FFToolbox - Jaguars HC Gus Bradley talks up RB Toby Gerhart again plus 10 more

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Jaguars HC Gus Bradley talks up RB Toby Gerhart again
Redskins QB Robert Griffin III says HC Jay Gruden's offense is similar to Mike Shanahan's
Giants WR Odell Beckham might be a decoy often this year
Titans TE Delanie Walker was an offseason star
Falcons WR Julio Jones underwent 'cutting-edge procedure' to lessen chances of another foot injury
Raiders would prefer QB Matt Schaub starts every game this season
Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph 'should have a big year'
Patriots rookie RB James White predicted to play more than 20 percent of snaps this season
Bills WR Mike Williams' surgically repaired hamstring is fully healed
Chargers RB Ryan Mathews wants to do more this season
Saints rookie WR Brandin Cooks wowing teammates, NFL media

Jaguars HC Gus Bradley talks up RB Toby Gerhart again

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 11:17 PM PDT

It's already known that Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley wants Toby Gerhart to be his bell-cow running back. On Saturday, he presented further reasons why. quot;His work ethic, his knowledge of the game, his ability to fit in with our team, his competitiveness — he checks all those boxes," Bradley said of Gerhart. "The one thing we saw during the OTAs was that his speed — he's even faster than we gave him credit for." When asked if his staff will have to monitor Gerhart to keep from overworking him, Bradley only said that he was "intrigued" by his backup running backs -- Jordan Todman, Denard Robinson, and Storm Johnson -- and that the coaches are still trying to figure out each player's strengths. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Translation: Uh, we don't really plan on taking Toby off of the field. I was not a fan of the Gerhart signing initially, especially for $4.5 million guaranteed. But he put up great numbers as a seldom-used reserve last year in Minnesota, and it's been beyond proven that the Jags are completely sold on him. It won't always be flashy, but the touches will be there for Gerhart each and every week in Jacksonville's run-heavy offense. He is an RB2 workhorse.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III says HC Jay Gruden's offense is similar to Mike Shanahan's

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 10:25 PM PDT

Redskins fans and Robert Griffin's fantasy owners from 2013 probably want to forget about everything Mike Shanahan following last year's fiasco. Jay Gruden is in as the new head coach. Sean McVay is in as the new offensive coordinator. But when people watch the Redskins this season, they will see something that should remind them of Shanahan: The offense. Griffin said so. quot;I think having two years' experience running an offense, a pro-level offense, West Coast type, this is very similar," Griffin told the Washington Post. "So it's not been as tough as you might think. But all the concepts translate over. They might be called something different. But the reads are similar. It's just about the philosophy of the coach. Jay has a little bit different philosophy." FANTASY ANALYSIS: The most obvious differences on the field will be the reduction in zone-read runs, and more passes overall. The Redskins are still going to give the ball to Alfred Morris plenty, but Gruden is a throw-first coach, and the Redskins are stocked with quality targets on the outside. Although Griffin won't run as often, he is not Jake Locker; he is an accurate passer who should be able to do just fine in fantasy even if he hangs in the pocket much more often this season. Two other things in Griffin's favor are his health, and the fact that the Redskins' defense, while not as embarrassing as last year's unit, should remain far from elite. Among the QBs ranked in the lower half of the top 10, Griffin is my favorite grab.

Giants WR Odell Beckham might be a decoy often this year

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 09:50 PM PDT

One reason why the Giants spent a first-round pick on Odell Beckham is his 4.4 speed. The Giants look forward to utilizing that speed this year, and perhaps the most prominent way they will do so is by making the rookie a decoy to help out his teammates. quot;Odell Beckham was drafted to give the Giants the field-stretching threat that Hakeem Nicks did not provide last year, and the team believes he can outrun defensive backs and help open things up for Ben McAdoo's offense near the line of scrimmage," ESPN New York's Dan Graziano wrote Saturday. "Of course, assuming they're right, Beckham can provide a big-play threat in his own right down the field. But their hope is that he has the speed to beat press coverage and stretch out defenses in a way that allows their offense to operate with a variety of quick-hitting options." FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Giants' new offense is predicated on quick timing routes, much like what San Diego run last year, which led to a rebirth for Philip Rivers. I think the same thing can occur with Eli Manning this year. With Beckham, Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, and Jerrel Jernigan, he has a nice group of talented if largely unproven receivers. Running back Rashad Jennings is a fine pass-catcher as well. Beckham should be drafted in the later rounds, and he'll likely go through the ups and downs most rookies do. But I believe Graziano is on to something here. The Giants are not going to be a down-the-field offense; they are going to let their receivers do a lot of the work after the catch. That's where Cruz thrives. With Beckham's speed moving defensive attention away from the line of scrimmage, I think a player such as Cruz will really benefit over the middle. He could be a steal as a WR2.

