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NFL Player News - Week of 7/16/18
Courtesy of Footballguys.com
Thursday Update
GB - RB Aaron Jones to emerge as starter?
Source: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin - Stu Courtney
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones will end up as the team's starting running back this season in the opinion of USA Today Network Wisconsin's Stu Courtney.
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Fantasy GMs are cautious when it comes to projecting the starter for the Packers in 2018. Jamaal Williams has the highest ADP of their group (RB36, 7.11) but Jones is close behind him at RB41 (9.01) in 12-team PPR leagues. Behind those two is Ty Montgomery, sitting at RB43 (9.07) as of right now. We'll see this battle shake out during training camp with each back bringing a unique skill set to the competition. Williams is the banger while Montgomery is the better receiver. Jones is arguably the best all-purpose back of the group. Stay tuned.
BAL - QB Joe Flacco worked with WRs last week
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco 'got a lot of good work in' with his wide receivers last week, according to WR Willie Snead.
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Flacco will have a brand new WR corps to throw to in 2018. The team went out in free agency to add Snead, Michael Crabtree and John Brown. It seems to be a make-or-break year for Flacco in 2018 with rookie first-round pick Lamar Jackson developing behind him this year. We'll see if Flacco can establish strong chemistry with his new receiving weapons and lead the Ravens back to the playoffs this year.
BUF - Josh Allen to start with third-team offense
Source: BillsWire - Nick Wojton
Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen is slated to start with the third-team offense when the club begins training camp Thursday, July 26. That's 'the plan as of now, per head coach Sean McDermott,' while QBs AJ McCarron and Nathan Peterman both play with the first-team offense.
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That's to be expected, not only because Allen is a rookie but because he primarily ran the third-team offense during OTAs and minicamp. Allen is the quarterback of the future, but if he wins the job for Week 1 of the regular season he's not going to be working with a great group of WRs...and the offensive line has been rebuilt...and who in the world knows what's going on in the LeSean McCoy situation. As you can see, we don't like Allen in redraft leagues but still appreciate his skill set in dynasty formats.
NO - RB Shane Vereen signs with Saints
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Free-agent RB Shane Vereen (Giants) signed an undisclosed deal with the New Orleans Saints Wednesday, July 18.
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Vereen is a pass-catching back who gives the Saints (more) veteran depth on their roster. Their RB room is jam packed with talent, so Vereen is no lock for the 53-man roster. Alvin Kamara leads the way with Mark Ingram as a top reserve (when he's back from his four-game suspension). Behind Kamara, Vereen will compete with guys like Terrance West and Jonathan Williams to establish a pecking order.
NE - WR Jordan Matthews considered a lock
Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss
New England Patriots WR Jordan Matthews is considered a lock to make the team, according to beat writer Mike Reiss.
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Anytime Reiss is hyping a player the way he's doing with Matthews (remember his Wes Welker information years ago?) we always pay close attention. Matthews looked good during OTAs and minicamp this spring, and the Patriots should use him early and often while Julian Edelman is serving his four-game suspension to begin the regular season. Matthews makes for a perfect addition late in your draft. His current ADP is WR59 (13.10) in 12-team PPR leagues.
NE - Three WRs on Pats' bubble
Source: ESPNBoston.com - Mike Reiss
New England Patriots WR Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt and Phillip Dorsett are on the bubble to make the team, according to beat writer Mike Reiss.
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Mitchell is on the bubble because he just can't stay healthy. A fourth-round pick out of Georgia in 2016, Mitchell missed all of the 2017 season due to a knee injury. Even though he's over a year removed from the injury, his status for the start of training camp is unknown. Dorsett is a speed guy who hasn't done much to impress with the Colts or the Patriots. Britt had a 1,000 yard season back in 2016 (with the Rams) but he had a bad 2017, getting picked up by the Patriots near the end of the year and Britt was a healthy scratch for Super Bowl 52.
