Wed, Aug 23rd 7:00pm EDT
By Anthony Cervino
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting the Jacksonville Jaguars will start Chad Henne in the team's third preseason game against the Carolina Panthers Thursday. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Rapoport is adding that although Henne will get the start over Blake Bortles, both signal callers will receive first team reps. If Henne plays well while Bortles continues to struggle, Henne could win the job sooner rather than later. At this point, it appears that Bortles' tenure as the Jaguars' QB1 could be coming to an end.
Marc Sessler of NFL.com is reporting that the Browns might be considering trading QB Brock Osweiler. [NFL Network's Tom] Pelissero tweeted that Cleveland "continued to make calls about trading Brock Osweiler before and after start of training camp," and added that the Browns are currently "keeping [their] options open." (Source: NFL.com)
Fantasy Impact: This would definitely be a boost for rookie DeShone Kizer. Osweiler is not likely to be relevant for fantasy, but could catch on somewhere that injuries are lingering, such as Indianapolis, Baltimore, or even Jacksonville if they just can't pick a starter. No matter where he goes, it's probably a downgrade for the rest of the offense, though if it's to fill in for Andrew Luck or Joe Flacco, we hope it would be short-term. Sounds like it's time to start buying the hype around Kizer in Cleveland, though.
DeShone Kizer has been named the Browns starting QB for the third preseason game. Head coach Hue Jackson said that Kizer "deserves this opportunity" and that Kizer is "positioning himself well to earn the starting job heading into the regular season." (Source: Cleveland Browns on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This is what we want for fantasy, not from a QB perspective, as Kizer still would only be a fringe option, but for the other skill players. We have seen other mobile QBs help the run game, so this would likely benefit Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson by keeping the defense guessing. Kizer has also looked poised in the pocket, so if he continues to develop as a strong pocket passer, this would be good for Corey Coleman, Kenny Britt, David Njoku, and the rest of the pass-catchers in Cleveland. How Kizer plays in the next game will be a big deciding factor. However, the fact that Hue Jackson wanted to name a starter today and "put this thing to bed," but is now changing his mind means he is unsure of Brock Osweiler. The door is wide open, but Cody Kessler doesn't seem to be in consideration at this point.
Pro Football Talk is reporting the Buffalo Bills are not shopping running back LeSean McCoy. (Source: SNF on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Although a tweet surfaced Tuesday suggesting the Bills are shopping McCoy, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio "poked around" to see its legitimacy, and per sources, it's not. Per Florio, "as one source with knowledge of the situation explained it to PFT, the Bills haven’t entertained traded offers for McCoy, the Bills currently aren’t entertaining offers for McCoy, and the Bills won’t be entertaining trade offers for McCoy." Moving McCoy would create roughly $1 million of "net cap space" and save the Bills $6.075 million in cash.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell will report to the team next Friday. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: On his personal Twitter account, Bell tweeted that he will report to the Steelers on Sept. 1, Rapoport is confirming. As expected, Bell is not holding out and will play the 2017 season under the fully guaranteed franchise tender, which he has yet to sign. Expect Bell to officially sign the tag upon his arrival to the team next Friday.
Tue, Aug 22nd 11:00pm EDT
By Lauren Boguslawske
Los Angeles Chargers running back Branden Oliver carried the ball seven times for 10 yards in the Chargers loss to the Saints Sunday night. Oliver was the first running back that entered the game after starter Melvin Gordon was removed, and played the majority of the second quarter.
Fantasy Impact: Oliver's fantasy value comes as the handcuff to Gordon. Fantasy coaches that draft Gordon should consider taking Oliver in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson is suggesting there is no need to question running back LeGarrette Blount's roster security and that he will be "a big part" of the team's offense in 2017. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Blount, who was amongst NJ.com's Matt Lombardo's list of players who could be cut by the Eagles before the start of the regular season, appears to have nothing to worry about in terms of his job security. Pederson implied that he could have a significant role in 2017, which likely cements his value entering fantasy draft season. At his current consensus RB26 ADP, Blount has enough upside to be targeted around the seventh round. However, don't expect another monster year like he had with New England in 2016. Although he is not likely to match or come anywhere close to his 18 touchdowns, the 7-to-9 range is not too far fetched. He is fully expected to enter 2017 as the Eagles RB1 and will likely handle goal line work as well.
