Cleveland Browns QB Robert Griffin III is working on planting his back foot before throwing passes, and head coach Hue Jackson said Griffin is doing a good job of checking the ball down.
Griffin hasn't stood out in practices so far, so camp and the preseason will be important for him. The Browns paid him like they expect him to win the starting job, but Josh McCown was playing well last year and they would be best served going with him unless Griffin truly wins the job.
Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders is entering the final year of his contract but is not worried about his contract situation because he believes something will be worked out.
Sanders probably won't ever get paid close to the level that he earned during the last two years with Peyton Manning, entering free agency next year as a 30-year old. The Broncos got him at a relatively cheap three-year, 15 million dollar deal that he could eclipse next year, but not significantly.
It looks more likely that Eugene Monroe will be a Giant at this point. Beatty was unable to play in 2015 due to multiple injuries, and the Giants released him, saving over four million dollars. Even though the Giants have depth issues at tackle and Beatty was once a steady starter for them, they seem to have little to no interest in bringing him back at any cost.
New York Giants rookie WR Sterling Shepard appears to be an 'instant-impact player' and was one of the receivers to impress the team during the spring. WR Darius Powe and WR Roger Lewis - a pair of undrafted rookie free agents from California and Bowling Green, respectively - have also caught the coaching staff's eye as well.
Shepard is basically unobstructed for the #2 job with Victor Cruz still struggling to show that he is even healthy enough to make the team. That leaves Dwayne Harris as the only other experienced receiver on the roster, with second-year UDFA Geremy Davis also in the mix. Powe has terrific measureables at 6'3" 220 with 4.49 speed and top-end quickness metrics, and Lewis is a long-striding deep ball receiver who fell out of the draft more on character concerns than talent deficiencies.
Buffalo Bills WR Sammy Watkins (foot) was noncommittal about his status for training camp. Watkins said if he's not ready for training camp then he'll get ready for the first game of the regular season.
Watkins stance is more optimistic than the complete non-committal stance he took recently, but it is still hard to know if we should significantly move him down from the second round ADP he had before offseason foot surgery. The talent to deliver on that ADP is obviously there, but the durability might not be.
The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with WR Will Fuller on a four-year, $10.2 million contract, according to a source familiar with the terms of the deal. All first-round contracts include a fifth-year option.
Fuller will compete with a reshaped Jaelen Strong to be the complement to DeAndre Hopkins outside with Cecil Shorts in the slot. Fuller's deep speed will give him a boom/bust fantasy profile, but if he can start, Hopkins should draw a lot of attention, freeing up Fuller for one-on-one matchups. As long as he can catch the ball consistently and not revert to body catching, Fuller should be an effective field stretcher.
The knee Ramsey allegedly had microfracture surgery on as a teenager appears to be healing well from a meniscus clean up. He should be ready to matchup against Jordy Nelson in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Cleveland Browns WR Terrelle Pryor has made progress as a receiver, but the coaches want him to produce in contact drills when he is being covered tightly.
Pryor made a catch on a deep ball last year that looked natural and he has the size/speed/athleticism combination that can be almost unfair to defensive backs. Deep dynasty leaguers should monitor Pryor's progress because he is at his athletic peak at age 27, and there's plenty of opportunity in the Browns passing game.
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Cleveland Browns WR Andrew Hawkins missed eight games with a concussion and other injuries in 2015, but he has looked good as a slot receiver during offseason workouts.
The Browns might have no choice but to lean on Hawkins to the tune of at least 60-70 receptions - that is if he can stay on the field. They have no proven wide receivers beyond Hawkins and Gary Barnidge if you count tight ends. In very deep PPR leagues, he could get on the radar this year.
Source: TheRams.com - Myles Simmons
Los Angeles Rams RB Todd Gurley will be the focal point of the offense, offensive coordinator Rob Boras said, but head coach Jeff Fisher said the ball will be spread around a little more to try to generate explosive plays.
