2019 Fantasy Football: Notes

2019 Fantasy Football - Choose Article Fantasy Football Rankings ---------------------- Fantasy Rankings --------------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/26 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/17 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/4 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/17 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/17 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/29 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/12 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 5/11 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 5/11 2019 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/27 --------------- Fantasy Football Mock Drafts --------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/29 2019 Fantasy Football Real Draft - 8/28 2019 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/22 2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/15 2019 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/8 2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/1 2019 Fantasy Football Experts Draft - 6/23 2019 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft --------------- Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets --------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Half-PPR - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown-Only - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/4 --------------- Fantasy Football Articles --------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp, OTAs - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/1 2019 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/30 2019 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/30 2019 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/27 2019 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Values - 8/20 2019 Fantasy Football: Running Back Values - 8/13 2019 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Values - 8/8 2019 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/7

By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Updated July 23, 2019.

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.

July 17 Updates

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
Elliott is considering a hold-out this training camp if he can’t get a new contract. For Elliott, reality isn’t on his side, as he’ll need to show up by August 6th if he wants to accrue a full season, giving him four accrued seasons and unrestricted free agency in 2020. If this were 2019, he would be much more likely to hold out for his contract season. This is most-likely a warning shot across the bow to get Jerry Jones’ bank account loosened up. If Elliott does hold out past August 6th, all bets are off.

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins
Guice suffered a hamstring injury and could be shelved for the start of training camp, but he downplayed the injury, saying that there is no reason for concern. His actual injury happened weeks ago, so there is a chance he’s ready to go for the start of training camp. If he is a full-go day one, there’s really is no reason for concern, but it is worth keeping an eye on, as Adrian Peterson gets a big boost if Guice has trouble staying on the field.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
Fitzgerald has been impressed with Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive pace and says the team keeps getting faster and faster with each practice. There will no doubt be a learning curve with the offense, but Kingsbury is going to give his players plenty of chances to put up fantasy numbers no matter the score. The pace will cut through that curve when it comes to fantasy points, so don’t worry too much about Arizona’s offensive starters this year.

Phillip Lindsay, RB, Broncos
Lindsay said he will be 100 percent for training camp. That’s great news, but there are rumblings that Royce Freeman is going to get more work this season. The Denver Post believes that Freeman and Lindsay may form a true committee this season, which would boost Freeman, but hurt Lindsay. Their play on the field will of course dictate what happens, but Freeman has been healthy this offseason while Lindsay has been out, and they have a new coaching staff to impress. I love Lindsay’s ability, but Freeman isn’t going away. The good news is that Denver will look to run the ball a lot this year and both will likely have value; how much value is the question.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos
Sanders says that he’s “definitely not going to be full-go from the jump.” In the past, he has said Week 1 is what he’s aiming for, so there hasn’t been any big change in his timetable from Achilles surgery yet. He has looked good in videos of him training, but NFL game speed versus training are monumentally different. Courtland Sutton continues to look like the No. 1 in Denver, at least for the start of the season.



Rob Gronkowski, TE, Retired
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, a source close to Gronkowski puts his return at around 40 percent. Who knows if that is anywhere near reality, but Gronkowski retired because his back hurt and if it’s feeling good now and he can skip training camp, I could easily see him come back at some point. He has lost weight, but he’s still in great shape from the looks of it and practiced with Tom Brady the other day. He can add weight and muscle at the drop of a hat at this point in his life, so I’m not too worried about that. Grabbing him late in your drafts sounds like enough upside to warrant the pick, but we could see him return mid-season if he does, which would likely push us to drop him to pick up an active player before we can start him. It’s a crapshoot, but he’s too good and the Patriots are too thin at receiver to not take a chance.

Delanie Walker, TE, Titans
The Titans’ website says that Walker will be ready for Week 1 even if Walker starts training camp on the PUP list. There doesn’t seem to be any rush to get Walker on the field, as his veteran status shrinks his turnaround time.

Jonnu Smith, TE, Titans
Smith has yet to practice this offseason after tearing his MCL last season. The Titans’ website says that he’s questionable for Week 1. This news is a little odd compared to other MCL tear recoveries, but as long as Delanie Walker can get ready for Week 1, the team won’t rush Smith.

Boston Scott, RB, Eagles
Boston Scott is a player many have been high on as a possible sleeper in the past, but he’s yet to win a significant role on a team. He’s currently getting some praise by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro, who believes he’s ahead of Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams on the depth chart and could win the last spot in the running backs room. If that does happen, he’ll likely remain behind Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders and Corey Clement, but this backfield uses multiple backs and a single injury could get that fourth running back on the field. He’s worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues, especially behind a strong offensive line and an overall good offense.



July 11 Updates

Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers
Much like Le’Veon Bell’s demands last season, Gordon is seeking a new contract that will pay him his worth before he goes into the final year of his rookie deal. The demand makes sense, as running backs have a short shelf life and their worth is often given to them only if they can sustain production longer than the average running back, but the Chargers also don’t have much incentive to pay Gordon. They have two capable backs in Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler behind Gordon and could run with them instead of caving to Gordon’s demands. Gordon’s agent says that his client will sit out into the regular season, so this is a situation to monitor closely for Gordon’s fantasy value this year. I expect they get a deal done because that’s just more likely than Gordon sitting out, but there is plenty of reason to be wary.

Duke Johnson, RB, Browns
Last season, Johnson barely saw the ball, averaging under six touches a game, and then his team signed Kareem Hunt after he was released by Kansas City. That pushed Johnson to request a trade, but the Browns did not comply. He then let his agent go and has since signed on with Rosenhaus Sports. The reason that is somewhat significant is that Drew Rosenhaus has dealt with the Browns in the past and successfully so. Johnson’s new representation might not move the needle on getting him out of Cleveland, but it’s likely his best shot and he needs a fresh start elsewhere, especially if he is to have any fantasy value this season.

Damien Williams, RB, Chiefs
Kansas City coach Andy Reid said that Williams will be the starter this season. Of course, Williams starting appears to have always been the plan, but reinforcing the fact is good for fantasy footballers heading into their drafts. The main competition for Williams will be Carlos Hyde, who has some upside and would step in if Williams goes down but isn’t a player you can count on to usurp Williams. In Kansas City’s offense, Williams has a high ceiling, especially in PPR leagues.

Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders and Corey Clement, RBs, Eagles
The Philly Voice believes Howard will start the season as the “meat and potatoes” guy, meaning he’ll be the early-down/short-yardage back while Clement will handle receiving duties. Rookie Sanders was expected to be a bigger part of the offense, but at least for the moment, he appears to be behind the eight ball after missing much of offseason work due to a hamstring injury and needing to improve as a pass blocker. There is still time for Sanders to make a push in training camp, but I don’t think we can count on him getting the majority of the running back touches early in the season. It is a situation to avoid.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers
San Francisco quarterback Garoppolo believes he will be a full-go for training camp, as he has no restrictions and won’t start camp on the PUP list. That’s great news for a 49ers offense that could shine under Kyle Shanahan and Garoppolo, taking players like George Kittle, Tevin Coleman and Dante Pettis with them.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
Broncos beat reporter Mike Kilis believes Sutton has a chance to be the No. 1 receiver this season. Sutton has been practicing with new quarterback Joe Flacco and is the healthiest of the receivers on the team with Emmanuel Sanders still recovering from Achilles surgery. The Broncos also didn’t add any receivers this offseason to compete, which makes Sutton the No. 1 right now with plenty of room to keep that job. His upside isn’t great in Denver’s offense, but if he can lead the team in receiving, he’ll have fantasy value.

Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets
The Jets’ new slot receiver has been “impressive” this offseason, according to the New York Post. Crowder is a good receiver who hasn’t had the best quarterbacks throwing to him in his career and could be a big part of the Jets’ offense if Sam Darnold breaks out this year. However, he will still lag behind Le’Veon Bell and Robby Anderson, who look to be the go-to players in New York.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Retired
Gronkowski spent some time in a private workout with Tom Brady the other day. Other ex-teammates have worked out with Brady in the past, so this isn’t huge news, but Gronkowski is still young enough that if he is feeling good after missing the rigors of training camp, he could easily find his way back onto the field. In deep leagues, I see no reason not to throw him on your bench.

Jack Doyle, TE, Colts
Doyle isn’t rushing his recovery from kidney surgery, which puts his time table for a return more toward Week 1 than training camp. The Colts are stacked at tight end, and Andrew Luck loves targeting them in the end zone, so Doyle’s availability is something to keep a close eye on for both Eric Ebron and Mo Alie-Cox.

Delanie Walker, TE, Titans
Walker doesn’t know if he’ll open training camp on the PUP list or not as he recovers from a broken ankle. He has plenty of leeway due to his veteran status, so he will likely take as long as he needs. Landing on the PUP list doesn’t mean much until a player has been out longer than expected since a player can be taken off the list at any time. This is a situation to monitor closely, as Jonnu Smith would get a bump if Walker isn’t ready, but there is still plenty of time for him to get on the field.





July 2 Updates

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott will meet with Rodger Goodell in New York on Tuesday to discuss an incident at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas last May. Elliott wasn’t detained, but there is footage that shows a small altercation with a security guard. This probably wouldn’t be much more than a “talking to” if Elliott hadn’t already faced discipline for another incident. There is a chance the NFL sends him a message to stay in line with a one- or two-game suspension.

Kareem Hunt, RB, Browns
Kareem Hunt was questioned by police outside a downtown Cleveland bar Sunday night. Rumors were flying about him getting into an altercation, but it appears there’s not much of a story here. Getting seen outside a bar talking to police appears to be the impetus for the rumors. Hunt is already serving an eight-game suspension and will be sharing work with Nick Chubb when he returns. Hunt’s upside during those last seven games isn’t going to be that high as it is, but I don’t see any reason to lower him in your rankings unless more comes out implicating Hunt in something nefarious.

James Conner, RB, Steelers
Speaking on NFL Network, James Conner said that he thinks he will have a similar role to 2018. In a quote a few weeks ago, Conner mentioned splitting time with other backs, but Conner also mentioned in this NFL Network interview that he is only speculating on his role. Conner isn’t as reliable a source as you would expect, so I’m not going to worry too much about his status as a top running back in fantasy this season. Jaylen Samuels will likely get more work behind Conner than he did last season, but the Steelers are also without Antonio Brown, so Samuels could see extra work as a receiver too. We can’t be certain that Conner will have the huge workload he had before his injury last season, but I feel certain that he is the lead back and if he can stay healthy, he will be near being a top-5 back.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos
Emmanuel Sanders continues to target Week 1 of the season as a realistic goal after tearing his Achilles last season. There is still no concrete timetable for his return, so we can’t be overly optimistic when drafting him in fantasy. Achilles injuries are one of the toughest to come back from at full speed. If Sanders is out or not the same player he was pre-injury, Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton would see the biggest bumps in opportunity.

LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, and Devin Singletary, RBs, Bills
ESPN Buffalo Bills beat writer Mike Rodak reports that Frank Gore and Devin Singletary received first-team snaps along with LeSean McCoy. McCoy is on the decline, so there is a decent chance we see a battle for snaps at running back this season. McCoy has the starting job, but he’ll need to play well to keep the majority of the touches. This situation is one to avoid in fantasy.

Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones, RBs, Buccaneers
Greg Auman of the Athletic believes that Peyton Barber will finish with more yards than Ronald Jones. There’s been considerable hype around Jones this offseason, but Auman, who is a longtime Bucs beat writer, isn’t biting. The situation is likely one to avoid, but Jones was a second-round pick last season and will get his chances. Neither is a great receiver though, which is something Bruce Arians will farm out to Andre Ellington or Bruce Anderson. For fantasy, I’d probably go with the rookie Anderson in PPR as a late flier and then call it a day.

Donte Moncrief, WR, Steelers
Wide receivers coach Daryl Drake, when talking about Donte Moncrief, says, “He’s been able to distinguish the differences and go out there and do things that makes my job a lot easier because he has a feel for the position.” All of the reporting about Moncrief as a Steeler has been positive and despite his journeyman status, he’s played with some bad quarterbacks and offenses and appears to be poised to take over the No. 2 job in Pittsburgh. He’s very much worth a flier in most leagues.



Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals
Tyler Eifert received some work in OTAs and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan says he’s “trending in the right direction.” This season, he will be used more as a route runner than blocker, which could help him avoid injuries and the offense could see a boost from coach Zac Taylor, so if you’ve got the gumption to give Eifert yet another chance, it seems like you have some reason for hope.

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
Beat reporter Vic Carucci believes Cole Beasley will lead the Bills in receptions due to offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s propensity for short passing. John Brown and Robert Foster look to be the play-makers, but Beasley could be set up for decent PPR value if Carucci is correct.

June 27 Updates

Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans
Titans GM Jon Robinson wants Marcus Mariota to avoid unnecessary hits, which makes perfect sense, as Mariota has been out or hurting in way too many games in his career. Mariota has added some weight this offseason to combat injuries, but the more important aspect will be to throw the ball away earlier and not take off running. I’m all for that, as Mariota hasn’t been worth much in fantasy due to injuries, but it will also cap his upside in a big way. He will need to put up good numbers as a passer to push himself back into the fantasy equation.

Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon, RBs, 49ers
49ers beat writer Matt Maiocco believes Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon or Matt Breida will be a healthy scratch in the regular season. With fullback Kyle Juszczyk and special teamer Raheem Mostert likely exempt from sitting, we will see a strong offensive player sit each week. That’s good for fantasy because it narrows things down a bit, but at the moment, it also makes thing very tough to decipher. Coleman is a favorite of Kyle Shanahan, and the 49ers just signed him in free agency, so I expect he has an exemption. That puts McKinnon and Breida fighting for the No. 2 spot. Training camp and any injuries will likely give us a better idea of how to deal with the situation. If I’m drafting today, I’ll lean toward Coleman and Breida.

Josh Oliver, TE, Jaguars
Rookie tight end Josh Oliver has developed a “good rapport” according to the team’s website. He has also gotten praise for his work this offseason. He’s thankfully not going to be a hot commodity in fantasy no matter the hype he gets, so taking a flier on him late in drafts as a backup isn’t totally out of the question. Right now, there aren’t many Jaguars receivers poised to take over the bulk of targets, and Oliver could be set up for a decent rookie season if he can continue to lead the way at tight end.

Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews, TEs, Ravens
Hayden Hurst is considered questionable for training camp due to his hamstring injury. He also added 20 pounds of muscle to help him stay healthy. That hasn’t worked, as you can see. In the end, this is a boon for Mark Andrews, who was Lamar Jackson’s favorite tight end last season. Andrews already has the upper hand despite draft position, and Hurst’s absence from practices only boosts Andrews up even more. He’s my tight end to draft from Baltimore by a mile and has a good chance of cracking the top-12 fantasy tight ends this season.

Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys
Amari Cooper has his eyes set on 2,000 receiving yards this season, as he should. Of course, the odds of him accomplishing that number are astronomical with Ezekiel Elliott in the mix and Dallas sporting a decent defense, but as the No. 1 target on a team that could see some offensive help from Kellen Moore as the new coordinator, I’m not going to poo poo Cooper’s shot at leading the league in receiving yards.

D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seahawks
D.K. Metcalf has been thoroughly panned for his ability as a route runner, but nobody can knock his intangibles as an athletic freak, so when Russell Wilson says that he is encouraged by how quickly Metcalf has picked up the offense, that’s good news. Wilson says, “He’s really intelligent. He really understands the game really well. He takes coaching really well. He gets extra work. He’s a legit pro wide receiver.” Besides the overuse of the word “really,” I like what Wilson is dishing out about Metcalf.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs
Tyreek Hill will meet with the NFL this week, and we could get a verdict on his suspension sooner than we thought. The consensus seems to be a 6-to-8-week suspension at this point, but there’s absolutely no way of knowing for sure. But I do feel fairly confident that Hill will miss a big chunk of the season, elevating Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Damien Williams for fantasy.

June 21 Updates

Matt Stafford, QB, Lions
Last season, Matt Stafford played through broken bones in his back in Week 13, which coincided with a big drop in production. This is good news for the Lions’ offense, as they looked awful to finish last season, but probably doesn’t change Stafford’s low projections in a run-first offense. He isn’t worth drafting for 2019 unless you are in a 2-QB league.

Dante Pettis, WR, 49ers
Matt Barrows of the Athletic believes that Dante Pettis is the clear No. 1 receiver in San Francisco. The No. 1 receiver in a Kyle Shanahan offense is usually a strong fantasy player, and despite George Kittle’s obvious chunk of targets, Pettis is being drafted too late for his role.

Josh Gordon, WR, Patriots
Tom Brady posted photos of Josh Gordon and him practicing, and Brady isn’t someone who does things willy-nilly. He’s likely trying to create some buzz to get Gordon reinstated and might have some information that there is a chance that could happen at some point this season. Of course, that is all speculation and you in no way want to rely on Gordon in your fantasy leagues, but grabbing him late in you drafts isn’t going to hurt you that much and he’s droppable for the top waiver-wire claim in Week 1 if the news isn’t good.

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers
Beat writer Matt Barrows projects Deebo Samuel as the 49ers’ No. 2 receiver, with Dante Pettis being No. 1. George Kittle will likely be No. 1 or 2 in targets, so Samuel will sit at No. 3, but in a Kyle Shanahan offense, there should be opportunity to put up numbers as long as you are on the field. Samuel’s stock is looking up.

Donte Moncrief, WR, Steelers
Beat writer Mark Kaboly writes that Donte Moncrief “looks like the slam-dunk No. 2 receiver.” I have to say, I’m not always 100 percent on board with Kaboly, but he is at the open practices and the situation is wide open for anyone to take advantage. Moncrief has the experience and has been a strong red-zone receiver in the past. For now, I’m moving Moncrief ahead of James Washington, but Vance McDonald will likely be a big factor if he can stay healthy and we could see targets fairly spread out after JuJu Smith-Schuster.

James Conner, RB, Steelers
James Conner said recently that he and Jaylen Samuels would split work in the backfield this season. The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly believes that may be the plan at the moment, but when it comes down to it, Conner will remain the lead back. With Antonio Brown gone and no sure-fire No. 2 receiver, the Steelers will likely run the ball a bit more and want to use Samuels, who is a good receiver and runner, but that doesn’t mean Conner ends up splitting work in the backfield. Maybe those who are really high on Conner might want to lower expectations a bit, but he’s going to get his as long as he’s healthy.

Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears
Tarik Cohen, a speedy receiving back, believes his role won’t change with the addition of David Montgomery this season. I expect that will be true, as he’ll still be a receiving back and will see some carries behind Montgomery, but Cohen will also have trouble getting the touches he had last season, as Montgomery is a good receiver unlike Jordan Howard and Mike Davis will also see some relief work. Cohen’s career could easily follow a Darren Sproles model, which will have spurts of big games, but never the consistency of a lead back.

Corey Coleman, WR, Giants
Right now, the Giants are set with their No. 1 and 2 receivers with Sterling Sharp and Golden Tate, but their No. 3 receiver job is still up for grabs. Corey Coleman is in the lead currently and will likely keep the job unless he misses time with an injury. Unfortunately, the Giants’ offense will lean on the run and Coleman will be fifth on the target depth chart even if he’s a starter. He’ll only be useful in the deepest of leagues as a starter.

Chase Edmonds, RB, Cardinals
New head coach Kliff Kingsbury has liked what he’s seen from Chase Edmonds, saying, “He’s a really good player. I’ve been surprised at his ability as a pass catcher.” Of course, Edmonds isn’t going to see enough work to put up consistent numbers behind David Johnson, but whoever backs Johnson up will need to be able to work well with the passing game and it looks like Edmonds is on track. Edmonds has also shown ability in his few touches and could be one of the better handcuffs this season.

June 18 Updates

Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
Todd Gurley’s trainer told CBS Sports, “Everybody knew when Todd came out of Georgia that there would be some kind of arthritic component to his knee.” The trainer went on to say that now that they are at the 5-year mark, they are managing that arthritis, which is what we’ve been gathering for months now. The only thing new here is someone in the know actually using the term arthritis. This news shouldn’t change the fact that Gurley will play this year but will also be limited to save his knee for a full season and possible playoff run. Grabbing Gurley in the second round remains a risky proposition but with plenty of upside.

Ronald Jones, RB, Buccaneers
So far so good for Ronald Jones this offseason. After an awful rookie campaign, the Bucs are saying all the right things about Jones and making it seem likely that he’ll earn the starting job. Bucs GM Jason Lichet and quarterback Jameis Winston have had nothing but good things to say about Jones’ preparedness and ability this offseason. Tampa Bay didn’t draft or add an early-down threat to the roster, and Jones was a second-round pick last season, so he will likely get plenty of chances to show his ability this year.

Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
Baltimore loves taking tight ends in the draft, but they haven’t panned out as yet, although Mark Andrews did have a nice connection with Lamar Jackson last season, catching 34 passes for 552 yards and three touchdowns. Hayden Hurst was drafted before Andrews in the 2018 NFL Draft, but Andrews ended up beating Hurst out by a hair and now Hurst has bulked up and is already hurting. There’s no way we can trust Andrews as a top-12 tight end, but I do expect him to lead the Ravens’ tight ends in fantasy points this season. He should have worth in 2-TE leagues.

Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles rookie running back Miles Sanders hasn’t participated in OTAs yet, but they are being cautious with his hamstring injury and expect him to be a full-go in training camp. Running backs coach Duce Staley does believe the missed time has hurt Sanders in preparing for this coming season. Sanders will need to stay healthy and work his way up the depth chart in training camp, but he has the ability to do so.

N’Keal Harry, WR, Patriots
Beat writer Ben Volin of the Boston Globe says that N’Keal Harry “didn’t have the best minicamp,” and that he struggled to get open against Stephon Gilmore and made mental mistakes. He’s of course a rookie and this is the offseason, so there will be a learning curve and the Patriots seem ready to give him the No. 2 job, as he’s facing the likes of Gilmore in practice, which will only help him. The opportunity should be there, but don’t expect Harry to dominate right out of the gate.

Trent Taylor, WR, 49ers
In the battle for the starting slot role, it appears that Trent Taylor is now firmly ahead of Richie James. Taylor should be fully healthy now after coming off back surgery last season and has looked good under wide receivers coach Wes Welker. The 49ers have plenty of weapons catching the ball, so Taylor will have trouble putting up consistent fantasy numbers.

Randall Cobb, WR, Cowboys
According to beat writer Clarence Hill, Randall Cobb and Dak Prescott have formed a “fast connection.” That’s good news, but there are still plenty of questions about Cobb’s fantasy value for this coming season. His injury history has been piling up, and there may not be much room for fantasy value after Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott. If Kellen Moore’s offense can get a foothold, I do think other Dallas players could emerge as helpful fantasy fodder, but that’s probably asking a bit too much.

Sam Darnold, QB, Jets
Connor Hughes of the Athletic, writes that the Jets’ pace on offense is “significantly higher” than it has been in previous seasons and that Sam Darnold is getting to use his athleticism with read options. With the addition of Le’Veon Bell, this offense should be able to move the chains and keep defenses on their heels, which would push the offensive snaps and fantasy numbers up across the board. It remains to be seen of course, but the pieces are there to make this offense useful for fantasy unlike the black hole it has been.

Byron Pringle, WR, Chiefs
Beat writer Adam Teicher writes that Byron Pringle has been the surprise offseason standout for Kansas City. The season before, Pringle looked good but was injured before he had a chance to make the team. If he’s fully back, which it appears he is, he has upside in this offense, as he has good speed and can handle deep targets. The length of Tyreek Hill’s suspension will give us an idea how much we should invest in these young Kansas City receivers, but if Pringle is out there in your dynasty league, give him a shot.

Chris Herndon, TE, Jets
Chris Herndon pleaded guilty to DWI back in January. He will likely serve a one- or two-game suspension, but his status as a fantasy starter is still firm. Last season, he showed a strong rapport with Sam Darnold, and the offense as a whole should be on the way up.

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars
Leonard Fournette has been a useful receiving threat so far in his career, but he also hasn’t seen the work of the top backs in the league. Now Fournette believes he will be a “big part” of the passing game and joked that he had 1,000 receiving yards during minicamp, and Nick Foles says that Fournette is “a threat” as a receiver. I doubt Fournette will challenge the top receiving backs, but since he has already shown ability as a receiver, we shouldn’t overlook that part of his game in fantasy.

June 11 Updates

Albert Wilson, WR, Dolphins
Albert Wilson says that he is on track for Week 1. He went on to say that he’s 100 percent and ready to go whenever he is given the ok. Wilson is a player who could break out with extra work, as he put up great per-touch numbers last season, but even with his vote of confidence, we can’t count on him until he has been cleared.

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
There had been some worry toward the end of last season that Cam Newton’s shoulder could pose a problem for him playing this year, but he’s now been cleared to throw at minicamp. There’s legitimate reason to worry about a reinjury, but it is great news that he’ll throw this offseason. He will be a full-go for training camp and to start the season and remains a high-upside fantasy quarterback who could be had at value due to injury concerns.

Bilal Powell, RB, Jets
Bilal Powell often showed that he could be a fantasy asset, but it never came together. After a bad neck injury last season, his career looked like it could be over, but he has been cleared again to play. Unfortunately, he signed back with the Jets, who have Le’Veon Bell as their workhorse then Elijah McGuire, Ty Montgomery and Trenton Cannon. If Powell still has some juice left at 31, he should be able to latch on with a team, but it might not be with the Jets.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos
Emmanuel Sanders appears to be doing well in his comeback from an Achilles injury, as he was making cuts and running routes on a video he posted to Instagram. The trouble with Achilles tears is that they oftentimes sap your speed. But others have returned from the injury and played well, so it isn’t out of the question that he’s ready to go Week 1 and will put up good fantasy numbers. I’d rather play it safe and pass on him this season.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs
The police probe into Tyreek Hill for alleged child abuse is no longer active, according to the Kansas City Star. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero believes that Hill will return to the team before training camp unless new information surfaces. The lack of police charges won’t stop Hill from being suspended by the NFL though. His history as an abuser coupled with tape of him threatening his girlfriend should warrant a long suspension, but we probably won’t know what that is for months. I wouldn’t be surprised by as low as a four-game suspension, but I do expect something more in the range of eight games with a chance for more.

Sony Michel, RB, Patriots
Sony Michel hasn’t practiced since May 20th, and there hasn’t been any reason given. He missed games last season with knee trouble, so speculation leans toward that being the problem. Rookie Damien Harris would be next in line for early-down work, but it is still early. If he can get back and look strong in training camp, Michel should continue to hold his spot on the team and fantasy upside on a team that will run the ball a lot this season. Harris’ ADP will rise, but he will be worth grabbing this season.

DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
Beat reporter Barry Jackson reports that DeVante Parker “has been the best player in camp the past five weeks.” Jackson isn’t someone to write something just for the hell of it, so I believe him. Unfortunately, Parker has teased us way too often without pads on and then done nothing. There is talent there, but Parker just can’t seem to string together complete games. Don’t buy the hype.

Phillip Lindsay, RB, Broncos
Phillip Lindsay has returned to limited reps at minicamp and will be a full-go in training camp. Coach Vic Fangio said, “He could go out there and do everything, but they just want to use this time and the next five weeks to make sure he’s ready to go.” As far as players coming off injuries go, Lindsay looks to be in a good position. It also helps that the speedster hurt his wrist instead of his leg. It’s not always easy to be on someone like Lindsay long term, but all signs point to him being the lead back once again and he showed he has the stuff last season.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Packers
The Packers are set with their No. 1 receiver, but after him, there is room for receivers to step up after Randall Cobb departed to Dallas. Geronimo Allison tentatively has a spot and has been lining up in the slot often this offseason. After Allison, it looks like Marquez Valdes-Scantling is currently the favorite, especially with Aaron Rodgers talking him up and his production last year. Rodgers gave him some love when he said that Valdes-Scantling has “really stepped up as a guy who can be an every-down player.” Green Bay will likely run the ball a little more this season, but I expect Rodgers’ attempts to be more fruitful than they’ve been of late, so keep Valdes-Scantling on your radar.

Christian Kirk, WR, Cardinals
Albert Breer reports that Christian Kirk has been Arizona’s best receiver this offseason. That doesn’t seem like a stretch after he looked like their best receiver last season also. Larry Fitzgerald is still a good receiver, but he’s lost his explosiveness and Kirk is poised for a big jump with what should be a more prolific offense this season.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
Dallas Goedert looked good last season in his limited work behind Zach Ertz, and now tight ends coach Justin Peelle says that Goedert’s development has been “phenomenal.” Beat writers have echoed that sentiment this offseason as well, and maybe Goedert will force his way onto the field more this coming season. He likely won’t hold any standalone value with Zach Ertz healthy, but it won’t take much for Goedert to have useful fantasy games if he can get consistent targets.

June 4 Updates

Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer says the offense will remain run-heavy this season. Last year, Seattle’s running backs ran the ball 451 times, while the Patriots were second with 389 running back carries. The Seahawks were the only team to run more than throw, and that could happen again this season. It is bad news for Russell Wilson and his receivers, but thankfully, he is so good that on fewer attempts than most quarterbacks, he still can put up meaningful statistics. Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny are the top-two backs, and both will get plenty of work, with Carson leading the way.

N’Keal Harry, WR, Patriots
Patriots beat writer Jeff Howe reported that N’Keal Harry is getting a lot of work with the starters, which isn’t usually the case with rookies in the offseason program. The Patriots haven’t been great at drafting wide receivers, but that’s also why they don’t do it that often. Harry is someone who should be a good NFL player, plus there isn’t much competition for targets right now in New England. Harry is easily the best fantasy rookie wide receiver starting this season.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Free Agent
The Patriots released Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapopport says that Seferian-Jenkins is taking a month off for personal reasons. Seferian-Jenkins has had trouble with the league due to substance abuse in the past, so this could be what pushed the Patriots to let him go. With Ben Watson getting a four-game suspension to start the season, Matt LaCosse is currently in the lead for starting duties Week 1. The Patriots will run their offense without throwing to the tight end, so we could see them just punt the position, but they could also go after someone like Kyle Rudolph. I expect them to play it cool though and go with the tight ends they have.

Jaron Brown, WR, Seahawks
Jaron Brown is working with the first team in OTAs, and coach Pete Carroll said earlier that Brown could see a larger role this season. Now, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer says that Brown has had an unbelievable offseason. The depth chart in Seattle is Tyler Lockett and then whoever can win the snaps. Of course, D.K. Metcalf is the favorite for the No. 2 work, but Brown could beat out Gary Jennings for the No. 3 role. In a run-first offense, No. 3 on the depth chart isn’t great, but Russell Wilson makes each throw count and Brown has proven to be a good touchdown threat. If he can start, Brown will have games where he’s fantasy worthy.

Andrew Luck, QB, Colts
Andrew Luck has been dealing with a strained calf, which has kept him out of offseason work so far. Beat writer Zak Keefer did confirm that Luck could participate in next week’s minicamp, so the strain doesn’t seem to be severe in any way. He’ll be ready for training camp for sure, and since this isn’t a problem with his throwing shoulder, I have no worries about him putting up good numbers from Day 1.

Jordan Taylor, WR, Vikings
The Vikings don’t have much depth at wide receiver after Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, so Jordan Taylor has taken the No. 3 role so far this offseason. It isn’t a lucrative fantasy role by any means, but it is always good to keep an eye on the depth behind stud fantasy players.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Redskins
Adrian Peterson wants to turn the clock back to 2012 and says his goal is to run for 2,000 yards. At 34 years old and coming off a strong season in which he stayed healthy and ran for “just” 1,042 yards, he won’t get anywhere close to 2,000 even if he were the starter each week. But the real trouble will be Derrius Guice, who has had a slow recovery to his ACL injury, but should be ready for training camp. Peterson could still have value this season if Guice isn’t completely back, but unless Guice has a big setback, he is who Washington wants leading the way.

