Team news: Atlanta Falcons | Page 30

Through four games, the connection between Kirk Cousins and his receiving duo has been everything the Vikings could have dreamed.

That was especially on display on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, when the combo brought in 19 passes.

Related players: Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen

The story summed it up nicely saying Thielen has been targeted 55 times, more than any other receiver in the NFL through four weeks. Cousins has 40 completions on those targets (72.2 percent completion percentage) for 473 yards and a QB rating of 110.6 when throwing Thielen’s way. While Diggs doesn’t have quite as many targets, his efficiency is every bit as impressive. When throwing at Diggs, Cousins has gone 27-for-39 with 311 yards and has a QB rating of 118.6. Everything is coming together for the Cousins/Thielen/Diggs trio. The receivers are doing exactly what they’ve done for Sam Bradford and Case Keenum in the past: Line up all over the field and get open constantly.

One position battle appears to be settled. Zane Gonzalez is lone kicker on Browns roster.

The team released Ross Martin as the two were in a competition. For the first time in a while, the Browns kicker may have some fantasy value this season. With a new-look offense and lots of potential talent, the Browns should be able to move the ball this season.

Minnesota is five days away from opening preseason action against Denver, its first chance to test where the team stands and the areas that need honing in. While still early in the process with a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, elements of the install that once felt foreign are now starting to click.

“As far as learning the concepts we’ve been learning since minicamp and OTAs and going into training camp, it was a lot smoother because ... we have learned the concepts,” Stefon Diggs said. “So now we’re kind of like – you have a subject in class that you’ve been studying for a little while, you’re starting to get it and you’re starting to find the small nuances of it that you want (to make) little tweaks here and there and that kind of thing.”

Related players: Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook

There have been more good days lately, despite a hiccup now and then, which is to be expected with all the injuries on the offensive line, and including a new QB in Cousins. Diggs added the unit continues to work on timing.

Kirk Cousins‘ connection with his new receivers is a work in progress.

The Vikings quarterback invited Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs to Atlanta in April for a throwing session before organized team activities. They continued to get to know each other during the team’s offseason program.

“It’s a process of saying, ‘Hey, this is the way I’ve done if for six years. You’ve done it a different way for five years. Let’s try to talk about why you’ve had success, why I’ve had success. Let’s find some middle ground; let’s decide whether I’m going to learn your way, you’re going to learn my way,'” Cousins said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

Cousins has no firm plans to work with his receivers off site before training camp, but feeling “a little behind the eight ball,” he will stay in his playbook, the story said.

The Minnesota Vikings are beefing up the interior of their defensive line by signing DT Sheldon Richardson to a one-year deal. Richardson was considered one of the top defensive free agents, and the Vikings may have well added the top free agents on both sides of the ball (Kirk Cousins being the other). After recording eight sacks in 2014, Richardson has totaled 8.5 the last three seasons.

According to Adam Schefter, Kirk Cousins plans to sign with the Minnesota Vikings for three years (fully guaranteed). The terms of the deal have not been released yet, but some reports suggested it could be for up to $28 million per season.

Once the Cousins to Minnesota train got rolling it was full steam ahead. Cousins has been a perennial top-10 fantasy QB since taking over full-time in Washington, and he finished last season as the No. 5 scoring fantasy QB. Now he gets to play in an offense with playmakers at each position: Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen at WR, Kyle Rudolph at TE, and Dalvin Cook at RB.

Cousins should continue to put up impressive fantasy numbers and will be a solid QB to target in fantasy drafts.

Quarterback Alex Smith has a new home, as sources tell The Star that the Chiefs have reached agreement to trade their veteran starter of the last five seasons to Washington.

The Chiefs will receive a 2018 third-round pick and a player to be named on Wednesday, a source confirmed, though any trade involving Smith can’t be completed until the first day of the new league year, which begins at 3 p.m. on March 14. But the sources say the deal is in place and will definitely proceed.

Smith, 33, is coming off a stellar season in which he set career-highs in passing yards (4,042), touchdowns (26) and passer rating (104.7), throwing just five interceptions.

Related players: Kirk Cousins

The change in teams will force Smith to learn a new offense and develop a rapport with a new set of receivers, though he should remain a good value on draft day. Kirk Cousins will hit free agency as the best free agent quarterback since 2012, when Peyton Manning was signed by the Broncos.

Skins RB Chris Thompson got rolled up on blocking on a scramble by Kirk Cousins. He was carted off with what appeared to be a significant right knee injury.

This didn't look good and Thompson was visibly upset by the turn of events. Trainers placed an air cast on his leg. We'll continue to update but owners probably need to prepare to be without Thompson for the foreseeable future.

Josh Doctson finished with three catches for 59 yards; not spectacular numbers, but that’s not where he’s at in his career. The Redskins think of him almost like a rookie, considering he not only missed 14 games last season, but almost an entire year of practice time because of his Achilles issues. There’s plenty to learn.

Related players: Kirk Cousins

The story said Doctson is building trust with Cousins, something that could be very key for Doctson and his fantasy value for the rest of the season. Doctson is a little risky for typical leagues right now, but he's certainly worth owning.