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Gurley is going in the mid-first round, and he has a chance to be the most valuable player in fantasy leagues this year. He should take over a larger role in the passing game, and he is likely to be even more impressive physically now that he is well over one year removed from his ACL tear.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Atlanta Falcons TE Austin Hooper has impressed offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan with his route-running ability and ball skills. 'He really comes off the ball hard,' Shanahan said. 'He's not the fastest guy in the world, but he's fast enough. He's got good cutting ability, so he can break guys off at the top of his routes.'
Jacob Tamme isn't a high bar to overcome, so Hooper could be the rare fantasy-relevant rookie tight end by year's end in a Falcons pass offense that lacks a proven #2 target.
Thomas had a four game touchdown scoring streak last year, but he also had two of fewer catches in half of his games. While a hand injury got him off to a slow start in 2015, Thomas won't move ahead of Allen Hurns or Allen Robinson in the pecking order. He's still a low TE1 in early drafts, but he is cheap enough to be a solid Plan A.
Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett will be moved around on offense in 2016 and is a central part of the team's offensive plans, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Lockett has spent this offseason working on beating press coverage.
Another day, and another positive story about Lockett. The second-year player has the quickness and agility to create his own space with ease. He's a threat to score anytime the ball is in his hands, and Lockett is a player fantasy owners need to add when possible. The Seahawks passing game is likely to be robust once again this year, and Lockett will be a big part of what they do through the air. His current ADP is WR36 (7.11) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Baltimore Ravens WR Mike Wallace said he isn't as fast as he was as the slot receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers four years ago, but he thinks he can still get it done. 'I think I've gotten better, even though (the) numbers don't say so,' Wallace said. 'I think I'll get better this year, and I'll show some people I have a lot up my sleeve.'
Wallace's game is all about speed to get by defenders on "go" routes. If he's not as fast, then he may not be as effective. Of course, he hasn't been a fantasy factor for a few years. Mostly, Wallace has disappointed since he left the Steelers. He was a top-10 fantasy WR with the Steelers, since then his highest ranking is 18th in 2014 when he was with the Dolphins. This season, we can only forecast Wallace as a WR6 for fantasy owners.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz might not even dress on game days, and QB Chase Daniel would likely take over as the starter if QB Sam Bradford goes down, according to beat writer Jimmy Kempski.
Wentz is coming from the FCS level, so the change in the speed of the game will be even more pronounced, and the team is paying Bradford and Daniel a lot of money this year. The Eagles have no incentive to rush Wentz and would be smart to be patient unless both Bradford and Daniel crater.
Rolle had a disappointing season for the Bears in 2015. In seven games, he played 360 snaps and compiled 35 tackles with only one pass breakup. There's a possibility he ends up with the Dolphins, but Rolle may not find a new team until after training camp starts.
Langford is going to have to do better than that if he wants a three-down role with the Bears this season. With Matt Forte (Jets) moving on in free agency, the Bears are looking to Langford as their lead back. However, we should see all-purpose back Ka'Deem Carey mixed in (especially since he's a good receiver) and rookie Jordan Howard may be the best pure runner on the team's roster. It's looking like a three-headed RBBC for the Bears this year, so fantasy owners should consider Langford a RB3 in 2016.
New England Patriots WR Nate Washington had trouble getting on the same page as QB Tom Brady during organized team activities. He's at risk of missing the final roster if he does not impress at training camp.
Washington is a vertical threat for the Patriots...something the team lacks. However, the market for him was ice cold for a good reason. We've seen veteran WRs come to New England only to fade due to a lack of chemistry with Brady. Washington is no lock to make the 53-man roster.
Washington Redskins TE Vernon Davis may not make the final roster if he does not improve as a pass-catcher and blocker, according to The Washington Post's Mike Jones. Jones currently has Davis penciled in as the No. 4 tight end in Washington.
