Beat: Khiry Robinson 'due for a monster year'

Jun 03, 2014

Even if tailback Khiry Robinson just picks up where he left off at the end of last season, he's due for a monster year with the New Orleans Saints.

Saints coach Sean Payton started feeding the 6-foot, 220-pounder more during the playoffs after veteran Pierre Thomas was injured. And Payton famously revealed that his mentor, Bill Parcells, compared Robinson to Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and insisted that Payton needed to use him more.

Now, Robinson is hoping to build off that success while also becoming a more well-rounded back capable of catching passes and being trusted in pass protection.

"He is someone obviously that has more confidence now," Payton said last week during the Saints' first week of organized team activities. "You see him, just from an assignment standpoint, understanding the protections much quicker. That took a while for him last year. I think (with) a year under his belt, the overall understanding of all the things he needs to do at the running back position is a lot better. …

"He is a lot further along than he was this time last year."

Fantasy Impact:

A 'monster year' is probably overstating things, since Robinson finished with 33 carries for 152 yards and a TD in his final three games. That extrapolates to 176 carries for 811 yards and 5.3 TD over a full season, or about what Trent Richardson scored as the #34 RB in 2013. His upside is capped by the presence of Thomas and Mark Ingram, though if one of those players goes down, Robinson could emerge as a starting-caliber fantasy back. We currently have him ranked #46 in standard formats.

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Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown's practice window to open "Friday or Monday"

Ian Rapoport

2 hours ago

Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown has received final clearance to practice, paving the way for him to play before the regular season ends.

Brown, who is recovering from surgery to repair his SC joint, should have his window opened Friday or Monday. The team will be cautious.

Fantasy Impact:

If Brown were cleared by Week 17, he would be incredibly tough to start in pretty much any sort of fantasy league with Championships on the line. However, he could be an interesting click for Playoff-only leagues if he can ramp up in time.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker misses second straight practice

Adam Schefter

2 hours ago

For a second straight day today, Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III didn’t practice due to his calf injury.

Related Players: Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh

Fantasy Impact:

Looks like things should be cleared out for Charbonnet once again in what could be a very close game against the Packers. If Walker misses Week 15, fire Charbs up as a high-end RB2.

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo, Nick Bosa, and Dre Greenlaw active for Week 15

Lindsey Pallares

3 hours ago

In Week 15, the red and gold have defensive lineman Nick Bosa and linebacker Dre Greenlaw active and ready for the team's second meeting with their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams.

On the other side of the ball, the 49ers will have rookie running back Isaac Guerendo available against the Rams. He was listed as questionable on Wednesday on account of a foot sprain but was given the green light to play ahead of "Thursday Night Football."

Fantasy Impact:

We do expect Guerendo to handle the majority workload for TNF, but you do have to wonder if he gets the same type of workload he would have, had he avoided the injury report all week. Consider him closer to an RB3 than a locked-in RB2 he otherwise would have been.