RADIO
Lamar Jackson Looking Better As A Passer
1 week agoBaltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson continues to make improvements with his accuracy during offseason workouts, according to quarterbacks coach James Urban. "They certainly haven't been eliminated, but there are much fewer, 'Where-did-that-come-froms' this year when we watch him practice. It looks better in many ways. The ball comes out cleaner, the timing looks better," Urban said. The Ravens will continue to lean on Jackson's skills as a runner, but they are working on his decision-making in that aspect of his game after he fumbled the ball 12 times in the regular season and three times in the playoffs. Jackson was the seventh leading rusher in the NFL from Weeks 11 through 17 among all players, so the upside with him is obvious on the ground. If he can make strides with his arm with a more potent group of pass-catchers around him, Jackson will have more QB1 games than not.Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Josh Allen Must Improve Decision-Making
1 week agoBuffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane believes that quarterback Josh Allen needs to improve his decision-making the most heading into his second season in the NFL. "Josh is a very confident young man who believes he can make any throw, and in Year 1 that may have been to his detriment," Beane said. Allen has upside for his legs -- he led the team with 631 rushing yards in his rookie season -- but he must also improve his accuracy as a passer. Allen has better weapons around him and should improve in his sophomore campaign, but he's nothing more than a QB2 with upside as a poor man's Cam Newton.Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett, Others Report To Minicamp
1 week agoAtlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, pass-rusher Vic Beasley and linebacker Deion Jones all reported to mandatory minicamp on Monday, according to sources. All of them skipped voluntary organized team activities, but the plan all along was for them to be present at minicamp. Jones is looking for a new contract and will likely get one before the 2019 season starts. Even as he ages, Jones continues to prove that he's an elite wideout worthy of being taken in the first round of fantasy drafts. Jarrett was given the franchise tag this offseason and is hoping to reach a long-term extension before the deadline on July 15.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
A.J. Green Wants To Stay In Cincinnati
1 week agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, who is in the final year of his current deal, said he doesn't really have interest in playing anywhere else. "I can't see myself playing anywhere else or playing in a different city. Hopefully I can be here for a couple more years. We'll see on that part," Green said. He's owed around $12.2 million in 2019, which makes him the 14th highest paid wideout in the NFL. Green has six 1,000-yard seasons in his eight-year career and is eighth among active players in receiving touchdowns (63). The seven-time Pro Bowler was slowed with a toe injury last year but remains a high-end fantasy wideout when he's on the field.Source: NFL.com - Jeremy Bergman
Seahawks Like What They Have In Jacob Hollister
1 week agoSeattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has said good things about tight end Jacob Hollister, who they acquired from the Patriots in the offseason. "The speed element is awesome, really good route-runner. A lot like Tyler in terms of the instincts, just the ability to get open. He has a great feel for coverages, man and zone, things like that… He has been a great acquisition, he really has," Schottenheimer said. Seattle also has Nick Vannett, Will Dissly and Ed Dickson at the tight end position, but none of that trio really stands out and there will be plenty of competition this summer. Whoever wins the No. 1 job as a pass-catcher could be a TE2 sleeper in 2019 drafts.Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Braxton Berrios Standing Out
1 week agoNew England Patriots wide receiver Braxton Berrios, who missed his entire rookie season while on Injured Reserve, has stood out during spring practices as one of the most improved players on the field. He has looked more decisive, quicker, more fluid in his movements and is reliable catching the ball in tight windows. Berrios will earn a base salary of only $495,00 in 2019 and could be a riser on the wide receiver depth chart behind Julian Edelman and rookie N'Keal Harry. Keep an eye on him in training camp this summer.Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Evan Engram Sitting Out As Precaution
1 week agoNew York Giants tight end Evan Engram said that he was "just being smart" by sitting out 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills during three-day minicamp last week. He took part in drills at organized team activities before minicamp and confirmed that his unspecified injury wasn't lingering from the injuries he dealt with in his second season in the NFL. Engram suffered a concussion in the preseason, missed three games with a knee injury and two games with a hamstring ailment. He had 64 catches for 722 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie but dipped to 45 receptions for 577 yards and three touchdowns in 2018 while battling those injuries. With Odell Beckham Jr. now in Cleveland, Engram is expected to see an uptick in targets and could easily approach his numbers or surpass them from his rookie season.Source: NJ Advance Media - Ryan Dunleavy
Albert Wilson Thinks He'll Be Ready For Week 1
1 week agoMiami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson (hip), who missed half of last season with a serious hip injury, said that "there's no reason why I shouldn't be out there Week 1." He hasn't been able to practice since his injury on Oct. 21 but said he's "been outstanding with everything they've asked me to do" in his rehab. However, there's still a good chance he starts training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Wilson, 27 next month, had 26 receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns in his seven games in 2018. With Wilson questionable to be ready to produce for fantasy owners to start the regular season, he won't be very coveted by fantasy owners. Devante Parker and Kenny Stills figure to be the team's top two wideouts, so Wilson might be an inconsistent producer in Miami's offense to begin with.Source: Miami Herald - Adam H. Beasley
