Tuesday, June 9, 2015

FFToolbox - 2015 Team Outlook: Pittsburgh Steelers plus 24 more

FFToolbox - 2015 Team Outlook: Pittsburgh Steelers plus 24 more

Link to Fantasy Football Toolbox Updates

2015 Team Outlook: Pittsburgh Steelers

Posted: 09 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT

A fantasy football preview of the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers. Profiled players include Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams, Dri Archer, and Antonio Brown.

2015 Team Outlook: Cleveland Browns

Posted: 09 Jun 2015 07:22 AM PDT

A fantasy football preview of the 2015 Cleveland Browns. Profiled players include Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, and Duke Johnson.

Browns WR Josh Gordon fully intends to continue his NFL career once eligible for reinstatement

Posted: 09 Jun 2015 02:15 AM PDT

Browns' embattled wideout Josh Gordon will be suspended for all of 2015 due to yet another violation of league's substance abuse policy. However, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, Gordon will file for reinstatement as soon as he's eligible. Although disappointed, Gordon is determined to turn his career around and still be the star he has the talent to be. quot;With Josh, he's hanging in there,'' Rosenhaus said. "He's biding his time. It's a difficult process and it's meant to be difficult obviously. But I've got faith in him and he'll get through this tough time and he still has a very bright future in the NFL in my opinion.'' FANTASY ANALYSIS: If you're a dynasty owner, you have a small taste of what it's like to be the GM of the Browns. Do you cut bait with Gordon or move on, or is he just too talented to release back into the talent pool. This is a really tough position to be in. Personally, I would let him go. I was an advocate of leaving him on the waiver wire last season when it was announced his suspension will be reduced as well. There is no denying his talent but the risk just isn't worth the reward. Not only do you risk the possibility of another suspension or him not being reinstated, you also will be forced to rely on a Browns' quarterback should he return.

Chargers RB Danny Woodhead is back to full strength

Posted: 09 Jun 2015 01:50 AM PDT

Danny Woodhead entered 2014 as a sneaky good PPR pick coming off an excellent 2013 campaign. While he lacked the big name recognition, the better fantasy owners new he was a steal. Unfortunately, he broke his fibula in Week 3 and found himself on season ending injured reserve. The Chargers' head coach Mike McCoy now believes he is back to 100 percent. quot;He looks the way (he did) the snap before ... he went down," McCoy said. FANTASY ANALYSIS: I view Woodhead pretty much the same way I did heading into last season. He has very little value in standard leagues but will be a steal in PPR leagues. With all the hype around Melvin Gordon and the late emergence of Branden Oliver last season, Woodhead will be the forgotten man. There are two key things that many fantasy owners will fail to realize. First, Woodhead is better and more productive than Oliver. Second, Gordon is not a great pass-catcher and he as well as most rookie running backs struggle in pass protection. Look for Woodhead to have a big PPR impact and draft him near the end of your draft.

High-risk, high-reward tight ends

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:13 PM PDT

Fantasy Football Expert Mark Morales-Smith tells you what risks and rewards lie within some of the game''s best tight ends.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington appears to be back to 100 percent

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 10:35 PM PDT

Cardinals' rookie running back Andre Ellington's season was doomed from the star as he injured his foot just before the season started. He battled through a litany of injuries until he was eventually done in by a hip injury, which landed him on the IR. Ellington now looks to be back to full strength and. is showing his elusive quickness in the OTA workouts". FANTASY ANALYSIS: If Ellington is healthy, he was low-end RB1 potential with major upside in PPR leagues. Last season we had him ranked as the RB10 and I was on board with the decision. Currently his ADP has dropped all the way to RB22. That is a great spot to grab him. He's a tremendous flex option with the upside to be a game breaker. A player like him can make or break a fantasy team. He's the ultimate high-risk/high-reward running back.

Cardinals RB David Johnson wowing coaches and teammates at OTAs with his pass-catching abilities

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 10:05 PM PDT

Cardinals' rookie running back David Johnson was touted as one of the top pass-catching backs in the draft. He has lived up to that hype at OTAs. He has reportedly been highly impressive in the passing game and both his coaches and teammates have been very impressed. Carson Palmer is one of the teammates that has been most impressed by the young back. FANTASY ANALYSIS: While Johnson has been excellent in the passing game, the issue is that Andre Ellington is one of the best in the league in that department. With Ellington ahead of him on the depth chart, it's hard to project his value. Currently he's the 34th running back being drafted. That seems a bit high, however, due to Ellington's injury history, I don't hate it. With Ellington healthy I just don't know exactly what his role will be. I'd imagine he would see a decent amount of carries to preserve Ellington's health.