We wouldn't be shocked if Davis fails to make the 53-man roster in Washington. The Broncos traded for him last year, but Davis did next to nothing for the team as they won a Super Bowl. Jordan Reed is the top TE for Washington, and guys like Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen could be more valuable to the team as reserve players at the position. Davis is a name everyone knows, but his game pales in comparison to what it used to be.
Washington Redskins rookie RB Keith Marshall and rookie QB Nate Sudfeld were left off the 53-man roster projection by Mike Jones of The Washington Post.
We'll be watching both rookies closely. Marshall has the ability to be a quality starter if he can only stay healthy. A former star for the Georgia Bulldogs, Marshall suffered a knee injury that set him back for a couple of seasons. He's fast, agile and able to make defenders miss with ease. Sudfeld is a tall pocket passer with a strong arm. If these two rookies don't make the 53-man roster, we think both could stick as practice squad players i 2016.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he believes the offense is in better shape than he was last year because it will be the second year under offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, who will have more control of the offense. Trestman said the main focus for the offense is to cut down on the turnovers in 2016.
The Trestman offense can produce big fantasy numbers, and the Ravens should be more comfortable with the system in 2016. We feel QB Joe Flacco could outperform his current ADP of QB25 (14.09) in 12-team PPR leagues. Veteran WR Steve Smith is their highest drafted receiver with a current ADP of WR38 (8.07). Keep both players in mind when looking for value in your drafts.
Bell may actually be ready to play at that time, but the Steelers may not want to risk anything by playing their superstar back in an exhibition game. If he does play in Week 3 of the preseason, we'd imagine that Bell would play a limited number of snaps. The plan is to have him ready for Week 1 of the regular season. At this time, things seem to be on track.
Those numbers should make fantasy owners drool. The rookie RB has the upside to be one of the best in the game, and Elliott should make an immediate (and huge) impact in the NFL. The only RB to get 300 carries last year was Adrian Peterson (Vikings), and the next closest starter was Doug Martin (Buccaneers) at 288 carries. Elliott will be the centerpiece of the Cowboys offense in 2016, and he could finish the year as a top-5 fantasy RB. We currently have him a little lower than that in the RB 7-9 range. His current ADP is RB6 (2.03) in 12-team PPR leagues so it looks like everyone else is high on him too.
Cleveland Browns QB Robert Griffin III will have to earn the starting job during the offseason, training camp and the preseason. Beat writer Tony Grossi said in a radio interview Monday, June 27, that Griffin has been underwhelming. 'He is learning a new offense. First of all he is healthy, he's very healthy. He looks physically like the old Robert Griffin in that he's moving great, he can zing the ball pretty well, but that's just the first step,' Grossi said.
Griffin is trying to revamp his pro career after things fell apart in Washington. He's healthy now, and his athleticism gives him a great advantage. However, he needs to be better as a passer and make plays with his arm under pressure. We'll see if Griffin can beat out Josh McCown for the starting job. But watch this one closely as if he wins the job, his ceiling could make him a value at the likely super cheap price where you'll be able to obtain him.
There's no word on whether or not Amendola will be ready to go by the start of training camp, but this report seems to indicate that he will. He played through about half of last year with a knee problem and was able to snare 65 catches for 648 yards and three touchdowns. Other targets could emerge behind TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Julian Edelman this season, and thus Amendola is mostly just a player for the waiver-wire speed dial for fantasy owners.
Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota said he will hand the ball off 40 times if that's what it takes to win. 'That's what's important to me, to (give) us an opportunity to win,' Mariota said. 'Having those two workhorses back there should help us out.'
The Titans have a rushing game led by DeMarco Murray with rookie Derrick Henry in the mix as well. That facet of their offense should be featured...if the defense can keep the team in games. Mariota's fantasy value will be limited by the nature of the offense, so fantasy owners should look at him as a mid-range QB2. His current ADP is QB16 (11.07) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Oakland Raiders WR Amari Cooper has received praise for his performance during the team's offseason program, and he has continued to build rapport with QB Derek Carr. He has appeared confident and comfortable this spring.
