Lineup Prep: Week 2
Wed Sep 14 9:05am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Cousins setup for big Week 2
Well, that was an interesting first week of action. Just remember, please don’t overreact to a week of play. It was good to see coaches unveil their game plans and player usage, though, which is something that you should pay close attention. That is what gives you a good indication of what some fantasy players are capable. You need to see how players are used and how much they play. This isn’t known until real games are being played. Put that information to good use when setting your lineups going forward.
Now for my random thoughts of the week. . . . .
It was good to see it isn’t just the fantasy community that sees Javonte Williams should be a much bigger part of the Broncos offense. The Manningcast was all over the lack of usage of Williams. It just doesn’t make sense. If so many people see it, why doesn’t the Broncos brass? I do think Melvin Gordon is still a decent back, but Williams is on just a different level right now. This guy is special and should be getting 75 percent of the playing time at running back. He can be a difference maker in the offense. I really thought it was going to be different this year, but not so sure after Week 1. And even with that said, Williams was still ninth in running back scoring. Imagine what he can do with just a few more touches. Please let it happen!
I feel the same way about Josh Jacobs as I do Williams. The only reason Jacobs was on the field more in the second half was because Brandon Bolden got hurt. Bolden was dominating the work at one point until he got hurt. Bolden is a good special teams player and can help occasionally offensively. But he should not be on the field getting a ton of work when a player as talented as Jacobs is on the roster. He really should be getting most of the work at running back for the Raiders and could produce very well in that role. Again, not sure that is going to happen as long as Josh McDaniels keeps playing favorites with players from his past.
It was just a game but Saquon Barkley sure looked like the Saquon of old. He was explosive and made big play after big play. I would expect Brian Daboll to continue to optimize Barkley’s talents throughout the season. Barkley is first overall in fantasy running back scoring after a game and could keep that title all season long.
I am concerned about the Packers offense. I know something similar happened last year in Week 1 and they were just fine, but not having Davante Adams in the offense is a monster hole to fill. The options in the passing game for Green Bay right now are not very impressive. The rookies are a work in progress and the veterans seems about done. Maybe Aaron Rodgers will prove me wrong, but I just don’t see this offense and Rodgers producing near his numbers of past seasons.
Most of the experts picked Buffalo as the heavy Super Bowl favorite and they didn’t disappoint in the opener. This team was so impressive against the Rams on the road. Josh Allen looked unbelievable, making plays all over the field. This guy seems to get better every season. He seems to have elevated his game once again. And the running game even looked better with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss running hard. If those guys can improve as well, watch out. This offense is going to be near impossible to stop.
I was really high on the Eagles before the season and feel pretty good about that take after a week. Jalen Hurts really had that offense clicking. The running game was dominant and A.J. Brown already has a great rapport with Hurts. It also was great to see Miles Sanders running well, rushing 13 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. Sanders never seems to be in good graces with the coaching staff, but his fast start might change that. The Eagles offense has a chance to be one of the best in football all season long.
I’m heavily invested in D’Andre Swift, so there was a lot of cussing at my household over the weekend. Swift looked tremendous and carried the offense down the field often, only to see Jamaal Williams score to goal-line touchdowns. C’mon! Swift has a super high ceiling, but if he keeps losing out on goal-line chances to Williams, that is going to hurt his chances to reach his potential. Let’s hope last week isn’t a sign of things to come.
News and Notes: The Colts have waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Tuesday. He missed a game-winning field goal in the team's season-opening tie with the Texans. The Colts signed kickers Chase McLaughlin and Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad on Tuesday. . . . .The 49ers signed running back Marlon Mack to their practice squad on Tuesday. He gives the team some depth at the position after the injury to Elijah Mitchell. Mack could be elevated to the active roster once he learns the offense.
HOT PLAYS
Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings. Cousins looked great in his debut in the Vikings new offense, an offense that is a lot more creative than the past few seasons. Cousins was 23-of-32 for 277 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He topped 20 fantasy points in the game. Expect more success this week against the Eagles. Philadelphia put up a ton of points and yards last week, but also allowed the Lions to do the same. The Eagles allowed 386 total yards of offense. Cousins is a top-10 fantasy quarterback in this matchup.
