The Patriots are set to sign RB Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year deal worth "up to" $6 million, NFL Network reports. We'll see about the actual details of the contract but doubt the base value is anywhere close to $6 million. Elliott's name is much bigger than his game at this point. The 28-year-old averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry last season, ranking 43rd among 48 qualifiers in NFL Next Gen Stats' Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt. His usage and production plummeted in the passing game, too. Elliott caught just 17 of 23 targets for 92 yards (5.4 YPC) and 0 TDs. The Patriots have been flirting with free-agent RBs for a while now -- seemingly in large part because depth RBs Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris have failed to emerge. The Elliott signing is more about those guys than lead RB Rhamondre Stevenson. Zeke's arrival adds some risk to Stevenson's 2023 fantasy outlook. But Stevenson was more effective by basically any metric last year -- as a runner and pass-catcher -- and should remain the Patriots' clear backfield leader. Elliott looks more like a Stevenson handcuff than standalone fantasy option. But we'll keep an eye on New England's plans.
Update: Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal carries $3 million in base salary, $1 million in signing bonus, and incentives that can take it to $6 million.
Panthers HC Frank Reich said Monday that WR Terrace Marshall hurt his back in practice and is getting checked out, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. We'll see whether it's anything serious, but Marshall has already been trending toward landing no higher than fourth on the WR depth chart.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson said Monday that an ear infection early in camp was affecting his equilibrium. That has kept him out of contact and team drills, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Hockenson also said he didn't know if he would participate in upcoming joint practices with the Titans. This doesn't sound like a big issue. But avoiding contact for that long suggests it's something we need to at least be aware of. We'll see how the rest of August goes for Hockenson. For now, he's not moving down our fantasy football rankings, though.
Patriots “TE“ Mike Gesicki went down with an unspecified injury in one-on-one drills Monday, according to Zack Cox of NESN. Gesicki reportedly needed help off the field and did not return. We’ll watch for more specifics.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is back with the team. "He remains on PUP and his stance has not changed," Rapoport says. "But he has returned." The report says Taylor left the team for "additional rehab on his ankle." If that's the whole truth, it doesn't bode well for his injury risk headed into the season. Taylor gets a "high risk" designation from our Injury Predictor. Of course, he also comes with a high fantasy ceiling if fully healthy and should operate as a workhorse. Taylor has moved down our RB rankings through this saga. He's an upside pick in Round 3, though.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Saints RB Kendre Miller won't need surgery on the right knee he sprained in Sunday's preseason opener. "He'll likely miss a little time, but optimism the third-round pick will be ready Week 1," Pelissero adds. It's good news -- but Miller is still going to miss precious reps after also being limited in the spring. The rookie is unlikely to be a viable early-season fantasy play, even with RB Alvin Kamara suspended for the first three games.
Cardinals TE Zach Ertz has received full medical clearance to return from last November's torn ACL and MCL. That should put him on track to play Week 1. Ertz was sitting third among TEs in PPR points through Week 9 last season. We'll see how the 32-year-old bounces back from that knee injury -- and how Arizona plans on divvying snaps between Ertz and TE Trey McBride. For now, consider Ertz just a TE3 target in best-ball drafts.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Ravens are activating RB J.K. Dobbins off the physically unable to perform list today. There has been no real indication this designation was actually injury related, as Dobbins has been seeking a new contract (along with approximately every other NFL RB). HC John Harbaugh has said he maintained contact with Dobbins throughout the RB's absence and has been awaiting his return. We expect Dobbins to quickly claim the top spot on the depth chart and have not moved him down our RB rankings amid the holdout.
Update: ESPN's Jamison Hensley adds that Dobbins took part in individual drills at Monday's practice.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni said not to read too much into the backfield usage in Saturday's preseason opener vs. the Ravens. RB Kenneth Gainwell was held out of that one, while RBs D'Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny played. That could be interpreted as Gainwell being atop the depth chart. But Sirianni said that's not necessarily the case. "We wanted to see Rashaad go. Rashaad hasn't played in a little bit," Sirianni said. "My plan with the backs ... I always like those guys getting tackled, so the first time they get tackled isn't in game one [of the regular season.] So, next game, [Boston Scott] or [Kenny Gainwell] will get a couple carries, like Swift did today. And the next game the other one will get a couple carries." So don't expect to learn too much about the Eagles' backfield plans the rest of this preseason. We know that it'll be a committee attack -- but exactly how touches will be divvied remains uncertain.