That's good news for the Raiders (and fantasy owners), but it's bad news for opponents. Cooper has the upside to be the best WR in the game today, and building better chemistry with Carr should only help him perform better in 2016. Last year, Cooper ranked 23rd at the WR position in standard-scoring leagues. This season we won't be surprised to see Cooper finish the year in the top 15. His current ADP is WR12 (2.08) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Seattle Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise is going to need to have a really good training camp, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Carroll implied that Prosise has been somewhat of a disappointment this offseason, but he did take note of Prosise's athleticism and skill set.
A hip injury has slowed the rookie during OTAs and minicamp. Prosise was the first one of three RBs selected by the Seahawks in the 2016 NFL draft. A converted WR from Notre Dame, Prosise was the starting RB for the Fighting Irish for only one season. He's got smooth athleticism in the open field, but Prosise needs to learn better timing as a runner. Too often in college he would be too patient waiting for blocks to develop, and thus he would not maximize the yardage gained on the ground. We'll see if he can impress in training camp.
Source: The Seattle Times - Bob Condotta
Seattle Seahawks rookie TE Nick Vannett has exceeded expectations so far in his first offseason. Head coach Pete Carroll said Vannett is a natural pass-catcher despite being billed as more of a blocking tight end. 'He shows the savvy and instincts that you hope a guy has,' Carroll said, adding that QB Russell Wilson has really clicked with Vannett.
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Lance Zierlein, from NFL.com, compared Vannett to Zach Ertz (Eagles) in his draft profile of the Ohio State prospect. We like that comparison as Vannett has a great size/athleticism combination. Vannett has a large catch radius and is not afraid to make catches in traffic. The rookie will be competing for a spot on the depth chart behind starter Jimmy Graham. Vannett is a player we're targeting in deep dynasty leagues. Back to Top
The Colts know that Luck can be the best QB in the league, and it's no surprise they would lock him up at this point. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Luck's five-year extension is actually a six-year deal. It is worth a little more than $139 million in total, which is a new NFL record. It also comes with $87 million in guaranteed money, also an all-time record. With new contract in hand, Luck should be in for a high-end QB1 season for fantasy owners.
We'd like to believe that Manziel is serious about getting his life back on track. It's going to be a long road for him, and Manziel may not get back in the league even if he sobers up. There's still a domestic violence incident in Texas that needs to be dealt with before teams would even decide whether or not to pick him up. We don't think he plays in 2016, and we'd be shocked if he ever turned out to be more than a cautionary tale.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tyler Boyd performed well during offseason workouts and will help in the passing game, but wide receivers coach James Urban wants to see how Boyd does during training camp before making him the No. 2 or No. 3 receiver.
The Bengals need some help at the WR position after losing both Mohamed Sanu (Falcons) and Marvin Jones (Lions) in free agency. Boyd was the team's second-round pick this year out of PITT. During his college career, Boyd was a sure-handed receiver who was used to a large workload. Over each of the last three years, Boyd had been targeted 124 times or more. We'll see if he can earn the starting job opposite A.J. Green at some point this year.
Baltimore Ravens WR Mike Wallace showed he is a complete receiver during offseason workouts and is expected to be a big part of the offense in 2016, according to head coach John Harbaugh.
Wallace was a disappointment in his one year with the Vikings. He hasn't been a top-5 fantasy WR since he was with the Steelers in 2010 and 2011, and we're not expecting him to regain his form now that he's back in the AFC North. The Ravens are looking for someone to stretch the field, but Wallace may not be as fast as he used to be. Fantasy owners should consider him a WR6 who could have some splash plays here or there.
