Broncos TE Greg Dulcich's preseason usage has been a bit worrisome. But The Athletic's Nick Kosmider still expects him to play a big role in the passing game this season. "The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder has been an active target in training camp, stretching the defense in all parts of the field," Kosmider writes. "The Broncos acquired veteran tight end Adam Trautman in a draft-day trade, and he brings experience with Payton’s offense. But Dulcich will remain the top tight-end target, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him end up as the team’s third-leading receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy." We're expecting Dulcich's production to be a bit volatile from week to week -- but very few TEs are consistent producers. Dulcich remains an intriguing fantasy pick at his reduced-cost 13th-round ADP.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) told reporters on Thursday that he's on track to play Week 1. That's been our expectation all along. Kupp remains a top-4 player in our overall PPR rankings.
Broncos OC Joe Lombardi "indicated Javonte Williams' load could be limited a bit at the start of the season," according to the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson. Lombardi added that Williams will eventually settle into an expanded role. Williams has beaten all expectations by presumably being ready for Week 1, so it's no surprise that his volume will be limited out of the gate. Consider him a risky RB3 or flex play in Week 1 fantasy lineups. And we'll keep a close eye on how his usage trends.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday's practice and will undergo an MRI, HC Sean Payton said. Reports from practice made this sound like a significant injury, so be careful drafting Jeudy for now. We'll update his status as soon as we know more.
On Thursday, it was announced that the Browns are naming QB Joshua Dobbs as the backup to Deshaun Watson heading into the regular season. As a result, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will begin the year serving as the team's QB3. In three preseason games, Thompson-Robinson completed 30 throws on 46 attempts for 348 passing yards with two TDs and zero INTs. Dynasty managers stashing the rookie nicknamed 'DTR' on their benches or taxi squads will have to continue exercising patience for the ex-UCLA signal-caller. It's encouraging that DTR beat out Kellen Mond for the QB3 job, however, as the Browns waived Mond today. Keep him around in deep leagues.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera said Thursday that TE Logan Thomas is "progressing" in his recovery from a calf injury. He went down in early August but took part in individual drills on Thursday. Thomas remains the favorite to open the season as Washington's lead TE, but TE Cole Turner has made a push for playing time over the past few weeks.
Per multiple reports, Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy sustained a leg injury in practice on Thursday that required being carted off the field. Team beat writer Zac Stevens tweeted that Jeudy "pulled up after running full speed during a play" and "grabbed his hamstring immediately" before medical staff helped him onto a cart to transport him into the locker room. This offseason has one of dire straits for Denver's WR room. Veteran Tim Patrick ruptured his Achilles tendon at the end of July, and the Broncos waived fellow wideout K.J. Hamler with a non-football illness designation that same day. Add Jeudy's ailment to the pile, and it's an even bleaker picture. However, we'll update as more information becomes available before getting too hasty with looking forward. Rookie Marvin Mims is a name to remember for a possible bump in role should Jeudy miss extended time. Stay tuned.
Bears RB Roschon Johnson’s first-team reps have “increased every week since camp opened,” per The Athletic’s Adam Jahns. In addition, Jahns mentions D’Onta Foreman as a potential “surprise cut.” Khalil Herbert is locked in as the lead back right now. But Johnson is an intriguing late-round stash for an offense that should continue leaning run.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen "has been the focal receiver in [OC] Kellen Moore’s offense during camp," The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes. Moore has been moving Allen all over the formation, and QB Justin Herbert "has trusted Allen to go up and make a play on contested balls." Injury is the only thing that can stop Allen from turning in a big 2023 fantasy season in this high-scoring Chargers offense.
Jets WR Allen Lazard sprained the AC joint in his shoulder in Wednesday's practice, HC Robert Saleh said. Lazard is expected to be ready for Week 1, Saleh added. The Jets just lost WR Corey Davis to retirement, so they're thinned out at the position right now. We'll let you know when Lazard gets back on the field.
Eagles RB D'Andre Swift "is still one of many in the running back room, not the main guy," The Athletic's Bo Wulf writes. It's confirmation of how we've been projecting the Philly backfield all along. Swift is the best fantasy bet of the bunch, but he figures to lose too much work to RB Kenneth Gainwell and others to be a real fantasy difference-maker. Check out our full projections for the Eagles backfield.