Eagles QB Mark Sanchez looks 'substantially better than he did a year ago this time'

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:37 PM PDT

Eagles' projected backup quarterback Mark Sanchez was coming off shoulder surgery last season and was not at full strength. He has said multiple times already this offseason that his arm is feeling much stronger than last year. Due to Sam Bradford's injured knee, Sanchez is taking the first team reps and reportedly "looked substantially better than he did a year ago this time". FANTASY ANALYSIS: Sanchez is not worth drafting. You can't use a pick on a backup. I understand the theory that Bradford will probably get hurt and odds are he will. Still, why draft a backup that even if he does become the starter is a low-end QB2 with just as much downside as upside. He may be worth snatching off the waiver wire when Bradford goes down, but that's about it. I'm not as much of a believer in Chip Kelly as many others are.

Eagles QB Sam Bradford moving around better at OTAs

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:17 PM PDT

Eagles projected starting quarterback Sam Bradford is still recovering from a second torn ACL in the past two years. It was recently reported that he was walking with a significant limp and people began to speculate that he would not be ready for Week 1. Now it looks like he's moving around much better as he ramps up his participation level at OTAs. Bradford still won't guarantee that he will be 100 percent during training camp. FANTASY ANALYSIS: It is beginning to sound more and more like Bradford will be ready to start the season. Assuming he's as healthy as he can be, it's hard to imagine him not being the Week 1 starter. The bottom line is Mark Sanchez isn't that good. He's a serviceable backup and that's what he'll be in Philly. I wouldn't touch Bradford purely because he can't stay healthy. If he does somehow manage to make it through a full season, he will be a strong candidate for comeback player of the year. He may be worth a late-round flier in Chip Kelly's offense.

Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas not expected to report to mandatory minicamp

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:48 PM PDT

Broncos' star receiver Demaryius Thomas is yet to sign his franchise tag tender. The two sides have until July 15 to get a deal done or Thomas will be playing on a one-year $12.823 million deal. However, he is not expected or obligated to show up to mandatory minicamp. He is technically not under contract so he does not have to show for any team activities. Like most players, he is less than pleased to be franchised and he would like to get a long-term deal done. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Thomas has been an elite WR1 since Peyton Manning joined the team. While his fantasy production may take a bit of a hit this season as the Broncos are expected to deploy more of a run-heavy offense, he should still be considered a WR1. His ADP has him ranked as the WR5. That is a bit high for me this season. I'd prefer him as a low-end WR1. Unfortunately, he will not last that long in the majority of fantasy drafts based on past production and name recognition alone.

SCOUT presents the perfect Father's Day gift

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:47 PM PDT

Scout is offering you a chance to give the perfect gift to the man who has everything.

Texans RB Arian Foster has had his healthiest offseason in a long time

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:45 PM PDT

Texans' running back Arian Foster has been an elite RB1 since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. However, he tends to drop in fantasy leagues due to injury concerns. He always seems to be sidelined or limping off the field. Whether it be anti-awesomeness in his hamstring or a mysterious heart issue, he seems to always be questionable at best. His injury issues are usually lingering from the offseason. This year he has had no issues for the first time in a long time. FANTASY ANALYSIS: When he's on the field, you can make an argument that no running back is a better fantasy option than Foster. He is currently the 14th running back off the board according to his ADP. He is an absolute steal that late. If you're yet to draft a RB2 and Foster is sitting there, do not hesitate to grab him. He isn't a bad low-end RB1 either. The injury risk is there, nevertheless, the reward is great. Last season only Le'Veon Bell and Demarco Murray were more productive last season when healthy.