Titans TE Delanie Walker was an offseason star

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 07:00 PM PDT

The Titans would love to see what tight end Delanie Walker did during May and June carry over to September and beyond. According to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean, Walker was an offseason star who looked good during practices and really worked hard on his blocking skills so he can stay on the field for more plays. Walker is also healthy after spending last offseason, his first in Tennessee, recovering from a knee scope. Wyatt said Walker has become more of a leader, and quot;all signs point to a big year." Walker had the biggest year of his career in 2013, blowing past his previous highs to set new benchmarks in receptions (60), yards (571), and touchdowns (6). FANTASY ANALYSIS: Despite Wyatt's claim of a "big year," he said he expects Walker to "be in the 60-catch neighborhood again." It also doesn't help Walker's fantasy value that the Titans want more production out of backup TEs Taylor Thompson and Craig Stevens. Wyatt thinks both of those players will record double-digit receptions after combining for five catches last season. Walker is a mid-range TE2/bye-week option.

Falcons WR Julio Jones underwent 'cutting-edge procedure' to lessen chances of another foot injury

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 06:18 PM PDT

Julio Jones will likely be drafted as a top-five wideout in many leagues this year. He's a stud, even though there's a pretty big red flag attached to his fantasy stock. Jones has fractured the same bone in his right foot twice in the past 33 months. The re-break came in October and required season-ending surgery. In that surgery, doctors took steps to lower the odds that Jones' foot fractures won't become a chronic condition. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jones underwent a 'cutting-edge medical procedure' that involved using a larger screw than was used in his first surgery to secure the broken fifth metatarsal of his right foot. Doctors also injected bone marrow taken from Jones' hip into the foot to help the injury heal quicker. While such a treatment can help, it's not fool-proof. As Dr. Phillip Kwong told Mark Inabinett of AL.com, there are sometimes uncontrollable factors behind why bones break again. In this case, it could be that Jones' structure puts an unequal share of pressure on the outside of his right foot rather than evenly across it. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Jones isn't expected to be quite 100 percent when training camp opens, but he is set on being his old self come Week 1. Fantasy owners believe he'll be fine as Jones is being drafted inside the first 15-20 picks. You know the risks, but the return from Jones if he plays a full season is going to be ridiculous. He was on pace for more than 130 catches and 1,800 yards prior to last year's injury. Side note: While the original story came from Ledbetter, Inabinett's story is linked below because the original story is hidden behind a paywall.

Raiders would prefer QB Matt Schaub starts every game this season

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 03:37 PM PDT

The Raiders hope that their future is rookie quarterback Derek Carr. They also hope they don't need the future to arrive until after 2014. Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area wrote Friday that while Carr has developed so quickly that his play has forced coaches to give him more practice reps, the team would prefer to have Carr sit and learn while Matt Schaub gets 16 starts this season. quot;Head coach Dennis Allen is supremely confident in Schaub's ability to rebound, especially after an offseason program where he showed tremendous football IQ and trademark accuracy," Bair wrote. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Allen is very confident in Schaub. A little too confident. This sounds all well and good, but can Schaub really play well enough to keep his job? If he begins to struggle like he did last year in Houston, the calls for Carr from Raider Nation will be loud, and that's already a rowdy bunch. For fantasy purposes, neither player is worth a pick in re-draft leagues. And no Raiders wide receiver, including James Jones, is anything more than a WR5. The Raiders have had just one 900-yard receiver since 2005: Darrius Heyward-Bey in 2011.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph 'should have a big year'

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 03:11 PM PDT

Master Tesfatsion of the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote Friday that Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph quot;should have a big year" under offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Rudolph was on his way to setting some career-highs last year before a broken foot took him down for the final eight games. But Rudolph's foot is healthy, he has lost some weight in an effort to make himself quicker, and "all signs point to [Rudolph] elevating his game" this season, Tesfatsion said. Tight ends such as Jordan Cameron and Antonio Gates have done just that with Turner's coaching. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Double Rudolph's numbers from last year's half-season, and you get 60 catches for 626 yards and six touchdowns. That should be a considered a low-end projection for Rudolph in an offense that will clearly utilize him more and more effectively. You just know that Norval will work his magic with another tight end here; the hope is Matt Cassel or Teddy Bridgewater doesn't sabotage his best-laid plans. For all of the buzz Rudolph has received since Turner's hiring, he remains a nice draft value as a mid-round pick, the No. 10 TE off the board on average.