Scott Miller, WR, Buccaneers
Sixth-round rookie receiver Scott Miller has impressed this offseason and is in the mix to replace Adam Humphries. At 5-foot-9, 174 pounds with a 4.36-second 40, he’s on the diminutive side but has the speed to compete. Of course, these practices are built for speedsters since there aren’t pads or tackling, but Bruce Arians likes small and quick receivers, so Miller is someone to keep tabs on this offseason.

Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks
Penny continues to get rave reviews from coaches for his conditioning and maturity coming into this season. The praise is mostly lip service as usual, but Chris Carson is recovering from knee surgery and Penny showed good signs toward the end of last season. With the Seahawks likely running the ball a bunch once again this year, Carson and Penny could both have standalone value in fantasy with nobody poised to take away work from the two.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos
Sanders is coming off an Achilles injury, which has taken players out of the NFL in the past. He hopes to return for training camp, but he could still be working his way back by Week 1 of the 2019 season. We’ll need to see him at full speed before putting much faith in him for this season, so be wary in drafts while looking toward Courtland Sutton.

Duke Johnson, RB, Browns
Once again, Duke Johnson let it be known that he wants to be traded, but he did report to mandatory minicamp. Coach Freddy Kitchens responded to that by saying he’d like to win the lottery, but we can’t always get what we want. Of course, Kitchens did win the lottery by somehow getting the head coaching job for a team stacked with talent and on the rise after being the running backs coach. Johnson has a legitimate beef after Cleveland put him on the trade block and grabbed Kareem Hunt, who was dropped by Kansas City for beating a woman. Johnson has always been a rock for this offense and deserves some slack.

June 4 Updates

Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
Each new news offering for Todd Gurley only seems to reinforce the narrative that he has degenerative arthritis in his knee. The latest is that he will not participate in OTAs and won’t play in the preseason. The preseason news isn’t all that surprising, as he has been a workhorse and there’s no reason to push him in meaningless games, but that and his absence from OTAs also reinforce the idea that he will be scaled back this year. He has been falling in drafts of late, which makes perfect sense. It’s a tough balance between his risk and his upside this year. But at the very least, we know the Rams are taking all precautions possible as they try to get him ready for another season. My hope in drafts is that someone else takes him early so I don’t have to make a decision on him in the mid- to late second round, but if I see him there, it will be tempting.

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Browns
Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t done much to ingratiate himself to Cleveland coaches by not showing up for the offseason program after a 1-day appearance on day 1. Of course showing up wasn’t mandatory and Beckham Jr. isn’t going to play it by the book all the time. He says he will be there for mandatory minicamp today, and if you would have told Browns fans or even coaches that you can have Beckham Jr., but he’s only showing up for mandatory practices, they would have cried from all the joy.

Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
Reports out of Eagles OTAs have been glowing for Carson Wentz, with the latest coming from NFL.com’s Mike Garofolo saying that Wentz is “locked in potentially for a return to MVP form.” Wentz is reportedly 100 percent healthy and looking great in practice. Injuries have become a problem for him, but if he can stay healthy, he has a loaded group on offense to help him put up good numbers, although there is a strong field of fantasy quarterbacks.

James Washington, Donte Moncrief and Diontae Johnson, WRs, Steelers
Steelers ESPN beat reporter Jeremy Fowler believes the team will spread the ball around when re-allocating Antonio Brown’s targets this season. This is a bit of a no-brainer, but it does show us that there isn’t a front-runner to take his spot at the moment. Donte Moncrief, James Washington and rookie Diontae Johnson all will get their chances, and for fantasy, hopefully one will take the No. 2 role and run with it. Veteran Moncrief probably has the inside track if he can start strongly, but it truly is anyone’s job to take.

Dawson Knox, TE, Bills
Following Tyler Kroft going down with a broken foot, Dawson Knox has taken his shot so far in OTAs and run with it. Kroft isn’t exactly a player who has the history to hold onto a job while injured, so if Knox can out-shine his competition, he could secure a job. Right now, the praise we’re hearing from camp isn’t much more than praise, but if Knox can solidify himself as the No. 1 option during camp, he could have some value this coming season for fantasy.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Patriots
Boston reporter Phil Perry left Demaryius Thomas of his roster projection for the upcoming season. When Thomas was signed, it was a very Belichickian move to see what the receiver had left in the tank after another Achilles tear, but the odds were always somewhat against him. He could still make the team of course, but he won’t play special teams and he likely wouldn’t want to be a player who barely sees the field, so I think Mr. Perry is probably onto something.

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Jets
Le’Veon Bell is in the building. He showed up for mandatory minicamp, which was fully expected. It has been close to a year and a half since he has practiced, so he needs to get back into NFL shape and learn the offense. There’s a good chance he will not be at peak performance early in the season.

Delanie Walker, TE, Titans
Delanie Walker has been cleared for 7-on-7 drills during OTAs after breaking his ankle in Week 1 of last season. It was not an injury you want to see played in slow-motion over and over. But he is getting back to it and should be a full-go by training camp. He’s a good enough player to still start at 35 years of age, but Jonnu Smith is waiting in the wings. Walker will need to show that he’s an asset still.

Josh Oliver, TE, Jaguars
The Jaguars don’t have much at tight end right now, so the recent praise for rookie Josh Oliver is significant. Coach Doug Marrone has said good things about his blocking technique and catch radius and believes he will continue to get better. Geoff Swaim and James O’Shaughnessy are his main competition, so there is a chance Oliver sees significant playing time from the get-go.

May 28 Updates

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
According to Yahoo Sports, video of Ezekiel Elliott bumping a security guard at a Las Vegas music festival will be reviewed by the NFL. Elliott wasn’t charged with a crime, but he wasn’t charged in 2017 when he was suspended for pulling down a woman’s shirt at Mardi Gras. With that incident as precedent, it won’t take much to get him in trouble with the league again. If the league views the video as him breaking the NFL conduct policy, he will miss some games. He needs to be dropped a bit in your rankings for now, but if you do grab him early, I think he will still play enough games to give value if he is suspended and of course, you probably get a deal if he isn’t.

Tevin Coleman, RB, 49ers
San Francisco beat writer Matt Maiocco projects Tevin Coleman as the leader in touches for the 49ers’ backfield this season. That prediction is bolstered by Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert sitting out OTAs. McKinnon is coming off a tough knee injury and Breida has a torn pectoral muscle he is recovering from. None of these backs have played a full season as the lead back, but so far, Coleman has the upper hand. This group has too much talent to feel like Coleman is a locked-and-loaded fantasy stud this year though.

Ben Watson, TE, Patriots
The 38-year-old tight end was popped with a four-game suspension for using performance enhancers. This gives Austin-Seferian Jenkins a chance to prove himself to start the season and a bump for the first month, but I doubt we’ll get a ton of fantasy production from this group.

Jared Cook, TE, Saints
Reviews of Jared Cook have been great so far during OTAs, as Drew Brees believes he will a be a great fit for the Saints’ offense and tight ends coach Dan Campbell believes they can draw up plays that they’ve had to abandon since Jimmy Graham was traded away. In an overall weak fantasy position, Cook is a no-brainer top-10 player for this coming season.

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
The 34-year-old Panthers tight end says he is cleared for all activities and was a full participant in OTAs. As long as he is healthy, he’ll be a useful fantasy player, but we can’t feel too eager for him to be our No. 1 tight end with two straight seasons of foot trouble.

May 22 Updates

DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Broncos
Hamilton told reporters that he injured his knee toward the end of last season. That information correlates well with his inability to do anything after the catch despite playing slot receiver. If he can do more after the catch this year, he should be able to put up useful numbers as the starting slot receiver once again, especially if Emmanuel Sanders isn’t 100 percent to start the year while returning from an Achilles tear.

D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texans
Foreman appears to be a full-go this offseason and has had a “good spring” according to Bill O’Brien. Foreman had trouble returning from an Achilles tear last season, but if he has been able to return to form, he should be able to push Lamar Miller for the lead job. We have yet to see Foreman back to his pre-injury form, so I’m not banking on him, but he’s worth an investment later in drafts.

Tyler Kroft, TE, Bills
Kroft suffered a broken foot on the first day of OTAs and will be out 3-4 months. He was the Bills’ starting tight end after signing a 3-year, $18.75 million contract and will likely have trouble getting ready for Week 1. Third-rounder Dawson Knox should get some extra work with the starters now and could prove himself quickly. Kroft will more than likely come back to handle the starting job for the bulk of the season, but Knox has more upside as a fantasy player, and this could push his development as an NFL starter.

Erik Swoope, TE, Raiders
The Raiders signed Swoope to a 1-year contract, and in Oakland’s tight end group, he has a real chance to see playing time. There’s no way we can count on any Raiders tight end to break out this season, but if Swoope can win the starting job, he will have some fantasy value.

Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
Wentz appears fully recovered and will work in full during OTAs. Getting a full offseason with the team is a great sign for Wentz, and he has enough firepower on offense to put up good fantasy numbers, albeit in a crowded fantasy quarterback field.

Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots
Edelman received an $8 million signing bonus and $12 million guaranteed on his 2-year, $18 million extension. The Patriots need him, and they need him happy, because they have little veteran receiving presence to count on, and as long as Edelman is on the field, he will be a fantasy star. Despite getting up there in age, his numbers haven’t fallen in the least, and he’s a locked-in PPR fantasy receiver this year.

Breshad Perriman, WR, Buccaneers
Perriman is looking to make a comeback, and Tampa Bay might be the best place to do that. Early beat reports have Jameis Winston and Perriman “in rhythm early,” which is mostly meaningless, but it does look like he is set up to be the No. 3 receiver on a team that should have a poor defense that will push Bruce Arians’ offense to throw even more than he would like, and Arians likes to throw the ball.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
Elliott was handcuffed at a music festival after an altercation but managed to avoid charges. This incident looks to be something that won’t get him in trouble with the league, but after already getting slapped with a 6-game suspension two years ago, it won’t take much to have the league knocking on his door. I’m leaving him in as top-three pick for now, but if there’s any hint of something more to this story, I’ll drop him fast.

Deon Cain, WR, Colts
Colts GM Chris Ballard says that Cain might not be completely back until midway through the season. Cain is a talented receiver, but he doesn’t look like an option anytime soon for fantasy, and with Parris Campbell likely taking the WR3 job, Cain’s snaps will likely be limited even when healthy.

Ryan Griffin, TE, Free Agent
The Texans released Griffin after he got drunk and punched through a hotel window. The starting tight end job is up for grabs in Houston, but there could be a committee of sorts with Jordan Akins, Thomas Jordan, Darren Fells and rookie Kahale Warring. Warring has the most upside for the long term, but he is also raw. It’s a situation to avoid except in dynasty leagues.

Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks
Coach Pete Carroll says that Carson “had a little work done” on his knee but should resume practicing in a couple of weeks and be ready for training camp. His injury could be a non-story, but it is something worth keeping an eye on. Rashaad Penny would be in line for the lead role if Carson were to miss any time.

