Washington will have decision to make at QB

Sep 15, 2014

The Redskins will come to a major decision point regarding Robert Griffin III next May. He has the 2015 season remaining on his contract. After that, the team has an option to pick up a fifth year at a salary that would be roughly $15 million. That 2016 option would be guaranteed for injury only.

Sunday morning the notion that the Redskins would not exercise that option was out of the question. Even if he struggled in evolving into a pocket passer as coach Jay Gruden envisions, they would give the player they spent three first-round picks and a second to acquire another couple of years to get it right.

But the nature of the injury to Griffin will undoubtedly gives them pause when it comes to committing to that $15 million option. If your ankle gets dislocated in a pile of bodies or when a player falls on it, that’s one thing. But an injury like that sustained with minimal contact is cause for concern.

Fantasy Impact:

Griffin could be out as little as 4-5 weeks according to reports. If that's the case, the team will have a decision to make even sooner. If Cousins plays well in any amount of time he's the starter, will the team give RGIII the job back when he's healthy? Chances are if Cousins plays well the team will slow down Griffin's recovery process to avoid that decision. While this piece is just one opinion, it's a good point about Griffin's injury coming without contact. And, it makes you wonder if Griffin has already played his last game in Washington. For now, from a fantasy perspective, Cousins is a nice pickup with a very good matchup against the Eagles in Week 3...

yesterday

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo (foot) listed as DNP Tuesday

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 6:31 PM EST

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his team’s pre-practice injury report at a Tuesday press conference and it was the same as Monday’s estimated one, so several key players are on the sideline ahead of Thursday’s game against the Rams.

Among them was RB Isaac Guerendo.

Related players: Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda

Fantasy Impact:

Guerendo had a great game in Week 14, but left with a sprained foot. Guerendo said afterward he felt great and it was just precautionary. However, we know by now we can't always trust when a player talks about his status for the following week. The DNPs for both Monday and Tuesday are not a great sign for Guerendo's chances to play in Week 15, which is a short week against the Rams on Thursday Night Football. Guerendo's practice status for Wednesday will hopefully will give us a better idea. Taylor would likely be next up for the 49ers if Guerendo can't go.

Moore: Eagles want to 'increase the likelihood' WR A.J. Brown gets the ball

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:49 PM EST

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s comment that the team’s passing offense needs to improve in the wake of Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Panthers has been the biggest topic of conversation of the week in Philadelphia and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got his chance to weigh in on it Tuesday.

Moore said he speaks to Brown and other members of the offense every week and said “the flows of seasons” call for weekly conversations about how to get the most out of the passing offense. Part of that process for this week is working on ways to get the ball to Brown after he was targeted four times against Carolina.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him,” Moore said, via a transcript from the team.

Fantasy Impact:

Brown came out and criticized the passing game after just getting by the Panthers in Week 14. The Eagles, thanks to Saquon Barkley, have been a run-first team this year, and it's largely worked, thanks also to an improved defense. DeVonta Smith has also voiced frustration recently. The Eagles aren't likely to stop giving Barkley the ball, but we've had a few stories in the news this week featuring unhappy WRs, and there can often be a bit of a change in the game plan to keep players happy. The Eagles host the Steelers this week, so things may not come easy again for the offense.

Steelers call WR George Pickens doubtful, outside chance to play

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 12:37 PM EST

The Steelers did not have receiver George Pickens for their Week 14 victory over the Browns and they are likely to be without him again against the Eagles on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference that Pickens could be characterized as doubtful for Week 15, but there is still an outside chance he’ll play.

Fantasy Impact:

The Steelers thought Pickens would play last week but was eventually ruled out. After Sunday’s contest, Pickens underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury was more significant than initially believed, the story said. Reports from those who follow the team on Monday mentioned it was unlikely Pickens would play, and that's certainly looking like the case.