June 2019 4for4 Player News Articles

Peyton Barber is certainly likely to finish with more yards right now. They’re just taking a shot on Ronald Jones hoping he plays like a 2nd-round draft pick.

Many seemed to think this could be the year Jones emerges, but Auman doesn't seem to be buying in. Right now, we do have Jones ranked higher, but this will be a position battle to watch this summer.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger complimented Donte Moncrief’s knowledge of the offense at the end of the offseason program and that the two players have already developed a shorthand for communicating with each other on the field. Wide receivers coach Darryl Drake noted that connection’s led Roethlisberger to have confidence in Moncrief and that the wideout spent the spring “playing with a lot of confidence.”

Related players: JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington

We have Moncrief behind Smith-Schuster and Washington. We're much higher on Washington, who played 55% of the snaps and had two of his best games late in the season, posting 3-65 on four targets against the Patriots in Week 15 and 3-64 on three targets in Week 17. As a receiver who is very likely to see 100+ targets from Ben Roethlisberger in a potent offense, Washington is definitely in the WR3 mix this summer and has the upside to finish in the top 20.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor opted to install the team’s offense to the entire group of offensive players rather than doing it in position groups and that was probably a good approach for Giovani Bernard.

Bernard is still listed as a running back, but he spent the spring doing more than just taking handoffs from Andy Dalton while lining up in the backfield.

Bernard also split out wide as a receiver when he wasn’t a single back or to Dalton’s side in the shotgun and he said he’s enjoyed the introduction to the offense. The story said Bernard just wants to go out and make a play.

The Bears opened up space alongside Tarik Cohen in their backfield by trading Jordan Howard this offseason and third-round pick David Montgomery joins free agent acquisition Mike Davis as the likeliest candidates to fill it.

Early signs about the rookie’s chances of doing that have been positive. Montgomery’s skills in the passing game got a thumbs up from head coach Matt Nagy and running backs coach Charles London said his ability as a runner was also evident right off the bat.

London said Montgomery has “pretty rare contact balance,” which gives him the chance to gain yards even when there’s a lot of traffic ahead of him on the field.

The story added London said Montgomery was focused on learning the offense and his role this spring, but that he can see the running back taking on a leadership role as time goes on. If the offseason praise turns into regular season results, that may happen sooner rather than later. In standard leagues, we have Montgomery ranked as the highest Bears back at 26th.

The ongoing saga of Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill could be coming to a close sooner rather than later.

Following the NFL’s eight-hour interview with Hill on Wednesday in Kansas City, sources tell Yahoo Sports the Chiefs are hopeful a ruling on the matter will come before the start of training camp, and if that comes to fruition, expect him to be in attendance for the start of camp on July 26 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

The story went on to say sources tell Yahoo there’s optimism from those with knowledge of the situation that the meeting with the NFL was considered a “positive” one for Hill. During the interview, Hill attempted to provide clarity and context to the defense he mounted in the four-page letter he sent the league in May. As we said back in early June, we currently project him to miss six games, but that's admittedly an educated guess.

Bengals HC Brian Callahan also didn't have a couple of key weapons available either as wide receiver A.J. Green didn't participate in any of the OTA sessions and only participated in position drills during minicamp as he returns from toe surgery and tight end Tyler Eifert watched all of it from the side as he recovers from surgery for a broken ankle.

Callahan said both are "trending in the right direction" heading toward training camp. Green is ranked 11th on our WR list while Eifert is just 30th. Obviously if, and it's a big if, Eifert can stay healthy he could outproduce his preseason ranking. In four games in 2018, Eifert averaged 3.8 catches for 45 yards and 0.25 touchdowns. In 14 games since 2016, Eifert has averaged 3.4 catches for 44 yards and 0.43 touchdowns.

Chris Carson, who is coming off of a 1,151-yard season, will be tough to unseat from the starting spot. Ideally the Seahawks will find ways to get Rashaad Penny plenty of carries along with Carson, and perhaps from game-to-game the split will vary. And it’s worth noting that when asked about Penny and Carson earlier in the offseason, Carroll used the term “one-two punch” and added, “and I don’t know who’s one and who’s two, it doesn’t matter to me.”

In other words, the Seahawks hope to get a lot out of both of those running backs, and Carroll doesn’t really care if there’s a clear-cut No. 1 back (sorry, fantasy football players).

Chris Carson never relinquished the lead-back role in 2018 and finished the season with 267 touches to Rashaad Penny's 94. Mike Davis, who's now in Chicago, was actually second in Seattle's offense with 146 balls on the year. The Seahawks are certainly still a run-first team so both of these guys are viable fantasy backs in 2019. We may end up with a give-it-to-the-hot-hand approach in Seattle's backfield, so draft both players accordingly. Carson is RB25 in 4for4's rankings with Penny sitting as RB46.