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
Beasley had core surgery this offseason and is sitting out OTAs. He should be ready to go for training camp though and will be the starting slot receiver as long as he can stay healthy. The Bills have a slew of new receivers and will still want to run the ball first, so the upside of any receiver in Buffalo is capped until we see someone break out.

May 16 Updates

Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals
Eifert is doing almost everything in offseason workouts and unless he gets hurt before Week 1, should be ready to give it another go. Last season, he showed that he can still be a fantasy contributor, but only lasted four games before getting injured yet again. It looks like Eifert will be used as the receiving tight end while Drew Sample will get more work as a blocker. Less actual contact with other humans is the best possible place for Eifert to be.

Ben Watson, TE, Patriots
Watson unretired and returns to where he started after signing with the Patriots on a 1-year deal worth $3 million. He’ll likely compete with Austin-Seferian Jenkins for work, and we could easily see a split between them in opportunities. One could emerge as a streaming option, but I’m not especially high on either becoming a priority add this season.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers
McCaffrey is taking his huge roles as a rusher and receiver last season to heart this offseason by going all out to get stronger. He’s on a workout and diet regime in line with track athletes. Endurance and strength appear to be his goals, but he also says he’s gotten faster. Yes, this is from an ESPN puff piece, so it probably doesn’t really matter all that much, but it’s better than him skipping OTAs and showing up overweight for training camp.

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings
The Vikings broke off extension talks with Rudolph, who is garnering interest around the league according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Vikings drafted tight end Irv Smith Jr. 50th overall, and the would save money if it were to trade or release him before having to give him his $7.5 million for the last year of his contract. The writing seems to be on the wall for Rudolph, which means Smith could end up starting by Week 1.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Retired
Baldwin was released by the Seahawks after his multiple injuries finally caught up with him. This news wasn’t unexpected, so most people in the fantasy community had already weighted his absence when projecting Tyler Lockett and rookie D.J. Metcalf, as they are the two with the most to gain by Baldwin’s absence. Lockett will look to spend the bulk of his time in the slot now, which he was extremely effective from last season. Make sure Lockett is on your radar this season.

Eric Ebron, TE, Colts
Ebron underwent groin surgery and will be limited during offseason practices, but there doesn’t look to be any fear that he won’t be fully ready for training camp. Ebron broke out last season, but he could be somewhat overvalued with Devin Funchess coming to cut into his end-zone targets.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen, QBs, Dolphins
Fitzpatrick saw first-team reps in OTAs on Tuesday, and the plan appears to be an even split between Rosen and Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins are in full-on rebuilding mode, so Rosen will play this year, but Fitzpatrick could beat him out to start the season. Fitzpatrick’s no-holds-barred approach would help his receivers in fantasy, but I wouldn’t rely on him starting too many games this year.

Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans
After a season during which Watson took a league-leading 62 sacks and had injuries to his key receivers, but still put together good stats, coach Bill O’Brien believes Watson is set to take a big step forward this coming season – “I’ve always said with his work ethic and his intelligence and his hunger to be better, he’ll always make a jump.” The offensive line got a boost with first-round pick Tytus Howard, and Will Fuller and Keke Coutee are expected to be ready to go along with DeAndre Hopkins, who could make a strong case for best receiver in the league. A healthy Fuller and a healthy Coutee could also elevate this receiving group to similar heights.

May 9 Updates

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos
Sanders says he’s not ahead in his rehab, but he’s also not behind. He went down with an Achilles injury early last December, and there is a possibility that he’d start the season on the PUP list. It’s still too early to boost up Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton based on Sanders’ injury, as he could be ready to go Week 1 and as long as he’s 100 percent, he’ll be the No. 1 receiver in Denver.

Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
Cowboys GM Jerry Jones says that “Prescott’s worthy of investing in for the long term.” They are currently working on an extension, and unless Prescott falters in a big way, he’s the quarterback of the future in Dallas. He has shown plenty of inconsistency, but also enough upside to feel good about him in dynasty leagues with this news.

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Eagles
Beat writer Dave Zangaro believes rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside won’t play much in his first season with the Eagles. That was kind of assumed, but it is always good to get some kind of confirmation. There are just too many players ahead of him. The good news is Nelson Agholor is likely gone after this season or possibly sooner, which would open up snaps for Arcega-Whiteside.

Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs
Head coach Andy Reid said that Hardman “got a little better” each day of rookie minicamp. Hardman is raw and will have trouble getting his game refined soon enough to put up big numbers this coming season, but his speed will likely give him enough explosive plays to have some value this year, especially if he can bust through the learning curve.

Cam Newton, Carolina
Newton says that he feels great and should start throwing before training camp starts. The team will ease him back no matter how he feels though. He should be ready to go for Week 1 though. Newton is likely to break down quicker than other quarterbacks, as he’s taken quite a bit of punishment in his career. Will Grier might be a name to stash sooner than later.

D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seahawks
Coach Pete Carroll is driving the hype train for Metcalf, touting his speed and size, while praising his route-running. Metcalf’s size and stiffness in and out of cuts showed on tape, which pushed him down many draft boards, but Carroll says it was something Metcalf has been working on since before the draft. Carroll isn’t someone to take at face value, but there is plenty of room for Metcalf to start this year, especially if Doug Baldwin retires.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Tampa Bay
Pierre-Paul is dealing with a fractured neck. He’s currently seeking multiple consultations from doctors before he makes a decision, but the initial feeling is that he’ll miss months and possibly the season. Tampa Bay would be devoid of pass-rushers if Pierre-Paul can’t play this year, and I expect the team’s defense will push Bruce Arian’s offense to put up big numbers, much like last season under Todd Monken. The situation could be a boon for the Buccaneers’ passing game and fantasy stats. Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard should all be set up well.



May 1 Updates

Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs
The child abuse case against Hill and Crystal Espinal has been reopened after an audio recording between Hill and Espinal was sent to a local television reporter. The audio is damning on many levels and should keep Hill out of the NFL for this season and likely longer. There is no doubt that Hill is an awful person and an even worse father. He should never play another down in the NFL.

His absence will help Sammy Watkins become the No. 1 receiver in Kansas City, and as long as he can stay healthy, I expect a big fantasy year from him.

Josh Rosen, QB, Dolphins
Rosen was traded to Miami for the 62nd pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and a fifth-rounder next year. It’s not much of a haul for a first-rounder from last year, but the Cardinals made their bed.

The Dolphins are in full rebuilding mode, and Ryan Fitzpatrick has absolutely no future there, so Rosen should be able to win the job, but they aren’t just going to hand it to him. Dolphins coach Brian Flores has said that Rosen will have to earn the starting job over Fitzpatrick. Rosen was awful last season, but he put some good plays on tape and was saddled with an awful offensive line, a limited receiving group and a tough schedule. He has plenty of time to emerge as a productive quarterback, and the Dolphins are a good spot for him to give it another go.

Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
After matching Malcolm Brown’s RFA tender and taking Darrell Henderson with their 70th pick, Rams coach Sean McVay said they could use more two-back formations, which would be a big departure from his usual scheme. McVay seems genuinely concerned with Gurley’s knee trouble that took him out of the picture late in the season and in the playoffs, which now seems to be manifesting itself in more ways to keep Gurley’s workload down throughout the season. McVay is a good enough offensive schemer that he should easily be able to limit Gurley’s reps with Brown and Henderson while still winning football games. Gurley’s skill set remains perfect for fantasy, and even with his work being drawn back, he still should be a strong fantasy play.

Spencer Ware, RB, Colts
Ware is a capable back, but isn’t a game changer. That doesn’t mean, however, he can’t beat out Jordan Wilkins for Marlon Mack’s backup job. Mack has shown that a full 16 games as a lead back is going to be a tough road for him to hoe, so Ware could have value at some point, and with the Colts offense, he will hold value in deeper leagues.

Andy Isabella, WR, Cardinals
New Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury isn’t going to be shy about bringing his Air Raid offense to the NFL. In Peter King’s Football Morning in America, he quoted Kingsbury as saying, “We’re going to play the game at times wider than probably most people do in the league. We’re going to use the entire field and make them cover five wides and the quarterback, and that’s tough on defenses.” The NFL has become a passing league, and Kingsbury is up for the task of taking the Cardinals into full passing mode. He got a bunch of weapons in the draft with Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson, while already having a great pass-catching back in David Johnson along with veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald and sophomore Christian Kirk. It will be fun to watch how this team develops, especially for fantasy.

David Montgomery, RB, Bears
Head coach Matt Nagy had to deal with having a bad receiver in Jordan Howard as his lead back last year, but he seems pretty happy to have moved on to Montgomery, saying, “When you have guys that can play all three downs, it’s nice for the play-caller, and it’s nice for the offense.” That’s probably good news for the Bears overall, but not the greatest news for Tarik Cohen, as Montgomery won’t come off the field as much as Howard did. Cohen is too good to limit, and I expect Nagy to find ways to give him snaps with Montgomery on the field, but overall it isn’t the best news for Cohen’s fantasy upside.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks
Baldwin has been rumored to be close to retirement after multiple surgeries, but Mike Garofolo of NFL Network believes Baldwin will wait to make any concrete decisions due to his contract, because if he were to officially retire now, he would lose millions of dollars. Garofolo believes Baldwin is done with the NFL though, which would elevate Tyler Lockett and possibly D.K. Metcalf in fantasy.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Lions
Beat reporter Kyle Meinke believes Hockenson is a no-doubt starter come Week 1. That makes perfect sense, as Jesse James will never be a true every-down tight end in the league and the Lions invested a No. 8 pick on Hockenson. Hockenson’s ability as a blocker helps him stay on the field, but unfortunately, the Lions want to run the ball, which could keep him at the line of scrimmage more often than we would like for fantasy.

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins
Adam Schefter reported that Guice is “coming along a little slower” than expected, but coach Jay Gruden said Guice could be ready for training camp. I’d always lean toward Schefter versus a coach, but there’s still time to see how this plays out. If you’re drafting best ball leagues right now, I’d wait on Guice.

April 24 Updates

Josh Gordon, WR, Patriots
The Gordon saga continues. Yesterday, he signed his restricted free agent tender with the Patriots, so if he is reinstated at some point, we know he’ll be with a team that will use him well and will need him too. We have no idea what his chances of playing in 2019 are, but we do know that if you have him on your dynasty team, be sure to keep him around. And I’d go as far as to say he’s worth a late-round flier in best-ball drafts, but the buzz is growing once again, and his ADP will probably rise into a range where you’d be missing out on a player who will play.

