Tuesday, August 5, 2014

FFToolbox - Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry 'biggest rookie standout so far' plus 17 more

FFToolbox - Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry 'biggest rookie standout so far' plus 17 more

Link to Fantasy Football Toolbox Updates

Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry 'biggest rookie standout so far'

Posted: 05 Aug 2014 04:02 AM PDT

ESPN Miami is reporting rookie WR Jarvis Landry is a standout in camp, noting "The rookie wide receiver has displayed strong hands, solid routes and toughness." Beat writer James Walker also says "He's made several of the most impressive catches so far of training camp." It's certainly high praise for a rookie but most reports are positive coming out of training camp where he is in a battle with WR Brandon Gibson for WR3/slot duties. The former Louisiana standout was selected in the second-round of the 2014 draft at pick No. 63. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Landry isn't the fastest but has a solid toughness about him. He is often compared to former Steeler Hines Ward for his ability to take tough shots and move the chains. He can be considered a solid dynasty stash and should see some playing time this season, even if he doesn't immediately win the job in camp.

Bengals QB Andy Dalton gets paid: 6-year, $96 million extension

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:51 PM PDT

The Bengals may not put as much of the game on Andy Dalton's shoulders this season, but they definitely putting more money in his pockets. Dalton signed a six-year, $96 million contract extension Monday that runs through the 2020 season. Dalton received a $12 million signing bonus and will get an extra $5 million as a roster bonus in three days. Dalton will get as much as $25 million in the first two years of the deal. Then starting in the third year, Dalton's contract basically becomes a one-season-at-a-time deal that is all about salary, similar to Colin Kaepernick's new contract. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Fantasy value: minimal. Dalton is still going to be working in Hue Jackson's run-based offense. He will not come close to reaching last year's total of 586 passing attempts. He is a safe QB2, no matter how rich he is.

Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart missing practice with hip flexor issue

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:10 PM PDT

ESPN's Michael DiRocco is reporting Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley is being quot;extra cautious" with starting runnng back Toby Gerhart. Gerhart hasn't practiced since Friday and is dealing with tightness in his hip flexor. Bradley is making sure fans know it's strictly the team's call, adding, "That [Gerhart's not practicing] is more on our part... . It's more for us, but I know that he said he felt better today than he did the other day." Gerhart is currently day-to-day and might be held out of the preseason opener on Friday versus Tampa Bay. If he has to miss time, backup Jordan Todman would see the majority of first-team snaps. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's only an issue if the injury continues to linger. What's notable is how cautious the Jaguars are being with their newly acquired running back in his first year as a full-time starter. If Gerhart can stay healthy, he should be able to maintain RB2 status with RB1 upside. Gerhart is being drafted in the fifth round as the RB19, according to our ADP chart.

49ers RB Kendall Hunter gets waived by team

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 08:27 PM PDT

Following an ACL tear in camp, the 49ers have decided to waive running back Kendall Hunter. Since Hunter is a free agent after this season, the 49ers didn't stand to lose much by releasing him. They also can add another man to their 90-man roster before their preseason game with the Ravens on Thursday. Hunter has played the change-of-pace role in San Francisco behind RB Frank Gore, although that role was expected to be challenged by second-round rookie Carlos Hyde. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This move is less about Hunter and more about Hyde. Hyde was expected to take over No. 2 duties and be the direct backup to Gore all along. Waiving Hunter cements that, especially with RBs Marcus Lattimore and LaMichael James recovering from injuries. Although he might not make an immediate impact in re-draft leagues, Hyde's draft stock will surely rise in dynasty startups now, and he can be considered a first-rounder in your upcoming rookie draft.

Bengals activate WR Marvin Jones, TE Jermaine Gresham from PUP list

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 08:22 PM PDT

The Bengals activated five players from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday, two of whom are notable names in fantasy: wide receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Jermaine Gresham. Jones had been hampered by a bum ankle since tweaking it while working out with quarterback Andy Dalton prior to camp. Gresham spent his time recovering from offseason sports hernia surgery. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Gresham is fantasy fodder. Tyler Eifert is the more intriguing fantasy tight end on this roster, and he's just a mid-range TE2. But Jones is a different story. After gaining more than 700 yards and scoring 10 times while playing less than half of the snaps last season, Jones could be primed for a much bigger season if he sees more snaps as expected. Jones is locked in as the Bengals' No. 2 WR and is one of my favorite picks at his current average draft position of 126.56. That's in the 11th round of 12-team leagues.

Packers TE Colt Lyerla has sprained knee, may miss 'weeks' of camp

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 08:04 PM PDT

Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press Gazette is reporting Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said TE Colt Lyerla could miss multiple weeks with a knee injury. The undrafted rookie has had a decent showing in camp but is competing with fellow TEs Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick and Andrew Quarless for the starting position. If he misses multiple weeks of camp, he would undoubtedly be considered for preseason cuts. Lyerla has tremendous talents but had major off-the-field issues while at the University of Oregon. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Lyerla has potential but is more of an experiment by the Packers. They are trying out multiple players and hoping one sticks after TE Jermichael Finley went down last season with a neck injury and may never play again. Lyerla has always been fourth on the depth chart and can be left on the waiver wire until we see how the position shakes out in camp.