“That's a blessing," Yeldon said of sharing the running back room with McCoy and Gore. "Coming in my first couple years (with the Jaguars), I didn't have vets like that. Being here in this situation, I can learn a lot from those guys. It's a lot for me to take with me in my future years. It's going to be a heated competition. That's one thing they told me coming in. There's going to be competition regardless.”

The "heated competition" could beg the question of why Yeldon even chose to sign with the Bills in free agency. He likely could've had a larger role somewhere else. But the Bills have a secret weapon: Running backs coach Kelly Skipper, who previously held the same role in Jacksonville.

“That's one of the main reasons why I wanted to come here,” Yeldon said of Skipper. “We had a bond my first two years there. He taught me a lot, so coming here I felt like was the right decision.”

Buffalo's RB room is a crowded one indeed, with veterans LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon, along with rookie Devin Singletary now in the mix. Training camp will hopefully clear things up a bit, but Yeldon will need a solid preseason campaign to earn enough touches to be fantasy relevant.

Related Players: LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Devin Singletary

The San Francisco 49ers and Robbie Gould remain in a standoff regarding the kicker's future with the franchise.
It doesn't sound like Gould is ready to acquiesce quietly to the franchise tag and play out the season just yet.

"It's a complicated situation," Gould told NBC Chicago. "The way I've kind of approached it is, I want to spend time with my family. And I let my agent handle it, and if anything comes up that I have to make a decision or be in the know, he'll call me and let me know. But right now there's nothing to really know, and I'm just enjoying being home and being in Chicago.
"I'm at a point in my career where my family is what's going to dictate the decisions that I make."

With Chicago's kicking woes, it would seem they would love to have Robbie Gould back in a Bears uniform, but the 49ers have been unwilling to deal him. Gould and the 49ers have until July 15 to strike a long-term solution. For now, Gould sits as our sixth-ranked kicker, projected to put up 124 fantasy points in 2019.

[Russell] Wilson pointed to Metcalf's football knowledge when asked what about the rookie wide receiver has stood out most.

"Everybody knows about his ability to run and everything else, and jump and catch and all that," Wilson said. "You guys have been talking about that for months, but I think more than anything else, it's his brain and how he processes information and how quickly he understands it. He's really intelligent. He really understands the game really well. He takes coaching really well. He gets extra work. He's a legit pro wide receiver. He's everything that everybody was talking about in terms of what he's capable of and more."

Rookie WRs can be hit or miss for fantasy purposes, but it seems that DK Metcalf is adjusting well to the NFL so far. He's shown speed and swift movement for a player of his size and has impressed the Seahawks staff with his cognitive ability to this point. He could find himself in a battle with David Moore for the WR2 spot behind Tyler Lockett and is currently being drafted in the ninth round as WR47.

Multiple sources say that Sony Michel is progressing quickly since his most recent arthroscopic knee surgery and has been running full tilt. The 2nd year RB has also been spending considerable time at @TB12sports like so many before - and after - have/will.

The Patriots backfield is perpetually a tough one to navigate and this impending season is no different. However, if we look at 2018 Sony Michel led the Patriots RBs in total touches with 216, averaging over five carries a game more than teammate James White. And that was in just 13 games. New England also added rookie Damien Harris to the RB room which clouds things up a bit and could cut into Michel's workload this year. Michel's ADP is currently RB23, with White at RB25 and Harris being drafted as RB41.

Related Players: James White, Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead

Being traded to the Cleveland Browns from the Giants back in March has allowed Beckham to feel liberated from what he called “politics” that kept him from reaching his full potential on and off the field during his time with the team.

"I can’t wait to get going. I just felt with the Giants I was just stuck at a place that wasn’t working for me anymore. I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to reach my full potential there; mentally, physically, spiritually, everything I felt capable of doing, I just couldn’t see it happening there. "

Odell Beckham is in a great spot in Cleveland, catching passes from Baker Mayfield and reunited with fellow LSU Tiger Jarvis Landry. Work environment can certainly affect one's performance and the NFL is no different. OBJ should flourish in his new offense and his ADP reflects this potential in 2019. Depending on format, Beckham is being drafted in the late first to the second round as WR5.

Steelers RB Jaylen Samuels said he focused on speed this offseason, which he says will help "be more decisive in and out of my cuts as a pure runner." Did he get faster? "I believe I got faster," he said. "I can get in and out of my cuts a little bit better."

