Let’s take a look at the latest news and notes around fantasy football. To stay up to date on all of the latest fantasy football news, be sure to follow @FantasyProsNFL on Twitter and bookmark the FantasyPros NFL Player News page.
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Curtis Samuel has impressed Commanders’ QB Carson Wentz
While speaking with the media, Washington Commanders QB Carson Wentz had high praise for WR Curtis Samuel, saying “He’s explosive. When you see the ball in his hands and how quickly he’s making a guy miss or he’s getting down the field, it’s impressive. It’s been fun to build that chemistry and see what he does well.” (Source: CBS Sports )
Fantasy Impact: Samuel, who was named an All-American in his final season at Ohio State, was drafted with the 40th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2017. After a breakout season in 2020, Samuel signed a big three-year $34.5 million contract with Washington in 2021 to play alongside WR Terry McLaurin, but Samuel’s season was derailed by a lingering groin injury. After making brief appearances in just five games last season due to the injury, never playing more than 37% of the team’s offensive snaps in any single game, the fantasy community seems to be turning a cold shoulder on the still just 25-year-old playmaker. In 2020, Samuel finished as a WR2 in PPR formats, and this time last year he was being drafted in the WR3-4 range in fantasy drafts. However, Samuel is currently ranked as the WR75 according to FantasyPros ECR. This feels like an extreme fall in ranking for a player who has produced starting fantasy WR numbers across multiple seasons and is just now entering the prime years of his career.
Kenny Pickett signs rookie contract with Steelers
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Thursday that the Pittsburgh Steelers and QB Kenny Pickett have agreed to terms on his rookie contract. (Source: Tom Pelissero, NFL Network)
Fantasy Impact: Pickett was selected by the Steelers with the 20th pick of April’s NFL draft after having a breakout senior season at Pittsburgh where he seemingly came out of nowhere to be named an All-American and win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Pickett will certainly get every opportunity to be Pittsburgh’s QB of the future, but it’s uncertain if he will be the team’s starter in his rookie season. Pickett will be competing with veteran QBs Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph in training camp. Recent minicamp reports revealed that Pickett has been working with the third-team offense and that Trubisky has been the most consistent QB in practice. If Pickett can close the gap and demonstrate the ability to run the offense at least close to as well as Trubisky then he would likely get the nod as the team’s starter to enter the season. Even if Pickett is named the starter, he’s unlikely to provide much fantasy value in single QB redraft leagues.
Baker Mayfield still garnering interest from Seahawks
According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson, the Seattle Seahawks continue to have a high level of interest in Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield and would even be open to the idea of offering him a contract extension if they were to acquire him. (Source: CBS Sports)
Fantasy Impact: Recent reports have indicated that the Carolina Panthers have been the most likely destination for the disgruntled QB, but this report reveals that the Seahawks are still players in the Mayfield sweepstakes. Mayfield had the worst fantasy season of his NFL career last season while attempting to play with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, but before the 2021 season, he had finished as a QB2 in three consecutive seasons, making him a viable option in superflex leagues. Josina Anderson reports that no deal to acquire Mayfield is imminent, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he was dealt to a new team before training camp.
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