Nate Taylor of The Athletic writes that Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s workload “should increase” in year 3. Taylor notes that training camp will turn up a position battle between CEH, Ronald Jones and Jerick McKinnon. But CEH is clearly the favorite for touches — and a clean bill of health is a big reason why. "This offseason, it was pretty much getting back to the basics, being able to have a full offseason," Edwards-Helaire said. "That was one of the things Coach (Andy) Reid and I talked about. He said, 'This is really your first real offseason in the NFL.' Really, health was the biggest thing.” CEH’s first offseason was largely done virtually due to COVID. Then last offseason, he underwent gallbladder surgery. Only 23, Edwards-Helaire is priced fairly as a fringe RB2.
The Athletic’s Greg Auman believes QB Tom Brady will attempt fewer passes in 2022 than he did in 2021. Brady led the league with 719 attempts — 47 ahead of 2nd-place finisher Justin Herbert — so it’s not a bold prediction. Auman is also taking the under on Brady’s sportsbook yardage prop (4,624.5); the over on his TD prop (35.5). His 22nd season might start a bit rocky, depending on the status WR Chris Godwin (ACL). But across 17 games, Brady still projects as a top-12 fantasy QB.
The Cardinals and QB Kyler Murray have agreed to a 5-year, $230.5 million deal with $160 million guaranteed, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It makes Murray the league's 2nd-highest-paid QB in terms of average annual salary. So, after early-offseason reports that these sides might be headed for a divorce, Murray is now locked up with the Cardinals through the 2027 season. Murray is coming off a QB5 finish in fantasy points per game.
Giants TE Daniel Bellinger is opening training camp on the PUP list with a quad injury. The rookie surprisingly ran with the starters in OTAs and is certainly a name to monitor leading up to Week 1. We'll see when he's able to get back on the practice field.
Chiefs WR Justyn Ross was spotted a couple of weeks ago with a walking boot on his left foot. We don't have any other details on the injury -- but it's worth noting that this is the same foot in which Ross suffered a stress fracture back in 2021. We'll see if the undrafted rookie opens training camp on the PUP list. He remains just a dynasty stash for now.
Titans rookie WR Treylon Burks missed a bunch of practice time this spring with conditioning issues that were supposedly related to asthma. But Burks college HC, Sam Pittman, said in a Wednesday radio appearance that he wasn't aware that Burks had asthma but that he did have conditioning problems while at Arkansas. "I’m assuming he didn’t go in there (to Titans minicamp) in great shape," Pittman said. "It was the same way when he was a sophomore — he wasn’t in good shape. It’s not that he quit, he just couldn’t do anymore. He just was out of shape." Burks can put all of this behind him if he's ready to go for the start of training camp. He'll be worth monitoring closely throughout August.
The Buccaneers have agreed to a 1-year deal with TE Kyle Rudolph, according to multiple reports. The veteran managed just 26 catches for 257 yards and 1 TD across 16 games in his lone season with the Giants after Minnesota released him following the 2020 season. It marked the 3rd straight year in which Rudolph's receptions per game declined. Obviously not a threat for big numbers in a season that will find him turning 33 in November, Rudolph still clouds the TE target picture for an offense that (at least for now) must go without Rob Gronkowski. We weren't excited about Cameron Brate or Cade Otton in any format before this signing, which certainly doesn't help either player.
"There's some optimism that [Saints WR Michael Thomas] will be cleared at some point early in camp and begin to look like the Michael Thomas of old," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's an optimistic but measured report on a guy who been dealing with ankle issues for nearly 2 years now. Thomas remains a risky pick until we see him back on the field at something close to 100%. But that risk is also baked into his recent WR37 ADP in FFPC drafts.
It's "all positive" for Saints QB Jameis Winston heading to training camp off last October's torn ACL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "In the pocket, he should look like Jameis Winston of old," Rapoport adds. "Now maybe early on, bootlegs might look a little different. Maybe a little slower than we're used to as he settles in. But the expectation is that full health is coming." We'll keep an eye on further reports on Winston's health in training camp -- and see if he gets any live reps in preseason games.
"I think he's gonna finally thrive, really thrive, in a system and a coach that actually respects him." Those were the recent words from ex-Vikings LB Ben Leber, who now works the sideline for team radio broadcasts. Leber added: "Mike Zimmer did not like Kirk Cousins. And I think that showed in the way that Kirk behaved and the way that he carried himself. The team was never given to him." It's quite possible that this is entirely true ... and that the change doesn't impact Cousins' fantasy production. He ranked 5th among QBs in passing-TD rate and yards per attempt over the past 3 years, under Zimmer. (We talked further about Cousins and our expectations for the 2022 Vikings offense in Tuesday's podcast.) If it's true that Zimmer negatively impacted Cousins' day-to-day, then the switch certainly can't hurt his effectiveness.
