RADIO
Antonio Brown Providing Leadership To Raiders Locker Room
3 weeks agoOakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown is not only bringing his dynamic skillset over to the Bay Area, but his leadership qualities as well. Teammates are raving about his willingness to advise younger players and his "positive presence" around the team. This feedback comes as a bit of a surprise with all the bad blood that's been brewing between his former teammates this offseason, but it's good news for Brown and his new teammates that they can work well with each other. The 30-year-old's fantasy stock takes a small hit this season with a downgrade in quarterback and offense in general, but he remains a top-10 option at the position despite the lack of talent surrounding him.Source: John Newby - 247 Sports
Ezekiel Elliott Will Not Be Suspended
3 weeks agoDallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott met with the NFL about a May incident in Las Vegas, and the league has determined that Elliott did not violate the league's Personal Conduct Policy. Elliott will not face a suspension and will be available to start the year for the Cowboys. Elliott has led the NFL in rushing yards in two of his first three seasons and there's no reason to believe he can't do that again based on how the Cowboys have used him. He should be one of the first two backs taken in fantasy drafts this upcoming season.Source: Ed Werder
Deshaun Watson Holding Informal Workouts With Receivers
3 weeks agoHouston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is holding informal offseason workouts with Houston's receivers, including wide receiver Vyncint Smith, who says the workouts are helping build chemistry with the team's receivers and their quarterback. Watson is one of the NFL's best young quarterback, and getting extra time with his receivers should help the Texans offense this season, which has often been slow to start games. Watson threw for over 4000 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, and with a little more luck in terms of the health of his receivers, he could challenge for the top quarterback spot in fantasy this year.Source: Houston Chronicle - Aaron Wilson
Takkarist McKinley Lighter During Offseason
3 weeks agoAtlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley received the praise of head coach Dan Quinn after organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. "I think he's lighter, his speed and versatility seem ramped up. For him to go through his first offseason, as you know he missed with his left shoulder, his second year with his right shoulder. To see him lighter, faster and more explosive, that to me was someone who jumped out," Quinn said. McKinley is a huge part of what makes the Falcons defense go, and they should be improved. However, from a fantasy perspective they're still more of a No. 2 unit at this point.Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Kelsey Conway
Mohamed Sanu Praised By His Head Coach
3 weeks agoAtlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu was praised by his head coach Dan Quinn after organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. "He came in so fit, so ready. I think his game got sharper. He was already at a good level so when you're already performing at a good level, it can get more challenging to get to the next level and I thought he cleared showed he was ready to get to the next level," Quinn said. Sanu posted 66 receptions for a career-best 838 yards and four touchdowns in 2018, and he has 59 or more grabs in each of the past three seasons with 10.5 yards per grab and at least four receiving yards. He remains a solid WR3/4 or flex fantasy play across the board.Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Kelsey Conway
Lorenzo Carter Has Big Shoes To Fill In 2019
3 weeks agoNew York Giants linebacker/defensive lineman Lorenzo Carter has huge shoes to fill in 2019, as the second-year pro inherits the snaps of Olivier Vernon (traded to the Cleveland Browns). Vernon played 86 percent of the team's defensive snaps in his 11 healthy starts in 2018. "It doesn't matter what happened in the offseason with players or whatever. Coming into year two for me is big," Carter said. The team also added Markus Golden via free agency and Oshane Ximines in the draft to help continue improving the pass rush. The Giants should be treated as more of a low-end No. 2 DST heading into 2019 in most fantasy formats.Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Saquon Barkley To Be More Dangerous In 2019?