Pittsburgh has used a bell-cow approach to their backfield for years now, but there has been talk (from James Conner himself) of spreading the touches around in 2019. Jaylen Samuels filled in nicely for Conner at the end of last season and is the favorite to gain some of the work, particularly on passing downs. For now, Samuels is a great handcuff or late-round grab in best-ball leagues and is projected as RB48 in 4for4's rankings.

Trey Quinn could be in for a big year as the starting slot receiver and No. 1 punt returner. He’s got big cleats to fill as he attempts to replace free agent departure Jamison Crowder, but Quinn, the final selection of the 2018 draft, elicited high praise from both head coach Jay Gruden and wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard for a strong spring performance.

Trey Quinn suffered a high-ankle sprain last September and spent the majority of his rookie season on IR. He's looking like the guy to man the slot in Washington this season and has already received high praise from coach Jay Gruden, as he stated "I'm ready to watch Trey Quinn jump in that slot role and dominate the position. I'm excited for him."

Quinn is someone to watch in training camp and could be a valuable late-round flier, especially in PPR formats.

Titans beat writer Travis Haney: "I think Corey Davis is going to shine this season as a potential WR1. He pushed 1,000 yards last season even with tons of injuries all around him. He also had very little cover as the team’s primary target once Delanie Walker went down in the opener; teams could just focus on shutting him down."

With Delanie Walker back from injury and the addition of Adam Humphries and rookie A.J. Brown, things should open up for Corey Davis this season in Tennessee. However, despite having one of the largest target shares in the league, Davis ended as WR27 in 2018. If Marcus Mariota is indeed healthy he should sling the ball more in 2019, but until we see more from Davis, he is still projected to be WR31, with a mid-round price tag.

Ben Roethlisberger will spread things around more and he won’t force passes into double coverage as often. JuJu Smith-Schuster will be the prime target, but then he was last season as well. Tight end Vance McDonald may very well be the second-most productive receiver.

With Antonio Brown in Oakland, Ben Roethlisberger's field opens up a bit more, making way for new playmakers. Vance McDonald was already third in targets among Pittsburgh pass catchers last season with 72 and could see more volume in Brown's absence. His 4for4 ranking is currently as TE8 with a projected PPR point total of 151 on the season.

But the way it looks right now, Drake will be the main back in a multi-back offense (expect Kalen Ballage to be the No. 2 back) as opposed to a singular workhorse back.

Despite the surprising longevity of Frank Gore, and ending the 2018 season as RB29 in total touches and RB105 in touch rate (TCH/Snap), Kenyan Drake still managed to produce in the meager Dolphin offense. Thanks in part to his pass catching - 53 receptions on the year, Drake’s final numbers as RB14 in PPR points was four spots higher than his RB18 ADP. This year he should see an uptick in usage even with Ballage as the No. 2 back and is currently being undervalued in both best-ball and redraft formats. John Paulson has Drake ranked as RB13 in PPR leagues, and his ADP sits as RB24. Ballage's ADP is currently RB58.

Related Players: Kalen Ballage

Gerald Everett "looked fabulous during the offseason and in fantastic physical shape." may benefit from the Rams wanting "to diversify their offense a bit"

There has been plenty of hype around Gerald Everett's performance this offseason at OTAs and minicamp. He's shown a heightened physical prowess and heading into his third year, could see an uptick in work with the Rams in 2019. If he can continue to separate himself from Tyler Higbee, Everett could be a steal at his current 19th-round ADP.

"I wouldn't be shocked if [Devin Singletary] emerges as the most relevant running back for fantasy owners by the end of the season." "The Bills love him"

LeSean McCoy currently owns the starting gig in the Bills backfield, but he's tough to trust heading into the 2019 season. He barely cracked 500 rushing yards last year and being on the wrong side of 30 doesn't help. Drafted in the third round, Devin Singletary is actually similar to a younger McCoy is his elusive ability and could see significant playing time in Buffalo in 2019.

Flacco also loves his tight ends. Enter first-round rookie Noah Fant. The Broncos have needed more production out of their tight ends for years now and Fant has the size of a power forward and speed of a point guard. He could be another favored target of Flacco.

Rookie TEs aren't usually fantasy staples, but Noah Fant is one who could make an impact on rosters in 2019. He destroyed the combine as the top performer at his position in all but three categories, and he's in a great spot in Denver to succeed from the start. The Broncos receiving corps is led by a guy coming off a major injury in Emmanuel Sanders, plus several young and inexperienced WRs who are learning along with Fant. His ADP is somewhere in the 14th round, which could be solid value if he does indeed break out.

Assuming Miller is 100 percent by training camp (he has been held out of OTAs after offseason shoulder surgery), he should be a more reliable target than Taylor Gabriel, who has some boom-or-bust to him, especially if a defense has taken away the WR screen game. Miller has more upside and the Bears know he’ll have a much better grasp of the playbook this season.

