Fantasy Football News

Niners wide receiver Trent Taylor has been running routes and making cuts with Jimmy Garoppolo and other veteran wideouts. (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: “I’m back to doing all my normal stuff,” Taylor said. “I don’t know if you would say that I’m ready to go out and play a football game. I mean, I could if I had to." The 26-year-old missed the entire 2019 season with a foot injury that required five surgeries. The slot receiver is likely competing for snaps with the likes of Dante Pettis, Jalen Hurd, and Kendrick Bourne.

TE Seth DeValve was released by the Panthers on Wednesday, citing a non-football injury. (Source: David Newton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Panthers signed DeValve earlier this off-season, but ultimately cut ties with the veteran tight end on Wednesday. He hauled in 12 receptions for 140 yards across 12 games for the Jaguars in 2019. DeValve will look to latch onto another team during the off-season.

David Njoku has been "great" during off-season meetings, said Browns' OC Alex Van Pelt. (Source: Scott Petrak on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Van Pelt also expects Njoku to bounce back after a down year. The Browns picked up Njoku's fifth-year option earlier in the off-season. Njoku will compete with newly acquired TE Austin Hooper and fourth round selection Harrison Bryant for targets. The 23-year-old hauled in five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown across four games in 2019. With a deep group at tight end, it's tough to envision Njoku having a bounce back year. He is currently 32nd among all tight ends in the latest expert consensus rankings.

Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said Derrick Henry's workload this season "depends on how games go." (Source: Jim Wyatt on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: "We'll see how the season evolves for him and if another running back emerges" Smith added. It sounds as if Henry's nonexistent role in the passing game won't be getting any bigger this year. Tennessee famously rode "The Big Dog" throughout the second half of last year and into the playoffs, routinely giving him 25+ carries per game. Smith's comments certainly makes it sounds as if Henry's fantasy value will be dependent on game flow but we already knew that. Rookie Darrynton Evans will likely be the team's third-down back in 2020.

RB Raheem Mostert "could see a deal get done ahead of TE George Kittle’s," per Matt Barrows of the Athletic. (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: "The 49ers also could ink extensions with two guys who could see new deals this year: Kendick Bourne and running back Raheem Mostert, who have outplayed their current contracts. Mostert, in fact, could see a deal get done ahead of Kittle’s," said Barrows. It was reported that the 49ers and Kittle remain "far apart" on a contract extension. Mostert is set to make $3.15 million in 2020 as the team focuses on signing the 28-year-old RB to an long-term deal. RBs Tevin Coleman and Jerrick McKinnon are entering the final year of their contracts. Mostert added weight this off-season in preparation of taking on a heavy workload. He logged 190 carries for 1,108 yards and 13 touchdowns last season (postseason included). Mostert is currently 26th among all running backs in the latest expert consensus rankings, but a contract extension could only help him rise in the RB ranks.

Free agent DT Timmy Jernigan, who originally agreed in principal to a one-year, $3.75M deal with the Houston Texans, posted on his Instagram that he will not be joining Houston and plans to play elsewhere. (Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jernigan said, “Guess I'm not going to Houston, but the show not ova.” The Texans were reportedly awaiting his physical results before the signing could become official and the deal never got processed. However, Jernigan has now been cleared by Dr. Robert Watkins, and is expected to draw interest from multiple teams. In his six-year NFL career, Jernigan has played for both the Ravens and the Eagles, accumulating 132 tackles and 17.5 sacks.

Stanford TE Colby Parkinson becomes the first Seahawk to officially sign his rookie deal with the team. (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Parkinson brings with him a whole lot of size, measuring in at 6-foot-7. He joins a very crowded tight end room in Seattle that consists of Greg Olsen, Will Dissly, and Jacob Hollister to name a few. In his three years at Stanford, Parkinson caught 86 balls for 1,162 yards and 12 TDs. He’ll have to prove himself in training camp in order to find his way onto the 53-man roster this season.

