Thursday, August 14, 2014

FFToolbox - Cowboys TE Jason Witten to see the ball 'in space' this season plus 20 more

FFToolbox - Cowboys TE Jason Witten to see the ball 'in space' this season plus 20 more

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Cowboys TE Jason Witten to see the ball 'in space' this season

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 07:09 AM PDT

Cowboys QB Tony Romo wants to get WItten the ball quot;in space" this season, according to CBS Sports. Romo believes that the Cowboys' offensive line is good enough this year to free up WItten from blocking duties. Romo wants to hit the big TE on more short and intermediate routes, and use him for his receiving more than his pass-protection talents. Last year WItten took 73 receptions for 851 yards and eight touchdowns. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It was somewhat of a down year for WItten, given the high standards of his career. But this word from Romo should be considered good news for Witten's fantasy owners. Witten is 32 years old this season, well past his physical prime. But the veteran TE has played 16-game seasons for 10 straight years. That's an incredible stat, and makes him one of the most reliable players in the NFL. WItten is being drafted sixth among TEs, at the beginning of the eighth round on average. He doesn't have the upside of the elite names, but fantasy owners could do a lot worse than Witten for their tight end slot.

Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe 'hasn't had a great camp'

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 06:59 AM PDT

ESPN's Adam Teicher says that there's quot;no sign yet that Bowe will bounce back" this season, and that the receiver isn't performing very well in camp. Teicher also says that Bowe has struggled with drops. Bowe turns 30 this season, and he's coming off the worst statistical performance of his career. In 2013, he took 57 catches for 673 yards and five touchdowns. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on whoever drafts Bowe this year, expecting anything but WR3 fantasy performance. Bowe's been in a long decline, and even when he was playing his best, he was never the domininant player his potential suggested he could be. Bowe's going 42nd among WRs, ahead of players like WR Markus Wheaton and WR Anquan Boldin. Bowe is a not a strong value at that draft spot.

49ers RB LaMichael James back at practice after elbow injury

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 03:09 AM PDT

49ers RB LaMichael James is back practicing at training camp after dislocating his elbow for the third time in his football career. Although he was in a no contact jersey, James quot;caught a few passes and took handoffs in team drills" on Wednesday. It's encouraging news as James will be San Francisco's third-string back if he stays healthy. FANTASY ANALYSIS: I wrote about James in this recent article, detailing why he might be a good stash/end of bench player to keep an eye on. He needs a few roster moves to go in his favor in order to see playing time, but one of those has already happened with Kendall Hunter getting released following his ACL tear. That leaves the 49ers with an elder Frank Gore, rookie Carlos Hyde and still-injured Marcus Lattimore. James would be third-string at the moment, but could see carries in a RBBC if Gore or Hyde get injured. He is on the fantasy radar.

Dolphins WR Brandon Gibson could be on roster bubble

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 12:30 AM PDT

Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Gibson could be on the roster bubble following a good camp by rookie WR Jarvis Landry. Gibson works primarily in the slot and on punt/kickoffs returns, which is the same position as Landry, and most reports indicate Landry has simply been better in those positions. Landry was also selected with a relatively high draft pick, being taken in the second round at No. 63 overall in the 2014 NFL draft. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's a matter of if more than when with Gibson. He does well but isn't special. The Dolphins were willing to draft Landry and go in a different direction. Landry is touted as a tough chain-mover and was able to return a punt in the first preseason game. If Gibson manages to stick around, he'll be a WR5 with flex appeal, but Landry is better for a dynasty stash.

Patriots RB James White gets time with the first-string offense

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 11:36 PM PDT

On Wednesday, rookie James White ran with the first-team offense in practice, while Stevan Ridley ran with the second team unit. There has been some discussion if Ridley is still in head coach Bill Belichick's dog house after having some fumbling issues the past two years. As recent as 2012, Ridley rushed almost 300 times for the Patriots while putting up 1263 rushing yards and 12 TDs. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's a situation to monitor throughout preseason. Ridley has proven he is the superior talent, but White has had a good camp as well as being known for having sure-hands. We'll have updates as they come but if you are worried about drafting Ridley, you may find some clues in the second preseason game versus the Eagles.

49ers WR Michael Crabtree returns after injury

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 11:17 PM PDT

49ers WR Michael Crabtree has returned to practice after experiencing soreness in his hamstring. He has missed about a week and a half after head coach John Harbaugh said Crabtree would miss about two weeks of practice, but wouldn't disclose the injury. There was a fear he may still not be recovered from his ACL tear last year, which caused him to miss 11 games. Crabtree should be ready to play in the 49ers second preseason game versus the Denver Broncos. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Crabtree can be a bona fide WR1 or a bust candidate. He does have the talent to produce and is only 26 years old. His fourth-round ADP is a tad high, but he'll be 49ers first option in the passing game.

