Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell loses $855k game check for Week 1

Sep 08, 2018

The Steelers buses are on the road to Cleveland and RB Le’Veon Bell is not on them, I’m told. Bell will leave a $855K game check on the table and the wait is on. James Conner is their starter until Bell is back.

Fantasy Impact:

Only two things seem plausible in this standoff because of league rules involved with franchise tagged players. Either Bell reports and signs the franchise tag, or he continues to be AWOL. Because of the franchise tag, the Steelers and Bell canonot negotiate a long-term deal until after the season, even if he signs the franchise tag tender. It's also unlikely the Steelers would trade Bell if he signs the tender, because another team couldn't give him a long-term deal either (like the Bears did with Khalil Mack), because Bell would still be on the franchise tag. Why would another team trade for Bell unsure if he'll be there past this year? The team could pull the franchise tag, but that would instantly make Bell a free agent, which would essentially reward Bell for his holdout, giving him the freedom to negotiate a long-term deal with any team and potentially put him on the roster of one of the Steelers' AFC rivals this season. Ultimately, it appears Bell must decide whether he wants to play on the franchise tag again for a portion of this season or risk sitting out a full year, believing the open market will still pay him handsomely in the offseason.

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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.