Fantasy Football News

Jamaal Charles 'ahead of schedule'

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 6:11pm EDT

Denver Broncos beat writer Troy Renck is reporting running back Jamaal Charles (knee) is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery from left knee surgery. "I am doing everything," Charles said via TheDenverChannel.com. "I have been cutting the last couple of days with the guys during the offseason workouts. I feel like the way I am cutting that I am back to the normal me, man. It feels good to be moving around again," said Charles, who was limited to eight games the past two seasons because of knee injuries. "I have been knowing this the whole offseason (that the knee was fine). Nobody can take nothing away from me except God when my time is up. I am still 30 years old. I still have a lot of special stuff to do." (Source: The Denver Channel)

Fantasy Impact: Charles, who is recovering from a pair of left knee surgeries from last season, appears to be progressing on schedule in his rehab. The veteran rusher is entering his first year with the Broncos and could ultimately carve out a significant role in the backfield despite the presence of the inconsistent C.J. Anderson with a strong showing in training camp and if his health remains intact. At his current RB39 ADP, he is worth a late-round flier as his upside is sky high when playing at close to 100 percent.

Andrew Luck still not throwing

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 4:43pm EDT

Indianapolis Colts beat writer Brody Miller is reporting quarterback Andrew Luck (shoulder) has yet to resume throwing. (Source: Indy Star)

Fantasy Impact: Although Luck has not thrown a football since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery in January, he told the media Wednesday that he is "feeling better and better every day." With no timetable on his return, his status for the start of training camp in late July remains up in the air. However, Colts' brass is maintaining their belief that their franchise signal caller will be ready for the start of the 2017 regular season.

David Irving suspended by the NFL

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 4:31pm EDT

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Dallas Cowboys pass rusher David Irving has been suspended by the NFL for four games for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: As expected, Irving was handed a four-game ban by the NFL Wednesday for violating the league's PED policy. It is the second consecutive year that a Cowboys' pass rusher will miss the first four games of the season due to a suspension (DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory in 2016). Irving will likely be a role player on Dallas' defensive front seven upon his presumed return.

ESPN's Field Yates is reporting free agent running back Karlos Williams has been suspended by the NFL for a "period of at least" one year. (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It is unknown on what exactly Williams is suspended for, but it is likely due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. He served a four-game ban at the start of the 2016 season as a result of a similar violation for marijuana. His NFL career moving forward is in severe doubt.

Le'Veon Bell, Steelers could wait until deadline to spark deal

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 8:29am EDT

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Le'Veon Bell have "motivations" to put together a long-term deal before the July 17 deadline. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Although Schefter is reporting that both the Steelers and Bell are motivated to get a long-term deal done, nothing appears imminent. The NFL Insider added that a "push before and at the [July 17] deadline is expected from both sides," but how this shakes out "could go either way." If a new deal is not agreed upon, Bell will play the 2017 season under the guaranteed franchise tag value of roughly $12.7 million.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins not any closer to long-term deal

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 8:23am EDT

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that there is an "improved tone" between the Washington Redskins and quarterback Kirk Cousins, "but a long-term deal still is considered a long shot for the time being." (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The NFL extended the deadline for franchise tagged players and their respective teams to work out a long-term deal from July 15 to July 17. However, the extra two days may not make a difference for Cousins and the Redskins as a deal is still viewed a "longshot." Expect this story to develop one way or another as mid-July approaches.

Latavius Murray to enter 2017 as starter?

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 8:15am EDT

On Tuesday morning's episode of Good Morning Football on the NFL Network, Minnesota Vikings RB Latavius Murray said he expects to enter the 2017 season as the team's starting running back. (Source: NFL.com)

Fantasy Impact: Murray, who is coming off offseason ankle surgery, is expected to compete with rookie Dalvin Cook for the top spot on Minnesota's RB depth chart for the 2017 season. Although Murray is the proven veteran, Cook is viewed as the more explosive and versatile rusher with greater upside. I'd fully expect, however, the veteran back to open the year as the starter, but if he struggles, the Vikings will likely begin to present Cook with the bigger chunk of the workload sooner rather than later. Regardless of how this shakes out, I believe Murray will maintain the role of the team's short yardage/ goal line back throughout the course of the year, which will preserve his fantasy football value.