ESPN's Mike Reiss reports that Patriots RB James White was "walking with what appeared to be an uncomfortable gait" at a recent community appearance. White is coming off a hip injury that ended his 2021 season in Week 3. It would obviously not be a good sign for his 2022 readiness if he's not yet able to walk normally. We'll see about his official status as training camp gets going, but we're not expecting much this season from White. Don't be shocked if the veteran doesn't even make the regular-season roster.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that 49ers (still) QB Jimmy Garoppolo recently had a checkup with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and is "progressing well." Rapport added that the Niners are "thrilled with where he is physically." Garoppolo has reportedly been throwing for about 4 weeks and is expected to gain full clearance to return from his right-shoulder injury in mid-August. We'll see whether this is enough to jumpstart the QB's trade market.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, WR Stefon Diggs said he wants to finish his career in Buffalo. The 28-year-old mentioned how it would be a “dream” to team up with his brother, Cowboys DB Trevon Diggs, but that’s unlikely in the short-term. Stefon, of course, signed an extension in April that keeps him under contract through the 2027 season, so his words match his actions. (Trevon is signed for 2 more seasons.) If the Bill plays out his entire contract, he'll be a 35-year-old free agent.
Per Browns insider Scott Petrak, “the front office and coaching staff are big believers” in WR Donovan Peoples-Jones. Petrak writes that DJP will get “every chance” to start alongside Amari Cooper. The 3rd-year man was always a likely starter, but it’s nice to get confirmation ahead of training camp. DPJ’s fantasy value remains tied to the suspension status of Deshaun Watson.
Per Lions beat writer Kyle Meinke, “the table is set for [Jared] Goff to improve dramatically this season.” As Meinke points out, Goff improved down the stretch last year when OC Ben Johnson took over the offense. This unit is suddenly deep at pass catcher, too, although the health of Jameson Williams (ACL) will be key. Goff might enter the spot-start radar for fantasy, but a lack of rushing upside makes him a clear QB2 for season-long projecting.
Citing a source close to the situation, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that Deshaun Watson’s “currently expected range" of suspension is 2-8 games. Florio adds that it “remains to be seen” if the league would file an appeal in that situation. Fortunately, we should get a ruling from Judge Sue L. Robinson soon -- possibly around the start of training camp. Stay tuned.
Jeff Wilson will head to training camp as the 49ers' #2 RB, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. Wilson "looked significantly better in the spring than he did late last season when he was still dealing with the aftereffects of an offseason knee injury," Barrows writes. RB Ty Davis-Price, meanwhile, missed some time this spring with an injury. There's still plenty of time for the rookie to climb the depth chart, but don't assume that TDP will begin the season as RB Elijah Mitchell's backup.
Raiders RB Kenyan Drake said he'll be ready for the start of training camp. He missed June minicamp as he continued to rehab a December broken ankle that required surgery. "I'm definitely going to be ready for camp," Drake said. "It's not going to be full speed ahead once I get into camp, but for the regular season, I'm going to be definitely ready to go." Drake averaged just 4.1 carries and 2.9 targets in 8 games alongside a healthy Josh Jacobs last season. We'll see if his role changes under new HC Josh McDaniels, but we're not expecting Drake to be a standalone fantasy option this season. And he'll need to fend off rookie RB Zamir White for the right to be Jacobs' handcuff.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that there's "certainly a chance" that Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins is not ready for Week 1 of the regular season and that he might even need "a couple weeks" after that. There reportedly has been no setback with Dobbins' recovery from the ACL tear, but the team plans to not rush him back. Gus Edwards -- recovering from his own ACL tear -- "seems like he should be on track" for the opener. We'll certainly watch the status of each player through training camp and preseason. We haven't been close to drafting Dobbins at cost so far this year, though. Rookie Tyler Badie and ex-Falcons RB Mike Davis could factor in early as well, if Dobbins can't go.
Update: Dobbins responded to the Rapoport report on Twitter by saying, "I might not even go on PUP because that's how good my rehab is going and I'm damn sure going to be ready for week 1." We'll see what's true as we get closer to September.
We're not done hearing about RB Leonard Fournette's offseason weight gain. Here's what Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times had to say on the subject this week, via the Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast: “Coaches were not happy, and that’s an understatement, when (Fournette) didn’t participate in the OTAs, but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near 260 [pounds]. And that’s not a good sign for a guy that you’ve just spent a three-year contract on.” There's certainly still time for Fournette to get into shape ahead of the regular season. This is a red flag worth keeping in mind, though, given Fournette's history of lower-body injuries and his Round 2 ADP.
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