Browns QB Johnny Manziel opens practice with starters

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 08:03 PM PDT

Johnny Manziel opened the Browns' practice Monday morning as the starting quarterback, according to ESPN's Tony Grossi. While Manziel had previously taken reps with the starters, Monday marked the first time that Manziel was the starter going into the day. Head coach Mike Pettine previously tried to quash rumors of a quarterback controversy by naming Brian Hoyer the starting entering training camp, but appears to be giving Manziel at least a chance to earn the starting spot. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Browns have seemed pretty serious about Hoyer starting the season as their quarterback, so don't expect that to change because Manziel took the first snaps on one day of training camp. With the recent negative news out of Cleveland about Manziel's off-the-field habits, it's hard to imagine Pettine turning the reins over to him out of the gate. If Manziel does get playing time at some point this season, as many expect he will, he'll be an interesting QB2 in fantasy. Until then, he should stay on fantasy benches, if not the waiver wire.

Texans RB Arian Foster pondered retirement after back injury

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 07:53 PM PDT

Texans running back Arian Foster gave a very honest and interesting interview to ESPN's Hannah Storm recently. In it, Foster admitted that his 2013 back injury scared him, and he wasn't sure if he would return to the NFL. quot;Any time an athlete goes through an injury like that -- a back, a neck, even knees or hips, something that puts you out for the entire season -- you kind of re-evaluate your life," Foster said. "You see what's really important. Is getting paralyzed more important than playing with your grandkids when you're 50, 60 years old? People die on the football field. This is a really brutal sport. Going through an injury like that, being 27 years old, I'm young, still I'm at the prime of my career. Is it worth it to try to come back? Foster decided that it was and underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy in November. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It's an insightful read about a player who, like David Wilson, seems to fully understand that a player must live most of his life after football. I'm sure some people will turn this around as evidence that Foster's heart isn't in the game. That's hogwash. If it really wasn't, you get the impression that Foster would walk away to other, greater interests. He's all about football right now, at least professionally. Now, the bigger immediate concern for Foster and his fantasy owners is a hamstring injury that has kept him out of most practices in camp. It's not something to be too worried about at the moment, but we must keep an eye on it. Foster hasn't practiced since Wednesday.

Giants TE Adrien Robinson had third-string duties in preseason game

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 07:19 PM PDT

Following Sunday night's Hall of Fame Game, Giants tight end Adrien Robinson wasn't targeted once in the passing game and played third-string duties. TEs Larry Donnell and Daniel Fells were swapped in with the first-team offense. They caught one pass for 13 yards and one pass for 10 yards, respectively. Robinson, a freakish athlete once dubbed the quot;JPP of tight ends," hasn't shown he can be a serious TE in the NFL. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Giants desperately need a solid tight end, but Robinson doesn't seem to fit the role. He can be dropped in most formats, and the tight end situation in New York is one to avoid altogether. Fells and Donnell are simply not the answer.

Bears WR Marquess Wilson suffers fractured collarbone

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 07:16 PM PDT

Bears wide receiver Marquess Wilson fractured a collarbone during Monday's practice. It's not known exactly how much time he will miss, but it's assumed that he will need anywhere between four to eight weeks to recover. quot;I'm extremely disappointed," head coach Marc Trestman said. "[Wilson] was continuing to ascend. That's football, unfortunately." Wilson had been impressive in camp so far. Now, Josh Morgan appears to be the odds-on favorite to become the Bears' No. 3 wideout. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Beyond Morgan, there is a mixture of veterans and young players who have little past experience on offense. It's not a good situation for fantasy owners. Wilson goes from being a decent late-round pick to someone to watch on your waiver wire in hopes of a midseason bloom. The Bears' offense should be generally fine without him; it still has a solid quartet of proven targets for Jay Cutler. And Wilson still has plenty of dynasty appeal.

Packers WR Jarrett Boykin having drop issues in camp

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 06:57 PM PDT

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Tom Silverstein is reporting Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin has had quot;too many drops in camp" after witnessing Boykin drop another pass from QB Aaron Rodgers during training camp. Boykin is the Packers' No. 3 WR behind Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. This is significant because the Packers drafted Fresno State WR Davante Adams in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2014 NFL draft. It is widely believed that Boykin and Adams are competing for WR3 duties in the offense. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Boykin might just be knocking the rust off in the first week or this could be something to watch. He can't continue to have drops as Adams is reportedly having an excellent camp. The Packers are expected to have a high-scoring offense, and whichever WR wins the starting spot will be a nice starter for your fantasy team with WR3 upside. Our PPR cheatsheet rankings currently have Boykin as WR59 and Adams as WR110.

Scoutlook: Redskins' Wide Receivers (PREMIUM PREVIEW)

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 03:29 PM PDT

A free preview of one of our Scout Fantasy premium articles.