Even if Miller doesn’t outsnap Gabriel consistently, it’s worth noting he averaged 2.5 yards more per catch last season (12.8 to 10.3).

As a rookie, Anthony Miller dealt with a shoulder injury for most of the season, but still caught seven touchdowns in 15 games. He had surgery in January and once cleared to return, should see plenty of volume in 2019, as he's shown better route running and more physicality than his fellow sophomore WR Taylor Gabriel. John Paulson has Miller ranked as WR57, 10 spots above Gabriel, and he was just drafted in the ninth round in a 4for4 analyst mock.

Everything about this offense lends itself to tailback Aaron Jones having a terrific season. The acceleration, anticipation and vision that Jones has shown to be his best traits are the perfect attributes for the wide-zone system LaFleur installed. That LaFleur’s offense also affords running backs plenty of opportunities in the passing game — a proclamation reinforced by plenty of receiving drills in practice — should only boost Jones’ productivity in 2019.

In his first two years in the league, Aaron Jones posted a combined 1,404 yards and 13 touchdowns, while missing four games per season. His receptions went from a mere nine in 2017 to 26 last season, gaining more looks in the passing game even as his sophomore season wore on. Jones put in the effort to revamp his diet in the hopes of maintaining durability for the 2019 season and should get the bulk of the backfield load in this new Matt LaFleur offense, which allows for plenty of work for RBs in the passing game.

John Paulson has Jones ranked as RB15 heading into the 2019 season with a third-round price tag.

Plenty of eyes were on Smith-Schuster, Moncrief, James Washington and Diontae Johnson, but the guy who could contribute significantly is Switzer from the slot. It’s between Switzer and Eli Rogers for the spot and I can tell you this: Switzer made a lot of plays during the spring, and it doesn’t hurt if the franchise quarterback has taken a liking to you.

Ryan Switzer was third in targets among Steelers' WRs with 44 last season, which he grabbed 36 of them for 253 yards and a touchdown. For now, drafters are staying away from both he and Eli Rogers in the slot, but if Switzer continues to shine he could be a secret weapon in best-ball leagues or creep his way into late-round flier territory.

He might turn out to be one of the best under-the-radar free-agent signings this year. Signing QB Nick Foles was obviously big, but the Jaguars added Conley three days later and he has been the best receiver during OTAs and minicamp. He has previously been teammates with Foles, who made a brief stop in Kansas City, and Foles is very comfortable with Conley. The Jaguars don't have a clear No. 1 receiver, but with Marqise Lee not expected to return from a knee injury until several weeks into training camp it could be Conley - Mike DiRocco

The Jaguars WR room is a crowded one but is also fairly undefined at this point. With a solid training camp and preseason, Chris Conley could see some fantasy-relevant volume. As it stands right now, Conley is going undrafted in all formats and could be worth a last-round grab in best-balls as the early preseason rolls on.

Related Players: Nick Foles, Marqise Lee, Dede Westbrook, D.J. Chark

Metcalf is already showing a veteran savvy with his ability to mix up his releases. For a guy listed at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, it’s been amazing to see him be so shifty at the snap.

“He has the quick feet of a smaller guy,” head coach Pete Carroll said, “but has this marvelous strength and ability to use his hands that guys die for because he’s so long. That combination makes him a really adept releaser.

He hasn’t been just a downfield threat, either. He caught a bullet from Wilson in the red zone on a slant pattern that would have gone for a touchdown and caught a similar ball from Paxton Lynch during the last team period of the day.

Rookie WRs can make some drafters weary, but it seems that DK Metcalf is adjusting nicely to the NFL so far. He's shown speed and swift movement for a player of his size and has impressed the Seahawks staff to this point. Metkalf still has a lot to learn but should find himself in a battle with David Moore for the WR2 spot behind Tyler Lockett. He's currently being drafted as WR48, coming off boards in the ninth round.

The Detroit Lions announced today that TE Michael Roberts reverted back to the team’s roster, per trade conditions.

Subsequently, the Lions announced that they have waived Roberts.

Well, that was short lived. Now a free agent, Michael Roberts has no current fantasy value.

Expectations are high for Jared Cook and the tight end did nothing to disappoint teammates, coaches or fans during the New Orleans Saints three-day minicamp this week. He looks primed for a big season.

During the three mini-camp practices I watched, no one caught more passes for explosive plays than the veteran free agent.

He routinely beat linebackers and safeties in coverage and showed a reliable set of hands. He used his height advantage to snare a pass over his head against tight coverage from 5-11 rookie safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and finished the play through contact. It was an impressive display of elite skill and athleticism, something the Saints haven’t had at the position since Jimmy Graham was traded in 2014.