Michael Pittman, WR, Colts. Pittman seems to already have a great rapport with new quarterback Matt Ryan. He had nine receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in Week 1. Pittman is going to get a ton of weekly work in this offense. He has a chance to be a top-five fantasy receiver in this offense. Look for another really big game in Week 2, playing the Jaguars. Jacksonville has issues stopping the pass and allowed the second most fantasy points to receivers in Week 1.
Nick Chubb, RB, Browns. Chubb didn’t find the end zone but still had a great showing in Week 1. He ran 22 times for 141 yards and caught pass for two yards. Chubb posted his usual big rushing numbers and should be able to do that again this week against the Jets. Sure, the Jets did a good job of limited the Commanders rushing attack last week, but the Browns rushing game is much, much better. Chubb should be able to find plenty of rushing lanes against this defense.
Allen Robinson, WR, Rams. Robinson had a terrible opener, catching just a pass for 12 yards on two targets. The good news is he was on the field for 97 percent of the snaps. It wasn’t like he wasn’t out there. He just didn’t get the looks. Expect that to change after last week. The Rams will make an effort to get him a lot more involved. Plus, the Rams have a good matchup against the Falcons, a team that allowed the third most fantasy points to receivers in Week 1.
Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos. Williams ran just seven times but still was eighth overall in fantasy running back scoring Week 1. He was heavily involved in the passing game, catching 11 passes for 65 yards on 12 targets. He also ran seven times for 43 yards, making plays on the ground as well. Melvin Gordon was still involved, but Williams was the better back and deserves more touches. Look for that to happen in Week 2 against the Texans. Houston allowed the third most fantasy points to running backs last week.
COLD PLAYS
Dameon Pierce, RB, Texans. Pierce had an opener to forget. He played 29 percent of the snaps compared to 71 percent for Rex Burkhead. Pierce had 11 carries for just 33 yards and caught a pass for six yards. We still think Pierce can get it going, but he needs to be on the field more for that to happen. Until he starts getting more playing time, Pierce is a risky play for fantasy teams, especially this week against the Broncos. Denver allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs last week and this was against a very good back, Rashaad Penny.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants. Shepard was on the field a lot Week 1, playing the second most snaps at receiver for the Giants (72 percent). He also caught two passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. He was on the field a lot but got just four targets. We wouldn’t get too excited about him just yet. Shepard is still just a spot play and Week 2 is not a spot to play him. He gets the Panthers, a team that allowed the second fewest fantasy points to receivers last week.
Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints. Kamara was a bust in Week 1, getting just 12 touches. He didn’t even top 50 total yards. Kamara is apparently battling a rib injury, which is likely the reason for his lack of touches. It is a little troubling, though, to see his reception totals low once again. Kamara just doesn’t get the looks in the passing game with Jameis Winston as his starting quarterback. This limits the ceiling of Kamara. It is tough to sit Kamara but if you have good options on your bench, you might want to think about doing that this week. He is battling an injury and gets a tough matchup against a great Bucs defense. Tampa allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points to running backs last week and just 71-rushing yards.
Treylon Burks, WR, Titans. Burks had a decent first NFL game, catching three passes for 55 yards on five targets. He made some plays with his chances. The one concern was his playing time, though. He was fourth in terms of playing time at receiver for the Titans, playing 37 percent of the snaps. He could be boom or bust with that amount of playing time. And he plays this week against the Bills, one of the best defenses in all of football. The Titans offense could really have struggles moving the ball in this offense. It is probably best to steer clear of Burks in Week 2.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars. Lawrence had some accuracy issues again last week, going 24-of-42. He did throw for 275 yards but had just a score and failed to top 20 fantasy points. He remains a hard player for fantasy players to trust. He needs to start showing more on a consistent basis. Look for more of the same against a good Colts defense this week. Lawrence had some struggles against the Colts last season. He had two touchdowns in two games and failed to throw for 200 yards in one of those games.
