Fantasy Football News

Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur says that wide receiver Martavis Bryant has not missed a drug test and that he is clean, despite reports circulating that he is on the verge of being suspended. (Source: Vic Tafur on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: When a rumor like this surfaces, it often turns out to be true, but apparently, it's just a rumor according to Bryant. If the rumor did turn out to be true, it's possible that we never see Bryant play another down in the NFL again, as he'd receive a minimum one-year suspension from the league and we've already seen one team move on from him. We'll continue to post updates on this story, but as of now, it seems we cannot overreact.

While previewing the team's 2018 positional groups, Buffalo News writer Vic Carucci thinks that free-agent addition Chris Ivory is likely to replace LeSean McCoy in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Weighing 223 pounds, Ivory is a punishing power runner who had a lot of success rushing inside the five-yard line in both 2015 and 2016, the last time he had a significant opportunity to produce in that role. (Source: Buffalo News)

Fantasy Impact: Ivory actually led the NFL with 17 carries inside the five-yard line in 2015 and scored eight such touchdowns from that area in the 2015-16 seasons. Last year, McCoy scored on just two of his 11 carries inside the five and the Bills will undoubtedly want to limit those excessive hits with Ivory on the roster earning almost $2.5 million this season. Ivory is merely a handcuff for McCoy owners, but this development limits McCoy's chances of exceeding last year's eight touchdowns.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston has been suspended for three games to start the 2018 season. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's due to charges that stemmed from an Uber ride that he took in March of 2016 where he was being accused of sexual harassment. It was leaked yesterday that Winston's camp was expecting a three-game suspension, though he will appeal the suspension and it could get knocked down to one game. Whatever the case, this hurts his fantasy appeal in redraft leagues. If you're still planning on snagging Winston late in drafts, you should also grab Andy Dalton with one of your last picks, as he's set to face the Colts inside the dome in Indianapolis for Week 1.

NFL Network's Mike Garofolo is reporting that Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson has pled guilty to his reckless driving charge and has been given six months of probation. The league has been monitoring the situation all along and they're contemplating a suspension. (Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: If you've been following along, Anderson has now been arrested twice during his NFL career and the league hasn't taken kindly to this type of negative press over the last few years. At this point, we wouldn't be shocked to see Anderson get a four-game suspension that could get knocked down to two games with appeal. If this situation isn't finished by the time your draft rolls around, you're best off sliding Anderson down a few spots on your draft board.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee is already challenging Braxton Miller for the starting slot job. (Source: Houston Chronicle)

Fantasy Impact: For those who followed our Scouting Profile series on the incoming prospects, this should come as no surprise. In Coutee's profile, we compared him to Tyreek Hill as someone with speed "on-demand." Coutee has been working with Wes Welker this offseason, and according to his teammate DeAndre Hopkins, it's showing. "He's only getting better. He's always hanging around, seeing what I'm doing in between periods, asking me questions. The guy can play football." It'll be tough for Coutee to have an extreme amount of upside with Hopkins and Will Fuller ahead of him on the pecking order, but Coutee is someone who'll put together a highlight reel of NFL plays very soon.

In a recent article, beat writer Rob Rang reports that Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley said Baker Mayfield has "a long way to go" before challenging veteran Tyrod Taylor. (Source: Rob Rang )

Fantasy Impact: It's what should have been expected, given the fact that the Browns traded the first pick in the third-round despite knowing they would draft Mayfield shortly thereafter. The reports out of Cleveland to this point have been that Taylor is mastering Haley's offense and that you can clearly see the gap between him and Mayfield. You shouldn't be shocked to see Taylor start 10 games before the Browns bye in Week 11, making Mayfield an afterthought in redraft leagues. You should still be buying him in dynasty leagues, though.

The Baltimore Ravens will have a completely revamped receiving corps in 2018, and according to the Baltimore Sun, "if this minicamp is any indication, he's looking to have a huge rebound year." Snead joins Michael Crabtree and John Brown as new veteran acquisitions and the positive reports on the play of quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson could mean Snead will have a prominent role as Baltimore's slot receiver. (Source: The Baltimore Sun)

Fantasy Impact: Snead averaged over 70 receptions and 900 yards in each of his first two seasons with New Orleans before a suspension and benching torpedoed his 2017 season. Baltimore has never been known as a high-octane offense, but Snead could find himself targeted a healthy number of times. He's basically free in fantasy leagues and certainly worth a late-round look in deeper PPR leagues.

The Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson recently sat down with Texans running back D'Onta Foreman to discuss his recovery from a torn Achilles, and though it's been going well, there's no timetable for his return to the field.