Mike Davis, RB, Bears
Bears GM Ryan Pace said there isn’t a “pressing need” to draft a running back while giving praise to Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson. They have hosted 16 running back visits, but they also don’t have a pick until 87th overall – with a total of five. If they do feel okay with the trio of Tarik Cohen, Davis, and Patterson, they will likely pass on a running back with their early picks at the very least, and Davis will have fantasy value this year.

T.J. Yeldon, RB, Bills
The Bills signed Yeldon to a 2-year contract, adding him to a backfield with LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore. Josh Allen, Buffalo’s quarterback, is also a prolific runner, which will eat into the running backs’ carries, so Yeldon will likely need McCoy or Gore to miss games. Them missing games isn’t out of the question, as both have some age on them and McCoy would again be a trade possibility. The Bills will also run the ball as often as they can, so the situation does have some upside if it plays out in Yeldon’s favor.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs
Hill’s three-year-old son was removed from the custody of Hill and the boy’s mother, which comes after two abuse allegations, one which ended with the boy’s arm being broken. We genuinely have no idea if Hill himself was anywhere near the boy during the alleged abuse, but there is no doubt that Hill will be severely punished if he is connected to a three-year-old’s arm being broken, especially after he already choked a pregnant woman in college. I’m staying away from Hill in fantasy this year.

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Jets
Bell didn’t report for voluntary workouts, as has been his norm in the past. His absence may leave a sour taste in the mouths of fans, but it isn’t something to worry about for fantasy.

Andrew Luck, QB, Colts
Luck says that this offseason has been the best of his NFL career, as he was finally able to not devote his little free time to rehabbing an injury. Of course, this isn’t big fantasy news, but a healthy and happy Luck coming off a great comeback season should be able to elevate his game even more, as he will be able to work with his teammates at OTAs and training camp and build off a great offensive scheme that they were new to last season.

April 19 Updates

Mike Gesicki, TE, Dolphins
Gesicki says he has added 13 pounds this offseason after getting pushed around his rookie year. Blocking and being able to take hits off the line are two things that will keep him as a useful player for Miami, so the added weight should help. Rookie tight ends almost always have a steep learning curve in the NFL, so Gesicki has plenty of time to prove himself still, but his upside will remain low until he can command a good percentage of the team’s targets.

Eli Manning, QB, Giants
Giants GM Dave Gettleman says that Manning proved he had “plenty left” last season, as the Giants continue to push Manning as their quarterback for this year and maybe next. Manning has never been a great quarterback despite his Super Bowl rings, and now he’s a deficit at the position. Without Odell Beckham Jr. to bail him out, his chances of a positive fantasy season are next to nil.

Will Fuller, WR, Texans
Texans GM Brian Gaine believes Fuller will be ready to go for Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL last season. With Fuller’s injury history, it looks like the Texans will take it slow with his timetable to return. Both Fuller and Keke Coutee were injured last season, but Deshaun Watson was still able to put up good numbers. With no real running game to speak of, the Texans should continue to rely on Watson, and Fuller would be a big part of their passing offense. He may not be able to keep up with his extreme touchdown rate in a full season, but if he could stay on the field, his upside is in the top-10 No. 2 receivers.

Keke Coutee, WR, Texans
Coutee changed his routine this offseason to help him stay healthy. That routine includes a better diet, stretching and hamstring massage, as his trouble was focused on hamstring issues. Texans coach Bill O’Brien believes that since Coutee spent the previous offseason training for combine drills instead of the rigors of an NFL training camp and season. All of this at least makes some sense, and we have seen other rookie receivers mired with hamstring injuries, so maybe Houston is on to something here. Coutee, even if Will Fuller can remain healthy all season, would still have a strong target share in the slot with the Texans devoid of a must-target tight end.

Duke Johnson, RB, Browns
Despite Johnson’s request for a trade, GM John Dorsey said that Johnson would be “a member of this organization moving forward.” With Kareem Hunt suspended for the first eight games, the Browns probably see Johnson as someone who can help the team during that time, albeit in a limited fashion, as he wasn’t used much last year and they added superstar Odell Beckham Jr. along with Hunt. There is still a chance the Browns are looking for a better deal for Johnson, but right now, we should lean toward them keeping him and keeping his fantasy value low.

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
Newton is close to throwing again according to coach Ron Rivera. Newton had shoulder surgery in January, and he probably won’t do much at OTAs, but he should be ready to go for training camp. After getting his most rushing yards in a season in 2017, Newton dropped down to his second fewest last year, although he also missed two games due to his shoulder injury and played games with the injury as well. It would make sense to keep his rushing attempts down coming off his injury, but I don’t think the Panthers will ever completely stop him from running, as it is a huge part of their offense.

April 17 Updates

Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
Gurley was asked about his knee at the start of the Rams’ offseason program, but he didn’t give much insight. The reports of arthritis in his knee are troublesome, and the Rams or Gurley have never refuted those reports. But we also know that Gurley played most of 2018 and put up huge numbers. He’s a tricky player to forecast, because the Rams will look to lessen his load to keep him healthy for another postseason run, but they also need him to get to the postseason. Much will depend on where he goes in your personal drafts, and at No. 1 overall, he will be risky.

Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks
Wilson became the highest paid NFL player with a $140 million extension, which will keep him with the Seahawks through 2023. It was imperative that they signed Wilson, as he is one of the top quarterbacks in the league despite his antiquated usage in the Seahawks’ run-heavy offense. The signing doesn’t do much for his fantasy prospects, but you would think the team would want more production out of the highest paid player in the league. Hopefully, the Seahawks will go after some receiving depth in the draft to help Wilson and give them more reason to push their offense into this century.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Patriots
Thomas is coming off one of the tougher injuries to recover from, a torn Achilles, which puts the veteran at a disadvantage, especially after looking like he had lost a step before going down with the injury. Of course, if he could make the team, the Patriots’ offense is one that you can’t ignore. But at this point, I doubt he is able to make the team coming off the injury. His contract information will likely give us a few more clues into how the Patriots view his possibilities though.

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone says that Fournette won’t receive any discipline for his arrest for driving with a suspended license. That always seemed like the most-likely result, but it is still a negative that will weigh against him if he were to slip up again. Fournette could end up being undervalued for fantasy this year, but he would need a spotless season to get his numbers where they would need to be for a top-10 running back.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans
Mariota says he has added 5-10 pounds of “good weight” to help him become more durable. I doubt that will end up being the reason he finally plays a full season or gets injured on the first play, but he does have trouble staying on the field and this is his contract year. We’ve seen him tease us with some great fantasy numbers, but injuries and a run-first offense are too risky to invest much in Mariota this year.

Delanie Walker, TE, Titans
Walker hasn’t been cleared for offseason workouts yet even though he had hoped for that to be the case. Now, training camp is the goal, and one we should pay attention to. Walker, even at 34 and coming off an ankle injury, will still be in the fantasy discussion for this season if he looks healthy in training camp. The tight end field has some strong players at the top but not much below that beside unproven players. Walker is proven and, if healthy, would still be in the conversation for top-10 spot at his position.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Cheifs
Hill reported to the offseason program and has not been charged with a crime related to two child abuse allegations. There isn’t any real information out there, and there won’t be until the case is closed or they charge someone. It does put his 2019 season into doubt, which makes it tough to draft him where his talent should have him drafted.

April 12 Updates

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars
Fournette was arrested on Thursday for not paying a speeding ticket and driving with a suspended license. In the NFL, these charges aren’t anything, but Fournette hasn’t been on best terms with the Jaguars organization after a suspension last season, which led to the team voiding Fournette’s guarantees in his contract. In all likelihood, this will blow over, but the ice is extremely thin for Fournette. His inability to stay healthy probably doesn’t help the situation either. His stock continues to fall in fantasy football.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Patriots
Is this it? Will Seferian-Jenkins finally get his chance to break out now that he’s signed with the Patriots, who just lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement? Eh. There’s no doubt that Seferian-Jenkins has played on some awful offenses led by some awful quarterbacks and offensive coordinators, so there is some glimmer of hope for him in a much better offense. I don’t expect him to come close to Gronkowski’s workload though, as Julian Edelman, James White and Rex Burkhead are all going to be ahead or near him in usage. If Seferian-Jenkins can stay healthy and start, he’ll be useful for fantasy.

Davante Adams, WR, Packers
New Packers coach Matt LeFleur will use Davante Adams in the slot at least for a portion of his snaps this season. With Randall Cobb gone, there isn’t one receiver set up to take the bulk of the slot snaps, so Adams will soak up a good percentage. Adams has had success out of the slot so far in his career, and it’s always a great spot to help get the No. 1 receiver into a mismatch. The Packers won’t have another wide receiver to rival Adams this season, so expect another big year but with more upside in a modern NFL offense.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Rodgers says he never was 100 percent last season after he endured a tibia plateau fracture and sprained MCL in Week 1. That tracks with the season he had, so there is likely going to be some major hype for a turnaround season with a healthy Rodgers and a competent offensive mind in Matt LaFleur this year.

Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
Shepard got a good 4-year, $41 million extension, setting him up as the Giants’ No. 1 receiver for the time being. Without Odell Beckham Jr. to compete with, Shepard should be the main man and get enough work to post good fantasy numbers. But with Golden Tate in the slot and Evan Engram working underneath as well, Shepard will be asked to do more with deep routes, where Eli Manning isn’t useful anymore. Add in the Giants’ plan to go run-heavy, and Shepard’s upside will be capped this season.

Ty Montgomery, RB, Jets
Montgomery has ability, but landing behind Le’Veon Bell probably isn’t the best spot for him to make a run in fantasy this season. He would need Bell to miss games to have any chance at fantasy value this season, and even then, the Jets would implement a committee.

Deon Cain, WR, Colts
Cain has “great upside”, says Colts GM Chris Ballard. Andrew Luck also praised Cain often before he suffered a torn ACL in the preseason last year. The Colts are also high on Devin Funchess, so there might not be much room for Cain to carve out a big role, but he appears to be the frontrunner at wide receiver behind T.Y. Hilton and Funchess.

Duke Johnson, RB, Browns
Johnson has requested a trade. His request makes a ton of sense after the Browns barely used him last season and then went out and signed Kareem Hunt. Johnson has a bunch of talent and will help whatever team he ends up with, but we’ll need to see who that team is before we look too much into his fantasy possibilities this year.

Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals
Peter King believes Washington is the frontrunner to trade for Rosen, and with Alex Smith’s injury being as severe as it is, that makes perfect sense. Rosen wouldn’t be in a much better fantasy situation in Washington, but Jay Gruden was able to help Kirk Cousins develop into a competent quarterback with fantasy upside. If the trade happens, I wouldn’t expect anything this season, but the case won’t be closed on Rosen yet.

