FFToolbox - Charles Johnson is 'most intriguing prospect' among Browns WRs plus 4 more

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Charles Johnson is 'most intriguing prospect' among Browns WRs
Giants WR Victor Cruz not yet totally comfortable with offense
Jets QB Geno Smith 'can be special'
UPDATE: Texans WR Andre Johnson expected to be at training camp on time
49ers WR Stevie Johnson on roster bubble

Charles Johnson is 'most intriguing prospect' among Browns WRs

Posted: 22 Jul 2014 12:26 PM PDT

Everyone should agree that there is a lot of room for opportunity inside the Browns' receiving corps. Miles Austin and Andrew Hawkins are expected to open the season atop the depth chart, but injuries have been a huge part of their NFL story in recent seasons. No. 3 wideout, Nate Burleson, will turn 33 next month. Beyond tight end Jordan Cameron, the Browns' passing offense is one big question mark. Perhaps youngster Charles Johnson can provide some answers. The 25-year-old wideout is the team's quot;most intriguing prospect," according to Tom Reed of Cleveland.com. Johnson, a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2013, stands at 6-foot-2 and blazed a 4.38 40-yard dash at his pro day. He was claimed by the Browns in October, but they found out soon afterward that Johnson had a torn ACL. He didn't participate in OTAs, but head coach Mike Pettine said "it looks pretty good" that Johnson will be healthy by the start of training camp later this week. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Put Johnson on dynasty notice. His pure measurables do make him an interesting talent; now we'll have to see if he is more athlete than football player. If he can come back strong from his knee surgery and handle the Browns' offense, he has a good chance to see playing time every week. If Austin and/or Hawkins suffer another injury, Johnson's fantasy stock could really take a leap.

Giants WR Victor Cruz not yet totally comfortable with offense

Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:56 AM PDT

Giants quarterback Eli Manning said Monday that his feel for new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's system is quot;not to where I want it to be." The same could be said for his top wideout. Victor Cruz told Paul Dottino of WFAN radio on Tuesday that his comfort level with the offense is currently at an eight out of 10. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This is why we have training camp. In due time, Manning, Cruz, and the entire Giants' offense will get the reps required to fully understand what McAdoo wants. Once they do, I think this system will be a boon for all involved. McAdoo is implementing a lot of things similar to what Mike McCoy brought to San Diego last season, and that helped turn Philip Rivers' career around. Manning is now the one who needs help in finding his old form, and I think he will with Cruz playing a major factor. The Giants will call for many more quick-hitting passes this season which will allow Cruz to get the ball over the middle of the field and then use his quickness to rack up a ton of YAC. He is going to be a steal as a WR2. Manning has plenty of value as he has now dropped into the 20s among QBs in drafts.

Jets QB Geno Smith 'can be special'

Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:35 AM PDT

David Lee, the quarterback coach of the Ney York Jets states, quot;We're not playing yet -- we're not in the stadium yet, people aren't in the stands -- but Geno is a strongly improved player at this point." The sophomore QB is coming off a less than stellar rookie rookie campaign where he threw for 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. With the Jets signing of Michael Vick in the offseason, Geno Smith has a reason to keep improving and developing as a player. Sources within the organization state that Smith is taking a leadership role within the team, something that he had not done as a rookie. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Geno Smith is barely a blimp on the Fantasy Football radar. Because of his lackluster performance as a rookie, he has garnered very little attention. However, with the signing of Eric Decker in the offseason, Smith could start building a very fond connection with the veteran WR. Not only can Smith improve on his passing performance, but his rushing performance as well. In the 2013 season Smith totaled 366 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns. There is plenty of room to improve for the sophomore QB and he would surely be worth a late-round pickup if he showcases his improved talents this preseason.

UPDATE: Texans WR Andre Johnson expected to be at training camp on time

Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:28 AM PDT

The Houston Texans will arrive at training camp on Friday, and the face of the franchise is expected to join them. After holding out of spring practices and then reportedly demanding a trade, wide receiver Andre Johnson will likely be back with the Texans this week, according to Houston Chronicle columnist Jerome Solomon. Johnson visited the team's facility on Monday. ---------------------------------- Update: NFL.com's Ian Rapoport has a source who gives a contradictory view. The source says Johnson visiting the facility quot;means nothing for camp." Guess we'll just have to wait until Friday. FANTASY ANALYSIS: A trade was never a legitimate possibility due to all of the dead money the Texans would have to absorb in the event of a deal. Johnson is understandably frustrated with the team's short-term vision, which includes Ryan Fitzpatrick at starting quarterback. But he stood to gain nothing by holding out. Johnson is coming off of a 109-catch, 1,407-yard season. He is 33, but he still makes for quite the valuable WR2. His uncertain future with the team has dropped his ADP into the fifth round in some drafts. As much as I don't trust Fitzpatrick, it's really difficult to pass up on Johnson that far into the draft.

49ers WR Stevie Johnson on roster bubble

Posted: 22 Jul 2014 08:54 AM PDT

CSN Bay Area reports that Johnson, while the current favorite to win the 49ers WR3 spot, will need to quot;clearly win" the position in order to make the roster, due to his scheduled $3.925 million salary this year. Also competing for the third wideout spot will be WRs Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, and Brandon Lloyd. The winner of the roster battle will lineup alongside WRs Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree, as well as TE Vernon Davis. FANTASY ANALYSIS: In case you were thinking of drafting Johnson, don't, except in the deepest of leagues. His days as an elite threat on the Bills are long gone, and it sounds as though he'll struggle to even make the cut for the 49ers this year, because they feel as though they may be paying him too much. Rookie WR Bruce Ellington is a particular threat, after he flashed 4.4 speed and posted the combine's top vertical jump (39.5 inches). In any event, the No. 3 WR for the 49ers isn't likely to be particularly relevant in fantasy, as they'll have to compete against Boldin, Crabtree and Davis for targets.