticeable limp by beat reporters. It is still too early to know what will happen with him, but if he can’t go, Dion Lewis and James White would see the bulk of the work and would both make viable fantasy targets against the Titans.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, VikingsKyle Rudolph played through a bad ankle the last month of the season, and it showed on the field. He now is back to practicing in full after the bye week and should be good to go against the Saints.
Artie Burns, CB, SteelersSteelers cornerback Artie Burns had to leave practice Wednesday with a knee injury. His absence would be a blow to the Steelers defense, but would be more concerning if they were to beat the Jaguars and play the Patriots next weekend, where they would need all the help they can get defending against Tom Brady.
Derrick Henry, RB, TitansDeMarco Murray is out again this week with a knee injury. That will give Derrick Henry another shot as the full-time back, which worked out pretty well for him against Kansas City last week. His lack of receptions will continue to hurt his upside, but he was used extensively last week, even with Kansas City getting out to a big lead. He could get shut down by the Patriots and game flow, but his pricing on DFS sites still makes him hard to pass up.
Jan. 5 Updates
Devonta Freeman, RB, FalconsDevonta Freeman got some rest for his knee this week in practice, but was a full-go on Thursday and isn’t on the injury report. His matchup is good against the Rams, who are better against the pass than the run, ranking third in DVOA against the pass and 22nd against the run. Statistically, they’ve allowed the fifth-most rushing yards, but have only allowed the 19th-most rushing attempts.
Marqise Lee, WR, JaguarsIan Rapoport says the team believes Marqise Lee will play against Buffalo. Lee, according to Rapoport, doesn’t have to practice to be able to go. If Lee does play, that will give us a bunch of Jaguars receivers – Lee, Allen Hurns, Dede Westbrook and Keenan Cole – to choose from for fantasy. Spreading those wide receiver targets out against the Bills makes choosing a Jaguars receiver virtually impossible, as the Bills have allowed just eight touchdowns to wide receivers all season, tied for second best with Jacksonville. Additionally, Jacksonville should attack the Bills at their weakest point, which is their run defense.
LeSean McCoy, RB, BillsLeSean McCoy didn’t practice again on Thursday, but coach Sean McDermott did say that McCoy was “headed in the right direction.” It’s likely a race against time that McCoy probably can’t win. He has played well with injuries in the past, but he himself didn’t sound overly optimistic. Unless he’s just unable to cut at all, I expect he’ll be active, but he could easily be a decoy or just see limited work.
DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, RBs, TitansDeMarco Murray has been ruled out against Kansas City. That pushes Derrick Henry up to the forefront again, and Kansas City has had trouble against the run, allowing the ninth-most rushing yards and sixth-most rushing touchdowns on the 12th-most rushing attempts. Where Kansas City has done well against running backs is through the air, allowing the fewest receptions, yards and touchdowns in the league, but Henry isn’t a receiving back, so his ability should mesh with this matchup. The trouble is if the Titans get down big and have to focus on passing, which will severely limit Henry’s touches.
Devin Funchess, WR, PanthersDevin Funchess didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday, but that is his routine now as he manages his shoulder injury. He will likely get work in on Friday and be ready to go for Sunday’s game in New Orleans.
Jan. 4 Updates
Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis, RBs, PatriotsRex Burkhead practiced on Wednesday, which puts him on track to play in the divisional round. His presence will likely hurt Dion Lewis’ overall numbers, but Lewis has proven himself enough to continue being the lead back.
Chris Hogan, WR, PatriotsChris Hogan hasn’t played in the last two weeks after having a setback when he returned from a 5-week absence against Miami in Week 14. But he has been getting practices in and the Patriots even named him one of their Practice Players of the Week. I’m assuming that is good news and by the time the Patriots play again, he should be ready to go.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, DolphinsDolphins coach Adam Gase said that he envisions Ryan Tannehill being their starting quarterback next season. That will push Jay Cutler to the side and likely back into retirement, because he is looking for a starting gig and no team is going to assure him of that. Tannehill has shown flashes, but usually reverts to mediocrity. I think Gase can get the most out of Tannehill, but he’s still going to be an iffy fantasy play.