Fantasy Impact: Foreman talked about his diet being a big change during the rehab process, as he needs to keep his body fat percentage low because of his inability to do strenuous activities. He also said that the Texans told him it'd be a long recovery from the injury and that he may not be ready to contribute to the team in Week 1. We've heard rumblings about him starting the season on the PUP list, which would explain the Texans decision to re-sign Alfred Blue to another contract and retain Lamar Miller despite a lot of reports suggesting he might be cut this offseason. Foreman suffered the injury on November 19th and it often takes around 11 months for a player to return to the field, which makes it unlikely that he's ready for the start of the season. As of now, Foreman shouldn't be on your redraft radar unless you have a lot of bench spots.

The Indy Star is reporting that running back Robert Turbin is set to have "a big role" in the Colts offense and that new head coach Frank Reich plans on having a running-back-by-committee. (Source: Indy Star)

Fantasy Impact: This sounds like a disaster for fantasy football purposes. Don't forget that Reich comes from the Doug Pederson tree, who used LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and Corey Clement in a massive timeshare last year. Of those three, Turbin fits the Blount role, and you can argue that nobody else gets even close to that role. Reich said, “I think he brings an element of size and power and strength to the mix." With Marlon Mack recovering from shoulder surgery, it seems possible that rookies Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins may even get into the mix. This is going to be an unpredictable backfield, so it's best to slide each of them down draft boards.

According to AZCardinals.com, Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson will not shadow opposing No. 1 wide receivers in 2018. (Source: AZCardinals.com)

Fantasy Impact: This seems like something that might change as time goes on, as the Cardinals cornerback depth behind Peterson is, well, not good. He wasn't the reason for the defense slipping last year, as he allowed just 28 receptions on 60 targets in coverage while shadowing the opposing team's best receiver. This would be an upgrade for wide receivers slated to go against him this year, as creative coordinators will scheme for their top wide receiver to play away from Peterson. This scheme is supposed to give him more opportunities for interceptions, but why fix something that isn't broken?

ESPN reporter Rich Cimini is reports that Jets running back coach Stumpy Mitchell has continually praised second-year running back Elijah McGuire, comparing him to LaDanian Tomlinson and saying, "he can do it all." (Source: Rich Cimini on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: While we have to remember that it's a running back coach that's saying this, it's a lofty comparison for the sophomore who netted 105 touches last year, and that was with Matt Forte and Bilal Powell in front of him on the depth chart. Forte did retire, but the Jets didn't sit tight in free agency, signing both Isaiah Crowell and Thomas Rawls. Those moves don't scream confidence in McGuire, but it's good to see him impressing in camp. It's no secret that the Jets don't want Powell in a workhorse role and we know that Crowell isn't anything special, so it's possible that McGuire makes a bigger impact than most are expecting. He would need to be a starter in the preseason to have any sort of redraft appeal.

Mike Klis of 9News.com is reporting that second-year wide receiver Carlos Henderson "would have to pull off an upset to make the Broncos' 53-man roster." (Source: 9News.com)

Fantasy Impact: This is a shocking development for a player the Broncos invested a third-round pick on just last year. Henderson didn't play in 2017 due to a hand injury and was then arrested for marijuana possession at the start of the offseason. When he showed up at training camp with a lingering hamstring issue, head coach Vance Joseph stated, "he's got to get back on the field if he wants to make this football team." This could be an attempt to light a fire under the young man, but the fact that they drafted two wide receivers in the top four rounds may make him dispensable. We'd still bet he's on the team come Week 1.

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com is reporting that tight end Tyler Eifert may not be ready for training camp. (Source: Geoff Hobson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The statement came from Marvin Lewis directly, so this carries weight. Dealing with back injuries over the last few years, Eifert has now missed 22 of the last 32 games. Even in the 10 games he has played, he's averaged just 3.3 receptions and 44.0 yards, though five touchdowns made him look a bit better in fantasy football. We've seen players bounce-back from foot injuries before, so don't tie him in with Jordan Reed, but the back injuries will never go away. You're better off letting someone else draft Eifert, as the reward isn't great enough for the risk you're taking.