As first reported by Ian Rapoport, former Panthers LB Luke Kuechly officially hit the reserve/retired list Tuesday after announcing his retirement earlier this year. (Source: Joe Person on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: In what surprised many, Kuechly announced his retirement from the NFL back in January after completing his eighth season in Carolina. The former 2012 first-round pick dealt with some injuries and concussions throughout his career, which likely led to his decision to call it quits at just 28 years old. During his eight seasons in the league, Kuechly never recorded fewer than 100 tackles in a season. In totality, he ends his career with 1,092 tackles, 12.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and 18 interceptions. By waiting until after June 1 to put Kuechly on the reserve/retired list, Carolina can spread his cap hit over two years and save about $6M against the cap in 2020.

According to The Athletic Philadelphia, Eagles RB Boston Scott will be competing for more of an offensive role this Summer, rather than competing for a roster spot. (Source: Zach Berman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: After a coming out party in the back half of the 2019 season, Philadelphia feels comfortable with Scott as a change of pace and third-down back for the Eagles. Miles Sanders will of course take over as the starter in Philadelphia, but Scott is certain to play in a complementary role. In his final four games last season, Scott averaged 87.5 yards from scrimmage. He’s currently ranked RB #55 in FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR). His value could increase if the Eagles don’t end up signing a veteran RB as has been rumored. Even with another back in Philadelphia, look for Scott to maintain standalone value as an RB4 or RB5 this season.

DE Clelin Ferrell is adding weight and is up to 275 pounds this off-season. (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: Ferrell gained 13 pounds this off-season and currently is up to 275 pounds. “He’s lean and mean and running pretty good,” Raiders' DL Coach Mark Hall said in a phone interview Wednesday. “We had a really good off-season and I know he can’t wait to get to Las Vegas and put that product on the field.” The former 2019 No.4 overall pick racked up 38 tackles and 4.5 sacks and five defended passes across 15 games last season. “You probably won’t even recognize me," said Ferrell. The 23-year-old is locked in as the Raiders' starting LDE and could be on the fantasy radar in IDP-league formats.

Colts coach Frank Reich said "there's definitely inherent respect for the starter returning" when asked about Marlon Mack's role in the team's backfield. (Source: 1075 The Fan)

Fantasy Impact: The Colts continue to talk up all three of their backs, including Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. Taylor is considered the most talented of the trio but Mack has the seniority and Hines has the best pass-catching ability. Mack might begin the season as the Colts' "starting" running back but it wouldn't be a surprise if Taylor usurps him sooner rather than later.

New Redskins coach Ron Rivera compared wideout Terry McLaurin to D.J. Moore. (Source: 247 Sports)

Fantasy Impact: "I mean, he's a young man I think that had a solid year last year as a rookie, a third-round pick," Rivera said. "He's a guy that could be on the verge (of stardom), he really is." The 24-year-old went for 919 yards and seven scores in just 14 games last year. What was most impressive is that McLaurin did this on just 93 targets. One would figure he should push for 120 targets now that he is established as the team's number one receiver.

Rumors surfaced regarding an off-the-field injury involving new Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III. Oakland has put out a statement saying, “The Raiders are aware of a report regarding an off-field injury to Henry Ruggs III. Respecting Henry’s right to medical privacy, the team will not be commenting on the report.” (Source: Vic Tafur on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: From a number of reports, Ruggs III appears to have escaped a major thigh injury helping a friend move over the weekend. While these are just rumors, the Raiders seem to have acknowledged that something did indeed occur with Ruggs III this weekend. The rumor started as a post on a SEC fansite message board. Expect him to be ok, but also expect Ruggs III and/or the team to address the issue in the coming days.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich plans to use Mo Alie-Cox more in 2020 as both a blocking and receiving tight end. Alie-Cox played 32.9% of the Colts' offensive snaps in 2020. (Source: Andrew Walker on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Colts allowed Eric Ebron to depart via free agency but brought in Trey Burton who will challenge Alie-Cox for snaps as the backup tight end behind veteran Jack Doyle. If the Colts go to more three wide receiver sets with T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell, and rookie Micheal Pittman Jr. there may not be much room for the backup tight ends to see a lot of volume in this offense. Mo Alie-Cox, who is entering his fourth season in the league, has only caught 15 passes in his career and does not need to be on your fantasy radar entering the 2020 season.

