Fantasy Football News

Recently-signed Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor is expected to play on the outside (and not in the slot), based on what NFL insider Adam Caplan is hearing from his sources. (Source: Adam Caplan, Inside the Birds podcast)

Fantasy Impact: The Raiders have Tyrell Williams occupying one starting position and Hunter Renfrow in the slot, so Agholor is expected to compete with Zay Jones for the other starting spot on the outside, depending on what the Raiders do in the NFL Draft. Agholor had most of his success while playing in the slot for the Eagles and was inconsistent when playing on the outside, but Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock are hoping for a reclamation project after bringing him in on a team-friendly deal.

Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) expects to be healthy for Week 1 of the 2020 season. (Source: Ed Bouchette of the Athletic )

Fantasy Impact: “I was going to be ready for OTAs and the minicamps, said Roethlisberger. “That was going to be the plan.” He underwent elbow surgery last season, but seems to be progressing well as he was throwing pain-free for the first time in years. Barring a setback, Roethlisberger should be all systems go before Week 1. It is unclear at this time if he will get any work during the preseason. Big Ben is currently 17th among all quarterbacks in the expert consensus rankings. His return would boost all the Steelers’ skilled position players in 2020.

On Twitter on Monday afternoon, NFL insider Adam Caplan said that the more NFL wide receiver coaches he speaks to, the more he believes that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft later this month. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Aiyuk hasn't been mentioned in the top tier of wide receivers in this draft that includes Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, and Henry Ruggs, but he has been in the conversation with several other wide receivers who are expected to be selected in the first two round of the draft. Caplan adds that Aiyuk "has no holes in his game," and that combined with his big-play ability could push him into the first-round conversation ahead of wide receivers like Justin Jefferson, Tee Higgins, Laviska Shenault, and Denzel Mims.

Rams GM Les Snead told reporters the team wants to utilize more than one workhorse when it comes to their running philosophy this season. (Source: Greg Beacham on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: "What we do want to be is a team that utilizes more than one workhorse moving the ball, with different skill sets" were Snead's exact words. Many fantasy analysts are pegging Darrell Henderson for a major role following the team's release of Todd Gurley. These comments from Snead throw water on the Henderson hype train, however. Still, even functioning as the Rams' lead back (not necessarily a workhorse role) would be big for Henderson's fantasy value.

Panthers GM Matt Hurney told reporters on Monday that the team has had internal discussions in regards to a Christian McCaffrey contract extension. (Source: Steve Reed on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hurney's exact words were "obviously we've had internal discussions. Everybody knows what we think of Christian as a player". McCaffrey's rookie contract is up after the 2020 season but Carolina is obviously going to pick up the fifth-year option for 2021. We all learned from the Rams' handling of Todd Gurley that it can be risky extending a running back before you have to, but CMC appears to come with less question marks. McCaffrey should be viewed as the consensus top pick in 2020 fantasy drafts.

According to the Atlanta Falcons, RB Todd Gurley has officially agreed to terms with the team, however, he has yet to take and pass a physical. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Falcons official Twitter page has announced the team has agreed to terms with newly-acquired RB Todd Gurley, however, Adam Schefter is reporting that he has yet to take and pass a physical. Earlier in free agency, it was announced that the three-time Pro-Bowler was headed back to his home state of Georgia to play for the Falcons, and it’s now all but official, pending a passed physical. Gurley, coming off an injury-riddled year in which he still totaled 14 touchdowns, is currently ranked as RB13 heading into the upcoming season per FantasyPros consensus rankings.

FB Anthony Sherman has officially re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2020 season. (Source: Kansas City Chiefs on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Sherman was drafted by the Cardinals in 2011 out of UConn. He played two seasons in Arizona before joining the Chiefs in 2013. In his seven seasons with Kansas City, Sherman hasn’t missed a single game. He’s been a constant for what has been a very good run game in Kansas City for most of the last decade. He’ll be back with the defending Super Bowl Champions in 2020 to keep the ground game firing on all cylinders which will continue to open things up for QB Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are bringing back almost every piece on offense, which is key to potentially repeating as champs in 2020.

Antonio Brown has hired agent Ed Wasielewski of EMG Sports to represent him. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Brown is switching agents as he continues his bid to return to the NFL this season. He was officially charged with burglary conveyance, misdemeanor battery, and misdemeanor criminal mischief last Friday. Brown was also seen working out with Lamar Jackson this offseason. Teams are waiting out the legal process before kicking the tires on AB. Brown hopes that switching agents will give him a better chance of returning, but unless something improves in his investigation, AB is unlikely to be welcomed back into the NFL.

LB Gerald Hodges has announced his intent to play in 2020, after deciding to hang up his cleats at the end of the 2018 NFL season. He is now officially a free agent on the open market. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hodges, a former 2013 third-round pick by the Vikings, decided to retire from the NFL after the 2018 season he spent with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s played for four teams in his six-year career, totaling 282 tackles in 81 games. After sitting out the 2019 season, The 29-year old has decided he’s not done playing football just yet, and hopes another team will give him a shot in 2020.

Free agent Jadeveon Clowney has reportedly lowered his asking price. (Source: ESPN 710 Seattle)

Fantasy Impact: Clowney was originally asking for $20 million annually when free agency began. However, he remains unsigned as teams now shift their focus to the NFL draft. Clowney has reportedly dropped his asking price to $17 million annually. Re-signing with the Seahawks remains a likely outcome for the 27-year-old.

