Team news: Philadelphia Eagles | Page 28

Jaguars have trimmed their roster to 53.

They waived 2022 5th round pick RB Snoop Conner and three 2023 late round picks: TE/FB Derek Parish, S Erick Hallett II & DL Raymond Vohasek.

Related players: Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, JaMycal Hasty, D'Ernest Johnson

The Jags have themselves a pretty deep running back room. The emergence of Bigsby over the summer meant Conner's spot on the roster was in danger. With Etienne and Bigsby firmly at the top, Hasty established himself as a change of pace back last season. The team also signed Johnson in the offseason, who of course flashed with the Browns when getting chances behind Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb.

Jaguars Tank Bigsby led all RBs this preseason with 5 runs of 10+ runs.

Related players: Travis Etienne, JaMycal Hasty, D'Ernest Johnson, Snoop Conner

Bigsby finished with 28 attempts for 159 yards, 83 of those after contact, according to the post. Preseason stats don't get you fantasy points, but Etienne owners should maybe take note. It appears Bigsby has climbed to the RB2 spot on the depth chart ahead of established players like Hasty and Johnson. Bigsby has stood out all through camp, so if you can somehow manage to draft Etienne and Bigsby it may help your RB situation. Etienne can be had in the third round while Bigsby is going in the 12th.

“I mean, I feel like Daniel Jones [has] kind of been counted out the majority of his life,” Saquon Barkley told The Post this week. “He was a walk-on quarterback for Duke, and to get drafted to the New York Giants, everyone thinks he’s not going to be worth a thing, at all. I think he’s silenced all those critics.

“I don’t want to speak for DJ but he’s gonna come in every single day with the same mindset, be the leader that we need. You can see his swagger has grown a little bit more after being involved in the system, understanding the system even better.”

Barkley added everyone will see when the team is playing games. But he did mention a lack of consistency over the past several years going from Pat Shurmur to Joe Judge to Brian Daboll. Barkley added: “You get to be under a system for another year, have all the coaches basically come back, that just helps your confidence grow. When your confidence grows you get that swagger.” Meanwhile, you'll find Jones ranked 10th among our QBs this season. John Paulsen points out Jones was a top-10 fantasy quarterback in 2022 in his first season with Daboll, and that was with an injury-riddled (and suspect) receiving corps. Thus far, the Giants have added an impact tight end (Darren Waller) and re-signed both Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton.

T.J. Hockenson missed the majority of camp drills during the previous three weeks because of an ear infection that he said affected his equilibrium. That condition has resolved itself, coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday, but Hockenson "very recently" reported his back symptoms to the Vikings' medical staff. O'Connell classified Hockenson's absence as "day-to-day," and did not rule out a return to the field as early as Thursday's joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals, but such a quick return seems unlikely.

Related Players: Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt

The article goes on to mention that these ailments could have something to do with the fact that Hockenson is still on his rookie deal and there has been "little progress in talks". If that's the case, we shouldn't push the TE any further down draft boards than he is currently going, as the threat of an actual holdout seems unlikely. If he's back on the field during joint practices on Thursday, this will ultimately feel like an overreaction.

Texans RB Dameon Pierce played every snap of the first two drives with starters, including all 3rd-downs. A change from last year, when Pierce only played on about 25% of 3rd-downs.

Devin Singletary then came on and played every snap of the third drive with starters.

Related players: Mike Boone, Dare Ogunbowale

It's tough to read into how much this will matter once the season starts. There are many in the fantasy world who are saying to stay away from Pierce, probably more when it comes to his dynasty value. Singletary is likely to have a big role in the offense as well, but if he takes away passing down value - that would obviously hurt Pierce. The good news is there isn't a whole lot to worry about fantasy value-wise behind Pierce and Singletary.

OC Mike Kafka said early in camp that it was “too early to tell” if Sauqon Barkley would be more of a receiver but “we’re practicing all kinds of things with people at every position.”

But it appears that the brain trust might be reconsidering because Barkley has been an early read on more passes — returning to a plan that was unveiled in May 2022 but scrapped before the season for reasons that Barkley declined to share on the podcast.

Related players: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, James Robinson, Eric Gray

The story pointed out the irony in Barkley potentially getting his wish to show that he can be a Christian McCaffrey-type dual threat is that the contract he finally agreed to — one-year, $10.1 million with an additional $909,000 in incentives — pays extra for a would-be career-high 1,350 rushing yards and for 65 receptions. But increased receptions, the story said, likely means fewer carries — making it difficult to hit both markers — to manage Barkley’s workload and keep him healthy. For fantasy purposes, an increased workload in the passing game would give a bump to Barkley's value in PPR leagues. Barkley had 91 receptions his rookie season but then 52 in 2019, 41 in 2021 and last year he had 57. He was injured most of 2020.

The Giants and star RB Saquon Barkley agreed to terms on a new 1-year deal worth up to $11M, as Barkley gives himself a chance to beat the franchise tag. He gets a $2M signing bonus. Bottom line: Barkley is coming in & will be at training camp.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray

With no holdout looming, this locks Barkley into a top-10 fantasy RB. He still remains a little questionable as a mid-first-round option but should be targeted if he's dropping much further than that.

The rookie third-rounder has impressed his coaches and teammates with his route running and talent. Wilson benefited from DeAndre Hopkins not taking part in any of the voluntary workouts before he was released and Marquise Brown not being involved much this offseason, either. That led to him getting a significant number of reps, which has helped him climb the depth chart to a point where he could be a factor in Arizona's offense from Day 1 of the season.

Related Players: Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal

With Rondale Moore operating as a gadget player from a past regime, and Marquise Brown apparently still working his way back to health, there is a very real chance that Dortch or Wilson could lead the team in targets over the 2023 season.

That may end up being nothing more than a technicality, and not that exciting for a Cardinals team that projects to be pretty awful this year. We currently only have a single option ranked in the top-45 wide receivers (Brown - WR27)

Saquon Barkley said recently at his camp that he will not make a "definitive declaration" about what he's going to do for the 2023 season until we get to the July 17th deadline for franchise-tagged players to get a long-term extension. Per Rapoport, there is still room for a deal. Talks are "back on" for a possible extension beyond the franchise tag.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell

This is a positive spin after Barkley mentioned less than two weeks ago that he would consider sitting out the entirety of the 2023 season if he needs to. A long-term deal for the running back entering his sixth year seems unlikely, but there's no doubt that Barkley remains one of the most talented backs in the league when healthy.

Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants have until July 17 to come to a long-term contract, or the running back will play 2023 under the $10.1 million franchise tag.

Unless he sits out the entire season.

Barkley told reporters Sunday following his youth football camp in Jersey City that sitting out the campaign is an option he'd consider if it comes to that.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell

Most fantasy players will remember the disastrous results that came when Le'Veon Bell sat out a season as an aging running back and the comparisons between that situation and this are pretty stark. It's quite the negotiating ploy but sitting out a season in what could be the twilight of his career is unlikely to translate to future success on the field.

Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell have had their turns with the ball to little success, so Eric Gray may be the most interesting dart throw while we ponder Barkley's future.