Whisenhunt: Delanie Walker 'similar' to Antonio Gates

Jan 23, 2014

The official announcement of Mike Mularkey’s hiring as tight ends coach on Wednesday meant the Titans now have three coaches with plenty of experience coaching the position. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive coordinator Jason Michael are former tight ends coaches.

The three have a combined 14 years of coaching tight ends, with Whisenhunt and Mularkey adding a combined 17 years of NFL playing experience at the position.

Whisenhunt and his staff will be working extensively with tight end Delanie Walker, who produced 60 catches for 571 yards and six touchdowns in his first season with the Titans.

Whisenhunt even compared Walker to All-Pro Antonio Gates, whom Whisenhunt coached as Chargers offensive coordinator this season.

“I had a lot of respect for him there, so needless to say I’m excited that he’s on this team and I’ll have a chance to work with him,” Whisenhunt said. “Working with Antonio Gates got me excited about the position, and I think there’s a lot of elements to what Delanie does that are similar in that capacity.”

Fantasy Impact:

The comparison seems like a stretch, but Walker did finish as the #12 TE in 2013 and had a run from Week 10 to Week 15 where he was the #6 TE. Walker won't be posting Gates-in-his-prime numbers in 2014, but it's good to hear that his HC values his play. He'll be a sleeper heading into this summer's fantasy drafts.

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Bears RB D'Andre Swift, WR Keenan Allen both Questionable for Week 12

Scott Bair

33 minutes ago

D'Andre Swift is questionable to play Vikings with a groin injury, though he was limited Thursday and a full participant on Friday.

Keenan Allen is questionable with an ankle injury. He was limited on Friday, his first day on the participation report.

Related Players: Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze

Fantasy Impact:

Separate reports called Swift "very likely" to play, but this is seemingly a new issue for Allen.

If Keenan were to miss Week 12, it would boost the floor of all pass-catchers, namely Moore, Oduzne, and Cole Kmet. Moore + Odunze would sneak closer to WR2 territory than their low-end WR3 designations they have with a healthy Allen.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco officially Out for Week 12

Matt McMullen

42 minutes ago

Charles Omenihu (knee) and Isiah Pacheco (ankle) won’t play on Sunday, per Coach Reid.

“Just taking it day-by-day,” Reid added.

Related Players: Samaje Perine

Fantasy Impact:

It was later reported that Pacheco was "healthy enough" but they're hoping to hold him back one more game with a short week coming up. This makes Hunt a volume-based RB2 in Week 12.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb returns to Friday practice

Joseph Hoyt

1 hour ago

CeeDee Lamb practiced today, per Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. That’s a good sign.

Lamb (back/foot) was limited in a walkthrough on Wednesday and missed practice on Thursday.

Related Players: Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy

Fantasy Impact:

Obviously good news for the Cowboys' potential in rolling out an NFL offense in Week 12. The floor is capped for Lamb but we should expect a ton of action funneling his way against the Commanders, which puts him on the WR1/2 fringe.