Giants RB David Wilson out for 2014, says he's thankful to 'literally walk away from the game'

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 01:52 PM PDT

The Giants placed RB David Wilson on sesason-ending injured reserve today, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. Wilson suffered a quot;burner" last week as he attempted to return to Giants practice following a season-ending neck injury in 2013. Wilson experienced numbness in his hands and feet, consistent with nerve damage in the spinal cord. Team doctors advised Wilson to never return to football, and it appears extremely likely that the 23-year-old Wilson's career is over. "I'm thankful that I can literally walk away from the game," WIlson said in a statement. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This news is not unexpected, but still very sad for Wilson, whose career is now over before it really began. Rashad Jennings will start for the Giants, and rookie RB Andre Williams, who impressed in the Giants' first preseason game, looks to be slotted for the No. 2 role. RB Peyton Hillis may be in the mix as well. It's now safe to drop Wilson in all leagues, including dynasty.

Broncos RB Montee Ball to undergo appendectomy, expected to be ready for regular season

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:23 PM PDT

Broncos running back Montee Ball is reportedly having a strong training camp, but that's on hold for now. ESPN's Adam Schefter hears from a source that Ball will undergo an appendectomy today and may miss the rest of the preseason. However, Ball is fully expected to be ready for Week 1 on Sept. 7 versus the Colts. FANTASY ANALYSIS: As long as Ball stays in shape and is ready to go by September, he could come as a value in many drafts thanks to this surgery. It will definitely drive his stock down. Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson will handle the first-team snaps until he's ready to return. Hillman is currently leading that competition. Ball is a high second-second pick in most drafts right now. I'm really interested to see how much this surgery affects his ADP.

Giants defeat Bills in preseason opener

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 07:37 AM PDT

The NFL opened its 2014 preseason schedule with the Giants defeating the Bills, 17-13, in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday night in Canton, Ohio. Offensive starters for both teams saw about one quarter of playing time. Standouts included Giants RB Andre Williams and Bills WR Robert Woods, who both scored touchdowns. Highly-touted Bills WR Sammy Watkins was targeted three times but did not record a catch. Bills QB E.J. Manuel struggled as well, completing just two of seven throws. The Bills return to preseason action on Aug. 8 against the Panthers. The Giants will face the Steelers on Aug. 9. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Williams' performance is the biggest fantasy takeaway from this game. The rookie looked impressive on his carries, which included a 21-yard jaunt to set up the touchdown he scored on the next play. It seems Williams has a real chance to take touches away from starter Rashad Jennings. Woods, despite the solid performance, is unlikely to be a serious factor in fantasy this year. He's still behind Watkins and Mike Williams on the Bills' depth chart, and their No. 3 WR is not a player you particularly want on your team. Manuel looked terrible and although owners should try to avoid overreaction in the preseason, the bad performance follows persistent reports from training camp that Manuel is struggling with consistency. As for Watkins, owners shouldn't read too much into his empty debut. But it's worth pointing out that with Manuel throwing to him, it won't be easy for Watkins to live up to his lofty valuation as the 27th WR taken in drafts.

Ravens WR Marlon Brown impresses at camp

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 07:01 AM PDT

Ravens WR Marlon Brown has been impressing his coaches in training camp, according to the Baltimore Sun. The second-year receiver made a series of impressive catches against tight coverage Sunday. quot;He's made great strides," said head coach John Harbaugh. "You can use that big body. He's got a catch radius, right?" The 6-foot-5 Brown set a Ravens rookie record with seven touchdowns in 2013. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Joining the team as an undrafted free agent, Brown was a pleasant surprise for the Ravens and fantasy owners. However, he may have to fight for playing time in his second year as the Ravens added Steve Smith and re-signed Jacoby Jones during the offseason. Brown is a big target in the red zone, but he'll need to beat out Jones for the No. 3 WR job in Baltimore to have significant fantasy utility. Brown is currently going undrafted, but should be on fantasy owners' radar, especially those playing in dynasty leagues.

Strength of Schedule Fantasy Studs & Duds

Posted: 04 Aug 2014 06:20 AM PDT

A list of fantasy football players to target or avoid based on 2014's strength of schedule rankings.

Giants RB Andre Williams scores in Hall of Fame game

Posted: 03 Aug 2014 08:26 PM PDT

Rookie Giants RB Andre Williams scored late in the first quarter of the NFL's preseason-opening Hall of Fame game Sunday night. Williams capped the Giants' drive with a 3-yard, between-the-tackles run. Williams racked up 48 yards on seven carries, including a 21-yard jaunt that set up the touchdown. FANTASY ANALYSIS: We'll likely see Williams' draft stock skyrocket in the next week or so, as fantasy owners run through the typical early-season overreactions. Remember that the drive took place against the Bills' second string defense. Still, the 5-foot-11, 230-pound Williams was impressive, showing burst and decisiveness in his limited opportunities. Starting RB Rashad Jennings had 23 yards on seven carries, and caught three passes for 20 yards. Jennings should still be considered the dominant rusher in the New York backfield. But based on Williams' effectiveness tonight, Jennings may be sharing the workload a bit more than we thought previously. WIth RB David WIlson dealing with a potentially career-ending neck injury, Williams will battle veteran Peyton Hillis for the No. 2 job in New York. Williams is going undrafted in the average fantasy league. Expect that to change in the coming week.
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