Saturday Update
Redskins | Dwayne Haskins still shedding weight
Washington Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins said he is down to 218 pounds after weighing 237 pounds at the start of last season. 'I'll be more dynamic,' he said.
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Dwayne Haskins player page
49ers | George Kittle productive in passing game
San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle caught 59 passes that resulted in either a first down or a touchdown during the 2019 season, which ranked second among tight ends.
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George Kittle player page
Chiefs | Travis Kelce made most of catches
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce caught 71 passes that resulted in either a first down or a touchdown during the 2019 season, which ranked first among tight ends.
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Travis Kelce player page
49ers | Kendrick Bourne taking part in workouts
San Francisco 49ers WR Kendrick Bourne has been working out with QB Jimmy Garoppolo on a consistent basis over the last several weeks.
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Kendrick Bourne player page
49ers | Brandon Aiyuk works out with QB
San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk participated in a workout with QB Jimmy Garoppolo and some of his other teammates Wednesday, June 10. Aiyuk said he was recently medically cleared for football activities.
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NFL | Antonio Brown avoids jail after plea deal
Updating previous reports, free-agent WR Antonio Brown (Patriots) pleaded no contest Friday, Jun 12, to charges related to felony battery of a moving-truck driver in January. Brown will avoid jail upon completing two years of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory psychological evaluation.
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Antonio Brown player page
Chiefs | Mecole Hardman excelled in slot
Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman had six receiving touchdowns from the slot in 2019 which tied for the most in the league, according to Pro Football Focus data.
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Mecole Hardman player page
Bears | Mitchell Trubisky standing ground
Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky said Friday, June 13, that he has been motivated by the team's offseason acquisition of QB Nick Foles. 'It was kind of interesting to be, but that's the business we live in,' Trubisky said in a Zoom media conference. 'I think I was kind of pissed off in a good way. I've been motivated ever since. ... I know we're going to push each other, but I still feel like this is my team.'
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Mitchell Trubisky player page
Broncos | OC: Phillip Lindsay to be involved
Denver Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay will still be involved in the team's passing game despite the ballyhooed offseason signing of RB Melvin Grordon, according to new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. 'Listen, I'm all for adding good players at every position,' Shurmur said Thursday, June 11 in a Zoom media conference. 'I feel like Phillip Lindsay's an outstanding player (who) we can hand the ball to or throw the ball to. The fact that we have two running backs now (who) can be very explosive with the ball in their hands, whether you throw it or run it, I think is a good thing.'
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Phillip Lindsay player page
Lions | Growth expected from T.J. Hockenson
Detroit Lions TE T.J. Hockenson was hurt more than most Lions pass-catchers following Mathew Stafford's season-ending injury in 2019, but Hockenson has the talent to blossom in his second pro season and should be a key part of an improved Lions offense, in the opinion of one NFL analyst.
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T.J. Hockenson player page
Falcons | WR1 hopes for Calvin Ridley
Atlanta Falcons WR Calvin Ridley has shown definite flashes as a No. 2 wide receiver, but the Falcons would rather he and Julio Jones produce like 'two WR1s' with the team's depth at the position lacking, according to one NFL analyst.
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Calvin Ridley player page
Jaguars | Laviska Shenault Jr. putting in work
Jacksonville Jaguars second-round pick WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (abdomen) is doing on-field work to rehab his core muscle injury he had operated on in February.
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Jets | Le'Veon Bell could be playing for contract
New York Jets RB Le'Veon Bell has no guaranteed money in his deal after this season. If he stays, he is due to make an $8 million salary and receive a $3 million roster bonus that the team is likely not willing to shell out unless he has a monster season.
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Le'Veon Bell player page
Source: footballguys.com
Redskins | Dwayne Haskins still shedding weight
Washington Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins said he is down to 218 pounds after weighing 237 pounds at the start of last season. 'I'll be more dynamic,' he said.
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Dwayne Haskins player page
49ers | George Kittle productive in passing game
San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle caught 59 passes that resulted in either a first down or a touchdown during the 2019 season, which ranked second among tight ends.
Footballguys view: Kittle only missed two games after suffering a leg injury that looked like it would be worse than that, and he even finished the game. He's hitting his peak and could overtake Travis Kelce to become fantasy's #1 tight end this year. He's worth the second-round pick it will likely cost to get him. |
George Kittle player page
Chiefs | Travis Kelce made most of catches
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce caught 71 passes that resulted in either a first down or a touchdown during the 2019 season, which ranked first among tight ends.
Footballguys view: Kelce is still the clear #1 tight end and will cost you a second round pick if you want him. George Kittle was closing in before getting hurt last year and should go soon after Kelce in fantasy drafts. |
Travis Kelce player page
49ers | Kendrick Bourne taking part in workouts
San Francisco 49ers WR Kendrick Bourne has been working out with QB Jimmy Garoppolo on a consistent basis over the last several weeks.
Footballguys view: Bourne has been a "glue guy" who has been effective in the red zone and knows the Kyle Shanahan offense well. They rewarded him with a second-round restricted free agent tender of 3.259 million this offseason and he could get signed to a reasonable long term extension before the season. He doesn't have fantasy relevance but might keep every 49ers receiver other than Deebo Samuel from mattering in fantasy leagues this year. |
Kendrick Bourne player page
49ers | Brandon Aiyuk works out with QB
San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk participated in a workout with QB Jimmy Garoppolo and some of his other teammates Wednesday, June 10. Aiyuk said he was recently medically cleared for football activities.