Carson Palmer unsure of playing future

By Anthony Cervino   Wed, Jun 28th 8:01am EDT

Pro Football Talk is reporting Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer's playing future "remains up in the air" past the 2017 season. “I love every facet of it,” Palmer said via ArizonaCardinals.com. “I don’t want to stop. But I’ll have to wait and make that decision after the season. … There’s always urgency, especially as you get to the second half of your career. You just never know when your last year is going to be.” (Source: Pro Football Talk)

Fantasy Impact: Palmer, 37, is entering his 15th season in the NFL. However, his playing future past the 2017 campaign remains uncertain. Coming off of a 2016 season in which he accumulated a 4,233-26-14 stat line while completing 61 percent of his passes and averaging 282.2 YPG, the veteran signal caller appears to have gas left in the tank, at least for the upcoming year. From a fantasy football perspective, Palmer holds value at his QB21 ADP as he could easily put together a back-end QB1 statistical season. View him as a fine late-round selection if he maintains his current ADP.

Michael Floyd to remain with Vikings

By Anthony Cervino   Tue, Jun 27th 7:29pm EDT

Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Speilman told the media wide receiver Michael Floyd will remain with the club following his one-day jail sentence due to a violation of a court order. (Source: Vikings on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Speilman added that the team "believes Michael [Floyd] will be a productive member of the Vikings" moving forward and that the troubled wideout is expected to report to the start of training camp with the rest of the team on July 26. With a strong showing in the preseason, Floyd could open the 2017 campaign as Minnesota's WR3.

Eddie Lacy continues offseason workouts

By Caleb Baggette   Mon, Jun 26th 8:36pm EDT

The Seahawks offseason program may be over, but Eddie Lacy is still hard at work. Lacy has been showing off his workout program all offseason and says he "feels great" and he "hasn't missed a day." (Source: Eddie Lacy on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's great to hear. Lacy, who passed his latest contractual weigh-in earlier this June has his next weigh-in in August and needs to be at 245 pounds. Lacy is well on his way to a bounce-back season, and is a mid-to-high RB2.

Nick Fairley to miss entire 2017 season

By Mike Maher   Mon, Jun 26th 6:00pm EDT

The New Orleans Saints placed defensive lineman Nick Fairley on the reserve/non-football-injury list, ending his 2017 season, the team announced Monday. The move came after Fairley consulted with doctors regarding a heart condition he's played with since entering the league in 2011. There is a chance that this heart condition could end Fairley's career. (Source: NFL.com)

Fantasy Impact: This is tough news for a Saints team that brought Fairley in on a four-year, $28 million contract this offseason and hoped he would help anchor the middle of their defensive line. The Saints will definitely be without Fairley this season, and there is a decent chance that he never plays a down for them.

Cam Newton begins throwing

By Anthony Cervino   Mon, Jun 26th 3:45pm EDT

Carolina Panthers beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue is reporting quarterback Cam Newton (shoulder) began throwing Monday for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery on March 20. (Source: Charlotte Observer)

Fantasy Impact: Newton, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery on March 20, resumed throwing Monday for the first time exactly 14 weeks removed from the procedure. As a result, he remains on schedule in his recovery and should be a full-go for the start of training camp in late July. Barring a setback, Newton should be a fully healthy Week 1. Although he is coming off of the worst statistical season of his career in 2016, Newton should still be viewed a back-end QB1 with his usual boom upside for fantasy football purposes.

Zach Miller to be on his way out of Chicago?