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins still not participating

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:42 PM PDT

Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins underwent offseason surgery on his wrist to repair a torn ligament. The surgery involved having a rod and pin inserted into his wrist, but both have since been removed. Hopkins has been rehabbing since his surgery took place in late February. He has not participated in OTAs, but head coach Bill O'Brien said Hopkins should be ready for training camp. Hopkins had a very productive year in 2014, albeit quietly. Hopkins totaled 1,210 yards and six touchdowns and was dubbed one of the most reliable receivers in 2014. The WR caught 97 percent of all catchable passes thrown his way, which led all others wideout last season. FANTASY ANALYSIS: I absolutely loved Hopkins in 2014. All you had to do was watch him play and based on that, you simply wanted him on every fantasy team you owned. Even with a QB carousel running in Houston, Hopkins was able to produce, and he produced extremely steady numbers even though he was the second receiving option in a run-first offense. Something about Hopkins being the go-to option in the Texans' offense has me extremely excited for his 2015 outlook. I'm looking at Hopkins as a mid-range WR1 who has a very good possibility of finishing the 2015 season among the top 10 WR rankings.

Raiders QB Derek Carr is cleared to return next week

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:27 PM PDT

The Raiders have a lot riding on their second-year quarterback Derek Carr. He has been extremely limited with a ring finger injury on his throwing hand. He has now been cleared for next week's minicamp. He still likely will not be at full strength, however, he is expected to be 100 percent for training camp and will be participating in all drills. FANTASY ANALYSIS: This is encouraging news for Carr. Not too long ago there was concern he could miss an extended period of time due to a potential surgery. He is currently the QB18 according to his ADP. That may be a bit high for Carr. He's going ahead of Eli Manning, who is a much better option. The Raiders are getting better but are still a ways away from ant fantasy stability.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson returned to practice

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:18 PM PDT

The cornerstone of the Detroit Lions' franchise, Calvin Johnson, missed last week's OTAs to handle personal causes. Johnson returned to practice Monday. Although Johnson's 2014 season was shadowed by lingering health issues, the star wideout is looking to return to dominance in this upcoming season. Johnson avoided any type of surgery this offseason and has a great outlook for 2015. FANTASY ANALYSIS: To see that Johnson is coming into the season healthy is great news to fantasy owners and NFL fans. With Johnson turning 30 this September, we may have only a few more years left to see one the very best dominate the NFL. Regardless of age and injuries, Johnson remains one of the top players on my WR list, right next to Antonio Brown and Dez Bryant. I would draft Johnson with very little worry as he has proven to be one of the best and continues to post amazing numbers every year.

WATCH: June 8th May Madness winner

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:04 PM PDT

Are you the latest May Madness winner? You could win a free Fantasy Football World Championship team!

Daily Dr. Roto: Corralling Correa

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:03 PM PDT

Carlos Correa has arrived. But can the man who is seen by some as baseball''s best prospect be a Fantasy difference maker right away? Dr. Roto gives his take.

Raiders QB Derek Carr cleared for minicamp

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:00 PM PDT

Derek Carr missed working out all last month due to a finger issue, preventing him from throwing the ball. Although Carr is certainly not 100 percent, the QB has been cleared for participation in minicamp, according to Ian Rapoport. With an offense that has acquired WR Michael Crabtree and drafted WR Amari Cooper with the fourth selection in the 2015 draft, the Raiders are looking to get Carr working with his new pieces as soon as they can. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Carr is certainly not a tantalizing fantasy prospect, but his rookie numbers are nothing to scoff at. The QB had a very productive season considering he was simply thrown into the fire. Carr received plenty of work last season and threw for 21 touchdowns, 3,270 yards and 12 interceptions. With a solid season under his belt and an increase in offensive weapons, the Oakland QB will most likely see an increase in production giving him a very appealing fantasy outlook. I would not draft him as a QB1, but I see him having that type of value once we see how he connects with his new weapons.

Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin still sidelined with a hamstring injury

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:48 PM PDT

Panthers' sophomore wideout Kelvin Benjamin has been out of practice since mid-May with a hamstring injury. However, his head coach Ron Rivera does expect him back on the practice field at some point this week. In the meanwhile, rookie Devin Funchess is taking Benjamin's first-team reps. The injury was never believed to be overly serious. FANTASY ANALYSIS: While the extra reps may be a blessing in disguise for Funchess, a healthy Benjamin win be a welcomed site at Panthers' OTAs. He may be the most dangerous weapon Cam Newton has had in his young career. This season Benjamin should be drafted as a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside. He and Newton could develop into one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL. Carolina's young offense could take a big step forward this season.