April 2 Updates

Jared Cook, TE, Saints
Cook landed with New Orleans, and only New England would have been similar in fantasy possibilities. The Saints have shown what they can do for a tight end, once having Jimmy Graham dominate, and last year, having Ben Watson rise the tight end grave. Meanwhile, Cook put together a great 2018 season in the Raiders’ lousy offens. Cook has disappointed fantasy players for much of his career, but last season, coupled with a move to the Saints’ offense, should get more people on board and for good reason. With Michael Thomas grabbing a huge target share, Cook isn’t likely to put up Graham-like numbers, but in a weak fantasy position that just lost Rob Gronkowski, Cook will be hard to ignore this year.

Eli Manning, QB, Giants
The New York Giants are prepared for Eli Manning to be their starting quarterback for 2019, which is most likely a bad idea. But without Odell Beckham Jr. and moving to an even more run-focused offense, I expect the Giants to be bad with just about anyone at the helm in 2019. The acquisition of Golden Tate only stretches the targets out further, making Saquon Barkley a likely overworked workhorse and the only consistent fantasy play on the team.

Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals
Most signs are pointing toward the Cardinals trading away Josh Rosen and taking Kyler Murray No. 1 overall. This move isn’t set in stone, but at this point, it would be a surprise if they didn’t. Murray would likely be a better fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, and Kingsbury recruited Murray out of high school and has continued to praise his ability in college. That would leave Rosen to the highest bidder. The aforementioned New York Giants have a need, while Washington and Miami also make for strong possibilities. Washington feels like the best possibility at the moment, and none of the landing spots spell quick fantasy production from Rosen, but he still has strong prospects and long-term fantasy value if you can grab him in dynasty for pennies on the dollar.

Marlon Mack, RB, Colts
The Colts GM, Chris Ballard, believes that Mack can be a three-down running back, and coach Frank Reich agreed with Ballard by saying Mack can be a feature back. I don’t see the Colts turning him into LaDainian Tomlinson, as they will likely manage his touches to keep him from breaking down, but as the no-doubt starter with the ability to play a third-down role, Mack should remain a fantasy asset.

Jordan Howard, RB, Eagles
The Eagles traded a conditional pick that, at best, could become a fifth-rounder for Howard. Howard was unable to expand his role in Chicago by showing limited ability as a pass catcher, and coach Matt Nagy seemed hell-bent on getting a bigger back to pair who can catch with Tarik Cohen, and Howard would have likely been released if he hadn’t been traded. The Eagles will run Howard into the guts of the defense, making him a standard-league player without much upside. In Chicago, Cohen should get more consistent touches and will have a high ceiling in PPR, and if Mike Davis ends up as his partner in the backfield, there’s real reason for optimism that Cohen could outplay his ADP.

Jack Doyle, TE, Colts
Doyle appears to be on track for training camp, but his fantasy status has taken a hit, as Eric Ebron and Devin Funchess both will take targets away and Doyle’s fantasy appeal has always been great hands and consistent targets. He is not a play-maker who can take a few targets and turn them into consistent fantasy points.

Trey Quinn, WR, Redskins
Redskins coach Jon Gruden praised wide receiver Trey Quinn as a possible slot replacement for Jamison Crowder, who they lost to the Jets in free agency. The slot position can be a great equalizer for quick receivers who have trouble getting separation on the outside, and many quarterbacks prefer throwing the ball over the middle, where their angles are better, so a starting slot receiver in the right offense can be a fantasy producer. That being said, Washington isn’t likely to be a great passing offense this year, and it will be tough counting on someone like Quinn, but keep him on your draft board in PPR leagues.

Tevin Coleman, RB, 49ers
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan believes that Tevin Coleman could be their short-yardage back this year. That role could help separate him from a talented pack of running backs in San Francisco at the moment, but it’s still a situation to not get overly excited about until we see more touches open up for a single back.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Raiders
Oakland’s backfield is in extreme flux at the moment, as Doug Martin is still a free agent and Marshawn Lynch hasn’t decided if he’ll return or not. Right now, that pushes Crowell and Jalen Richard to the top of the heap, and Richard would be the passing-down back. I’m not investing in Crowell, but things could shake out in a way that gives him fantasy value in 2019.

Derrick Henry, RB, Titans
Titans coach Mike Vrabel says that Derrick Henry will be the centerpiece of his offense if things go to plan. That showed toward the end of last season when Henry went off in spectacular style, but keeping up that kind of production is going to be tough for anyone not named Adrian Peterson, and without a significant receiving role, Henry could be over-drafted.

Geronimo Allison, WR, Packers
Allison signed a 1-year, $2.8 million contract, and after an injury-plagued 2018, he appears healthy again and ready for a more prominent role this season with Randall Cobb in Dallas. If you believe a more innovative offensive coach will help Aaron Rodgers and company get on track this year, Allison should be a big part.

Kerryon Johnson, RB, Lions
Detroit coach Mike Patricia wants to limit Kerryon Johnson’s workload to keep him fresh and healthy. This news isn’t going to make Johnson backers sing in the shower, but Patricia’s philosophy here is not unlike much of the NFL. Johnson showed well as the lead back last season, and if he stays healthy, he will be fantasy asset. Additionally, Patricia, who wants to run the ball, won’t be able to limit him too much unless an unlikely back emerges as a compatible player to Johnson.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks
I’ve hyped Baldwin the last couple offseasons, but Pete Carroll’s obsession with the run and Baldwin’s lingering injuries have finally taught me that it just isn’t going to happen, plus Baldwin will have had three surgeries by the time he suits up to practice this season. I’m off the boat and climbing up the hill toward Tyler Lockett, who holds the most fantasy upside in Seattle’s receiving group this year.

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins
Guice has had a slow recovery from a torn ACL last preseason, but it appears he is back on track for training camp and could even do some work in OTAs. A short video also showed him cutting, which is always a good sign. Washington re-signed Adrian Peterson as insurance for Guice, and Peterson could hurt his touches, but if Guice is indeed back, he’ll out-play Peterson, especially in the receiving game.

Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs
New Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians has touted Chris Godwin as a possible slot receiver who could be “close to a 100-catch guy.” He would play much in the same mold as Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona, and we’ve seen Godwin put up good numbers and advanced statistics, showing great potential for Arians’ offense. Godwin will be on every “sleeper” list this year and will likely be drafted at his actual value, which should be quite high.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, 49ers
There had been some thought the 49ers would let McKinnon go after acquiring Tevin Coleman and seeing Matt Breida play exceptionally well in McKinnon’s absence, but coach Kyle Shanahan says McKinnon will remain with the team in 2019. One player will likely take the lead in the backfield, but the competition and no history of these three playing together will make drafting the eventual best 49ers fantasy back tricky. We will get plenty of hints as to who will be the most valuable, but it’s still going to be a situation to send up the caution flag.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Retired
Rob Gronkowski has retired. This news is a massive loss for the Patriots’ offense and Tom Brady’s fantasy upside. Gronkowski will go down as the best offensive tight end on a per-play basis, and if you add in his tremendous blocking, it is hard to not put him at No. 1 all-time. If you can hold onto him in dynasty leagues, there’s a chance he returns, especially if he is feeling good and the Patriots need his assistance later in the season to make a playoff or Super Bowl push.

March 15 Updates

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Browns
There had been some chatter about the Browns reaching out to the Giants about Beckham, but wow, what a huge turn of events! Beckham is a top-three wide receiver in this league at just 26 years of age. The Browns just became the frontrunner in the AFC North and a legitimate contender only a few years removed from a winless season. But we’re looking at fantasy, and I see Beckham going to a much better situation in Cleveland, as Baker Mayfield is a big step up from Eli Manning. Beckham will join Jarvis Landry and David Njoku, pushing them to No. 2 and 3 on the target rankings, and I see no reason for Beckham Jr. not to be near the top of the fantasy standings in 2019 with Todd Monken as his offensive coordinator and Mayfield throwing him the ball.

The Giants will go to a more run-oriented offense in an attempt to push the franchise back into the late 1800s. Saquon Barkley will now face eight-man fronts way too often but will be a usage hog. Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard the and newly acquired Golden Tate should also see a boost, but with Barkley likely being a top target and Eli Manning throwing the ball toward them, they might have trouble putting up strong fantasy numbers unless someone is injured.

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Jets
Bell lost money in the deal, but he is on the road to play again and should see plenty of work as the best talent on the Jets’ offense. Adam Gase is a bit of a wild card, but the Jets did upgrade their line in free agency and had a nice core of talent with Sam Darnold, Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jamison Crowder and Chris Herndon. Who knows how the Jets will do in real football, but they should be able to move the ball and Bell will again be a top running back in fantasy.

Mark Ingram, RB, Ravens
The Ravens are going all out with their plan to run the ball, and Ingram will be the lead back this coming season. It’s unfortunate that he gets this chance so late in his career, but he’s still got some charge in the old battery, plus the Ravens were able to run at will on teams with Lamar Jackson at the helm last season. Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon take a hit, but Baltimore will run the ball enough that both will be needed, and Dixon will likely be the designated receiving back. In standard leagues, Ingram should be a fantasy stud.

Latavius Murray, RB, Saints
Murray will take over Mark Ingram’s spot as Alvin Kamara’s backup and quickly becomes a more consistent fantasy asset on a great Saints offense and running game. I like Ingram’s ability more than Murray’s, but Sean Payton will give Murray plenty of work to keep Kamara from wearing down. Murray’s signing keeps Kamara a top fantasy running back while giving Murray a chance to put up good numbers with a regular 12-15 touches a game.

Murray’s absence will allow Dalvin Cook all the work he can handle. His inability to put in a full season is troubling, so whoever ends up as his backup could have some value, but if he can stay healthy, he will finish as a reliable fantasy asset in 2019.

Tevin Coleman, RB, 49ers
Kyle Shanahan got a lot of good use out of Coleman in Atlanta, so he ended up in a good spot with the 49ers. At the moment, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida are also on the roster, but we could see McKinnon cut after his ACL injury. If San Francisco keeps all three, we are going to have more trouble picking the lead back in this offense for 2019, as all three have ability. Shanahan isn’t averse to splitting time between two running backs, but if three strong backs are there, one will be bench bound.

Golden Tate, WR, Giants
The Giants just paid Tate $23.5 million of guaranteed money to help them look slightly better as they lose. Eli Manning can’t throw the ball more than 20 yards accurately at this point, so that means Tate could be in line for a bunch of targets. But this offense is going to bad and I would rather not invest in Tate at this point.

Tyrell Williams, WR, Raiders
The Raiders grabbed Williams to complement Antonio Brown, and with Jordy Nelson let go and Jared Cook working the free agent market, Williams could be in store for a reasonable workload, especially if the Raiders’ defense keeps their offense throwing the ball.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Redskins
The 34-year-old star will return to Washington as insurance for Derrius Guice, who suffered a severe knee injury late last summer. Peterson’s value is predicated on how well Guice’s rehab has gone and could have some fantasy value early in the season.