Courtney Cronin of ESPN writes that Vikings tight end Irv Smith could have an expanded role in 2020. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: The rookie impressed at times last season, hauling in 36 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns while playing in all 16 games. Stefon Diggs is no longer with the Vikings, which could open up targets for the 21-year-old tight end. However, just keep in mind that for now Smith is still behind Kyle Rudolph on the team's depth chart.

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area doesn't consider Matt Breida a lock to make the 49ers' final roster. (Source: NBC Sports Bay Area)

Fantasy Impact: Breida, who was a restricted free agent this off-season, received a second-round tender from San Francisco. However, none of his salary is guaranteed. The 49ers also have Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, and Jerick McKinnnon on the rister. Breida might need an injury to survive training camp cuts this summer.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas admitted that wide receiver Quincy Enunwa is a "big question mark" moving forward. Enunwa's 2019 season ended early due to a neck injury. (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: There are questions around whether or not Enunwa will suit up again, much less for the 2020 season. If he is able to return to health, he will likely factor into the competition for the team's third wide receiver, with Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman taking priority over Enunwa. And that's not considering the Jets could select a wide receiver early in the 2020 NFL Draft. At this point, Enunwa isn't someone to consider for fantasy purposes.

RB David Johnson has not yet passed his physical, and thus the trade to Houston in exchange for WR DeAndre Hopkins has not yet been finalized. (Source: ProFootballTalk on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Per a source, Johnson has taken a physical on his pre-existing wrist injury, which he passed, but has not yet taken a full body physical that is needed to move forward with the trade. As part of the deal, Arizona is also set to send Houston a second-round pick, and Houston was going to send Arizona a fourth-round pick in addition to swapping players. The draft is set to begin on April 23, and neither Johnson nor Hopkins has passed their physical to date, leaving the trade in limbo with only a few weeks to go. There’s nothing at this point to suggest that Johnson or Hopkins won’t pass a physical in time to process the trade before the draft, but the current landscape surrounding the coronavirus pandemic can’t leave either team feeling 100% confident at this point in time.

WR DeAndre Hopkins has not yet passed his physical, per multiple sources, and thus the trade to Arizona for RB David Johnson has not yet been finalized. (Source: ProFootballTalk on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Neither Hopkins nor Johnson have passed their physical yet, and with the proposed trade including 2020 draft picks, time is running out for the trade to be finalized. The NFL Draft is set to begin on April 23, so both players will have to pass their physicals in the next 18 days in order for the trade to go through. The trade was announced a few weeks ago now, and since that time, the Texans have been bashed for giving up a top-5 WR in Hopkins in exchange for a RB whose career seems to be on the downswing. Nothing suggests that either team is interested in backing off the initial deal, but it’s becoming a time-sensitive matter since draft picks are also included in the trade.

Jarvis Landry (hip) is on schedule from his recovery from surgery. (Source: Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal)

Fantasy Impact: Landry underwent surgery on his hip in February and is expected to be sidelined six-to-eight months. He on schedule from his recovery and is reportedly on track to be ready before the season opener. Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski said “both Odell Beckham and Landry are exactly where they need to be” during this stage of their recoveries. Landry recorded 83 receptions for 1,174 yards and six touchdowns across 16 games in 2019. He is currently 30th among all wide receivers in the expert consensus rankings.

Odell Beckham Jr. (abdomen) is on schedule from his recovery from surgery. (Source: Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal)

Fantasy Impact: Beckham had surgery to repair a core muscle in January and is reportedly on track in his recovery. He was bothered by abdominal/groin injuries most of 2019. Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski said “both Beckham and Jarvis Landry are exactly where they need to be” during this stage of their recoveries. Beckham is coming off a disappointing first campaign with the Browns, logging 74 catches for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games. OBJ is currently 10th amongst wide receivers in the expert consensus rankings.

ProFootball Talk on Twitter is reporting that the Chiefs have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent tight end Ricky Seals-Jones. (Source: ProFootball Talk on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: By bringing in Seals-Jones, the Chiefs pick-up a good back-up for Travis Kelce. Last year while playing for the Browns, Seals-Jones totaled 14 receptions for 229 yards and four touchdowns for the season. Seals-Jones is a worthy pick-up in deep tight end premium leagues. If Kelce were to go down with an injury, Seals-Jones could creep up to TE2 numbers.

As reported at the start of free agency, DT D.J. Reader has now officially signed a four-year, $53M deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, making him the highest paid nose tackle in the NFL. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Reader is due $22.25M in the first year and $31.75M over the first two years of his new contract. The stud nose tackle out of Clemson played his first four seasons with the Texans, and now will join forces with Pro-Bowler Geno Atkins to create a very formidable 1-2 punch on the defensive line in Cincinnati.

Bear's General Manager Ryan Pace said that "it's an open competition" regarding the Bears' starting quarterback position. (Source: StaceyDales on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: After being drafted second overall in 2017, Trubisky took the starting job from Mike Glennon prior to Week 5 and has never had that role threatened. This offseason, however, has been a very different story as the Bears aggressively shopped the free agent market, eventually settling for multi-year deal with Nick Foles. This is Trubisky's last guaranteed season on his rookie deal before the Bears are forced to make a decision regarding his fifth-year option estimated to be around $24M. Pace's comments make it appear as though Trubisky and the newly acquired Foles will battle it out for the starting job in Chicago. Over the last few season, the Bears' staff has consistently lauded Trubisky's performance in camp, although it hasn't translated to much in-game success. While Foles looked primed to take the reins immediately as the starter, this situation will require some attention over the coming months.