New York Giants QB Eli Manning said he expects to offense to score more points in 2016 and believes they will be able to score at least 28 points per game. Manning believes the addition of WR Sterling Shepard and the return of WR Victor Cruz and TE Larry Donnell will help the passing game.
Manning could be correct in his prediction. Everyone knows that Beckham is a superstar, but adding the rookie Shepard to the mix could pay huge dividends for the offense. The dynamic rookie from Oklahoma is tough to get a bead on. He can make defenders miss with ease in the open field, and Shepard is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. The added weapons in the passing game should help Manning put up good fantasy numbers in 2016. His current ADP is QB11 (9.03) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Tennessee Titans WR Dorial Green-Beckham said he's been studying his playbook a lot this offseason and furthering his knowledge on what his assignments are. Head coach Mike Mularkey said Green-Beckham has improved this offseason, but he wants to see more in order for the young receiver to reach his full potential.
Green-Beckham is far from a finished product, and it's good to hear that he's doing everything he can to improve. From a physical standpoint, Green-Beckham is big, fast and can win at the point of the catch. From a technical point of view, the second-year pro needs to refine his routes and learn how to set up defenders better. The Titans are going to have a run-heavy offense, so the passing game numbers will be limited. Green-Beckham has a current ADP of WR40 (9.01) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Minnesota Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson admitted that after he was the No. 29 overall pick in 2013, he didn't always work as hard as he should have. 'Sometimes you can be here and you feel like you've got to be on the team,' Patterson said. 'You feel like, 'Yeah, I'm a first-round pick, I'm on the team.' Things like that, sometimes they make you not work hard, they make you don't want to do things, make you be lazy.' Patterson had 45 catches for 469 yards in his rookie season but lost his starting job midway through 2014 and had just two catches for 10 yards in 2015.
Zero surprise here. Patterson has all the physical tools you want in a WR, but he's been a total bust as a player because he lacks the dedication to refine his technique. He's the 4th WR on the depth chart (at best) with the Vikings, and Patterson will likely need a new team to revamp his career...if he can.
Free-agent OT Eugene Monroe (Ravens) is still weighing his options and is no rush to sign with a team. 'I don't feel like I have to jump on one of the first opportunities that come up,' Monroe said. 'I'm just trying to be patient, wait on the right opportunity.'
Monroe could still be an effective starter in the league, and it's wise for him to take his time. When training camps start in the NFL, we feel the market should (and will) heat up for the veteran tackle.
Seattle Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin was one of the most effective pass catchers in 2015. Of the 87 receivers to play at least 25% of their teams' snaps last year and accrue an average depth of target beyond 10 yards, Baldwin's completion rate of 79% was first overall. Baldwin was also the only wideout to have double-digit touchdowns and average at least 10 yards per target.
Baldwin likely had a career-best season in 2015. Fantasy owners should not be expecting him to duplicate the 14 TDs he had last year. He's still a favorite target of QB Russell Wilson, but we may see second-year pro Tyler Lockett emerge with a larger role. We like Baldwin as a low-end WR2 for fantasy owners.
There's no doubt that we're rooting for Smith. He was likely a top-10 pick before the injury (sustained on what many think was a dirty play), but now Smith may never be the same player. The Cowboys had to factor in the possibility of Smith missing his rookie season, so this news shouldn't surprise that much. However, it all comes down to next season. We're hoping that Smith can get healthy and become the star NFL player he looked like at Notre Dame.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Jeremy Maclin invited WR Chris Conley to work out with him at the team's training facility in the offseason. WR Albert Wilson joined them to lift weights, watch film and work on route concepts four days a week until the team's offseason workout program in mid-April. Conley and Wilson are the team's No. 2 and 3 receivers, and trying to hold off newcomers WR Rod Streater and WR Tyreek Hill.
Conley is the player to watch here. We love his ability to crisply run the entire route tree. He's got the athleticism to get open with ease, and Conley has the speed to get by defenders quickly. Wilson is a fiery receiver who is built like a running back. No matter who emerges as the 2nd or 3rd WR in Kansas City, there will not be many fantasy points scored. Both Conley and Wilson are players to look at in dynasty leagues only at this time.
