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Eagles QB Carson Wentz still says it will be 'close' on decision to start Week 1
Monday, August 20, 2018, 12:57pm
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz returned to 11-on-11 drills for the first time since July 28, and just the second time overall since he suffered a torn ACL in December.
Monday, Wentz spoke to the media for the first time since his return.
"Really same as last week, it’s gonna be close. Nothing’s really changed from last week other than the 11 on 11 practice. The final hurdle, which won’t be my decision, will be being cleared for contact," Wentz said.
Wentz said he won't play in preseason Week 3, but didn't commit to Week 4, which seems unlikely. It does seem the team is pretty happy with what they have seen from Wentz so far in camp. The writer did say Wentz looks to be on track for Week 1, but he wouldn't be shocked if he's delayed until Week 2.
Jets GM: QB Sam Darnold is 'unflappable'
Monday, August 20, 2018, 12:51pm
New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan offered his take Monday on the team's quarterback competition, gushing about rookie Sam Darnold and all but confirming he's open to trading Teddy Bridgewater.
Maccagnan, in an interview with New York radio station WFAN, said he's "exceptionally impressed" with Darnold, describing the former USC star as "unflappable."
Related players: Josh McCown
These were the GM's first public comments on the three-way quarterback battle involving Darnold, Bridgewater and McCown, the story said. It's been speculated the Jets higher-up want to roll with Darnold while HC Todd Bowles may have been leaning toward one of the veteran QBs to win games and potentially save his job. Maccagnan pretty much confirmed in the story the team is open to trading one of the veteran QBs, and it sure seems like Darnold is going to open the season as the Jets starting QB.
Vikings release K Kai Forbath
Monday, August 20, 2018, 12:42pm
The Vikings made a handful of roster moves on Monday, including the release of kicker Kai Forbath.
Forbath, who had been with the Vikings since November of 2016, made 47 of his 53 career field goals with Minnesota. He was 45 on 53 extra points during that time.
Related players: Daniel Carlson
Forbath had been battling the rookie Carlson for the starting job. Forbath made one of two field goal attempts against the Jaguars, making a 44-yard try but hitting the right upright on a 41-yard try. Carlson was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Auburn.
Buccaneers Beat: RB Peyton Barber continues to look like starting back
Monday, August 20, 2018, 12:39pm
When the Bucs used a second-round draft pick in April on flash-and-dash Southern Cal running back Ronald Jones, it was reasonable to think the third-year pro from Auburn, Peyton Barber, would let him go to the front of the line.
Instead, Barber announced that if somebody wanted the ball, they would have to take it from him.
It's not boasting if you can back it up, and Barber is backing it up.
One guy who doesn't sound like he needs any more convincing is coach Dirk Koetter. When asked if Barber is performing like the starting running back, Koetter said yes.
"That's exactly what he should be doing. He only had (six) carries (Saturday) night, but he averaged over five yards a carry (5.3). He had an explosive run," Koetter said.
This is at least the second story we've seen that Barber is out-performing Jones through camp. The writer said if Barber keeps it up, he'll be starting at New Orleans on Sept. 9. Barber did say he and Jones are a potential one-two punch with Barber likely taking on the role as the strong, inside runner. The story said expect Barber to shoulder more of the load early on, perhaps until Jones gets up to speed, especially in the passing game.
Broncos RB Royce Freeman's playing time could depend on blocking
Monday, August 20, 2018, 10:07am
Through Denver's two preseason games, Royce Freeman is the team's leading rusher, with 58 yards in limited duty. He also has the team's only two rushing touchdowns of the preseason.
He has shown vision, power and speed, but on two separate occasions in recent days, Broncos coach Vance Joseph finished a sentence about Freeman with “but we’ll see how he does in protections."
“I know that, too," Freeman said. “ ... It’s all technique, and I feel like it's just repetitions, repetitions. You can always polish things up. You can always be a little bit better at something. I feel like maybe you don’t get it right on the first time, but you keep doing it and doing it. It’s a big thing."
Related players: Devontae Booker
As Case Keenum put it in the story, the back is often the last line of defense, so any RB needs to be able to pass protect to remain on the field. It sounds like Freeman is picking things up according to another quote from Keenum in the story. We certainly see Freeman having the fantasy edge over Booker but it seems like Booker will get his share of work this season as well. We rank Freeman as our No. 29 RB.
Cardinals Christian Kirk battling for WR2 spot
Monday, August 20, 2018, 9:53am
The Arizona Cardinals' search for a No. 2 wide receiver opposite Larry Fitzgerald is getting interesting.
Rookie Christian Kirk has turned heads. His four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown performance in Friday night's 20-15 preseason win over the New Orleans Saints coincides with Kirk's objective to make an immediate impact.
Kirk is a second-round pick and is noted for his route-running skills. The Cards are looking for a No. 2 WR option to pair with Larry Fitzgerald, but as the story noted, Kirk did his damage out of the slot on Friday, catching a 13-yard TD.