SLEEPERS
Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders. Jacobs didn’t get a ton of work last week but looked good with his touches. He had 10 carries for 57 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He also caught a pass for 16 yards, giving him 73 total yards on just 11 touches. It just makes sense to get him more involved in the offense. And we think that will happen this week against the Cardinals, a team that couldn’t stop the Chiefs rushing attack last week. Arizona allowed the second most fantasy points to running backs in Week 1.
Evan Engram, TE, Jaguars. Engram had a decent first week, catching four passes for 28 yards on four targets. He got some work but not a huge workload. That might change this week against the Colts, a team that struggled to stop the Texans tight ends in Week 1. And the Texans tight ends don’t have the talent of Engram. He can build on last week and find the end zone in this matchup.
Carson Wentz, QB, Commanders. It is always tough to trust Wentz, but he always has that potential for the big game. He showed that in the opener, throwing for 313 yards and four touchdown passes in the Commanders comeback victory. He moved the offense and had a good rapport with the talented receivers on the team. Wentz is going to be worth some spot starts this season. And you might want to consider using him against the Lions this week. Detroit had all sorts of issues defensively last week and allowed the fifth most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Corey Davis, WR, Jets. Davis got overlooked this offseason, but he remains the starter for the Jets. He played the second most snaps for the team last week (68 percent) and caught six passes for 77 yards on nine targets. He got plenty of looks from Joe Flacco, who is expected to get the start again this week. Davis could be a sneaky play, having a good floor with his current role in this offense.
Devin Singletary, RB, Bills. The Bills continue to rotate backs but Singletary is the guy on the field most often. He played 59 percent of the snaps in Week 1. He had 10 touches for 62 total yards in the game. He looked good with his chances. We would expect him to get a bigger workload this week against the Titans. Tennessee allowed a league high 394-rushing yards in the opener. Singletary could really have a big showing in this one.
High/Low Scoring Games
Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.
High Scoring Games: Chargers/Chiefs, Commanders/Lions, Cardinals/Raiders, Vikings/Eagles.
Low Scoring Games: Jets/Browns, Patriots/Steelers.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
- NFL to release 2024 schedule on May 15
- Broncos release QB Ben DiNucci
- Chiefs' Rashee Rice suspect in alleged assault in Dallas
- Broncos' 'Orange Crush' DC Joe Collier dies at 91
- Giants add QB Nathan Rourke
- Reinstated S C.J. Moore agrees to deal with Lions
- WR Tyler Boyd to sign 1-year deal with Titans
- Ex-Jags WR Zay Jones visits Cardinals
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow resumes throwing at offseason workouts
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling visiting Chargers
- Raiders sign free agent WR Jalen Guyton
- Panthers to sign RB Rashaad Penny
- Pats waive Nathan Rourke, down to four QBs
- RB Duke Johnson retires from NFL after 8 seasons
- Former Bears QB Bob Avellini dies at age 70
- J.J. Watt leaves door open (slightly) for potential return to Texans
- Seahawks sign first-round pick Byron Murphy II
- Jets QB Aaron Rodgers: 'No restrictions' at OTAs
- Former Giants TE Aaron Thomas dies at 86
- Michael Irvin out at NFL Network
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Update
The Paur Report
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be named the team's Week 1 starter over first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, "It's only a matter of time before McCarthy becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback [...] but it is not likely to happen as quickly as some fans might hope, and if anything, the Vikings are poised to err on the side of methodical caution." Such a scenario could see Minnesota let Darnold, whom they signed this past offseason when Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, start a few games before transitioning to McCarthy. Darnold has struggled to support major fantasy production from his playmakers at previous stops, including the Jets and Panthers, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations with players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to start the year. Darnold himself falls to the low-end QB3 tier in fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft can elevate the offense to the next level, according to tight ends coach John Dunn. "I think in terms of the creativity, it's limitless," Dunn told the media on Wednesday. Musgrave and Kraft were both members of the 2023 draft class and impressed in their own roles throughout last season. Musgrave was the Packers' top tight end for their first 10 games before a lacerated kidney caused him to miss six weeks. With Musgrave sidelined, Kraft emerged as one of Jordan Love's favorite targets, averaging four catches and 47 yards per game. When Musgrave returned in Week 18, he caught one pass for 11 yards while Kraft tallied three receptions for 31 yards. Long story short, Green Bay feels confident that it has two talented, young, impactful playmakers at the tight end position and is prepared to utilize them both in creative ways throughout the 2024 season. Until we get more clarity on their respective roles, they both rank as fringe top-24 options at the tight end position in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs believes he has a chip on his shoulder, according to running backs coach Ben Sirmans. "I think he's coming in with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because we all have something to prove," Sirmans told the media on Wednesday. "I think he wants to prove we made the right decision in investing in him." Jacobs doesn't necessarily have a whole lot more to prove after tallying 3,154 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his signing with Green Bay did surprise many NFL fans, so perhaps he feels a little extra motivation to silence the critics and make sure he lives up to every penny of his four-year, $48 million deal. The Packers parted ways with fellow veteran Aaron Jones this offseason and (barring any unforeseen additions) will enter 2024 with a backfield headlined by Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Given his track record as an every-down back in Vegas, Jacobs easily has the most fantasy appeal of the bunch, ranking as a low-end RB1 heading into drafts.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones will visit with the Kansas City Chiefs next, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Jones, who was cut loose by the Jacksonville Jaguars recently, has already visited with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. All of those teams have varying levels of need for a new wide receiver, but Kansas City could be the most appealing for Jones given that they are competitive year in and year out, offer the opportunity to catch passes from an elite quarterback, and currently have a significant void near the top of their depth chart. It's no secret that second-year receiver Rashee Rice could be facing a lengthy suspension for a pair of off-the-field issues this offseason. Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy would benefit from playing alongside someone like Jones, especially if Rice does end up missing time. Such a dynamic would give Brown, Worthy, and Jones plenty of opportunities to carve out meaningful volume, though Brown would likely have first dibs on the No. 1 receiver role. Therefore, any free-agent deal for Jones would likely keep him off the fantasy radar in a typical 12-team league, at least for the time being.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) said that he expects to be ready to go for training camp in late July despite having surgery to fix a torn left ACL last August. As long as Hines doesn't have any setbacks with his surgically repaired knee, he will be in the mix for snaps on third downs, especially with Nick Chubb coming off a devastating knee injury of his own last year. The 27-year-old Hines will have a low floor and ceiling, though, in PPR fantasy leagues with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman also competing for backfield touches in Cleveland. The former fourth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State has a total of 240 receptions (309 targets) for 1,778 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his five NFL campaigns. Hines hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2022.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) has looked like a star at times through the first two seasons of his NFL career, but lingering hamstring issues caused the former second-round pick to miss eight games in 2023. The organization is focused on how to prevent flare-ups moving forward, and passing game coordinator Jason Vrable said Watson is "in a great place now" with his hamstring. The 24-year-old has plenty of big-play ability and has racked up 1,033 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns through his first 23 games, but he's become tough to trust in fantasy football due to his availability concerns. Hopefully, he really has turned a corner, because he could have at least WR2 upside catching passes from breakout quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay is sure to be more careful in managing his reps in hopes of keeping him on the field.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints waived quarterback Kellen Mond on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Field Yates. He will now go through the waiver process, and it would not be a surprise if he goes unclaimed. The 2021 third-round pick enjoyed a strong college career at Texas A&M, racking up 9,661 passing yards, 93 total touchdowns, and just 27 interceptions in 46 games played. He has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints, but he's thrown just three regular-season passes in his young career. Teams in need of extra quarterbacks for training camp might be interested in the 24-year-old signal-caller, but he's unlikely to ever earn a starting job and could have a tough time making a 53-man roster.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones is on a visit with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The eight-year NFL veteran was recently let go by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the team added Gabe Davis as a free agent and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jones has caught just 287 passes for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns through his first 104 NFL games with the Bills, Raiders, and Jaguars, but his 2022 season performance (823 receiving yards) showed he can be a key contributor to an offense. CeeDee Lamb is the clear No. 1 target in Dallas, but Brandin Cooks looks to be slowing down, and Jalen Tolbert has under 300 receiving yards through his first two NFL seasons. If Jones lands in Dallas, he could become the No. 2 option for Dak Prescott, which would raise his fantasy value and ceiling in 2024.
