Fantasy Football News

According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Falcons are confident they will have a contract extension completed with Julio Jones before training camp. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jones has been one of the most consistent and elite options at wideout since entering the league, and his numbers over the past five seasons have been eye-popping. He’s recorded five straight 1,400-yard receiving campaigns, dating back to 2014, but he is just the 12th-highest paid receiver in the NFL, at $14.25M. Jones has two years left on his current contract, but he’s more than earned the big payday that should be coming soon.

Contract talks have opened between Michael Thomas and the New Orleans Saints, and Thomas could become the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Saints would be “comfortable making him the highest paid receiver in the game.” The current highest paid receiver in the game is Browns’ wideout Odell Beckham Jr, who earns $18M per year. Earning just $1.2M annually, Thomas stands to land a mega deal. The Saints would be wise to get a deal done with Thomas sooner than later and keep his price from rising any more in the future. He’s been one of the most productive receivers in the league over the past three years, averaging 107 receptions, 1,262 receiving yards, and seven receiving TDs per season.

Donte Moncrief is likely to be the Steelers’ No. 2 receiver behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, according to a report from the Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. (Source: The Athletic on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Moncrief has reportedly been a standout at OTAs already, and he’s impressed QB Ben Roethlisberger too. The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly reports that Moncrief “looks like a slam-dunk No. 2” receiver. Moncrief finished 2018 with his best statistical season in three years, with a 48-668-3 line in his only season with the Jaguars. The numbers don’t seem like much at face value, but they are pretty impressive considering he was catching passes from Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler. Moncrief has yet to top 733 receiving yards or seven receiving TDs in a season over his five years in the league, but he is a strong breakout candidate, especially given his current ADP of WR61 at overall pick 173.

Chris Herndon IV could face a two-game suspension this season, per an ESPN report. (Source: Mike Clay on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The suspension stems from Herndon IV pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated in January. Herndon looked impressive at times during his 2018 rookie campaign, finishing with a 39-502-4 line. The depth chart behind him is paper thin, with offseason standout Daniel Brown and 2019 fourth-round pick Trevon Wesco the most likely benefactors of a Herndon suspension.

Leonard Fournette will be a “big part of the pass game” in 2019, according to reports. (Source: Michael DiRocco on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: According to the report from ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, Leonard Fournette will see a lot of work in the passing game in 2019. New Jaguars QB Nick Foles expressed how much he likes throwing to his backs. Fournette has caught just 58 passes in 21 career games, and his bump in usage in the passing game adds to his fantasy value in 2019, especially in PPR-scoring formats.

Rookie WR D.K. Metcalf has drawn high praise from QB Russell Wilson. (Source: Around the NFL on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: When asked about D.K. Metcalf on Wednesday morning, Wilson said the receiver is “looking really really special,” adding, “he can do anything and everything and he’s tremendous.” That’s promising news for Metcalf, who should get plenty of opportunities immediately, with Tyler Lockett his only real competition for targets.

DeSean Jackson is likely to return punts for the Eagles this season. (Source: Zach Berman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jackson is reportedly the “top candidate” to be the Eagles’ punt returner in 2019. This isn’t new territory for the receiver, who returned 99 punts for four TDs in his first three years with the Eagles from 2008-2010. His top-end speed and electric playmaking abilities will serve him well on special teams and add an extra wrinkle to his fantasy value.

A.J. Green told reporters that he couldn't imagine himself playing elsewhere, adding that he can remain in Cincinnati "for a couple more years." (Source: NFL.com)

Fantasy Impact: Green is entering the final year of his contract, and given his age and injury issues it's not clear what the future holds for receiver. For fantasy purposes, it seems as though these issues have deflated Green's cost despite his high-end WR1 ceiling. He's currently the WR11 and No. 26 player overall in our PPR consensus rankings.

Matt LaCosse has a great chance to be the Patriots' starting TE this season. (Source: Boston Herald)

Fantasy Impact: LaCosse was one of the Patriots' first acquisitions this offseason, and according to a report from the Boston Herald, "all signs point to Matt LaCosse as the Patriots’ starting tight end in Week 1." Austin Sefarian-Jenkins was just released, and Ben Watson will serve a four game suspension for a PED violation, leaving the door open for LaCosse to see a lot of snaps. LaCosse has racked up a modest 27-272-1 line in three NFL seasons for the Giants and Broncos, but he looks to be heavily involved in New England's offensive scheme in 2019, filling a role vacated by Rob Gronkowski, who totaled 177 targets in his final two years with the Pats. LaCosse is the TE71 in our half-PPR ECR, but that ranking is sure to rise dramatically as the season approaches.