Philadelphia Eagles beat writer Jimmy Kempski believes Wendell Smallwood could enter the 2017 season as the team's starting running back. "In something of a surprise development, Wendell Smallwood may be the starting running back this season," Kempski said via PhillyVoice.com. "Sproles aside, Smallwood has been the best back in camp by a significant margin." (Source: Kimmy Kempski on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: With recent the reports surrounding LeGarrette Blount -- NJ.com's Matt Lombardo is suggesting the free agent acquisition is not a lock to make the Eagles' 53-man roster -- Smallwood's name is buzzing that he could be the team's RB1 in 2017. Per reports, Smallwood is impressing while Blount appears worn down. However, if Blount is on the roster at the start of the year, and I fully expect him to be, he is more than likely to emerge as the top rusher on the depth chart.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Alex Smith is the team's starting quarterback in 2017. "It's Alex's job," Reid said Monday. That's what it is. There's no gray area with that." (Source: KansasCity.com)
Fantasy Impact: As expected, Reid reaffirmed that Smith will open the 2017 season as the Chiefs' QB1, and barring injury, he is expected remain under center for the duration of the campaign. Although Pat Mahomes was selected to be the team's QB of the future, he'll likely have to wait a year or two, while being groomed behind Smith, to begin his tenure as the Chiefs' franchise QB. Smith is a free agent in 2019.
Mack Hollins is reportedly cementing his position as the team's fourth WR. The rookie impressed during his first preseason game. (Source: Philly Voice)
Fantasy Impact: Hollins didn't do much Week 2, but his work in the first game and during camp has the fourth-rounder as a strong candidate to make the team and potentially see sporadic action at WR. He's not likely to make an impact in redraft leagues this season, but given Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith are on one-year deals and the team just traded away Jordan Matthews, Hollins is someone to monitor in dynasty leagues.
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that "all signs now point" to Trevor Siemian being named the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos for the 2017 season. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: It doesn't surprise me that Siemian is the favorite to emerge as Denver's QB1. Not only is he more experienced -- he appeared in 14 games in 2016 and accumulated a 3,401-18-10 QB stat line -- but Paxton Lynch has done very little to impress this offseason. In fact, Siemian reportedly has won the position battle by a "growing margin." Broncos head coach Vance Joseph could announce his 2017 starter as early as Monday.
Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden received nine carries for 59 yards while adding one reception for four yards in Saturday night's preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Impact: McFadden started and totaled 63 yards on 10 touches Saturday night against the Colts. However, since Alfred Morris also played well, he ran for 49 yards on nine carries, he could push McFadden for the starting job while Ezekiel Elliott serves his six-game ban to open the upcoming regular season. From a fantasy perspective, McFadden will likely emerge as the RB1 over Morris. He is more versatile and is a greater asset in the passing game, which bodes well for his fantasy value. Due to the extensive time Elliott will be out, McFadden is worth reaching for in upcoming fantasy drafts as early as the ninth round, while Morris is currently going undrafted.
Appearing on the Rich Eisen show, NFL Insider Mike Lombardi confirmed Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett is on the trading block. (Source: RIch Eisen on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Dorsett, the former 29th overall pick of the Colts in 2015, is reportedly available to acquire via trade. The former first-round pick struggled mightily since entering the NFL -- he's only produced a 51-753-3 stat line in 26 games -- and could be on his way out of Indianapolis. Per Lombardi, the Colts would take a late-round pick in return for the bust wideout. Currently, he is slated behind Chester Rodgers and Kamar Aiken on the depth chart and has minimal, if any, fantasy value for the upcoming campaign.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter told the media that "it's impossible to say" Doug Martin will remain the team's starting running back when he is eligible to return from his suspension in Week 4. (Source: Rick Stroud on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Martin, who rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown on five carries Thursday night against the Jaguars, is continuing to impress this offseason. However, since he will serve the remainder of his four-game suspension to open the year -- he will miss the first three games -- Koetter is declining to name him the starter upon his Week 4 return. From a fantasy perspective, Jacquizz Rodgers is the favorite to emerge as the starter while Martin is out, with Charles Sims working as the team's primary receiver out of the backfield. If Rodgers struggles, I'd fully expect Martin to start, but if he shines, Martin could be in trouble as Tampa could roll with the hot hand, which negatively impacts his fantasy value.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott told the press he "envisions" Tyrod Taylor as the team's Week 1 starter. "I have all the confidence in the world in Tyrod," McDermott said Friday. (Source: Joe Buscaglia on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: After a deflating performance in the Bills' second preseason game Thursday night against the Eagles in which he threw a pair of interceptions, Taylor remains the favorite to open the 2017 season as Buffalo's starting quarterback. Unless Taylor continues to make mistakes in live-action, his job will likely be safe. He'll remain in the middling QB2 conversation entering the upcoming season.
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