PIT - Le'Veon Bell likely to skip camp again
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell is tentatively expected to skip training camp but be ready for the regular season, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, who also stated Bell potentially missing games over the contract would be 'a shock.'
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Same as it ever was. Bell held out of training camp and the preseason last year and showed up before the start of the regular season. Rinse/repeat that situation with what's happened again this year with Bell playing on the franchise tender and no long-term contact agreed to. There are rumors about him missing time in the regular season due to being disgruntled, but at this point that doesn't seem to be what people covering the team (like Fowler) believe.
LAR - WR Brandin Cooks inks long-term deal
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Los Angeles Rams WR Brandin Cooks signed a five-year contract extension Tuesday, July 17. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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A first-round pick in 2014, Cooks was set to hit the open market before the Rams decided to lock him down with this deal. He's coming off three straight seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving each year and projecting him for around the same production as to what he had in 2017 with the Patriots (65 catches, 1,082 yards, 7 touchdowns) is fair. He's a WR2 for fantasy GMs currently going at WR23 (5.04) in 12-team PPR leagues.
NE - TE Rob Gronkowski expected on time
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is expected to report to the facility on time by July 25, according to a source.
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Gronkowski wants a new contract, and the two sides have been working on something for a couple of months now. The veteran tight end skipped voluntary workouts this offseason, but he did show up for mandatory minicamp. His status for the start of training camp was never really in question...regardless of his current contract situation.
CLE - QB Tyrod Taylor a change of pace for Cleveland
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com - Andrew Gribble
Cleveland Browns QB Tyrod Taylor attempted 1,236 passes and threw 16 interceptions in his three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. By comparison, Browns quarterbacks threw 28 interceptions in 574 attempts last season.
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Taylor is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league. He doesn't take a lot of chances with the ball, either running or throwing the ball away in the face of trouble. Taylor is the heavy favorite to open the 2018 regular season as the starter even though the Browns spent the no.1 overall pick on QB Baker Mayfield. They've got a Week 11 bye this year, and that may be around the time that Mayfield takes over if he doesn't win the job outright in training camp.
ATL - TE Austin Hooper looking to deliver
Source: ESPN.com - Vaughn McClure
Atlanta Falcons TE Austin Hooper said he is working to improve in the red zone. He stayed in Atlanta during the offseason to work with QB Matt Ryan. Head coach Dan Quinn said he's pumped about Hooper's potential in his third season.
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It takes time for tight ends to transition to the pro game, so this has the potential to be a breakout year for Hooper. We're concerned by his lack of consistency last year as Hooper had plenty of targets (65) but finished as only TE18 in standard scoring leagues. The addition of potential star rookie WR Calvin Ridley could take some targets away from Hooper, especially in the red zone. Projecting him as a low-end TE2 for fantasy in 2018 is fair...despite all the offseason hype that's been written about Hooper.
ARI - WR Larry Fitzgerald could play longer
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Jace Frederick
Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald hinted that he isn't close to retiring. He still feels good, enjoys the competition and loves being around his teammates. He also said he's either playing for the Cardinals or retiring. 'It doesn't really matter about the age, it's about what you put into it and your mindset,' Fitzgerald said. 'Everybody kind of takes numbers and assumes this is when it's supposed to end. As an athlete, fortunately, you write your own script. If you still produce and you play at a high level, you kind of determine how long you want to play. If I can stay at a high level, I still keep destiny in my own hands.'
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Set to be a free agent in 2019, many expected this to be the final year for Fitzgerald in the pros. However, this is the second time he's talked about perhaps playing longer than one more year. We can't imagine him in anything but a Cardinals jersey so if he likes the future of the team (likely with potential franchise QB Josh Rosen), then Fitzgerald could stick around. He's still a WR2 with WR1 upside for fantasy GMs and that's where he's being drafted right now (WR15, 3.09 in 12 team PPR leagues).
