The NFL Players' Association and the NFL are working on a settlement agreement in the Deshaun Watson case, according to insider Aaron Wilson. "Sources expressed optimism that a deal will get worked out," Wilson writes. A settlement would very likely result in something in between Watson's current 6-game suspension and the full-season ban the league has been pushing for. Stay tuned.
Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said Tuesday that RB Kenneth Walker has "a little hernia thing that he’s working on." Added Carroll, "we’ve got to get through that. So I don’t know what to tell you yet, but it’s something that we can attend to and all that ... We’ve just got to make sure that he’s OK by the opener is what we’re shooting for.” Hopefully Walker doesn't need surgery, which would certainly cost him the start of the season. We'll look for updates on the rookie's status.
Seahawks QB Drew Lock tested positive for COVID. He'll be out at least the next 5 days, which means he'll miss Seattle's 2nd preseason game. Lock seemed to be making up ground on QB Geno Smith, getting 1st-team reps in Tuesday's practice. But this is an obvious setback. Smith remains the favorite to start Week 1, although Lock is a good bet to also make starts this season.
Mike Dussault of the Patriots' official website calls RB Ty Montgomery the "early favorite" for passing-down duties. "Montgomery has been one of the under-the-radar stars of Patriots training camp this summer, slowly but surely cementing himself as part of the running back rotation," Dussault writes. HC Bill Belichick called Montgomery a "very smart, multi-skilled, multi-talented player" prior to Tuesday's practice. This still feels like a fluid situation, with RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and Pierre Strong also in the mix for pass-catching work. But it's time to at least start considering Montgomery near the end of deeper PPR drafts.
Rams QB Matt Stafford (elbow) was a full participant in Tuesday's scrimmage. He had “great energy, great command… threw the ball incredibly accurately… Really activated all parts of our pass game," HC Sean McVay said afterward. Reports on Stafford's right elbow have trended up over the last week. We'll continue to keep a close eye on him leading up to Week 1.
The Raiders released WR Demarcus Robinson. It's a slightly surprising move because Robinson was Vegas' most accomplished WR behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. But, per The Athletic's Vic Tafur, Mack Hollins and Keelan Cole have emerged as the team's #3 and #4 WRs. "Tyron Johnson’s speed has put him in the mix as well," Tafur adds. None of these guys will be 2022 fantasy factors without an injury to Adams or Renfrow.
Jets QB Zach Wilson had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today, according to multiple reports. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Wilson had just a trim of the meniscus -- as hoped -- and has a shot to play Week 1. Wilson does also have the bone bruise in the knee, which will require rest to recover.
Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Russell Gage will be held out of practice this week with their hamstring injuries, HC Todd Bowles said Tuesday. We haven't seen any concern about either guy's status for the start of the season, but we'll see when they're able to get back on the field.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders remains sidelined on Tuesday with what the team is now saying is a hamstring issue. It had previously been reported as "leg soreness." We've seen nothing to suggest that this is a serious injury, but we'll keep a close eye on Sanders over the next couple weeks. He notably checks in with the highest probability of injury of any RB this season.
Steelers WR Anthony Miller is expected to be out "several months" with a shoulder injury, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. It sounds like Miller will miss the entire 2022 season. He was battling for a roster spot in Pittsburgh and wasn't on the redraft fantasy radar anyway. But it's probably safe to drop Miller from dynasty rosters if you're still hanging on.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner says 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk "has been the team's most consistent offensive performer in camp." That's a particularly positive review for Aiyuk. Few question the former 1st-round pick's talent, but inconsistent performance dogged him last year -- especially early. Wagoner points out that Aiyuk had a similarly strong start to last year's camp but "tapered off" after a preseason hamstring injury. If Aiyuk can stay healthy and keep the effort up, he carries breakout difference-making potential from a fantasy football ADP that has hovered around WR40.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor says the Steelers are "likely to push the ball down the field more than in recent years." That would obviously be good for the fantasy football upside for everyone in the passing game (except maybe RB Najee Harris), but it would be an especially positive development for rookie WR George Pickens and 3rd-year WR Chase Claypool. Pickens has generated seemingly nonstop buzz in camp, while Claypool has displayed his downfield talent through 2 pro seasons. Both look attractive in reserve territory of fantasy football drafts.