By Anthony Cervino   Mon, Jun 26th 3:32pm EDT

Chicago Bears beat writer Brad Biggs is suggesting tight end Danel Brown could push Zach Miller for his 2017 roster spot. (Source: The Chicago Tribune)

Fantasy Impact: The Bears' tight end position has depth entering the 2017 season. They added Adam Shaheen via the draft and Dion Sims via free agency this offseason, while still rostering Miller and Brown. Per Biggs, Sims' and Sheehan's roster spots are safe. While Ben Braunecker, MyCole Pruitt, Miller and Brown will likely partake in a training camp/ preseason battle for the final "one or two" spots on the TE depth chart. Biggs believes that Miller, who has been plagued by injury throughout his career and is the elder of the group (32-years-old), could be on the outs in Chicago if Brown continues to impress. From a fantasy football perspective, I'd monitor this situation closely. If Miller is indeed on his way out, expect Shaheen or Sims to step into the featured role for the upcoming season. However, if Miller maintains his starting job, he would be worth a late round selection in fantasy drafts as he will likely emerge as Mike Glennon's safety blanket on short and intermediate routes.

Jamison Crowder to garner expanded role in 2017?

By Anthony Cervino   Mon, Jun 26th 8:21am EDT

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is suggesting to the media wide receiver Jamison Crowder could see an expanded role in 2017. "I've said all along Jamison can play anywhere," Gruden said via The Washington Post. "He can play outside, inside. He can play running back probably if he wanted to. So we'll utilize Jamison and try to get him more involved, not just in the passing game and the running game." (Source: Washington Post)

Fantasy Impact: After the Redskins allowed Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson to depart via free agency this offseason, the door is open for Crowder to emerge as Washington's top wideout in 2017. Despite adding Terrelle Pryor and seeing the likely the return of second-year receiver Josh Doctson to full health for the first time in his pro career, Crowder remains the favorite to lead the Redskins in receiving. Primarily a slot WR, Crowder is an explosive and dynamic weapon that Kirk Cousins has frequently leaned on as his safety blanket, which is expected to continue moving forward. Coming off of a career year in 2016 in which he accumulated a 67-847-7 stat line while averaging 12.7 YPC, Crowder should be viewed a budding star who could be a steal in fantasy drafts at his #74 overall ADP.

Paxton Lynch 'making a push' for starting job in Denver

By Anthony Cervino   Mon, Jun 26th 7:50am EDT

Denver Broncos beat writer Mike Klis believes Paxton Lynch is "making a push" for the starting quarterback job in 2017. (Source: 9 News Denve)

Fantasy Impact: It appears Lynch is gaining ground on Trevor Siemian, the early favorite to emerge as Denver's starting QB for the 2017 season. Klis is suggesting that Lynch, who struggled throughout his tenure in Denver, "flipped a switch" during the final week of OTAs and is beginning to put it all together. "His switch was flipped. He started to get it," Klis said via 9 News Denver. "He started to play as if he was doing just that – playing. Playing and not thinking about his protections and hot reads and coverages and delivering the ball on time." Entering the training camp portion of the offseason, which begins in late July, Lynch is fully expected to compete with Siemian for the top spot on the depth chart and could ultimately beat him out if he showcases more consistency. I wouldn't expect the Broncos to name their starting quarterback until the conclusion of the preseason.

Todd Gurley hopes to limit missed opportunites

By Andrew Liptock   Sun, Jun 25th 7:29pm EDT

Rams running backs coach Skip Peete says that last season, Todd Gurley sometimes ran away from the play-call. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Even if that were the case, 68.5% of Gurley's yards came after contact. Add that to the fact that his good-blocking-yards-per-attempt, a statistic calculated by ESPN NFL Insider K.C. Joyner, went from the best in the league in 2015 to the seventh-worst in 2016. Numbers say that with better offensive line play, Gurley has all of the tools to succeed, and with the addition of Andrew Whitworth and the departure of Greg Robinson, he should be in line for a bounce back season. Gurley should end up somewhere in-between his fantastic 2015 and disastrous 2016.