DET - Veteran WR says WR Kenny Golladay can dominate
Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Josh Alper
Detroit Lions WR Kenny Golladay has the potential to dominate, according to WR Golden Tate, who also referred to Golladay as a 'WR1 kind of guy.' He added: 'I saw freakish catches, man -- some real freakin' freakish catches. Kenny's still a young guy trying to figure it out, but he's moving at a great pace. If he can just keep the mentality he has coming in, he studies, and just tries to get better every day, I'm telling you, this guy can be dominant.'
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Golladay flashed potential as a rookie in 2017 even though he was dealing with nagging injuries during that time. He's poised for a breakout year as the third WR for the Lions behind Tate and Marvin Jones. Golladay can take the top off the defense and is a great upside pick late in your draft. Currently he's being selected at WR57 (12.10) in 12-team PPR leagues.
ATL - WR Julio Jones attends Matt Ryan's passing camp
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones attended QB Matt Ryan's annual offseason passing camp, per a Snapchat post by WR Calvin Ridley, who was also on hand. The other players that were in attendance included TEs Austin Hooper, Eric Saubert, WRs Justin Hardy, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Hall, Russell Gage Jr. and Reggie Davis. Jones didn't attend the team's offseason program or mandatory minicamp and it's unknown if he'll be at training camp, which begins on Thursday, July 26.
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Looking for a correction or 'update' to his contract, Jones has skipped voluntary workouts for the Falcons this offseason and he also stayed away from mandatory minicamp. Ryan's camp is informal and Jones was always expected to show up for the work. With a cap hit of $12.9 million in 2018, we'll see if the Falcons oblige the superstar receiver with a new deal even though he's still got three years remaining on his contract.
NO - WR Cameron Meredith hopeful for training camp
Source: NewOrleansSaints.com
New Orleans Saints WR Cameron Meredith (knee) said that while he is still recovering from his knee injury and has been limited in team activities thus far, he is hopeful to be given the 'all clear' for training camp. 'On a scale of '1 to 10,' it's almost a 10... I haven't had a setback along the recovery process,' Meredith said of his injury. 'I'm gaining strength day by day, month by month. I'm excited to see how soon I can get back, but the main objective for me is to do as much as I can with the trainers to get ready for the season. My goal is to try and get back to training camp. As long as there aren't any setbacks or anything like that, it shouldn't be a problem.'
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Meredith missed all of the 2017 season due to a torn ACL and a slight MCL tear that he's been rigorously working to come back from. A restricted free agent earlier this year, the Saints were able to sign him away from the Bears and he could be in for a career year catching passes from Drew Brees for the first time...if he's healthy. Fantasy GMs know the talent and love the situation, but this injury brings about some caution when it comes to Meredith's average draft position. He has a current ADP of WR52 (11.11) in 12-team PPR leagues.
CLE - RB Carlos Hyde making tacklers look foolish
Source: Pro Football Focus
Cleveland Browns RB Carlos Hyde has 114 forced missed tackles over the last three seasons according to Pro Football Focus, tied with Le'Veon Bell for the third-highest total of any running back over that span.
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Hyde has been close to 1,000 yards rushing each of the last two years. With a new team, Hyde will work to impress his new coaching staff. Hyde's main competition is rookie Nick Chubb (Georgia). A second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, Chubb is one of the most instinctive runners to come into the league and he can thrive between the tackles. Hyde and Chubb will compete for the early-down role with the Browns in 2018 while Duke Johnson Jr. continues as the third down/pass-catching back.
LAC - RB Melvin Gordon difficult to bring down
Source: Pro Football Focus
Los Angeles Chargers RB Melvin Gordon has 116 forced missed tackles over the last three seasons according to Pro Football Focus, the second-highest total of any running back over that span.
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That's fantastic to note, but he still hasn't averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry in any of his three seasons in the pros. He got close last year (3.9 YPC) and Gordon has a career average of only 3.8 yards per carry. Even with those less-than-stellar numbers, Gordon can produce for fantasy GMs...especially in PPR leagues. He's a virtual lock for 300 touches due to the work he can do as a runner or receiver out of the backfield and a top-10 finish in 2018 is fair to project. Gordon has a current ADP of RB7 (1.09) in 12-team PPR leagues.