ESPN's Jordan Ranaan says Giants RB Saquon Barkley "has looked the best he has in years." Ranaan cites both HC Brian Daboll and QB Daniel Jones describing Barkley as explosive and says that matches what he's seen "every day." Ranaan adds that the lack of backfield depth points to a "huge" workload for Barkley and says "the strength of the Giants' offensive line appears to be its run-blocking." We have been -- and continue to be -- excited about Barkley's fantasy football upside for 2022.
ESPN Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime believes "it's only a matter of time" before Houston OC Pep Hamilton makes rookie RB Dameon Pierce the "lead back." Bien-Aime believes the takeover could happen by sometime in September, pointing to the rookie's "explosiveness" edge over Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead. Pierce worked behind others in the 1st preseason game but certainly showed best among what we all knew to be a lackluster group. Pierce has been our highest-projected Texans RB all along.
One of the biggest fantasy football questions in Denver this year is who will lead the team in receiving, both in terms of targets and production. ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold says a trend has emerged: "[Russell] Wilson has shown in training camp he's going to move the ball around to find the matchups he likes. But he's also shown in practices and the joint workouts with the Dallas Cowboys that when he really needs a completion or has been moved off his spot by the pass rush, he's going to look for [Courtland] Sutton. There is always the question of whether those tendencies will hold up in games. [Jerry] Jeudy is too good a route-runner -- and Wilson has spent plenty of time working with him -- to not be a factor (Jeudy often attends the quarterback meetings)." Legwold goes on to compare the situation to when Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker both put up big numbers with Peyton Manning in 2012. Thomas beat Decker by 19 targets and 9 receptions that season, but both finished among the top 9 PPR wideouts. "If both are healthy all the way through the season, they're both going to likely have their best years," Legwold adds. If we get production like that, this question ultimately won't matter because both WRs will have paid off their ADPs. Nevertheless, it's a question we'll all keep trying to answer until fantasy-draft season ends.
ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton seems to think RB D'Onta Foreman will be the #2 RB for Carolina this season. In a piece with team-by-team fantasy-related questions for beat writers, Newton writes: "If [Christian McCaffrey] can play 14-17 games, he should again be one of the most productive backs in the league. Just in case, though, put D'Onta Foreman on your roster for insurance." We still wouldn't bet on either Foreman or Chuba Hubbard as a direct replacement should McCaffrey go down. But this could point to Foreman at least taking the rushing lead in that scenario.
According to multiple accounts, Patriots TE Hunter Henry left Tuesday morning's practice early. We have yet to see details on an injury but will keep watch for updates.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson was working on the punt protection team in Tuesday's practice, according to ESPN's John Keim. This, of course, follows a rough preseason opener that saw Gibson get yanked after losing a fumble on his 2nd carry. For what it's worth, Gibson played zero snaps on special teams across his first 2 NFL seasons. We'll see exactly where this goes, but Gibson is trending in the wrong direction.
Giants WR Kadarius Toney (knee) returned to individual drills on Tuesday. It's a pleasant surprise after HC Brian Daboll said Sunday that Toney was unlikely to practice this week. We'll continue to keep an eye on the mercurial WR, but he seems on track to be ready come Week 1.
Patriots HC Bill Belichick said Tuesday that RB Rhamondre Stevenson "has done a real good job improving his pass-game skills," especially as a pass protector. Stevenson said back in June that his primary focus this offseason was in the passing game, and it sounds like the work has paid off. New England's pass-catching role is up for grabs with RB James White's retirement. It sounds like Stevenson, Ty Montgomery and rookie Pierre Strong are the top contenders for that job.
Search