Peyton Barber, RB, Bucs
Barber had his moments last season, but his skill set isn’t as a starter in this league, but the Buccaneers’ re-signed him for insurance, as they don’t have a lead back at the moment. They will bring someone in, and we will reevaluate the situation.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Saints
Bridgewater decided to stay with the Saints in the hope that he can take over for Drew Brees when he decides to hang up his cleats. Bridgewater will get over $7 million to hold a clipboard instead of possibly starting for the awful Dolphins. I think it was a wise choice. His dynasty appeal is still good, as he could inherit a strong fantasy team in the Saints.

DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
It was inevitable that Parker would be released, that is until the Dolphins kicked Adam Gase to the curb. Miami’s new coaching staff decided to keep him around as long as he took a pay cut, which he he did. The Dolphins have no quarterback at the moment, so Parker is going to have some trouble putting up fantasy numbers.

John Brown, WR, Bills
Brown won’t be consistent for the Bills, as their offense is still a work in progress, but he landed in a good spot for his deep-ball skills, as Josh Allen can chuck the rock. Brown will likely be a popular Best Ball League draft pick this season, while Robert Foster takes a hit, as he has a similar place in the offense as Brown and Brown will start ahead of him.

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills
Beasley will likely be a help to the Buffalo offense as Josh Allen’s slot receiver, but his target load won’t be enough to make him fantasy viable in 12-team leagues.

March 13 Updates

Antonio Brown, WR, Raiders
Finally, it’s over. Brown goes to the Raiders. It isn’t the best possible landing spot, but at least he won’t have much competition for targets. Derrek Carr is a downgrade from Ben Roethlisberger, especially when taking into consideration the history and connection between Brown and Roethlisberger, but as the sole No. 1 wide receiver, he shouldn’t have any trouble being one of the leaders in targets, plus his skill level is still near the top of the league. The change is enough for me not to have Brown as a top-three fantasy receiver, but he’s darn close.

Joe Flacco, QB, Broncos
With Lamar Jackson taking over as the starting quarterback in Baltimore, Flacco got the boot and landed in Bronco country. When thinking of the Broncos’ post-Manning quarterbacks there isn’t much positive to say, so with some perspective, Flacco is possibly an upgrade for the offense. But I do say possibly, as he’s been one of the worst statistical quarterbacks in the league for much of his career. I don’t think we can give Emmanuel Sanders or Courtland Sutton an upgrade, but they shouldn’t fall much compared to their previous quarterbacking situation.

Case Keenum, QB, Redskins
Keenum is an average quarterback right on the edge of a startable asset, but I wouldn’t wish that on any team, well, maybe Washington, but I digress. He can’t be much worse than Alex Smith last season when it comes to opening up the offense for fantasy purposes, but there’s still a chance the Redskins will go after a quarterback in the draft and/or Smith can return from his injury at some point. All-in-all, Keenum is not going to be a fantasy asset if he starts.

Nick Foles, QB, Jaguars
Foles had a good offense to work with when playing for the Eagles, while the Jaguars do not. He can be a useful fantasy player in an offense with good receivers and an offense that relies on the pass, but if the Jaguars continue to want to run the ball and play strong defense, Foles will have trouble putting up consistent numbers.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
Jackson gets to go to a team with a potent offense, but he’s coming from a team with a strong passing offense, and now he will have even more competition for targets. He’s a player who will have blow-up games, and there’s no doubt he’ll help Carson Wentz and the offense as a whole, but his fantasy stock will fluctuate mightily with his old team.

Jackson’s absence is great for the Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin. He will be a favorite “breakout” player in fantasy articles this summer, including mine.

Mike Davis, RB, Bears
Davis put up a few good games in Seattle, and his receiving ability is likely something that Bears’ coach Mike Nagy wanted, and something Jordan Howard lacked. This, of course, means Howard is gone and that Tarik Cohen will likely see a more consistent role, but if Chicago doesn’t grab another running back in the draft or free agency, Davis’ stock is on the rise for fantasy

Carlos Hyde, RB, Chiefs
This is probably the best news so far for Damien Williams, as Hyde has not looked good lately and isn’t good as a receiver. Williams put up a strong stretch after Kareem Hunt was let go and is still the top back for fantasy in Kansas City. There is always a chance the Chiefs will go after a running back in the 2019 NFL Draft, but for the time being, I’m feeling pretty good about Williams for fantasy in 2019.

Danny Amendola, WR, Lions
The Lions don’t appear to be making moves that would point toward opening up their offense, and Amendola is one of those moves. He’s a solid player and will see plenty of work out of the slot, but I expect the Detroit’s passing game to end up behind most of the league, as coach Matt Patricia wants to lean on the run.

Adam Humphries, WR, Titans
Humphries earned his payday with a strong 2018, but the Bucs were one of the pass-heaviest teams in the league, which is the opposite of the Titans. I would be shocked if he could match his 2018 stats with Tennessee this season.

Jesse James, TE, Lions
James is another acquisition who points toward the Lions sticking to the run, as he was used as a blocker on 50 percent of his snaps last season and isn’t a dynamic offensive player. As the likely starter, he will have value in 2-TE leagues, but that’s about it.

C.J. Uzomah, WR, Bengals
Uzomah is another middling tight end who looks like he’ll be the de facto starter. Last season, he was a big part of the offense with Tyler Eifert and A.J. Green out for much of the year, but he ended up with 43 receptions on 61 targets for 439 yards and three touchdowns. With a full season as a starter, Uzomah could put up good enough stats to be a streamer now and then, but he didn’t show me enough with a good target load, and the Bengals will try to keep him from being a top target this season.

Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets
Crowder is one of my favorite receivers, as I love his ability, but injuries and an awful Washington offense derailed him last season. Now, he’ll go to a Jets team that has yet to find its identity. If he can stay healthy, he should be one of the top contributors, but Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Chris Herndon all have good skill sets, making a path to big target numbers a crowded one for Crowder.

Frank Gore, RB, Bills
Gore’s big fantasy numbers are behind him, but in Buffalo, he should see plenty of use, as the Bills like to run the ball early and often and LeSean McCoy is often dealing with nagging injuries. I wouldn’t draft Gore, but in really deep leagues, he could have intermittent value this season.

Gore’s absence from Miami could be a nice boon for Kenyan Drake, and thankfully Adam Gase is out of town, so Drake at least has a chance to win the starting job.

Tyler Kroft, TE, Bills
Kroft should have the inside track for the starting tight end job, but there will be some competition, and this Bills team will continue to run first, which is death for a tight end.

Devin Funchess, WR, Colts
Funchess lands in a good situation on a “prove it” deal in Indianapolis, but it’s more of a good situation for him than for fantasy players, as he’ll need to “prove it” to us as well as the Colts. He’ll be worth drafting this season to see if he can rebound from a down year and fight off the tight ends for some red-zone targets, but I’m not high on his ability.

March 1 Updates

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
Witten has decided to return to the NFL after taking a year off to sit it in the Monday Night Football booth. He is not coming back to a full-time job, as he’ll play around 25 snaps a game for $3.5 million. Witten will likely be a good addition for the team, but he’s not going to be worth much of anything in fantasy at just 25 snaps. The real win here is for everyone who had to suffer through his commentary on Monday Night Football.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks
Baldwin underwent knee and shoulder surgeries this offseason. This has become a bit of a pattern for Baldwin, as he’s played through injuries more often than not of late. If he can actually get healthy and stay healthy, he is still in a good position to put up strong fantasy numbers, but his injuries are starting to worry me, so I’ll likely be more apt to draft Tyler Lockett this year.

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he is confident that Greg Olsen will be back in 2019. Olsen has now lost much of the last two seasons to a foot injury, but if he were to remain healthy, he would continue to be a top fantasy tight end. The trouble is, we just can’t count on him staying healthy at this point. Much will depend on his average draft position in fantasy, but my main takeaway from this news is to buy Ian Thomas in dynasty, hoping for a bit of a discount.

Lamar Miller, RB, Texans
Texans GM believe Lamar Miller will be the lead back once again this season. Miller did a few good things last year and was helped by DeShaun Watson starting and D’Onta Foreman’s troubles rehabbing his Achilles injury. If Foreman were to show that he has returned to his pre-injury form, Miller could have trouble keeping the bulk of the work, but right now, I don’t have much trust in Foreman’s ability to be the player he was. That could mean Miller will have some value this coming season.

Anthony Miller, WR, Bears
Miller dealt with a shoulder injury much of his rookie season and had surgery in January. He is expected to be ready for training camp, and if he is healthy in his second season, I expect him to see a marked improvement in fantasy stats, as Matt Nagy will be in his second year and Mitch Trubisky should improve in his third season.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst appears set to keep Jimmy Graham for 2019. It was a disappointing season for Graham, but the state of tight ends in the NFL probably plays into keeping him around despite his salary. If he falls out of being a top-10 tight end in ADP, I’ll consider giving him another shot with a hopefully better Packers offense.

Jordan Howard, RB, Bears
Howard is being shopped around for a trade, but I doubt there will be any takers unless they can wrangle a late-round draft pick for him. He had some good fantasy days last season, but more often than not, he did little to nothing. Matt Nagy’s offense doesn’t call for a one-dimensional bruiser who averages under four-yards-per-carry, and really no offense should call for that. Tarik Cohen deserves more looks as it is, so getting rid of Howard would be nice for Cohen’s fantasy value.

Also, check out our Fantasy Football Rankings.

2019 Fantasy Football - Choose Article Fantasy Football Rankings ---------------------- Fantasy Rankings --------------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/26 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/17 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/4 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/17 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/17 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/29 Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/12 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 5/11 2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 5/11 2019 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/27 --------------- Fantasy Football Mock Drafts --------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/29 2019 Fantasy Football Real Draft - 8/28 2019 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/22 2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/15 2019 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/8 2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/1 2019 Fantasy Football Experts Draft - 6/23 2019 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft --------------- Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets --------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Half-PPR - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown-Only - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/4 --------------- Fantasy Football Articles --------------- 2019 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp, OTAs - 9/4 2019 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/1 2019 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/30 2019 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/30 2019 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/27 2019 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Values - 8/20 2019 Fantasy Football: Running Back Values - 8/13 2019 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Values - 8/8 2019 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/7

More 2019 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings

2019 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/26 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/12 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/4 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/12 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/12 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/29 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/12 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 5/11 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 5/11 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/27 (Walt)



2019 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/29 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Real Draft - 8/28 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/15 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/8 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Experts Draft - 6/23 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft - 5/23 (Walt)



2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Half-PPR - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/4 (Walt)

2019 Fantasy Football Articles:
2019 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/4 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/1 (Walt)
2019 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/30 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/30 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/27 (Walt)
2019 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Values - 8/20 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football: Running Back Values - 8/13 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Values - 8/8 (Chet)
2019 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/7 (Walt)






NFL Picks - Dec. 13


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11


NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9


2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4