DeAndre Hopkins Played Through Pain Last Year
1 week agoHouston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (foot, shoulder) said he played through more pain in 2018 than at any time in his six-year career. He played through a nagging foot injury and a serious shoulder ailment in the playoffs and finished with 115 catches for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns for first-team All-Pro honors for a second straight season. "I was dealing with serious injuries a lot of people would have sat down for. But we had a good team that depended on me, and I never gave a thought to not playing unless the doctors told me I couldn't," Hopkins said. He said he tore ligaments completely off the bone in the playoff loss to the Colts, but he's been rehabbing in the offseason and expects to be ready for training camp. Hopkins will be a first-round pick as one of the top wideouts off the board.Source: Houston Chronicle - John McClain
Byron Jones Eyeing Training Camp
1 week agoDallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones (hip), who has been recovering from hip surgery he had in late March, is hoping to be ready for the start of training camp. Jones made the move from safety to cornerback in 2018 and earned his first Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod. He's entering the final season of his five-year deal in 2019 and is looking to improve on his numbers. The 26-year-old had 67 total tackles and 14 passes defensed in a full season in 2018 and will help solidify Dallas' secondary again if he can stay healthy.Source: DallasCowboys.com - Nick Eatman
Jason Pierre-Paul Could Return In October
1 week agoTampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said that the best-case scenario could involve defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (neck) returning to the team in October. But that's only if JPP doesn't require surgery to stabilize the cervical fracture he suffered in a car accident in May. Last week, Arians said the timeline for Pierre-Paul could be five or six months. The pass-rusher won't be on the field anytime soon and should begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. JPP had 12.5 sacks in his first year with Tampa in 2018, so his absence will be a big blow to the Bucs defensive line to begin the season and possibly for much of the year.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Cam Newton To Throw At Minicamp
1 week agoCarolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (shoulder), who had arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder for the second straight offseason, is scheduled to throw during all quarterback drills at minicamp next week. It's unclear when he'll start taking part in team drills, though. “Cam’s confidence level is up because he’s pain-free,” head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion said. “He feels good about where he is right now – but we’re not done. This is one more step in our process as we get him ready for 2019.” It's understandable if fantasy owners shy away from making Newton a high-end QB1 pick in 2019 drafts, but he could easily return high-end QB1 value this year if his shoulder gives him no further issues.Source: Panthers.com - Max Henson
Travis Kelce Unlikely To Work In Minicamp
1 week agoKansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (ankle) has been sitting out of organized team activities and is unlikely to take part in mandatory minicamp next week, according to head coach Andy Reid. “I don’t think (he’ll participate) next week,” Reid said. “I think you’ll probably see him in training camp.” Kelce had a cleanup procedure on his ankle in April and wore a protective boot a few weeks afterwards. He should be ready to go in Week 1 and should be one of the first tight ends off the board after setting a franchise record with 103 catches, 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018. He was named a first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career.Source: The Kansas City Star - Blair Kerkhoff
Jared Goff's Extension Timetable Not Affected By Eagles
1 week agoLos Angeles Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff said that the Eagles' four-year, $128 million contract extension with quarterback Carson Wentz won't affect the team's timetable for an extension with quarterback Jared Goff. Goff was the first pick of the 2016 draft, while Wentz went right after him at No. 2. "They seem to be on a different timetable than we are," Demoff said of the Eagles. "I don’t think we’re naïve enough to say that Carson’s signing is not relevant. I just don’t think it changes the timing." Goff has an $8.9 million salary cap number in 2019 and is scheduled to make $22 million in 2020 on his fifth-year option. He's 24-14 as a starter, has made the Pro Bowl the last two years and led the Rams to back-to-back NFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance last year. While fantasy owners won't be trusting Goff as an elite QB1 just yet, he's certainly on the rise in a dangerous offense.Source: Los Angeles Times - Gary Klein
Josh Allen Unlikely To Take Part In Minicamp
2 weeks agoJacksonville Jaguars rookie defensive end Josh Allen (knee), who missed most of organized team activities with a knee bruise, is unlikely to take part in minicamp next week, according to head coach Doug Marrone. “I’ll probably just as safety hold him until he’s ready for camp,” Marrone said. “Technically he could be ready to go next week.” Left tackle Cam Robinson (knee), who missed 14 games last year with a torn ACL, is also unlikely to take part in minicamp. Allen was the No. 7 overall pick to the Jags, and he should make some noise on Jacksonville's talented defensive line in his rookie season. He should be good to go for training camp this summer.Source: Jaguars.com - John Oehser