Free-agent QB Tarvaris Jackson (Seahawks) is not expected to re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks after serving as the backup there for the past three years. The team has QBs Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps on the roster as backups to starting QB Russell Wilson.
Jackson is facing a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly threatening his wife with a gun. He's not going to get a look from any team until this serious matter is cleared up. Jackson is likely done playing in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks QB Trevone Boykin was charged with assault this week in connection with an incident Dec. 31 in San Antonio. He was arrested after being thrown out of a car, and then he allegedly struck a police officer, according to multiple reports.
This isn't a new incident, and it's one the team was well aware of when they added Boykin as an undrafted free agent this year. Boykin is in line to win the job as the primary backup behind Russell Wilson in 2016.
San Diego Chargers RB Melvin Gordon (knee) is expected to be 100% healthy when training camp begins in late July. Gordon underwent microfracture knee surgery in early January this year.
Great news for the Chargers, Gordon and fantasy GMs looking for a nice value. Right now his ADP is 72 overall and RB27, which places him as an RB3. If he's healthy heading into camp, we should see a rise in that average by the end of August, so get in quick as he could have RB2 value this season.
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Cleveland Browns QB Robert Griffin III is likely to be the starter in 2016 as head coach Hue Jackson appears to be 'all-in' on Griffin. Jackson and quarterback's coach Pep Hamilton have coached Griffin up on every aspect of the position, and Griffin has worked on sliding and throwing the ball away.
Even though some beat writers took shots at Griffin in minicamp and OTAs, it's sort of felt like Hue Jackson had his man the moment they signed him. Unless something goes sideways in camp, Griffin looks to be the guy to start the season. That said, in this offense, he's basically a high upside, no floor "what the heck" option.
Woodhead is a solid PPR catch this year again, and should be a nice RB2/RB3 play in PPR leagues. With Melvin Gordon still recovering from microfracture knee surgery he had in January, expect the Chargers to continue to feature Woodhead as a change-of-pace back.
And this doesn't even include the likely suspension for his domestic violence case. Nobody was interested in bringing Manziel in so in many ways this is a non-factor, but it seems as though his days in the NFL are close to done.
Source: The Advocate - Joel A. Erickson
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees has confidence in his young corps of wide receivers led by WR Brandin Cooks and WR Willie Snead. 'I think when Drew is out there, he doesn't look at Brandin Cooks as a young player,' head coach Sean Payton said. 'I don't think he looks at Snead that way anymore because of the experience they've had. There's a combination there of guys that know what to do and how do they fit with the scheme that we're asking of them.'
We are confident as well. Both Cooks and Snead were good last year and it's hard to see them as all that inexperienced. We think the passing offense is just fine. Right now we see Brees as a solid QB1, Cooks as a nice WR2 and Snead as a serviceable WR5 with upside.
Cincinnati Bengals RB Giovani Bernard could be used in more two-back sets with RB Jeremy Hill to make up for the loss of TE Tyler Eifert (ankle) early in the season.
The more both of them are on the field together, the better, at least as far as the overall offense is concerned. The downside is that it might be hard to figure out how the carries will split out, at least early in the season. Right now we have them both as RB3, and both are tracking an ADP of between RB20-25.
Baltimore Ravens TE Maxx Williams may not see an ideal amount of targets due to the Ravens' depth at tight end this year. Williams isn't worried, though. He said the tight end group is going to make each other better and 'figure it out' as the season approaches.
We'd agree with this assessment. Unless an injury to Ben Watson happens, we don't see Williams getting as much work as he could have. Williams is a fine prospect, and we love his upside in dynasty leagues. However, Watson is the better player now and should be the lead TE for Baltimore in 2016.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Darrius Heyward-Bey could remain high on the Steelers' depth chart this season, mainly due to his speed. Heyward-Bey has reached up to 25 miles per hour while running this offseason.