From RotoBaller
According to a source, the New York Jets had been monitoring rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley as high as pick No. 40 for a potential trade in this year's draft. They ended up selecting him in the third round after trading up to pick No. 65, and general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh were both elated. A veteran scout described Corley as "rugged." Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been excited to work with Corley since watching tape on him last month. The 22-year-old had 29 touchdowns in his last three seasons at Western Kentucky and will give the Jets some solid depth at the position behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in 2024 and beyond. Corley could play right away in the slot for the Jets, but it remains to be seen how his after-the-catch prowess will translate to the NFL.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys notified wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday that they are moving in a different direction and will release him, according to a person familiar with the situation. Dallas gave Bryant a chance to jump start his NFL career, but he will now need to seek employment elsewhere. The move to release him results in no dead money against the team's 2024 salary cap. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't played in the NFL since 2018 with the Raiders. He could latch on with another team now that he's available on the open market, but Bryant will be a long shot to carve out a substantial role again in his career. The former fourth-rounder in 2014 by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Clemson caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Justin Shorter is expected to compete for a depth role in training camp this summer behind wideouts Khalil Shakir, rookie Keon Coleman and veteran Curtis Samuel. Shorter, who was taken in the fifth round last year out of Florida, didn't play at all in his first season in the NFL due to a hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old stands at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds and will be competing with the likes of Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella and Quintez Cephus for the No. 4 role in Buffalo. Shorter will most likely have to contribute on special teams to make that happen, but there's no denying that there is plenty of opportunity in Buffalo's receiver room in 2024 now that both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are out of town.
From RotoBaller
Former Atlanta Falcons free-agent wide receiver Scotty Miller is reuniting with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Smith was the head coach in Atlanta to begin last season before getting fired. In 17 games with the Falcons last year, Miller caught 11 of his 16 targets for 161 yards and two touchdowns. While he will reunite with Smith, the 26-year-old pass-catcher will merely operate as receiving depth in Pittsburgh behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson, rookie Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III. The 26-year-old speedster has a total of 85 catches on 144 targets for 1,085 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 67 games (eight starts) over his five seasons in the NFL. He was originally a sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 out of Bowling Green.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos released quarterback Ben DiNucci on Wednesday, according to a source. DiNucci was with the Broncos all of last year on the practice squad and was elevated to the team's game-day roster three times. He became expendable this offseason after the Broncos acquired Zach Wilson from the New York Jets and then took rookie QB Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in the first round. With DiNucci released, Denver now has three QBs on the roster in Nix, Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. All three signal-callers will compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. Wilson and Stidham obviously have the most NFL experience, but Nix is fully expected to be Denver's starter of the future after they used a first-round pick on him last month.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is unlikely to be traded entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, and the 49ers' focus remains on keeping the star wideout for the long term. Both sides are hoping that they can work out a well-earned contract extension eventually. The recent extensions for DeVonta Smith Amon-Ra St. Brown also give the Niners a little bit more clarity in what Aiyuk's next contract should look like. Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were both available for trade before and during last month's NFL draft, but nobody came through with an offer good enough for the Niners to pull the trigger. With Aiyuk being the bigger long-term priority, the 2024 season is likely the last that they'll have both Samuel and Aiyuk around. The 26-year-old Aiyuk, a former first-rounder, finished tied as the WR12 in half-PPR formats in 2023 with Samuel.