Giants WR Odell Beckham may not be ready for minicamp

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:47 PM PDT

Last season's top rookie sensation, Odell Beckham, has been battling a hamstring issue all offseason. According to New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, Beckham is reportedly doing better and went through a few individual drills last week. However, Coughlin is unsure of whether Beckham will be ready for minicamp next week. Beckham was hampered by a right hamstring injury last year that forced him to miss the season's first four games. However, he has assured that his current left hamstring is simply quot;typical soreness." FANTASY ANALYSIS: It will be important to keep an eye on Beckham coming into the season since hamstring injuries tend to linger and are easy to reaggravate. I have faith the Giants are handling the WR with the highest regard and I am not too worried about the hamstring affecting his 2015 production. What I am worried about ruining Beckham's 2015 production is Victor Cruz. When Cruz returns from his knee injury, Beckham will no longer be the first option in a pass-first offense and his reception count may see a small decline. I do not see opponents treating Beckham the same way they did last season either. As a result, I have Beckham barely breaking my top 10 list of receivers.

Duke HC David Cutcliffe in awe of Broncos QB Peyton Mannings practice habits

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 06:11 PM PDT

Duke' head coach and former Tennessee Volunteers' offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe was present while Tennessee alum and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning worked out this offseason. To say he has impressed would be an understatement. quot;I'm amazed at times," said Cutcliffe. "We're doing this in an indoor facility with nobody watching and I watch his focus, his intensity, the absolute desire for every rep to be as good as it can be — that hunger is pretty amazing at this stage. But that's what successful people do. I think that's what has separated him — Peyton Manning's consistency. People count Super Bowls. Mine, as a coach, what we want is an athlete in which you know what you're going to get every week. And he has defied odds. If you go look at the body of work, it's amazing that anybody could maintain that." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Manning has been a fantasy staple for well over a decade now. However, for the first time in his career age has begun to take a toll on his on-field performance. His current ADP has ranked as the QB10. Nonetheless, every mock draft I've seen he's gone in the top five. I would advise avoiding Manning this season, unless you have the game plan to draft him and move him before the trade deadline. He can no longer hold up through a full season and will let you down when you need him most.

Daily Fantasy: Scouting the MLB (Monday, June 8)

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 04:00 PM PDT

With 8 MLB games on the schedule tonight, and 2 in danger of rainouts, the margin for error is slim. Find the best DFS plays from the remaining contests to cash this Monday.

NASCAR Picks for Quicken Loans 400

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 03:43 PM PDT

Top 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver rankings for Quicken Loans 400: 1. Kevin Harvick, 2. Joey Logano, 3. Martin Truex, Jr., 4. Jimmie Johnson, 5. Jeff Gordon, 6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 7. Kurt Busch, ...

Saints WR Brandin Cooks believes he's advanced mentally and can now play faster

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 03:21 PM PDT

Saints second-year wideout Brandin Cooks believes he has advanced mentally and is no longer thinking on the field, just doing. As fast as he was last season, he believes he can play even faster now. He was having a great rookie campaign before landing on IR with a broken thumb. This year, he is anticipating being much better. "I'm definitely ahead of where I was last year mentally, knowing my plays and just having that true confidence when I'm running around," Cooks said. You know, honestly it is (possible). Because taking the thinking out of it, some of that thinking I was doing last year can really slow you down." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Cooks is going to be a stud in New Orleans this season. With Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills shipped out of town, Cooks will be Drew Brees' top target. Expect him to be a PPR monster in 2015. Currently, he's being drafted as the WR15. It seems a bit high but in reality it's fair value. Cooks should be a WR2 this season. You should even consider reaching for him in both keeper and dynasty leagues.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson being moved around the field at OTAs

Posted: 08 Jun 2015 02:52 PM PDT

New Buccaneers' offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is getting creative and lining up Vincent Jackson all over the field. Not only is Jackson taking well to the changes, he's excited about it. "Dirk is having some fun moving me around and playing me in multiple places, and it's been fun for me, too,'' Jackson said. "It's fun to play inside (in the slot) and outside, to be able stretch the field and cross the field. That's what's good about this system. We're going to put the ball all over the place. The (running) backs, the tight ends, everybody's going to be involved and that should make it fun for all of us.'' FANTASY ANALYSIS: The more versatile you can be, the better. It just gives you more options and more opportunity. Jackson totaled 70 receptions, 1,002 yards and two touchdowns last season. With Jameis Winston under center those numbers should only improve, particularly in the TD department. He is currently being underdrafted as the WR48. He has great value there. He should bounce now that he has at least a serviceable quarterback.
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