Golf Rankings for Wyndham Championship at DraftKings #DFG

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:15 PM PDT

This article is designed to help you win Wyndham Championship at Draftkings - Daily Fantasy Golf:

Golf Rankings for Wyndham Championship

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 08:17 PM PDT

Our expert picks the top 30 PGA tour golfers for this week's tournament: 1. Brandt Snedeker, 2. Webb Simpson, 3. Bill Haas, 4. Patrick Reed, 5. Hideki Matsuyama, 6. Brian Harman, 7. Tim Clark, ...

Dr. Roto Video: Quarterback Watch

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:49 PM PDT

Dr. Roto breaks down his quarterback recommendations and strategy.

2014 Wide Receiver Handcuffs

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 04:16 PM PDT

Everyone knows about RB handcuffs, but what about Wide Receiver handcuffs?. Profiled players include Harry Douglas, Andre Holmes, Jermaine Kearse, Brandon LaFell, and Cody Latimer.

Cardinals WR Michael Floyd could be team's top receiver

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 04:10 PM PDT

NFL writer Dan Pompei says that people within the organization believe that Floyd will be the Cardinals' WR1 this season, ahead of WR Larry Fitzgerald. quot;Michael Floyd is in for a big year," Pompei said via Twitter, confirming the opinions of many other fantasy analysts. The 6-foot-2 third-year wideout posted a 67-catch, 1,041-yard effort in 2013. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Pompei is echoing a sentiment expressed by many Cardinals observers. The 24-year-old Floyd is a big, fast, physical receiver in his prime, while Fitzgerald has struggled in recent seasons to duplicate his past success. While Fitzgerald will likely be listed on the depth chart as the Cardinals' WR1, Floyd looks like the better fantasy option. FItzgerald is going as the 17th WR, while Floyd's going 19th. The presence of a complementary threat on the field will benefit each player, as opposing defenses will struggle to cover both.

Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray is leader of RBBC, according to head coach

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 03:36 PM PDT

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said he sees Murray quot;as the leader of a committee," according to Jason LaCanfora via Twitter. Garrett continued his comments to say that Murray also has "bellcow traits." Murray carried the ball 217 times and caught 53 passes last year, for 1,471 total yards. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Don't read too much into this. Jason Garrett is being charitable to Murray's fellow Cowboys RBs, but Murray is the clear stud in this backfield. None of the other tailbacks are close to him in terms of physical ability. Murray saw 260 touches in 14 games last year, and in several of those games he was slowed with injuries. Expect 15 to 20 carries and three to four receptions per game this year, as Murray enters the final year of his contract. Draft him as an RB1, but be aware of his injury risks.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington to see 20 touches per game

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 03:27 PM PDT

The Cardinals would like to get Ellington the ball quot;20 or so times a game, but want to limit his carries inside the tackles," according to the Arizona Republic. The Republic beat writer believes that Ellington's major role with the team will be catching the ball out of the backfield and running around the ends. Head coach Bruce Arians has expressed a distaste for throwing to running backs in the past, but appears to have changed his attitude. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This is somewhat of a departure from Arians' declaration in the preseason that Ellington will be a "bellcow" for the Cardinals offense. The second-year RB weighs just 210 pounds after bulking up this offseason, so many observers have expressed skepticism that he'll be able to bear a full workhorse load. This new report appears to support those beliefs. Expect Ellington to get red zone touches, but not necessarily up-the-middle goal-line work.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard could get 'a good share' of goal-line work

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:18 PM PDT

Bernard could see quot;a good share of goal line carries" for the Bengals this season, according to beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. Dehner also believes that Barnard is likely to see 300 touches by the end of the season. It's been speculated previously that Bernard would lose out to rookie RB Jeremy Hill for goal-line work, as Hill is the larger, more powerful runner, but Dehner sees something closer to an even split. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has a run-first mentality, which should help Bernard to a potential breakout in his second year. FANTASY ANALYSIS: 300 touches and goal-line work would probably make Bernard an RB1, although the Bengals may need to improve upon last year's team average of 3.6 YPC for that to happen. And for an RB, Bernard is an elite threat in the passing game. With the usual caveat that this is only a beat writer's opinion, it's a good sign for Bernard. He's a solid early-second-round choice this year, especially in PPR. He's being taken in the 18th overall spot on average, and may be a slight value candidate there.

CFB Player Watch: Maryland Terrapins WR Stefon Diggs

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 11:55 AM PDT

Our NCAA CFB Expert profiles one of many the upcoming stars to the 2014 college football season.

Texans WR Andre Johnson returns to practice

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:58 AM PDT

Johnson returned to Texans practice Wednesday in pads after missing 15 days to a hamstring injury. Texans RB Arian Foster also returned to practice following a hamstring injury of his own. Johnson has a history of slight nagging injuries, but they haven't severely hampered his production. After a brief period of uncertainty surrounding his trade status before the start of training camp, Johnson is set to open the season as the Texans WR1. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's good to see that Johnson is back out there taking reps, but savvy owners will continue to monitor his progress. The stud WR is 33 years old, and any injury could potentially be of consequence to him. He'll still see tons of targets in the Texans offense this year, as the team seeks a turnaround following a miserable 2013 effort. Johnson is going 14th among WRs, and does not represent great value at that spot.