Patriots rookie RB James White predicted to play more than 20 percent of snaps this season

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:49 PM PDT

If Stevan Ridley can hold on to the ball, the Patriots have a nice one-two punch in their backfield with him and Shane Vereen. However, the Pats may turn their running game it a three-punch combo. Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston posted a quot;Bold Predictions" column on Saturday. One of those predictions centered on fourth-round rookie running back James White. Reiss said that White will make an "early impact" to the tune of playing more than 20 percent of the snaps this season. "White had a solid spring minicamp 'season', and his combination of production as a rusher and receiver appears to be an ideal fit for a Patriots offense that values a diverse skill set," Reiss wrote. FANTASY ANALYSIS: White is much more Vereen than Ridley. He won't be a workhorse -- he split carries at the University of Wisconsin with Montee Ball before 2013. He's not a big back, but he has good hands, good speed, and knows how to block well. He will make his presence felt most as a receiver out of the backfield, but he'll probably need Vereen to get injured to have real fantasy value. However, White is a name to remember in dynasty leagues because Ridley and Vereen will be free agents after this season.

Bills WR Mike Williams' surgically repaired hamstring is fully healed

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:23 PM PDT

Bills wide receiver Mike Williams missed some time during OTAs and minicamp because his surgically repaired hamstring was still an issue. No longer, Williams said Saturday. quot;I'm fully ready to go. I trained this whole offseason. There was really no offseason for me. I kinda had to get my leg better. I had to get back to feeling like Mike again, like my mom always tells me. "At the start of camp, just did the conditioning test and I feel real good. I feel great. I feel I got an A-plus, if there was a grade for it. I feel I'm ready to go." Williams was acquired from the Buccaneers for a sixth-round pick in April. He played just six games last year due to that torn hamstring. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Now that he's healthy, Williams needs to show that he deserves a prominent role in this offense. He has the size to be a favorite of E.J. Manuel's down by the goal line, but I am not expecting much else. Williams has been a wildly inconsistent producer in terms of yardage his entire career. I think he is a fringe WR4 in standard leagues.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews wants to do more this season

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:01 PM PDT

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews had the best season of his four-year career in 2013. Most importantly, he finally played in 16 games. But he is not satisfied because how of last season ended. While Mathews made it through the regular season, a sprained ankle limited him to just 18 carries for 78 yards in two postseason contests. quot;It was hard, not being able to finish the year out," Mathews said. "Sixteen games is 16 games. I played a full season, but I didn't really get to contribute in the games after the season -- the real games when it really counts. "That's my expectation this season. I've got to do more and do better, so I can be there with my guys to be able to help them out as much as I can when we get there again." Mathews rushed for 1,255 yards on 285 carries last season. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Danny Woodhead figures to be a major part of this offense again, and Donald Brown will see a handful of carries every week, but Mathews remains San Diego's lead back. Because of Woodhead, Mathews won't catch as many passes as he did earlier in his career, but he consistently ran hard last year, something he didn't do enough previously. He is a stellar RB2 in standard leagues if he stays healthy. I'm not yet willing to say Mathews is a durable player after three injury-shortened seasons, but last year certainly made it a little easier to draft him.

Saints rookie WR Brandin Cooks wowing teammates, NFL media

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:45 PM PDT

ESPN.com's Mike Triplett posted a story about Saints rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Friday. The quick takeaway: Everybody loves him. quot;Everybody looked at each other like, 'Wow, this kid is definitely at a different speed," tight end Ben Watson said of Cooks. Linebacker Junior Galette said Cooks' speed is "top tier" in the NFL. Former player and current NFL writer Matt Bowen said Cooks is "Az Hakim, Part 2. You don't want to cover him in the slot." Former NFL general manager and current ESPN analyst Phil Savage thinks Cooks has a better shot at immediate success than the Bills' Sammy Watkins because of Drew Brees and the Saints' offense. "I could see Watkins having some of those one-catch, 15-yards kind of games, just because E.J. Manuel didn't play well or they double up Watkins and he's gotta go other places with the ball. Whereas with Cooks, I think there's gonna be probably three or four automatic completions in every game plan." Triplett said Cooks can be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year and will hit a lot of "home runs" on screens, reverses, deep balls, and punt returns. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Hakim comparison might not excite some of you because he was never an outstanding producer on offense, but do you remember how fast that guy was while playing with the Rams at the start of this millennium? He was an incredible punt returner. That was the embodiment of big-play speed. If Cooks has that kind of speed, look out. Triplett's projected stat line for Cooks isn't too crazy -- 70 catches, 800 yards -- but those are WR3-worthy numbers. He is currently being drafted in the mid-30s among WRs, but I expect that position to rise as we go through training camp. The hype will continue to build.