Drew Brees has shown love for TEs in the past, as Jimmy Graham was TE2 in 2014 in PPR points and Ben Watson checked in as TE7 in 2015. Graham posted double-digit touchdowns in three of five seasons with the Saints and led the NFL in targets inside the 10-yard-line in 2013. There have been rumors of breaking out some old Graham plays for Jared Cook, who is the perfect guy to bring the strong TE back to the Saints. He averaged 12.1 PPR points per contest last year in an awful Raiders offense and managed to finish fifth among TEs in total PPR points.

Cook currently being drafted as TE8 in the sixth to seventh round and is an excellent choice for those not wanting to pay up for the top tier of TEs this season.

Each time Sam Darnold drops back, he has options on every level of the field. Darnold, who, like Alex Smith, doesn’t receive enough credit for his athleticism, runs his fair share of read options and has the choice of keeping it or not. This puts stress on the defense. The pace is significantly higher than under Chan Gailey, John Morton or Bates.

Also from Connor Hughes of The Athletic, "I came away incredibly impressed with both Darnold’s arm strength and accuracy. He threw three perfect bombs to Robby Anderson (once) and Quincy Enunwa (twice) at different times during the six media-open workouts."

This faster speed of play is good news for the entire Jets offense when it comes to fantasy ceilings, and most can currently be had for very cheap. Sam Darnold averaged 13.0 fantasy points last season over 13 games and should have no trouble besting that in his sophomore year in the league. He makes for a great value stack in best-ball leagues with WR Robby Anderson and TE Chris Herndon, or a late-round redraft QB that has solid potential to outperform his ADP.

Related Players: Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Chris Herndon

“I’m very confident. Just feeling more like myself,” Robinson said Thursday as the Bears wrapped up their veteran minicamp. “Being able to get a whole other offseason in this offense. Being able to get the reps in with Trubisky in March and stuff like that. Even some of the stuff we did in the red zone today. Me and Trubisky did that in March. Being able to get a lot of reps with him, to be able to see a lot of film on how we want our routes ran, I think that’s helped a lot.

Allen Robinson's first season back from a torn ACL injury ended with 55 receptions for 754 yards and four touchdowns. He peaked in the Bears WIld Card playoff loss, where he caught 10 balls for 143 yards and a score. With another offseason of recovery, Robinson expressed that "I feel light years ahead of any point in time last season".

The 25-year old worked closely with QB Mitchell Trubisky in California in March, working on building their chemistry for the upcoming season. We should see overall improvement from Chicago's offense in Matt Nagy's second year and Robinson is their clear WR1. His ADP is currently in the fifth round as WR27 and John Paulson has him ranked as WR22, projected to score 198 PPR points.

Danny Amendola caught everything thrown his way, and he always seemed to be open. The latter might be an indictment on those covering him to a degree, but he’s going to be a high-volume guy for Stafford.

Signing with Detroit this season, Danny Amendola is reunited with former New England staffers GM Bob Quinn and HC Matt Patricia. Amendola should see the middle of the field while Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones occupy the outside. Amendola's age is of mild concern but if Matthew Stafford's arm is on point, the 33-year-old could see WR3 numbers at a super cheap price tag. Amendola is currently being drafted as WR118, while John Paulson has him ranked as WR95.

DeSean Jackson makes the offense so much more dynamic.
Yes, it’s only the offseason program. Yes, there is only minimal contact. Yes, Carson Wentz can’t be hit.
Still, the connection and timing between Wentz and Jackson has been on point throughout the offseason program. Eagles coach Doug Pederson pointed out that Jackson spent the entire offseason in Philadelphia working with Wentz. Their chemistry could benefit the rest of the offensive playmakers, as opposing defenses will need to respect their connection.

DeSean Jackson adds quickness and a deep threat to Philly's offense this season. Not only will having Jackson on the field benefit Wentz but Zach Ertz, Nelson Agholor and Alshon Jeffery should all see more breathing room with safeties focusing more on Jackson. Jeffery currently owns the highest ADP of the Eagles' wideouts as WR30, followed by Jackson as WR47 and Agholor being selected as WR79. Jackson is projected to score 151 PPR points by our forecaster John Paulson, and as a ninth-rounder, presents solid value in 2019.

Related Players: Carson Wentz

If you had to pick an offensive MVP through two days of mandatory Carolina Panthers minicamp, you’d be hard-pressed not choosing Curtis Samuel.

The third-year receiver opened the week with a highlight reel touchdown on Tuesday, catching a pass between two defenders before dipping his shoulder and sprinting to the end zone.