Greg Olsen to hold out of training camp?

By Anthony Cervino   Sun, Jun 25th 3:21pm EDT

Carolina Panthers beat writer Joseph Person believes the threat of tight end Greg Olsen holding out "bears watching" moving forward. "Greg Olsen’s desire for a new contract is not a media creation," Person said via the Charlotte Observer. "Olsen wants to be paid at a level commensurate with his production and could make things uncomfortable with the threat of a training camp holdout. I don’t think it will come to that, but the situation bears watching." (Source: Charlotte Observer on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Olsen has been one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL since entering the league in 2007. However, it wasn't until 2012, his second year in Carolina, at which he emerged as one of the league's top players at his position. After compiling three consecutive seasons of at least 77 receptions, 1,008 yards and three touchdowns, the 32-year-old, who still has two years remaining on his current contract, believes he is in line for a new deal that will pay him as an elite TE. Although he is not slated to hit the open market until the 2019 season, the Panthers could ultimately extend Olsen sooner rather than later and finally put the murmurs of their top receiving threat holding out to bed. Olsen is a top five fantasy TE entering the 2017 season.

Tajae Sharpe not guaranteed a roster spot

By Sam Waldorf   Sat, Jun 24th 1:48pm EDT

A year after being the Titans' second leading receiver, with 522 receiving yards and two touchdowns, Tajae Sharpe will "have a chance," to make the team this year said Head Coach Mike Mularkey. (Source: Nashville Tennessean)

Fantasy Impact: Sharpe has declined to speak to reporters since being accused of assault in May, and he also is two weeks removed from surgery on his right foot to repair a stress fracture. Sharpe was already the odd man out in the Titans receiving corps, after the team added two receivers in the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL draft and also recently signed Eric Decker to a one-year deal. Sharpe should not be touched by any fantasy owners, except in extremely deep leagues.

Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy to split workload?

By Anthony Cervino   Sat, Jun 24th 7:44am EDT

Seattle Seahawks beat reporter Bob Condotta believes running backs Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls will "take a fairly equal share of the base down carries" in 2017. (Source: The Seattle Times)

Fantasy Impact: Since Marshawn Lynch retired following the 2015 season -- he recently un-retired and was acquired by the Oakland Raiders -- the Seahawks' backfield has been a volatile unit. Entering 2017, expect very much of the same. Although they signed Lacy as a free agent this offseason, Rawls, a similar style back, remains in the mix for carries and could split the early-down workload with the former. For the third down role/ primary receiver out of the backfield, expect that role to be handled by C.J. Prosise, who showed promise last season before being lost to injury. From a fantasy football perspective, Lacy should be the first RB coming off draft boards in upcoming fantasy drafts, but be sure to handcuff him with Rawls as neither one of them could be trusted to remain healthy or produce on a consistent basis. As for Prosise, he should be targeted around Round 10 or later, but should garner greater value in PPR scoring formats.

Matt Forte to be Jets' lead back?

By Anthony Cervino   Sat, Jun 24th 7:23am EDT

New York Jets beat writer Connor Hughes believes running back Matt Forte will be the team's "offensive workhorse" in 2017. (Source: NJ.com)

Fantasy Impact: With the Jets heading into a rebuilding year in 2017 -- they moved on from a plethora of players over the age of 30 this offseason -- it comes to a surprise that Hughes believes Forte will lead their backfield. Throughout the offseason, most experts, including myself, think Bilal Powell will continue to lead the duo in touches and total yards as he had at the tail end of the 2016 campaign. From a fantasy football perspective, Powell has been the first Jets' rusher coming off the board in mock drafts, while Forte is going a handful of rounds later. However, even if Forte opens the upcoming season as the starter, I'd still expect Powell to supersede him sooner rather than later.