Team news: Arizona Cardinals | Page 35

Interior offensive lineman joins Rondale Moore in the Out category, while veteran Zach Ertz is questionable heading into Sunday.

Related Players: A.J. Green, Trey McBride

This doesn't look good for Kyler Murray coming out of the gate, going against an explosive Chiefs offense on the other sideline. Marquise Brown and A.J. Green may join James Conner as being the focal point of the Cardinals offense.

It's Eno Benjamin *or* Darrel Williams taking over No. 2 RB duties behind James Conner.

Related players: James Conner

Some who follow the team have said Williams didn't really stand out in camp and win the job as the RB2. Benjamin was expected to take the next step entering his second season, so it's just confusing for fantasy owners as far as what exactly the situation is for their Conner handcuff. It's perhaps more of a reflection that neither back stood out. For what it's worth, we're listing Benjamin as the team's RB2.

The Philadelphia Eagles have claimed quarterback Ian Book, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Book was a New Orleans Saints fourth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2021. He appeared in one game in 2021 as a rookie, a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in which he completed 12 of 20 pass attempts for 135 yards, with 2 INTs.

Related players: Jalen Hurts, Gardner Minshew

The Eagles recently released Reid Sinnett and Carson Strong, so Book will slide in as the team's third QB behind Hurts and Minshew.

With WRs Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne either hurt or sliding down the depth chart, Nelson Agholor has ascended throughout the summer.

Agholor's first season with New England ended with him accruing under 500 yards but he has built chemistry with quarterback Mac Jones while other pieces of the depth chart have moved backwards. Graff concludes his blurb claiming that Agholor could end up as Jones' number one receiver.

Mike Gesicki is having issues adapting to new head coach Mike McDaniel's offense, particularly in outside-zone run concepts.

Related Players: Hunter Long

If you can't stay on the field, you can't be targeted, and if you can't be targeted, you can't score fantasy points. There's a possibility that Gesicki can become a better blocker, but only two weeks out from the kickoff of regular season, he'd better hurry. When asked about the change, Gesicki remarked, "It’s definitely a whole different offense, a whole different scheme. I’m learning a new position, honestly. I played receiver last year. I played receiver the last three, four years. I’m playing tight end now."

Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne traveled with the Patriots to Las Vegas for their joint practices and preseason game this week against the Raiders.

It was a weird week for Bourne, who was removed from practice due to an apparent uniform issue on Tuesday and then ejected for fighting on Wednesday. He then didn’t play Friday against the Panthers, helping to lead to some trade speculation. But he will be in Vegas with the team; certainly needed now that the Patriots don’t have Tyquan Thornton, so they are in need of depth at receiver.

The suspension also includes a $5 million donation to charity. DeShaun Watson is scheduled to return to action in Week 13 against the Houston Texans.

Related Players: Jacoby Brissett, Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt

Watson remains borderline-undraftable in all but the deepest redraft leagues, and the entire skill position group should receive a downgrade with Jacoby Brissett in as quarterback. It's very possible that the team leans more run-heavy, which would benefit Nick Chubb, but if the offense as a whole is less efficient, that would presumably level out over the course of three-quarters of the season.

At pretty much every step along the way, Tyquan Thornton’s stock has continued to rise. That trend continued on Tuesday.

Related players: Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor

The story said this week is a big chance for Thornton to prove he can reach the next stage in his development. It went on to say Thornton started practice off with a bang. He won both one-on-one reps, with the second ending with a diving catch in the end zone. In team drills, Thornton continued to pop. He repeatedly got open for Mac Jones, including one rep where he beat 2020 first-round pick C.J. Henderson. Thornton seems buried down the depth chart, though. There have been rumors the team will move Agholor which could bump up Thornton, but for now he should be considered a deeper league stash and a player to keep an eye on.

Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin has had an impressive offseason and is considered the favorite for number two duties behind starter James Conner.

Benjamin was a trendy breakout pick prior to NFL free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft, but the additions of Darrell Williams and Keontay Ingram all but evaporated the high hopes many had for the former Arizona State Sun Devil. Now, just days away from the first preseason game, it has become clear that Benjamin has improved enough in the passing game (particularly in pass protection) that he has the leg up in the battle to be James Conner's 'tag-teammate'. Benjamin could carve out flex value if he distances himself from Williams and Ingram during the preseason. More of a deep league target, Eno is currently our 79th-ranked running back.