Browns RB Duke Johnson confirmed to reporters that he still wants to be traded out of Cleveland. (Source: Josina Anderson on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Johnson requested a trade months ago, and he reaffirmed his feelings to reporters at Browns minicamp. He made it clear, however, that he would come to work and do his job without being a distraction for as long as he was wearing brown and orange. Cleveland picked up Kareem Hunt in the offseason to pair with projected starter Nick Chubb, leaving Johnson to vie for scraps after Hunt serves his eight-game suspension. With so many elite options on the offensive side of the ball, the Browns could certainly afford to trade Johnson for future draft picks or defensive help. Teams who could use a pass-catching specialist like Johnson include the Buccaneers, Jaguars, and Texans. Johnson was the overall RB11 in 2017 in PPR formats, and he could be a valuable late-round selection in fantasy drafts if he lands in the right situation.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has named Damien Williams as the Chiefs’ starting running back in recent comments. (Source: Brandon Kiley on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: According to Bieniemy, “Damien Williams is our starter. We expect him to excel in that role.” The comments are a huge vote of confidence from a team that picked up Carlos Hyde in the off-season and Darwin Thompson in April’s draft. Williams showed off his skills as Kansas City’s starter in the last three games of the 2018 season, piling up 203 rushing yards and three rushing TDs on 34 attempts and snagging 14 receptions for 119 receiving yards and an additional score. If his role atop the depth chart remains firm heading into the season, his ADP is sure to skyrocket as the starting running back on one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

Texans WR Keke Coutee has recently drawn high praise from QB DeShaun Watson. (Source: James Palmer on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Watson spoke glowingly of Coutee, noting that when the receiver is on the field, “you have to find a way to get him the ball.” Coutee played only six games in 2018 as a rookie due to health issues, but he racked up an impressive 11-128-1 line in two starts and grabbed 11 receptions in his debut performance in Week 4. Fellow wideout Will Fuller V has missed 17 games in his first three seasons and is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year. His durability is obviously a concern, and he may not be 100 percent to start the season. Fuller’s health and Watson’s comments make Coutee an interesting fantasy prospect for 2019, especially in PPR formats, where he may push for fringe-WR3 value.

Gerald McCoy has drawn the interest of Cleveland Browns GM John Dorsey as a possible trade target. (Source: Steve Doerschuk on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It’s no secret that new Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians has made McCoy available for trade primarily due to salary cap flexibility. John Dorsey is eyeing McCoy to beef up an already impressive Browns defensive line that includes Olivier Vernon, Sheldon Richardson, and Myles Garrett. McCoy, the No. 3 overall pick in 2010, is a six-time Pro Bowler with three All-Pro selections to his name. Disgruntled Browns RB Duke Johnson has emerged as a potential trading piece in a McCoy deal. The Browns have already made it clear that the team has a “win now” mentality with a slew of high profile offseason acquisitions, and McCoy could be the next of those such pickups.

Pro Football Talk reports the Dolphins are close to acquiring Josh Rosen from the Cardinals. (Source: Pro Football Talk on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Pro Football Talk adds that the deal might even be tentatively done. It sounds as if the Cardinals would receive the 48th pick in exchange for Rosen. This would be a nice move for the rebuilding Dolphins. Rosen costs just $6.3 million over the next three years since he’s on his rookie deal. Ryan Fitzpatrick was previously penciled in as Miami’s starting quarterback.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the District Attorney will not press charges against Tyreek Hill in the domestic abuse case. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: There has been updates quite often with Hill recently, though nothing was concrete until now. His child had been removed from his home after suffering a broken arm in a "domestic dispute," though the DA's office has decided there's no conclusive evidence as to who actually broke the child's arm. The Chiefs said they were paying attention to the matter, but given there will be no charges pressed against Hill, he's likely going to get away from this unscathed. Unless Roger Goodell gets involved, this may be the last we hear on the issue.