Is there anyone left to play on defense? If the Cowboys get anyone else suspended or hurt, they might have to strap in Jerry Jones himself or the Cowboy mascot, Rowdy. Heck, if you're near Valley Ranch, check in—they might have a job for you.
Is this a news post from 2015? No, it just seems like that since McClain was suspended part of last season as well. The Cowboys defense was already a huge concern and it continues to get worse in Dallas.
Despite driving 143 MPH evading police cars with a child in the car and reeking of pot. Meanwhile, Tom Brady is suspended four games for an underinflated ball. You have to love the NFL's random suspension generator.
San Francisco 49ers WR Quinton Patton sees a chance to prove his himself in a fresh offensive system with few established veterans and plenty of competition. 'There's a lot of opportunity out there with (Chip Kelly) coming in with his offense, and the offense slinging the ball around,' he said in a radio interview.
Last year in the largest role of his pro career, Patton didn't do much and finished with 30 catches for 394 yards across 424 snaps. This season, we're not crazy about his fantasy upside as a potential starter across from Torrey Smith. The 49ers passing game is one we're not loading up on in our fantasy drafts, and you should follow suit.
Ferguson is a player we love to add in super deep dynasty leagues. He's a quick player with the agility to create his own space as a runner. Ferguson can be used effectively as a receiver out of the backfield, and it wouldn't take much for the rookie to find himself near the top of the depth chart behind starter Frank Gore. Keep him on your waiver-wire speed dial for re-draft leagues.
Good luck with that. He'll be suspended for four games (and maybe more) regardless of where or when he ends up back in the NFL. Recent pictures of Manziel show just how out of football shape he is, so if he's truly committed to the game he needs to stop partying and add muscle. It's a QB desperate league, so perhaps there would be some team willing to take a chance on him....but the odds he's back in the NFL in 2017 are slim.
Donnell is not a slappy, but his injury history and inconsistency may cause him to lose out to Tye. In 2015 over the final eight games of his rookie season, Tye was targeted 50 times for 34 receptions , 387 yards and 3 touchdowns. He could pay off as a TE2 for fantasy owners this year. Right now, neither TE is getting drafted in most leagues. Keep Tye (if he wins the job) on your waiver-wire speed dial.
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Marc Trestman said the Ravens will continue to be a run-first team in 2016. 'We're always looking at ourselves as a team that should be able to run the ball first,' Trestman said. 'That's just the way we want to play it, and everything starts with the physicality of our run game, and the physicality of our runner. That's how we coach offense here, and everything starts there.'
Fantasy owners need to keep this in mind when considering RB Justin Forsett. Last year, the Ravens used parts of the Gary Kubiak offense ran in 2014 while Trestman tried to implement some of what he did. This year, the Kubiak fingerprints will still be on this offense but Trestman should be a bit more comfortable with adding some of his scheme. Forsett needs to stay healthy, and if he does we see him as a low-end RB2 with upside. His current ADP is RB32 (7.07) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson has averaged 131.7 yards from scrimmage per game since he entered the starting lineup in Week 13 last year, which was the most in the NFL. Johnson also had the fastest speed by a running back as a ball carrier in 2015, per Next Gen Stats.
From Week 13 thru Week 17, only Devonta Freeman (Falcons) had more carries (98) than Johnson's 90. The Cardinals young star back led the NFL with a whopping 229 rushing yards after contact during that time. Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington should have roles, but David Johnson is set to be the Cardinals lead back. His current ADP is RB3 (1.09) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Houston Texans LB Whitney Mercilus (hamstring) said he is feeling healthy and will visit with a specialist in early July. He said he plans to be ready for the start of training camp.
