Fantasy News Home

Rashard Mendenhall "clearly" team's RB1
Friday, June 14, 2013, 10:05am

Cardinals beat writer Mike Jurecki on RB Rashard Mendenhall: "He's look good hitting the holes, good in pass protection, catching a ball the backfield, clearly the number #1 RB."

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 11:20am

Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee on the team's third down RB situation: "I'll be shocked if Danny Woodhead doesn't play vast majority of third downs. More to do with his knowledge & ability blocking than anything."

Broncos release Willis McGahee
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:55am

Broncos released RB Willis McGahee.

Steven Jackson expects his catches to increase
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:51am

Falcons RB Steven Jackson on his role in the offense: "I will get the bulk of my carries in the second half. In the first half, I would imagine the majority of my touches will be receiving the ball. I can focus on my becoming the back everyone saw early in my career. As things In St. Louis went downhill, I was an in-between-the-tackles runner. I wasn't working on the things in my toolbox. I took pride in my receiving. It was taken away from me, and used only in a diminished role. Now I can get back to being a big part of the passing game."

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:45am

Whether Jets WR Santonio Holmes will be ready for the start of the season remains uncertain. Holmes replied, "No comments," when asked whether he expects to play in Week 1.

Holmes, who said he needed to learn to walk all over again, characterized his rehab as progressing, but that it is limited to working out -- no running or cutting just yet. He pedaled the stationary bike briskly Wednesday.

Holmes was clear that he expects to get back to top form, he just doesn't have a timeline.

OC Linehan: Reggie Bush's role will be "pretty substantial"
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:39am

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has that vital weapon — a versatile and explosive running back — that has been lacking in his arsenal for so long.

“Well, I think [Reggie Bush is] definitely going to add a dynamic to our offense,” Linehan said. “First of all, he gives us a running back that has produced in this league and really, in the last two years, done a really good job of just carrying the ball. He’s done it.

“You saw it even prior to his last stop (in New Orleans), he was doing a lot of the things you’ll see him do in our offense and be a dual-threat guy. He gives us a dynamic that, you know, a lot like what we got with Jahvid. It’s a little different, everybody’s different, but he definitely gives us a guy that can be an effective rusher and effective receiver.”

“So,” Linehan said, “the one thing about his position is you can get him the ball as a runner and as a pass receiver and his involvement is going to be pretty substantial.”

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:20am

The Chicago Bears concluded Day 2 of their three-day mandatory minicamp without starting receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall as well as rookie seventh-round pick Marquess Wilson.

The team held out Jeffery as a precautionary measure after the second-year receiver suffered a minor hamstring injury last week during organized team activities. Wilson also missed because of what coach Marc Trestman called a “light” hamstring tweak. Marshall participated in the first day of minicamp, but the Bears want to be careful with how they handle his recovery from offseason arthroscopic hip surgery.

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:14am

Rookie RB Latavius Murray is on the field, but he remains sidelined with a sore foot.

No depth chart yet at RB for Steelers
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:04am

Steelers RB coach Kirby Wilson on the team's lack of a depth chart: “There really is no pecking order other than that’s how we ended the season. Guys are jumping in accordingly and rotating themselves. There really is no rhyme or reason to it.”

Le’Veon Bell might be the best running back on the Steelers, but Wilson reiterated on Tuesday that if he can’t block, he can’t (and won’t) play.

Wilson said that pass protection is the last thing that comes to a rookie running back.

“Pass protection because there is so much more technique involved,” Wilson said. “You are dealing with skilled pass rushers opposed to guys in college.”

Rams have "rerouted offense" through Sam Bradford
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 9:58am

With power back Steven Jackson gone to Atlanta, the Rams have rerouted their offense through QB Sam Bradford, loading up on speed at the skill positions and upgrading their line with tackle Jake Long's addition in free agency.

OC Brian Schottenheimer is back, marking the first time Bradford has had the same coordinator in successive NFL seasons, but so much else has changed.

"Totally different," Bradford said following practice Tuesday. "The speed that we have acquired and what we have on the outside now -- and even the inside -- it suits us more to spread it out and play more one-back this year."

Danny Amendola has "clear rapport" with Tom Brady
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 9:35am

WR Danny Amendola has established himself atop the Patriots' receiving group. He's been as advertised: shifty, quick, dynamic with the ball in space and with enough speed to stress a defense vertically. There's a clear rapport between him and Tom Brady. The Patriots moved quickly to sign Amendola after it appeared Wes Welker was closing in on a deal with the Broncos, and it's easy to see Welker-like qualities in Amendola's game. His underneath route-work is reminiscent of Welker.

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 9:33am

Redskins signed former Saints WR Devery Henderson in addition to WR Donte Stallworth.

Ahmad Bradshaw still in walking boot, says there's "no concern"
Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 11:06am

Ahmad Bradshaw will be easy to spot on his first day at work for the Indianapolis Colts. Look for the running back with his right foot in a protective boot as Wednesday’s minicamp practice unfolds at Lucas Oil Stadium. The team signed the former New York Giants standout Tuesday to a one-year contract that could be worth as much as $2 million. The deal comes approximately six months after Bradshaw underwent surgery on his right foot.

Bradshaw, 27, insisted he’ll be ready when training camp opens July 27 at Anderson University. “With me,” he said, “there’s no concern.”

At that time, Bradshaw’s role in the offense should begin to come into focus. The potential $2 million investment indicates the Colts see him as more than an occasional contributor. He’ll push Vick Ballard, who led the team in rushing as a rookie, and 2009 first-round draft pick Donald Brown for significant playing time. Rookie Denodus O’Bryant was released to make room for Bradshaw.

“He’s strong as heck. He’s a downhill guy,” HC Chuck Pagano said. “This guy will carve himself out a role and a niche on our football team, I’m sure.”

A.J. Jenkins "had his best week of football" as a 49er
Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 10:38am

A.J. Jenkins is coming off of two strong practices.

Said OC Greg Roman: "A.J. I thought, the last two days of last week (OTA) had the best two days he's had since I've been here. Quinton Patton and Ricardo Lockette - they're all stepping up. And it's just going to be a continuing process. We're trying to get these guys ready for training camp to come in compete and win a job. And it's happening."

How did Jenkins stand out on Wednesday and Thursday? "Oh, just made some clutch catches for us moving the ball," Roman said. "Just made plays, did all the right things, made plays when he had the opportunity. And he just needs to continue to do that."

Said HC Jim Harbaugh: "Thought A.J. had his best week of football since he's been a 49er the last four days of OTAs. And he continues to build on that. ... Anybody that's going from Year 1 to Year 2, it's a great window of opportunity to improve in the kind of fashion that you'll never have again in your career. Because you're going from doing things for the first time to now everything that you do, you've already done."

Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 10:35am

Jets QB Mark Sanchez worked exclusively with the starters, completing four of eight passes with a sack and a near-interception. On a bootleg, he threw a pass into the chest of DE Muhammad Wilkerson, who couldn't hang on to what should've been an easy interception. Geno Smith practiced with the second team, going 4-for-7 with three sacks. Both quarterbacks struggled in seven-on-seven drills, as Sanchez misfired on the last four passes, Smith his final three. The silver living: No turnovers for either quarterback.