Rams WR Tavon Austin is 'very quiet' in training camp

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:50 AM PDT

Former Rams WR Torry Holt says that Austin has been quot;very quiet" in training camp. "For a guy picked eighth overall, it's bothering me that he's been so quiet, Holt said." Holt went on to say that he thinks Austin will make his primary impact this year on special teams. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This might be cause for alarm. Earlier this year, Austin told reporters he "didn't really know what was going on" in the Rams offense as a rookie, and that he had struggled to learn the playbook. Austin, who reportedly scored a dismal 7 on his Wonderlic test at the NFL combine, produced most of his receiving yardage on screens, running after the catch. The second-year WR has speed, but if he can't figure out an NFL offense well enough to run good downfield routes, his value will be very limited. Austin is being taken as the 43rd WR in fantasy drafts, so it appears that fantasy owners may share Holt's doubt about the small receiver's promise.

Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin is 'toasting' CB Darrelle Revis at joint practices

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:34 AM PDT

Maclin has been beating Revis consistently in 1-on-1 drills at the Eagles-Patriots joint practices this week, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane. Maclin missed all of 2013 with a torn ACL, but appears fully rehabilitated and ready to play. He returns to an Eagles roster that is thin at WR, with former star WR DeSean Jackson departed to the Washington Redskins. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This is very good news for Maclin, with the caveat that Revis did not appear to be giving 100 percent effort in the drills. Still, the fact that Maclin is able to beat one of the NFL's top cornerbacks should provide a boost for his confidence as he seeks to return to live action football. Maclin is a borderline value fantasy pick this year, playing with QB Nick Foles in Chip Kelly's high-octane offense. He's being taken as the 26th WR overall, but has strong WR2 upside if he returns to his old form.

Titans RB Bishop Sankey 'easy to envision' as 'primary ball-carrier'

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:22 AM PDT

quot;It's easy to envision [Sankey] as the primary ball-carrier" for the Titans this year, according the the Nashville Tennessean. The paper praised the rookie RBs "all-around skills," saying it will be tough for the team to keep the young tailback off the field. Sankey had his NFL debut last weekend in the Titans' preseason opener. His highlights included a 23-yard catch-and-run and a five-yard touchdown catch. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Sankey looks more and more like a very valuable fantasy commodity. The only other RB of consequence on the Titans' roster is Shonn Greene, and most fantasy owners know what he offers. Sankey's well positioned to be "the guy" in Tennessee. He has a mix of skills, including pass-protection and receiving ability, that will make it possible for him to develop into a three-down back as the season continues. He could be another in the recent chain of rookie running backs who make a serious impact in fantasy. He's being taken 22nd among RBs in the average fantasy draft, as a sixth-round pick.

Chargers TE Antonio Gates is 'still the man' in San Diego

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:12 AM PDT

Chargers beat reporter Kevin Acee says that TE Antonio Gates is quot;still the man" in San Diego. In a live chat, Acee said that "Gates is still the one who knows how to get open and seize the moment" when questioned about TE Ladarius Green's increasing role in the Chargers offense. Acee believes that Green and Gates will both see the field "a fair amount," but that Gates is the superior option. FANTASY ANALYSIS: While this is only one beat writer's opinion, it does go against the conventional wisdom that Gates' career is winding down and Green is primed to rise as the dominant TE in San Diego. At 34, Gates is getting to the upper end of his playing window, and has had a string of injuries in the last few years that have slowed him significantly. But even with the red flags, Gates may be a value pick at his ADP of 17th TE. Even though he's in slow decline, Gates was able to put together a decent season last year, taking 77 catches for 872 yards and 4 TDs. He'll never again be the dominant player he was in his prime, but Gates could help a lot of fantasy teams this year. Don't write him off yet.

Seahawks WR Percy Harvin is 'OK' after injury scare

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 08:24 AM PDT

During the Seahawks Tuesday practice, Percy Harvin limped off the field and into the locker room. In a statement made by Pete Carroll, "He got stepped on." Caroll also mentioned, "He got stepped on the back of his heel and got scraped up pretty good. He's OK though." Harvin started in only a single regular season game in 2013 and looks to greatly improve that amount. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Harvin is such an explosive talent and when he takes the field, everyone knows. He has natural play-making ability and ridiculous speed and agility. Everyone wants him to succeed, but he simply cannot stay healthy. It seems as though the Seahawks are attempting to wrap Harvin in bubble wrap during practices, hopefully improving his longevity. Harvin is being drafted in the early fifth round in most leagues and I believe that's the highest he should be going.
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