On Wednesday, it was more of the same. Samuel saw reps on special teams — after Damiere Byrd’s offseason departure, the team is looking for its new return man. He also carried the ball, but again made his mark receiving. On one well-timed deep route, he raced past the secondary and into the end zone for a wide open touchdown. He also had a nice sideline grab, completely slowing his momentum to make the catch before turning upfield.

Samuel started getting regular work in Week 11. In his final seven games, he averaged 3.9 catches for 53 yards and 0.43 touchdowns, which equates to a 62-846-7 pace over a 16-game season. He basically matched the production of D.J. Moore in that span. We’re expecting low-end WR3 numbers from Samuel in 2019.

When the Green Bay Packers’ offense lined up for the first minicamp practice, Marquez Valdes-Scantling took his place on the field alongside Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams.

On the second day, Valdes-Scantling was there again.

Whether first-year coach Matt LaFleur sent out his base personnel or a three-receiver set, the man known around Lambeau Field as "MVS" was part of the package during this week’s practices.

If the mandatory minicamp revealed anything about the Packers’ new offense, it’s that the second-year pro is a starter. In fact, he probably is the No. 2 receiver behind Adams. with Geronimo Allison likely slated as the slot man in the three-wide look.

We were assuming Allison would serve as the No. 2 option until we heard differently. Well, now we're hearing differently. We've flipped MVS and Allison in the projections. He's looking like a nice value in the double-digit rounds, and recently went 9.01 in one of our 4for4 mock drafts.

James Conner is a workhorse. That’s what he is, what he does, what he is known for, what he is proud of and what he is good at.

But it might not be a part of his resume as early as Sept. 8, when the Steelers open the season in New England. And Conner’s OK with it especially if that leads to a healthy stretch run — something that alluded him in his Pro Bowl season last year.“The game has developed to the point where you have to use the skill set of your guys,” Faulkner said. “If you have guys who do something pretty well and you can use them to help your team and find ways to get them touches and balls, that’s what you have to do.”

That will mean finding opportunities for Jaylen Samuels, who is equally effective running and catching the ball, as well as fourth-round pick Benny Snell Jr.

Pittsburgh attempted the fewest rushes (21) per game of any NFL team last season. They averaged 22 more passes than runs per contest, and that was even when Conner was at full strength. It makes sense to utilize two strong backs, especially when health during the postseason is something potentially on the table. Conner should still see more carries than Samuels, but he'll likely lose some pass-down snaps in 2019.

Conner is currently being drafted as RB8, with Samuels and Snell leaving boards as RB43 and RB70 respectively.

The Detroit Lions are trading tight end Michael Roberts to the Patriots for a future, late-round draft pick.
Roberts' a fourth-round pick in 2017, flashed some potential at various points during his two-plus years here, but couldn't seem to maintain his momentum, often due to injuries. Lions added four TEs this offseason while overhauling the room. Overhaul complete.

Roberts caught just 13 balls for 146 yards and three touchdowns in his two seasons in Detroit and was sidelined for the end of 2018 due to a shoulder injury. He showed flashes of solid ability both years, but just never reached his NFL potential. With a good camp and preseason, Roberts could push Matt LaCosse for snaps during the suspension of Ben Watson.

He's a backup to Damien Williams at least for now but running back Carlos Hyde has stayed busy at Chiefs mini-camp. Hyde, who signed with the Chiefs as a free agent this year, has occasionally played in the lineup with Williams and frequently has been used as a receiver out of the backfield. "For a running back like me who likes to catch the ball . . . it would be like a dream come true," Hyde said.

Hyde was quoted as saying "I didn't know they used the running back so much in the passing game until I got here. It put a smile on my face." He's looking for a fresh start in Kansas City, but will most likely remain in a back-up role unless something were to happen to Damien Williams. The 28-year old is currently being drafted as RB48 but could see his ADP rise if he performs well at camps and the preseason.

We’re continuing to see plenty of Riley Ridley catches during the spring practices. He caught a touchdown Tuesday after Gabriel’s almost-score and seemed to be on the same page with Mitch Trubisky during the 11-on-11 work.

“So for Riley, he’s a really good route runner,” Nagy said. “His attention to detail is really high. And now I think the game is slowly starting to slow down for him and he has very natural hands so when the ball’s in the air he’s a 50-50 guy. He’ll get those footballs. But he’s playing really well.”

With Anthony Miller sidelined, Ridley appears to be getting more work, which could benefit his campaign to make Chicago's 53-man roster this season. His brother Calvin had a productive first year in Atlanta (64-821-10), and is being drafted as WR24 so far this season. If Ridley continues this trajectory, he could become fantasy relevant in an offense on the upward swing.