Broncos QBsTrevor Siemian will have surgery on his left shoulder this week. He also had surgery on the same shoulder last offseason, but it’s not the same injury. Siemian was the best Broncos quarterback this season, but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. None of Siemian, Brock Osweiler or Paxton Lynch is a starting quarterback in the NFL, so John Elway will once again have to sign a proven player if he wants to keep his team in contention, which right now feels like Kirk Cousins would be the guy he will pursue. Cousins is not Peyton Manning, but he’s a good starting quarterback, and with the team Denver has, he would likely have success.
Carson Palmer, QB, CardinalsCarson Palmer has retired. He was the best quarterback on Arizona’s roster, but he also was in serious decline and his lack of mobility wasn’t going to get any better any time soon. With Bruce Arians also retiring, it sure would make sense to see Larry Fitzgerald follow suit, as this Cardinals team, even with David Johnson, is likely to be average at best until it finds a quarterback
DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, RBs, TitansDeMarco Murray didn’t practice on Tuesday, but that’s not really news, as his injury is of the multi-week variety and the Titans are likely just playing games by not ruling him out early. Derrick Henry will likely be the lead back against a Kansas City defense that isn’t that good, but does play better at home.
Antonio Brown, WR, SteelersMike Tomlin said Antonio Brown would be questionable if the Steelres played this weekend, but since they don’t, it looks like he will be ready to go the following week. It’s not a given, but so far, I think we’ll see Brown in the divisional round.
LeSean McCoy, RB, BillsAdam Schefter reported that LeSean McCoy will be a game-time decision against Jacksonville for the wild-card round. He likely won’t practice this week as he gets treatment, but the odds that he’ll be a full-go seem long. Without Shady at 100 percent, the Bills will be too one-dimensional to really have much of a chance against the Jaguars’ top pass defense.
Andrew Luck, QB, ColtsJim Irsay promised that Andrew Luck will return next season. He also said the same thing before this season, so I think we can take his word for what it’s worth: nothing. I hope Luck comes back, because the NFL needs all the good quarterbacks it can get. Watching Brett Hundley, Tom Savage, Blaine Gabbert, Brian Hoyer, Nathan Peterman, and all the other awful quarterbacks start games this season was not the way to keep people interested.
Frank Gore, RB, ColtsIrsay also mentioned that he would like to use a high draft pick on a running back. That shows that the the Colts will likely move on from Frank Gore and bring in a back who would move ahead of Marlon Mack quickly. Irsay very much wants that Peyton Manning/Edgerrin James type of a duo to showcase, and I can’t say I’m against it as a fantasy player. Gore is ageless, but he’s not able to take over games anymore and usually will only get what’s blocked for him.
Jan. 3 Update
NFL coaches are being hired, fired, retained and reexamined as we speak, and we all have our thoughts on if a coach should go or not. In fantasy, however, we are looking for offensive-minded coaches over defensive-minds, because we want lots of plays and lots of stats. So in real life, maybe keeping Marvin Lewis around is going to keep the Bengals from needing to rebuild and go through a 2-14 season, but it’s also not going to be a boon for their offensive players, as Lewis is not innovative and will keep the status quo.
The Bears let John Fox go, which is the best thing that could happen to the few Bears offensive players who have fantasy upside. The odds of getting an offensive dud like Fox to replace him are slim, because how can anyone be as bad as Fox? Well, Jeff Fisher is looking for a job, I suppose. If Chicago were to hire Fisher to replace Fox, well, if I were a Bears fan, I wouldn’t be anymore.
The Giants getting rid of Ben McAdoo is probably the best thing they could have done, but I did like the up-tempo offense from him for fantasy. He helped keep a declining Eli Manning from killing his receivers’ values due to the sheer volume of plays they ran each game. This team is in transition, but with Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram there, I hope the Giants get an offensive-minded coach and either keep the shell of Eli around or find an upgrade in free agency.
Jack Del Rio was let go so the Raiders could go after Jon Gruden, it seems. I have no love for either of these coaches for fantasy. Gruden in Tampa Bay never ranked higher than 14th overall in offensive yards and won with defense. Of course, his offensive personnel in Tampa Bay was poor, whereas he had better players in Oakland and Philadelphia, and during his tenure with both those, he had top-10 offenses in five out of seven seasons. If Gruden takes the job, I expect a better overall offense, especially with the personnel in Oakland/Las Vegas, but I’ll be interested more in who the franchise hires as offensive coordinator.