Footballguys view: Aiyuk had core muscle surgery before the draft but appears to be on schedule to be a full participant at the open of camp. He will be battling Kendrick Bourne and Dante Pettis for playing time. |
NFL | Antonio Brown avoids jail after plea deal
Updating previous reports, free-agent WR Antonio Brown (Patriots) pleaded no contest Friday, Jun 12, to charges related to felony battery of a moving-truck driver in January. Brown will avoid jail upon completing two years of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory psychological evaluation.
Footballguys view: Brown still has a civil sexual assault suit going forward to resolve, and it's likely the league and all teams won't move forward with reinstating or signing him until that is settled. It's very possible Brown never plays in the NFL again, but he probably can play at a high level if he does, so he's worth rostering in dynasty leagues and drafting late in best ball leagues if your philosophy of fantasy football doesn't preclude rostering players with off-field troubles like his. |
Antonio Brown player page
Chiefs | Mecole Hardman excelled in slot
Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman had six receiving touchdowns from the slot in 2019 which tied for the most in the league, according to Pro Football Focus data.
Footballguys view: Hardman is still relatively new to the wide receiver position, so he has plenty of room for his game to grow. The Chiefs brought back Demarcus Robinson in free agency and restructured Sammy Watkins deal to keep him, so Hardman's redraft value could be limited. He is still an excellent best ball pick at ADP and his dynasty value is sure to take off in the next year or two. |
Mecole Hardman player page
Bears | Mitchell Trubisky standing ground
Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky said Friday, June 13, that he has been motivated by the team's offseason acquisition of QB Nick Foles. 'It was kind of interesting to be, but that's the business we live in,' Trubisky said in a Zoom media conference. 'I think I was kind of pissed off in a good way. I've been motivated ever since. ... I know we're going to push each other, but I still feel like this is my team.'
Footballguys view: Trubisky and Foles are in an open quarterback battle, but Foles should be favored and Foles winning would be better for the offense and passing game targets unless Trubisky improves greatly this offseason. Trubisky is saying the right things, but he'll have to show that he's grasping the offense better than he did last year to follow through on this newfound motivation. |
Mitchell Trubisky player page
Broncos | OC: Phillip Lindsay to be involved
Denver Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay will still be involved in the team's passing game despite the ballyhooed offseason signing of RB Melvin Grordon, according to new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. 'Listen, I'm all for adding good players at every position,' Shurmur said Thursday, June 11 in a Zoom media conference. 'I feel like Phillip Lindsay's an outstanding player (who) we can hand the ball to or throw the ball to. The fact that we have two running backs now (who) can be very explosive with the ball in their hands, whether you throw it or run it, I think is a good thing.'
Footballguys view: Lindsay hasn't proven to be as good as receiver out of the backfield as Gordon, so don't expect this split to look at all like the Ekeler/Gordon split from the Chargers offense. Lindsay is still worth drafting in typical leagues, but he'll be only a matchup flex unless Gordon gets hurt. |
Phillip Lindsay player page
Lions | Growth expected from T.J. Hockenson
Detroit Lions TE T.J. Hockenson was hurt more than most Lions pass-catchers following Mathew Stafford's season-ending injury in 2019, but Hockenson has the talent to blossom in his second pro season and should be a key part of an improved Lions offense, in the opinion of one NFL analyst.
Footballguys view: Hockenson had a lot of chances to score touchdowns early in the season but had trouble converting them. Tight ends are often slow starters in their NFL careers, even the best prospects, so Hockenson is a good candidate to target if you want to wait on tight end in drafts this year. |
T.J. Hockenson player page
Falcons | WR1 hopes for Calvin Ridley
Atlanta Falcons WR Calvin Ridley has shown definite flashes as a No. 2 wide receiver, but the Falcons would rather he and Julio Jones produce like 'two WR1s' with the team's depth at the position lacking, according to one NFL analyst.
Footballguys view: Ridley is one of the top candidates to make the leap to top 10-12 "WR1" fantasy scoring this year. Austin Hooper is gone and while Hayden Hurst should take up some of the slack left by his departure, Ridley is getting into his prime and Matt Ryan will rely on him even more this year. You should be able to land Ridley with a fourth round pick in many drafts. |
Calvin Ridley player page
Jaguars | Laviska Shenault Jr. putting in work
Jacksonville Jaguars second-round pick WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (abdomen) is doing on-field work to rehab his core muscle injury he had operated on in February.
Footballguys view: Shenault had some concerns about durability in the draft but his ceiling is as high as any receiver in this draft. The Jaguars have plans to use Shenault all over the formation, but if he isn't ready for camp, that will be difficult to follow through on. |
Jets | Le'Veon Bell could be playing for contract
New York Jets RB Le'Veon Bell has no guaranteed money in his deal after this season. If he stays, he is due to make an $8 million salary and receive a $3 million roster bonus that the team is likely not willing to shell out unless he has a monster season.
Footballguys view: If Adam Gase could have undone Bell's signing last year, he probably would have. Bell is almost certainly in his last year on the Jets roster. Fourth-round pick Lamical Perine has a chance to earn a long-term role with a good rookie year. |
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Le'Veon Bell player page
Source: footballguys.com