Pat Shurmur says Evan Engram had hurt his hamstring and is recovering from that. #Giants

The Giants are just being cautious with Engram's return, but it's of mild concern since he did miss time in 2018 due to hamstring issues. The 24-year old ended last season as TE13 in PPR points, despite missing five contests. If healthy, Engram could have a huge 2019, as he tends to perform better without Odell Beckham on the field. In Weeks 14-17 last season, he posted four straight games with over 75 receiving yards, all with OBJ sidelined.

John Paulson has Engram projected to post 180 PPR points as TE5 in 2019. The Giants' TE is currently being drafted as TE6 in both best-ball and redraft formats, leaving boards in the mid-fifth to mid-sixth rounds.

The Eagles’ second-round pick had 10 fumbles at Penn State, including five last season. Staley offered a detailed explanation of the four points of pressure for a ballcarrier to avoid fumbles.

“Some people say there’s three points, some people say it’s four. I believe it’s four,” Staley said. “And you have to understand when it comes to ball security, any time there’s air between you and the ball, there’s a problem.
“A lot of people talk about the elbow, pocket, the eagle claw and the ribs, that’s about it. But one of the things they don’t tell you about is locking the wrists. If you don’t lock the wrists, none of that matters.”

As a rookie, Sanders will need to demonstrate that he can hang onto the football and be up to NFL speed to carve out an impactful role in this Eagles offense. They signed former Bear Jordan Howard this offseason and most likely plan on using both RBs the way this Doug Pederson led offensive scheme has worked in the recent past - a backfield by committee.

Sanders is currently the 33rd RB being drafted in the late-sixth round, while Howard is leaving boards in the late-seventh to early eighth round as RB38.

#Eagles TE coach Justin Peelle said Dallas Goedert’s development has been “phenomenal.” Admitted that it could allow Zach Ertz to move around more.

Despite sitting behind Zach Ertz on the TE depth chart, Goedert managed to finish as TE20 in PPR points last season, which is impressive for a rookie in the NFL. He was fifth in Philadelphia's offense in targets in 2018, just two balls behind WR Golden Tate. While the rookie may not be set up for a TE1 season as long as Ertz is healthy, Goedert makes for a great later-round grab in best-ball leagues and could prove to be a solid streamer if his positive development continues throughout the preseason.

49ers’ kicker Robbie Gould still has not signed his franchise tag, thus he will not be at minicamp.

For now, Gould is 4for4's eighth-ranked kicker heading into the season.

As he has throughout organized team activities, or OTAs, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watched Thursday’s workout from the sideline. And that likely will be his vantage point when mandatory mini-camp begins next Tuesday.

But coach Andy Reid said Thursday that should be the extent of Kelce’s absence.

“I don’t think (he’ll participate) next week,” Reid said. “I think you’ll probably see him in training camp.”

Three months removed from ankle surgery, this is just par for the course in Kelce's recovery. The Chiefs' TE is coming off of a career season, where he hauled in 103 balls for 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 29-year old led all TEs in PPR points with a total of 294.6, averaging an impressive 18.4 per contest.

Kelce will return for training camp in late-July and should be full strength by then. If you want a piece of him this season you'll have to pay, as Kelce's ADP is TE1, leaving boards in the first to second round in both best-ball and redraft formats.

The Jets have agreed to terms with RB Bilal Powell, the team announced. #Jets

Powell suffered a neck injury that sidelined him for the second half of last season and proved healthy after a workout with his former team. It's an interesting signing, as New York shelled out some big money for Le'Veon Bell this offseason, and also have Elijah McGuire, Ty Montgomery and Trent Cannon in their RB room. Powell is just one season removed from back-to-back 700+ rushing yard outputs and with a solid camp could emerge as a change-of-pace back in this offense.

Powell is worth a late-round flier in best-ball contests and could be a viable streaming option once the season gets rolling.

Tyreek Hill's indefinite suspension with the Chiefs could soon be coming to an end.

According to NFL.com, Hill is likely going to return to the team in time for training camp, but that's only if there are no further developments in his case.

Johnson County district attorney Steve Howe, the DA in charge of the Hill case, told the Kansas City Star on Friday that the investigation into Hill isn't currently active and that it won't be reopened unless some new evidence comes to light.

Although Hill's currently off the hook from a legal standpoint, this doesn't necessarily mean that he's in the clear just yet. If the Chiefs do reinstate their star receiver and allow him to attend training camp, he'll still have at least two issues hanging over his head.

For one, Child Protection Services (the Kansas Department for Children and Families) is still investigating the case to make sure that Hill's 3-year-old son is safe. Not helping Hill's case is the fact that the DA believes that a crime occurred. According to Howe, the reason there weren't any charges filed is because authorities simply don't know who committed the crime: Hill or his fiancee, Crystal Espinal.