The Lions let Jim Caldwell go, which doesn’t make a ton of sense to me, but I could see a better offensive mind taking the job and running with it. Caldwell hasn’t had a running game – ever. As head coach of the Colts, offensive coordinator for the Ravens and the Lions’ head guy, he only had one season in which his offense ranked better than 26th in rushing yards. His passing offenses have been much better, but he did have Peyton Manning for his first two seasons in Indianapolis, and since then he’s had trouble with efficiency, ranking higher in pass attempts than total yards in every season except the last two, which I will give credit to Jim Bob Cooter. “JBC” helped Matthew Stafford rank 10th in attempts, but sixth in yards and fourth in touchdowns this season. Mr. Cooter is also interviewing for Caldwell’s job, and I’d be happy for Stafford and his receivers in fantasy if Detroit hired him.
The Browns are sticking with Hue Jackson, which is good and bad. They need some kind of continuity if they ever want to get out of the cellar, but Jackson was not accountable and threw his players, and anyone he could pull out of a crowd, under the bus. I have no idea what’s going to happen with the Browns, but Jackson didn’t handle DeShone Kizer’s poor play that well, and I believe that a quarterback is still their No. 1 priority. If they don’t hit on one this season, then we can just push them into the back of our fantasy thoughts, even with Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, Duke Johnson and David Njoku making up a strong group.
The Broncos got rid of offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, but kept Vance Joseph, which seems odd. Joseph looked over his head this season and had no answer for his poor quarterback play. Of course, many coaches have the same trouble, and I can understand keeping Joseph around and giving him a chance with a competent quarterback, but this team needs to win now with its receivers and defense getting oldish.
Chuck Pagano was given a lemon with Andrew Luck in no way living up to his last name, but Pagano also hasn’t shown any offensive innovation or an ability to delegate that to an offensive coordinator. If Luck does return healthy, he will need someone more capable of putting him in a position to use his ability for good instead of evil, i.e. not many fantasy points.
Bruce Arians has retired. His offenses were always efficient in the passing game, as he liked the deep ball and put his offenses together with that in mind. Injuries derailed the Cardinals in 2017 and have likely derailed them moving forward, as Carson Palmer is retiring and there isn’t a quarterback waiting in the wings. David Johnson will be a nice piece for whatever coach they bring in, but finding a competent quarterback will be more of a priority moving forward, and until they do, their offense will struggle.
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More 2015 Fantasy Football Articles:
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2015 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2015 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/10 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/10 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/10 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/10 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Flex Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/27 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/14 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/14 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 9/10 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/3 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/20 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/13 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Experts Draft - 8/11 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/7 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/6 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 7/31 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 7/23 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft (2-QB) - 7/15 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Mock Draft (PPR) - 7/6 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2015 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/10 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/10 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/10 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/10 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/10 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/10 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Top 200 Rankings - 9/4 (Chet)
Chet Gresham's 2015 Fantasy Football Positional Cheat Sheet - 9/4 (Chet)
Chet Gresham's 2015 Fantasy Football Overall Cheat Sheet - 9/4 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Articles:
2015 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/10 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchup Chart: Week 1 - 9/9 (Chet)
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchup Chart: Week 1 - 9/8 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/8 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchup Chart: Week 1 - 9/7 (Chet)
Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchup Chart: Week 1 - 9/6 (Chet)
2015 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/4 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/4 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 9/4 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/4 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Goal-Line Running Backs - 9/3 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football News - 9/1 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football: Better Than ADP - 8/31 (Chet)
Daily Fantasy Football: Running Backs - 8/27 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football: Late-Round Running Back Fliers - 8/24 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Fallout: Jordy Nelson Injury - 8/24 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Players to Target - 8/22 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 8/22 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/20 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football: The Perfect Draft - 8/20 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid: LeSean McCoy - 8/18 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Values: Wide Receivers - 8/14 (Chet)
Daily Fantasy Football: Wide Receivers - 7/29 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Value Profile: Brian Quick - 7/22 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football Value Profile: Eli Manning - 7/17 (Walt)
Daily Fantasy Football: A Primer - 7/10 (Chet)
2015 Fantasy Football Value Profile: Jarvis Landry - 7/7 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Offseason Stock Report: Up - 5/15 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Offseason Stock Report: Down - 5/15 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/17 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/15 (Walt)
2015 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/15 (Walt)
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