You've probably seen Bears RB Khalil Herbert's 56-yard catch-and-run TD in Saturday's preseason opener by now. But the more important note from that game was that Herbert was on the field for all seven of QB Justin Fields' snaps. RBs D'Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson didn't play at all with the first-team offense. It's a small sample -- and Herbert obviously won't be a 100% snap rate player in the regular season. But the first glimpse we've gotten of this 2023 Bears offense has Herbert looking like the clear lead back. He's climbing our RB rankings.
Colts HC Shane Steichen says we should expect to see RB Jonathan Taylor back on the field soon. "He should be back this week," Steichen said Sunday, according to NFL.com. "Do I know the exact date that he'll be back? No. But he should be back." Taylor, of course, has been quarreling with the team over his contract. There have also been reports that he's still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, but it's tough to tell how true that aspect is. Fingers crossed we find out this week. Taylor has moved down our RB rankings since the start of training camp. But he has also made it into the third round in ADP recently.
Saints RB Kendre Miller sprained his right knee in Sunday's preseason game against the Chiefs, according to multiple reports. That's the same knee Miller sprained in his final college game. The rookie will have further testing this week to determine the severity. New Orleans had already been looking at adding RBs, so don't be surprised if we see a move this week.
Per beat writer Hal Habib, Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle has been out of practice since Wednesday with an injury to his midsection. “Fortunate that it's not something that I know will be a long-term deal,” HC Mike McDaniel said this weekend. "But he’s… steadily rehabbing. And working with the trainers, which fires me up." Waddle should be fine for Week 1 vs. the Chargers, but we’ll keep an eye on his return. The third-year pro looks poised for another impactful season in 2023. “I think Waddle has probably had one of the best camps on our team this year,” QB Tua Tagovailoa said. “And it really started with OTAs. From the first day he came he showed up and he was locked in. So it's kind of unfortunate to see something like that happen. I hope that it's just, you know, a couple days or whatever and I hope he gets better.” Waddle sits top-15 in our WR rankings.
Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert is “clearly” the team’s No. 4 WR, per The Athletic’s John Machota. Tolbert caught two balls for 29 yards in the preseason opener, and he’s reportedly enjoyed a strong camp. The 2022 Round 3 pick is a name to remember in deep formats.
Packers TE Luke Musgrave was on the field for all 12 of QB Jordan Love's snaps in Friday night's preseason opener. The rookie ran a route on eight of Love's 10 dropbacks and was targeted on three of Love's 10 passes. If that type of playing time continues into the regular season, Musgrave will be a 2023 fantasy factor. He's climbing the TE rankings.
The Dolphins held RBs Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert out of Friday night's preseason opener vs. the Falcons. But Devon Achane was still just the third RB to hit the field for Miami, behind Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. Achane, of course, is a rookie and missed a couple of days of practice earlier in the week with an undisclosed injury. We're still expecting him to be one of Miami's top-three backs by the time Week 1 rolls around, but his standing on the depth chart will be worth watching closely the rest of the summer.
Preseason Round 1 of the Bucs' QB battle went to Baker Mayfield. He got the start in Friday's night exhibition vs. the Steelers and finished 8-of-9 for 63 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs across three possessions. QB Kyle Trask played the next four series, completing 6 of 10 passes for 99 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. Mayfield earned a strong 87.7 Pro Football Focus passing grade vs. Trask's 57.4. This battle probably isn't settled just yet, but Mayfield is the favorite to open the season as Tampa's starter.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker returned to practice Saturday. He took part in positional drills for the first time since sustaining a groin injury late in July. Barring a setback, Walker has plenty of time to round back into form ahead of the regular season. We'll see how he and Zach Charbonnet fit together in the remaining preseason games.
Panthers RB Miles Sanders is sitting out Saturday’s preseason opener. Per NFL Network’s Cam Wolfe, Sanders has a “very mild” groin injury. Wolfe added that the first-year Panther would have played had it been the regular season. Sanders remains inside RB2 range in our fantasy RB rankings.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow had a throwing session prior to Friday night's preseason game for the first time since he strained his right calf July 27. "I think things are good and he's progressing as he should," HC Zac Taylor said. Burrow is expected to be ready for the Bengals' regular-season opener vs. the Browns on September 10.
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