Mercilus was a beast last year for the Texans. He compiled a career-high 11 sacks while also snaring 32 tackles, forcing one fumble (plus recovering it) and defending two passes. This hamstring injury sidelined him for OTAs and minicamp, but Mercilus stuck around the team facility to continue his rehab. The Texans should wisely be cautious with him at the start of camp.
Detroit Lions RB Zach Zenner (rib, lung) is expected to receive plenty of carries this preseason to prove he is physically recovered from last year's injuries and ready to handle live tackling.
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Zenner has to prove that he can be more than a jack of all trades back. He's big and can make his living between the tackles, and Zenner can be a reliable receiver out of the backfield. Does he have the burst/acceleration to make it as a pro back? That's one of the big question marks for Zenner entering year two of his pro career. Back to Top
Cincinnati Bengals rookie WR Tyler Boyd should expect his share of catches this season as long as he progresses through training camp the same way he steadily improved during workouts this spring, according to his receivers coach James Urban.
It seems like we get a positive Boyd story at least once a week this offseason...for good reason. The rookie from PITT is a smooth athlete with the body control to make difficult catches seem routine. As a slot receiver, Boyd could show off that athleticism, his fearlessness and run-after-the-catch ability. He was targeted 128 times in 2015, snared 91 passes for 926 yards and had 394 yards after the catch. Over 56 percent of his receptions in 2015 went for a TD or a first down. Boyd is the best receiver the Bengals have not named A.J. Green. We love his dynasty value, but in re-draft leagues he's only a WR6 or WR7 right now.
Denver Broncos QB Mark Sanchez must win the starting quarterback job in training camp, according to The Denver Post's Troy Renck. Renck said he originally thought it was Sanchez's job to lose, but he still gives him a slight edge as the starter.
The Broncos aren't going to hand anyone the job...including QB of the future and 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch. The team has gone through the offseason with Sanchez running the first-team offense. He's in the lead as of right now, but he'll need to secure the job with a good performance in training camp and the preseason. Fantasy owners need to recognize the Broncos passing attack is no longer going to be what it once was. Sanchez is a low-end QB2 in the run-heavy Gary Kubiak offense.
New York Jets TE Jace Amaro has put much effort into making himself a better blocker this offseason, according to tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson. 'You can see that he's put a lot of effort into trying to improve that part of his game,' Johnson said.
Amaro is in a make-or-break year for the Jets...but it seems like he's in one of those every year. He's a tease for fantasy owners because he has the natural skill set to produce at a higher level than he has, but Amaro has never played up to his potential. He's at the top of the TE depth chart for the Jets, but we can't trust him as anything more than a low-end TE3 for fantasy owners.
Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders has had good talks with the Broncos regarding a new contract, according to The Denver Post's Troy Renck.
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With the deals handed out to Allen Hurns (Jaguars) and Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), we should see Sanders get a similar deal from the Broncos. They signed him to a bargain-bin price with a three-year, $15 million deal back in 2014. Entering the final year of his deal, the Broncos want to get Sanders a new contract that keeps him with the team for the foreseeable future. We should see Sanders get a deal that pays him around $10 million annually. Back to Top CLE - Cleveland high on Carl Nassib
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
The Cleveland Browns signed DE Carl Nassib, their third-round draft pick, earlier this week for four years and about $3,229,756 according to projections. He missed minicamp due to an undisclosed injury, but the team is still very high on him. 'If you're an interior lineman, that's a nightmare to handle. He plays with a relentless motor. I know people talked about that with (Joey Bosa) at the top of the draft. Nassib probably has as good a motor if not better,' head of football operations Sashi Brown said.
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The Browns should be excited about the rookie. He began his career at Penn State as a walk-on and worked his way up as a special teams player only to get a featured role in 2015 and lead the nation in sacks with 15.5 takedowns. Nassib has plenty of upside left, and with proper coaching we could see him turning into a Derek Wolfe (Broncos) like prospect for the Browns. Back to Top
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NFL Player News - Week of 6/27/16
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