3 weeks agoNew York Giants running back Saquon Barkley finished second behind Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott with 1,307 rushing yards in his rookie campaign of 2018 and he posted 91 receptions compared to just 77 for Zeke. That showed off Barkley's amazing all-around ability. Heading into his second year he is expected to be more aware, acclimated and dangerous, tapping into his experience from a season ago. He'll also have new right guard Kevin Zeitler to run behind, as the offensive line should be improved from 2018. All signs point to Barkley being a stud yet again, and perhaps the No. 1 overall selection in fantasy football.Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Looking For More Balance With Lamar Jackson
3 weeks agoThe Baltimore Ravens are looking for more balance from their offense led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. In five of the final seven regular-season games for Baltimore last season, the Ravens rushed for more than 200 yards. During the same span they posted more than 175 passing yards just once. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is looking for a little more balance, and QB Robert Griffin III said the offense will emphasize on exploiting mismatches. The Ravens added weapons in the passing game to help Jackson, and he should be a QB1 more often than not with his improving passing and tremendous work with his legs.Source: 105.7 FM The Fan Baltimore - Austin Medina
Dontae Strickland Trying To Break Out In Arizona
3 weeks agoArizona Cardinals running back Dontae Strickland will head to training camp with the team later this month looking to turn his tryout success story into a spot on the 53-man roster. He was offered a tryout at rookie minicamp, impressed and was signed to the 90-man roster after the tryout. Strickland racked up 588 rushing yards, six touchdowns and 4.9 yards per carry at Syracuse as a senior. He will likely need to unseat one of the four running backs returning from 2018, with Chase Edmonds, T.J. Logan and D.J. Foster all back and jockeying for work behind stud David Johnson.Source: AZCardinals.com - Kyle Odegard
Caleb Wilson Impressing Coaches In Arizona
3 weeks agoArizona Cardinals tight end Caleb Wilson, a former college quarterback, is attempting to make the 53-man roster this summer. He has impressed the coaching staff with his work habits and skillset. "He has great route-running ability, great hands and I'm so interested to see, once we get pads on, where that goes," head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. Wilson has an uphill climb for a roster spot, however, as the Cardinals tight end room is littered with talent. Charles Clay, Ricky Seals-Jones and Maxx Williams are also vying for jobs in Arizona. However, Wilson's speed, clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash, could set him apart in Kingsbury's spread offense.Source: AZCardinals.com - Kyle Odegard
Rex Burkhead Still In The Backfield Mix
3 weeks agoNew England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead should still factor into the timeshare in the Patriots backfield when the team opens camp at the end of the month. Burkhead missed the first half of last season with a neck injury but when he came back became an integral part of the offensive attack. He scored three touchdowns in the playoffs was on the field for 60 of the teams 252 offensive snaps (23.5%) in the postseason. If healthy, expect more of the same for Burkhead, a player that can catch the ball out of the backfield and excels on swing routes. Burkhead is in no way, currently, projected to be a fantasy starter but is a handcuff candidate for teammate Sony Michel.Source: New England Patriots
Can Tarik Cohen Take The Next Step?
3 weeks agoChicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen will be one of the more intriguing players to watch when the Bears open camp at the end of the month. No one doubts Cohen's ability to be a game breaker, but his usage rate and whether he can improve will be questions heading into the season. When the Bears involved Cohen, he showed dynamic speed, quickness and the offense became dangerous. But the team struggled when the third-year speedster wasn't featured, as evidenced by Cohen posting only 27 total yards in the Bears crushing playoff loss to the Eagles last season. Cohen will have to compete with rookie David Montgomery for touches but the team will certainly try and find more ways to get the ball to Cohen in space. Cohen absolutely needs to be drafted in fantasy this season but, as of now, is no more than a matchup-based FLEX option.Source: Chicago Bears
David Montgomery Carries Plenty Of Fantasy Buzz
3 weeks agoChicago Bears running back David Montgomery's fantasy stock continues to rise as the opening of training camp inches closer. Montgomery has impressed Bears coaches with his quick cuts and his ability to fit into a very creative offense conducted by head coach Matt Nagy. The Bears offense relies heavily on short, quick passes and the fact that Montgomery has steady hands already is an improvement over last season's starter Jordan Howard. The big question with Montgomery will be whether he is featured in the red zone but is in line to perhaps lead all rookies in touches this season. Montgomery could easily become the first rookie running back selected in fantasy drafts come August.Source: Chicago Bears
Allen Robinson's Fantasy Stock On The Rise
3 weeks agoChicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson is in position to have a huge year in his second season with the Bears. Robinson is now almost two years removed from tearing his ACL and should hit the ground running playing in Matt Nagy's offense for a second season. Robinson caught 55 passes for 754 with four touchdowns in a solid, if unspectacular, fantasy season last year. Robinson battled minor injuries at times and saw heavy targets one week only for them to evaporate the next. Another season of reps and building chemistry with quarterback Mitch Trubisky can only help. Robinson has elite talent, as evidenced by his 10-catch, 144-yard performance with two touchdowns in the NFC Wild Card game against the Eagles. If Robinson and Trubisky can get on the same page, the veteran receiver could put up top-12 numbers at his position.Source: Chicago Bears
Sony Michel Progressing From Knee Scope
3 weeks agoNew England Patriots running back Sony Michel is progressing well after undergoing knee scope surgery and is expected to be ready for mini-camp at the end of the month. Michel ran for 931 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, then added six touchdowns in three playoff games for the Super Bowl champs. Michel is expected to enter the season as the team's primary running back, something the Patriots haven't had for seasons. One area of improvement for Michel will be in the passing game. The second-year back came out of college with capable hands but a few early season drops disintegrated quarterback Tom Brady's confidence in him. If he can get involved in the Patriots passing game, Michel is in line for huge fantasy season.Source: New England Patriots