Free agent and former 2018 sixth-round pick WR Dylan Cantrell has signed with the Arizona Cardinals. (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The former Texas Tech receiver played for head coach Kliff Kingsbury in his time as a Red Raider. At 6-foot-3, 226 lbs, Field Yates reports that Cantrell could operate as more of a tight end for the Cardinals, who are thin at the TE position and pretty deep at the WR position. He might not stick in Arizona, but at least he’s got a leg up in understanding Kingsbury’s terminology heading into the season.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, free agent and former Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton is now expected to take his time before joining a team. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Rumors have swirled regarding possible landing spots for the former MVP quarterback after being released by the Panthers back in March. The thought now is that Newton will wait until teams resume regular activity in an effort to get a better understanding of his market. Teams can then get a better look at the 31-year old and see if he’s fully healthy for themselves. Newton has been linked to multiple teams including the New England Patriots, but nothing has materialized to date, and it’s unclear whether or not Newton is willing to take a backup job in 2020. Most teams seem to be set at the QB position at this point, so it’ll be interesting to see if Newton draws any interest from teams that are outwardly reporting they are comfortable with their current starter. Teams like Jacksonville with Gardner Minshew II and Washington with Dwayne Haskins come to mind.

According to every NFL head coach Mike Freeman has spoken to, it is a “foregone conclusion” that Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will beat out veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and start Week 1 against the New England Patriots. (Source: Mike Freeman)

Fantasy Impact: It was reported earlier that the Dolphins coaching staff “wasn’t opposed to” starting Tagovailoa at “some point” during the 2020 season should he earn the role. The narrative seems to be shifting a bit, and fantasy owners are sure to feel the excitement. If the fifth-overall pick out of Alabama gets the opportunity to start right away in Miami, consider him a solid QB2 with obvious QB1 upside due to his dynamic skillset. Fantasy owners will want to wait for more clarity on this situation, but Tagovailoa’s ADP will surely be on the rise if more and more reports speak to him beating out Fitzpatrick for the starting job in Miami.

After missing the entire 2019 season following complications stemming from his ACL surgery in September 2018 it seems that Jake Butt is finally ready to compete at full health for the Broncos. Once touted as one of the top tight end prospects entering the 2017 Draft Butt tore his ACL in the Orange Bowl during the last collegiate game of his career (Butt had previously torn his ACL in 2014 with Michigan). He then missed his entire rookie season recovering from the injury and related surgery. Butt played in only two games in 2018 before suffering a torn ACL during a non-contact drill during practice in 2018. Now entering his fourth season in the league Butt has only played in three games catching eight passes for 85 yards. (Source: Denver Post)

Fantasy Impact: Unfortunately for Jake Butt, but not unsurprisingly, the Broncos have added more talent to their tight end group with Noah Fant entering his second season in the league, and more recently selecting Albert Okwuegbunam in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft. Butt will have his work cut out for him as he will likely have to compete with veterans Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett for a roster spot.

Reports out of San Francisco are that TE George Kittle and the 49ers remain “far apart” on a contract extension. (Source: Mike Silver on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kittle is entering the last year of his rookie deal and is set to become a free agent after the 2020 season. He’ll make a little over $2M this year, and is in line for a big payday. Whether Kittle commands tight end or wide receiver-type money is the key. His agent Jack Bechta said, a “tight end deal is a non-starter.” For reference, the highest paid TE in 2019 was Jimmy Graham at $10M, while the highest paid WR in 2019 was Julio Jones at $22M. With Kittle catching over 80 passes for over 1,000 yards and five TDs in each of the last two seasons, Bechta is convinced Kittle can transcend the tight end market and get paid like the all-around player he is, saying, “I don’t care about the tight end market.” Kittle is a close second to Travis Kelce in FantasyPros expert consensus rankings, and they may be in a tier all by themselves ahead of guys like Mark Andrews and Zach Ertz.

DL Dee Ford is fully healthy after undergoing “relatively minor” knee surgery this off-season. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ford missed five games In 2019 due to hamstring and quadricep injuries. He is in a “much better place health wise than he was last year,” said Rapoport. Ford should be all systems for before the start of the NFL season. The 29-year-old was made available this off-season by the 49ers, but there has been no talk of a possible deal. Ford racked up 14 tackles and 6.5 sacks across 11 games in 2019. He will most likely be in a situational role in 2020 and is mainly an option in deep-league IDP formats.