Los Angeles Daily News is reporting that Chargers GM Tom Telesco has been in contact with free agent tight end Antonio Gates. (Source: Los Angeles Daily News)

Fantasy Impact: This reeks of desperation, as the Chargers appeared to be moving on from the 38-year-old tight end. As a free agent this offseason, Gates has received no interest from other teams and appeared to be well on his way to retirement. Given how well Gates knows the offense, combined with his advanced age, don't be surprised if he waits to sign until July or August so he misses much of training camp. If Gates did, in fact, sign with the Chargers, he'd be in the streaming TE2 conversation, but don't think you're getting the upside you're used to.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley is reporting that Ravens wide receiver John Brown injured his knee in practice on Tuesday and is now absent from practice on Wednesday. (Source: Jamison Hensley on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hensley goes on to say that Brown never left the field on Tuesday, so they didn't think it was anything serious. It's possible that they're just giving him a veteran's day off on Wednesday, but this definitely doesn't help Brown's fantasy stock. Not only is he trying to learn a new offense with a new quarterback, but there's suddenly a packed wide receiver room for the Ravens, as they've acquired Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead, Jaleel Scott, and Jordan Lasley since they signed Brown in free agency, and that's not to mention the two tight ends they drafted in the first three rounds. Brown had a phenomenal start to his career that was derailed by the sickle cell trait and he's never really returned to form. He's just a late-round flier in best-ball leagues, but he's even iffy there.

As shown on their official Twitter page, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has officially resumed throwing the football. (Source: Indianapolis Colts on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: While it may not seem like much, Luck hadn't thrown since his shoulder surgery that took place January 19th of 2017, almost 17 months ago. We've heard rumblings that he would resume throwing, but we'd heard all sorts of false rumors last year, so it was right to remain skeptical. While the video shows him throwing an easy dump-off pass, it's progress, which is all that we can ask for. With a current ADP as the 11th quarterback off the board, you can expect that number to start getting lower as the positive reports start to roll out. If he were guaranteed healthy for all 16 games, Luck would be in the conversation to be drafted as a top-three quarterback.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that free agent running back Jamaal Charles is visiting with the New Orleans Saints. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This may be nothing, but Charles is now two years removed from his latest ACL tear that had him wind up as a backup to both C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker on the Broncos. There were spurts where Charles still looked like he had "it," but even if he were to sign with the Saints, it would likely be a limited role to help fulfill the void left by Mark Ingram over the first couple weeks. Many will use Adrian Peterson to point out that Charles wouldn't work, but they're polar opposites in terms of skill-sets. Charles would've had an Alvin Kamara-type impact in fantasy football throughout his career if he played for Sean Payton, as it's a system he'd excel in. The question is whether or not Charles has any gas left in the tank. We'll update this story as we hear more.

Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that rookie running back Ronald Jones is slated to "share the load" with Peyton Barber, while veteran Charles Sims will have a chance to keep the third-down role he had last season. (Source: Tampa Bay Times)

Fantasy Impact: Just a few weeks ago we were told that Barber was the starter while Jones would be mixed in. If you've paid attention to second-round rookie running backs over the past decade, you'd know that they'll be utilized in their team's offense, barring a major setback in camp. Barber is a former undrafted free agent that the Bucs let sit behind Doug Martin and Sims while they combined for just 1,071 yards on 354 carries (3.03 YPC) the last two seasons. But now that they drafted a running back at the top of the second-round, they'll utilize him? Doesn't add up, right? You also shouldn't miss the part of the article that say Sims "will have a chance" to keep the third-down role, as he's guaranteed nothing. Expect Jones to receive at least 15 touches per game right out of the gate, making him a low-end RB2 with upside.

Kyle Fredrickson of Denver Post is reporting that Broncos running back Devontae Booker should receive "plenty of carries" with the departure of C.J. Anderson, while the team has yet to decide on the second option. (Source: Kyle Fredrickson)

Fantasy Impact: It almost sounds as if he forgot that the Broncos drafted Oregon's Royce Freeman at the top of the third-round. He did mention him in the following sentences, but this sounds like a case where the Broncos aren't going to simply hand Freeman the starting job to begin camp, which is a process most teams follow. Think about it this way - Booker couldn't pass Anderson on the depth chart and then Anderson was cut from the team. Then they drafted Freeman with high equity at a very replaceable position, and snagged another two running backs later in the draft/undrafted process. If you really believe that Booker is going to start very long for the Broncos, I think you're going to be extremely disappointed.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com is reporting that Packers running back Ty Montgomery appears to be set for another significant role in the offense. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Head coach Mike McCarthy chimed in saying, "We have to take advantage of Ty's skills, and there's no question about that. The offense is suited for that." He also went on to say the most impactful thing he has this offseason. "No one has really gone the distance, so that's why we're a running back-by-committee approach." For anyone suggesting that they know whether or not it's Jamaal Williams' or Aaron Jones' job, they're wrong. It appears that McCarthy will use them in tandem until someone gives him a reason not to, but it's clear that he views Montgomery as a big part of their current plan. He's currently being drafted as the RB48 in early ADP.