Bills RB LeSean McCoy (groin) not practicing Monday
Monday, August 20, 2018, 9:49am
Bills RB LeSean McCoy has a sore groin and is not practicing today.
We're going to assume this isn't a big deal but certainly something to keep an eye on going forward. McCoy has fallen down our RB list to 26th because of the July 10 accusations of domestic violence. We continue to recommend a hands-off approach, at least until the middle rounds.
Bills QB Josh Allen works with first team Monday
Monday, August 20, 2018, 9:35am
Bills HC Sean McDermott said Josh Allen will work with the first-team offense in Monday’s practice and Nathan Peterman will run the second-team offense.
Related players: AJ McCarron
On Sunday, Peterman led the first team and Allen the second team. McDermott said it’s a rotation, Rodak continued in his tweet. The injury to McCarron (shoulder) seems more likely to open the door for Allen at this point, but the Bills QB rotation so far in camp has been a strange one, according to those who follow the team.
Patriots RB Rex Burkhead returns to practice
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 7:04pm
Patriots RB Rex Burkhead is back at practice.
Reports last week said Burkhead had a tear in his knee but it looks like he's going to be able to play through the injury. Burkhead is our No. 20 ranked RB in PPR leagues. His ADP is two-to-three rounds after guys like Joe Mixon and Lamar Miller, who are ranked close to Burkhead, so he's a potentially great value in drafts.
Saints Beat: Team seems to be giving RB Mark Ingram heavy workload
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 4:37pm
Ingram will serve a four-game suspension to start the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. From watching training camp and the first two preseason games, it seems the Saints are preparing Ingram just as they would if he were available for the start of the season.
Ingram had seven carries in each of the first two preseason games, a stark contrast to 2017 when he had four total in the entire preseason with all coming in the third exhibition.
Related players: Alvin Kamara, Terrance West, Jonathan Williams, Shane Vereen
While Kamara should get a heavy workload with Ingram out, the story said HC Sean Payton always likes to use multiple backs, so chances are someone else could emerge and have fantasy value while Ingram is suspended.
Bills QB A.J. McCarron to get second opinion on shoulder
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 4:29pm
Buffalo Bills quarterback AJ McCarron is getting a second opinion to determine the severity of an injury to his throwing shoulder.
Related players: Josh Allen, Nathan Peterman
HC Sean McDermott said he could not provide an update on McCarron because tests on his right shoulder were not “totally conclusive.” Other reports say it was a broken collarbone. The injury opens the door for Allen to perhaps win the starting job.
Redskins to host RB Adrian Peterson Monday
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 4:24pm
The Redskins are hosting veteran RB Adrian Peterson, sources tell me and Mike Garafolo. The Pro Bowler is an intriguing option for Washington.
Related players: Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine, Byron Marshall, Jamaal Charles, Orleans Darkwa
The Skins hosted Jamaal Charles and Orleans Darkwa on Sunday and are looking to add running backs with all the injuries they are suffering, including to Perine and Marshall, who are dealing with ankle issues.
Eagles QBs Carson Wentz, Nick Foles to split first-team reps
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 4:21pm
Though Carson Wentz has not yet been cleared for full contact, he'll "jump back into some team drills" Sunday, according to HC Doug Pederson. In doing so, he'll split first-team reps with Nick Foles, who will practice despite suffering a shoulder strain Thursday. Wentz recently acknowledged that his Week 1 availability will be a close call, but the franchise signal-caller continues to progress well and his status for the Eagles' opener ultimately figures to be determined by the team's medical staff.
It's looking like both QBs will be good to go for Week 1 at this point, and if that's the case, Wentz will get the nod. Wentz isn't expected to play in the preseason. Foles' preseason shoulder injury obviously wasn't all that serious
Jets Beat: QB Sam Darnold 'trending toward' starting Week 1
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 4:15pm
Jets QB Sam Darnold got the bulk of the reps. Again. He’s trending toward Week 1 starting job.
Related players: Teddy Bridgewater, Josh McCown
Cimini said it seems obvious Darnold will start this week's preseason game based on all of his reps. He thinks the only way things change is if Darnold regresses against the Giants.
Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas dealing with wrist injury
Sunday, August 19, 2018, 4:11pm
NFL teams have no obligation to disclose injury information during the preseason. The Broncos opted to do so on Saturday night, in connection with the fact that veteran receiver Demaryius Thomas did not play.
“He’s got a sore wrist,” coach Vance Joseph told reporters after the game. “It happened in practice I think on Thursday and he couldn’t go tonight.”
Related players: Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Carlos Henderson
The story went on to speculate Thomas could end up being the subject of trade talks, mostly because the team has a group of very young receivers in Sutton, Hamilton and Henderson they seem to feel pretty good about. The injury doesn't appear to be serious.
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