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was viewed by many front offices as a backup-caliber player, according to NFL insider Todd McShay. As relayed by Scott Barrett of Fantasy Points, McShay spoke to roughly one dozen teams, and the Broncos were the only one that had a Round 1 grade on Nix. The other teams all had a backup-caliber grade on him. This doesn't necessarily mean that Nix will be a bust and the Broncos will be proven wrong, but it certainly suggests that Denver took a risk by selecting the Oregon product 12th overall in last month's draft. As spring turns to summer, Nix will embark on a competition for the starting quarterback job with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. He's an appealing dynasty option but can probably be avoided in most redraft leagues for now.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan drew the praise of wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, according to PewterReport. McClendon told the media that he likes the rookie's flexibility to play outside or in the slot, and he also feels fortunate that McMillan fell to Tampa Bay in the third round. These comments suggest that not only did Tampa Bay grade McMillan higher than where he was picked, but they also intend to get him involved right away. He's currently projected to compete with Trey Palmer for the No. 3 wide receiver role, but he might have an early leg up on that competition given his versatility in the passing attack. He's a riser in most dynasty rookie drafts but isn't quite on the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) is progressing well and itching to get back to normal football activities, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "Richardson feels he's full go at this point," Fowler said during an appearance on SportsCenter. "He's been throwing for a while now. He's gradually grown to where he can throw full time with minimal restrictions. The Colts could be deliberate. They could hold him out for OTAs, 11-man work, minicamp, but the feeling is he wants to get started." These comments suggest that Richardson is pushing to return in a full capacity but Indianapolis may choose to take a more cautious approach in the final stage of his recovery and rehabilitation. Regardless, he should be back to 100 percent in time for the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season. He can be a QB1 in fantasy football as long as he stays healthy. That's easier said than done given that Richardson's physical playing style made him more susceptible to big hits and injuries as a rookie. However, Richardson reportedly might tone down his physicality in 2024, which could lead to him finishing more games (even if it equates to slightly fewer rushing yards and touchdowns, as well as more sacks). He should be treated as a fringe top-12 quarterback heading into fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker drew the praise of running backs coach Skip Peete this week, according to PewterReport. Peete told the media that Tucker "showed a lot of promise early" last season before the Buccaneers ultimately started to lean on Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds. Peete is "excited to see [Tucker] grow this offseason," suggesting the second-year back could carve out a real role in the Tampa Bay offense. Tucker will have to compete with White, Edmonds, and rookie Bucky Irving, but Peete implied that there is plenty of room for competition and he's not the type of coach to lean on just one player. The likelihood of Tucker entering Week 1 with fantasy relevance is low, but he's still a name to watch once training camp gets underway.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks could be heavily involved in the passing game this season. According to head coach Dave Canales, the rookie running back's versatility is "probably the biggest thing that stood out" when the Panthers studied Brooks prior to last month's draft. Although he's recovering from a torn ACL, Brooks was still the first running back off the board, emphasizing Carolina's interest in deploying him as soon as he's healthy. Brooks will compete for touches in a backfield that consists of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Rashaad Penny, but he might be the best pass-catching option of that group. Canales' glowing comments boost Brooks' fantasy value, and so does the new head coach's experience in Tampa Bay. As Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Canales helped funnel plenty of targets to emerging dual-threat back Rachaad White. White finished last season as the RB4 in PPR leagues, so it's safe to say that Brooks' upside is quite high if he can indeed get involved both on the ground and through the air. Perhaps the biggest obstacle will be the Panthers' offense, which may have to prioritize throwing deeper if they're playing from behind in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis "could have a sneaky-big impact" in 2024, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The Kentucky product was selected with the 128th overall pick in last month's draft and has impressive power behind his 5-foot-8, 211-pound frame. One NFL scout told Fowler that Davis is a "great complement to [James] Cook and should get a lot of goal-line and short-yardage work, which should result in some touchdowns." Cook is a fine runner, but he struggled in goal-line and short-yardage situations last year, delivering just two touchdowns. On the other hand, he emerged as a real receiving threat, catching 44 passes for 445 yards through the air. It's easy to envision a scenario where the Bills rely on Cook on early downs and in passing situations before turning to Davis when they need a physical back to secure a few yards. Such a backfield dynamic would drop Cook to the RB2 tier in fantasy football while Davis could sneak into RB3/FLEX territory.
From RotoBaller