PHI - Bigger load for RB Jay Ajayi?
Source: PhillyVoice.com - Jimmy Kempski
Philadelphia Eagles RB Jay Ajayi is expected to see more touches in 2018 as he enters a contract year. In seven games with the Eagles a year ago, Ajayi averaged 10 carries per game.
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Projecting Ajayi for around 220 carries in 2018 is fair as he's the lead ball-carrier for the Eagles offense. He split time with LeGarrette Blount last year, but with Blount (Lions) moving on the potential for a much larger role is there in 2018. Fantasy GMs are taking him off the board at RB21 (4.07) in current 12-team PPR drafts.
CHI - WR Kevin White likely safe
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley
Chicago Bears WR Kevin White likely is a safe bet to make the 53-man roster because his $2.69 million salary this season is guaranteed, in the opinion of the Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley.
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The no.7 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft has seen his pro career knocked off track almost completely due to injury. He's appeared in only five games with the Bears and has only 21 receptions in the NFL. White only played one game in 2017 and is looking to finally stay healthy and produce in 2018. The Bears have revamped their WR corps, but we'll still be monitoring White in dynasty leagues...mostly to see if there's anything to get excited about when he goes to a different team.
CHI - RB Jordan Howard has been used often
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley
Chicago Bears RB Jordan Howard has rushed the ball 528 times over the last two seasons, which is the fifth-most rushes in the NFL during that span.
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Howard has been a top-10 fantasy running back during both of his seasons as a pro. That comes from his talent as an efficient and powerful runner, and it comes from his ability to handle a large workload. That's something he's done since his days in college at both UAB and Indiana. Howard should get around 250 carries this year, and this offseason he's been working on his hands to be a better receiver. Fantasy GMs are currently taking Howard off the board at RB15 (3.02) in 12-team PPR leagues.
SF - TE George Kittle poised to produce?
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle should have 'no shortage of opportunities' in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, and Wagoner believes Kittle will benefit from having QB Jimmy Garoppolo throwing him the ball for the entire season.
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A hot sleeper in fantasy circles is Kittle entering the 2018 season, and he's currently going off the board at TE11 (10.03) in 12-team PPR leagues. Kittle snared 43 passes last year as a rookie, and projecting him for around 45 catches in 2018 is fair. The no.20 fantasy tight end (standard-scoring leagues) last year, Kittle will have to score more touchdowns than he did in 2017 (2) if he wants to be more than a TE2 for fantasy GMs.
NYG - Drops an issue for TE Evan Engram
Source: ESPNNewYork.com - Jordan Raanan
New York Giants TE Evan Engram's six drops last year were tied for the second most among tight ends.
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Engram is a dangerous receiving tight end, and perhaps some of his drops can be the result of wanting to do much after the catch before securing the pass. Even with the mistakes, Engram did enough as a rookie in 2017 to finish as a top-5 fantasy tight end. The Giants are getting Odell Beckham Jr. back at the wide receiver position, and they added a talented do-everything back in Saquon Barkley in the 2018 draft. Even with those additional weapons, Engram should be able to post TE1 numbers once again this season. He's currently going off the board at TE6 (6.07) in 12-team PPR leagues.
DEN - Royce Freeman could start
Source: DenverBroncos.com
Denver Broncos RB Royce Freeman will be given every opportunity to earn the starting job, according to retired SS Steve Atwater.
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Devontae Booker has fans in the Denver organization, but he hasn't done anything to show that he's a favorite to take over this backfield after the departure of CJ Anderson. Booker will still play a role in the passing game in any event, but Freeman should be better between the tackles, and he's at least adequate as a blocker and receiver. Freeman's weak competition could equal upside as a mid-round pick.
Source: footballguys.com
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Originally Posted by Otters27