The Cardinals are trading Isaiah Simmons to the Giants for a seventh-round pick. That marks a steep fall for the former first-round pick who is in just his fourth season, the final on his rookie contract. Arizona moved Simmons from LB to safety this offseason but clearly wasn't satisfied with him in the new role. We'll see whether Simmons can carve out a meaningful role with his new team, but odds stand against him rebuilding IDP value.
According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Bears HC Matt Eberflus said on Wednesday that RB Khalil Herbert "hasn't done anything to lose the job" of being the team's starter. Eberflus also mentioned that rookie Roschon Johnson "has done a nice job competing" but didn't say much about the other Chicago backs. This news certainly bodes well for Herbert's odds of carrying a majority of the workload this season. Of course, QB Justin Fields will have his share of rushing attempts that take away from him. But if Herbert continues to stave off his backfield competition, he'll be a solid RB3/flex candidate in lineups in 2023. See where Herbert slots in our current RB rankings.
This coming Tuesday, August 29, is a big day for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. ESPN's Stephen Holder reports that the team has given Taylor until Tuesday to find a trade partner. Two teams have already submitted offers to the Colts, per Holder, although it's unclear if either is close to what the Colts are looking for. Tuesday is also when teams must decide what to do with players on the active/PUP list, as Taylor is. Taylor will either need to be activated to the 53-man roster, or move to reserve/PUP, which would cost him the first four weeks of the season. We'll have a much better idea of Taylor's 2023 fantasy outlook by the end of Tuesday. Stay tuned.
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes that Ravens RB Justice Hill's stock is up. "You no longer should be asking whether Hill is a lock to make the team," Zrebiec adds. "It’s probably more pertinent to ask whether he’ll have a notable role on offense. He’s earned it with how he’s practiced this summer and played in the preseason." Hill has turned six preseason touches into 86 total yards, while playing ahead of RB Gus Edwards in the first exhibition. We still don't expect Hill to have tangible fantasy value behind a healthy RB J.K. Dobbins. But Hill might be the Ravens RB to own if Dobbins misses time.
Jets WR Corey Davis took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce that he's retiring from the NFL. HC Robert Saleh had shared earlier in the afternoon that Davis had stepped away from the team for personal reasons. Though various hamstring and groin injuries plagued Davis throughout his career, he was a reasonably productive player when healthy. The 5th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft played six seasons between the Titans and Jets, accumulating 273 catches, 3,879 receiving yards, and 17 TDs. With Davis gone, we project a small uptick in favor of WR Allen Lazard. Fellow wideout Mecole Hardman and the TEs should also see marginal improvements in their opportunity shares, but this news doesn't move the needle much for fantasy purposes. See how our WR rankings shake out in the aftermath of Davis' retirement.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson is over the ear infection that has sidelined him in camp but is now out with lower-back stiffness, according to insider Sam Ekstrom. Like the ear issue, this doesn't sound like a major concern. But it's certainly been a less-than-ideal August for Hockenson. We'll let you know when he gets back on the field.
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald says Patriots rookie WR Kayshon Boutte is making a "late surge for a roster spot." That's a good way to encapsulate his current fantasy standing. We've seen other positive recent reports on Boutte's performance, including from Kyed. And the sixth-round pick started his college career with intriguing upside before being derailed by injury. That upside makes him worth a stash in dynasty leagues. But that he's fighting for a roster spot on a time with a questionable-to-weak WR corps should temper any excitement.
The 49ers have named Sam Darnold their No. 2 QB, NFL Network reports. That leaves QB Trey Lance as the No. 3 -- and his future with the team in limbo. We'll see if Lance is still on the 49ers' roster come Week 1, but he's obviously not worth a roster spot in any redraft leagues.
Jets WR Corey Davis has left the team for personal reasons, HC Robert Saleh said Wednesday. Saleh wouldn’t say whether Davis will be back for Week 1, adding that he can take “however long he needs." We'll keep an eye on this and let you know when Davis returns. He's been no more than a late-round flier in fantasy drafts.
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