Also, Hill could still face punishment from the NFL. The league has been investigating the case for nearly two months and that investigation is ongoing. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was actually asked about the situation at the NFL spring meeting in May, and according to him, the league is going to move forward with its investigation as soon as they get the OK from Child Protection Services.

We have put Hill back into the projections, though a suspension is still possible and/or he could miss games after being put on the Commissioner's Exempt list pending the completion of the CPS investigation. We currently project him to miss six games, but that's admittedly an educated guess. From a fantasy perspective, his availability boosts the efficiency outlook of Patrick Mahomes, while receivers Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman moved down in the rankings. Mahomes averaged 10.80 yards per attempt when targeting HIll, and 8.54 yards per attempt to all other receivers.

Since his arrival with the Chiefs, Mecole Hardman has learned his role could be just about anything in Reid’s expansive and complex playbook. Hardman, who showed elite speed in running his 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in an impressive 4.33 seconds, could be asked to replace star receiver Tyreek Hill.

Whether Hill returns to the team or not, Hardman could be the Chiefs’ primary slot receiver. Hardman could also be the team’s primary punt returner. He could also be the central character on any trick play Reid favors.

Rookie WRs tend to be hit or miss for fantasy purposes, but if Tyreek Hill misses significant time, Hardman could find himself an integral player in one of the most potent offenses in the NFL along with teammate Sammy Watkins. Seeing his HC push him this hard during OTAs shows faith in the former UGA product, which bodes well for his potential work in 2019.

Hardman's ADP is currently WR34 in redraft leagues and WR53 in best-balls, leaving boards in the eighth and 10th rounds respectively. John Paulson projects 143PPR points for the rookie this season as WR51.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a go-to guy (like Davante) who’s that dynamic and trying to find ways to get him the ball, but I think obviously we need complementary pieces in place,” Rodgers said. “I think [Marquez Valdes-Scantling] has had a fantastic spring and really stepped up as a guy who can be an every-down player.”

Related players: Geronimo Allison

Heading into 2019, it was Geronimo Allison who was believed to be the Packer's WR2 after an impressive 2018 campaign where he was on pace for a 76-catch, 1156-yard, eight-touchdown output before being sidelined with a groin/core muscle injury. It will be interesting to see how the rest of camp plays out for this talented WR corps as different guys begin to fight for their place on the depth chart.

Valdes-Scantling is currently being drafted as WR61, leaving boards in the 14th round in redraft leagues and WR63 with a 13th-round ADP in best-ball formats. Allison's ADP is six rounds earlier in redraft as WR37 and three rounds sooner in best-ball leagues as the 52nd WR being selected. Both wideouts present solid value and could see their draft spots climb as training camp rolls on.

Lions are giving former Jets’ WR Jermaine Kearse a one-year $1.35 million deal with a max value of $2.3 million, including $350k guaranteed, per source.

Kearse is coming off a down year with the Jets, posting just 371 receiving yards on 37 catches. He is familiar with his new OC in Detroit, as he spent 2012-2016 with Darrell Bevell with the Seahawks. Kearse could see some legit work with the Lions, as their WR depth chart dips significantly after Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola.

Fourth-year wide receiver Chester Rogers was, arguably, the best player on the field during Tuesday’s practice open to reporters.

Whether it was his diving sideline catch or his leaping, fingertip grab later in the workout, Rogers’ presence was felt throughout. Rogers, per usual, showed his ability in space, where he is often at his best because of his ability to make defenders miss. With veteran T.Y. Hilton and rookie Parris Campbell sidelined, Rogers got extensive work with the first-team offense and quarterback Jacoby Brissett. He took full advantage.

Indy's WR room is certainly a crowded one with T.Y. Hilton, Deon Cain's impending return from injury and the additions of Devin Funchess and Parris Campbell this offseason. Rogers has shown flashes of production in his three-year tenure with the Colts but averaged just 7.1 PPR points per contest last season. He needs to show more consistency to be fantasy relevant, but Indy's offense has the ability to support a deep receiving corps.

McCardell on Marqise Lee coming back from ACL injury: “He’s probably a couple weeks into training camp before he’ll be back.”

McCardell calls Marqise Lee the “alpha dog” in his WRs room.

Coming off an ACL injury he sustained late in last year's preseason, Lee should be good to go by Week 1. He'll be joined by Dede Westbrook. D.J. Chark and a plethora of others in Jacksonville's WR room. Lee's currently ranked as WR38 with a projected 166 PPR points on the season, and presents great value in the later rounds of both best-ball and redraft leagues.