Julio Jones expected to contribute from day 1

Apr 29, 2011

The Falcons' stunning trade with Cleveland, in which they gave up a first-round pick -- among a lot of others -- to get from No. 27 to No. 6 overall in order to draft wide receiver Julio Jones, was an ambitious move that, more than anything, shows the Falcons are going for broke in 2011.

"Our expectation with this move is we believe Julio can come on to the football team and contribute from Day 1," Dimitroff told me Thursday night. "There are going to be growing pains like any rookie wide receiver. He's a true junior who is an incredibly competitive guy with a very hard-to-find skill set. He has a frame at 6-2, 220 and speed that's sub-4.4 (in the 40-yard dash).

"What he adds to our receiver group is an element of play-making explosiveness."

Fantasy Impact:

today

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans practices for second straight day

Greg Auman

0 minutes ago

Cooler weather for Bucs practice today -- Wirfs and Evans practicing again. Still no Zyon McCollum, but Troy Hill and Greg Gaines were practicing today.

Related Players: Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer

Fantasy Impact:

Fantastic news for fantasy managers hanging on to Mike Evans: he should be considered a WR1 option immediately.

yesterday

49ers TE George Kittle "good to go" for Week 12

KNBR

yesterday · 5:34 PM EST

“I will be playing on Sunday. Very excited, can’t pass up playing the Packers. I will be out there for sure.”

George Kittle says he’s good to go for Sunday

Related Players: Eric Saubert

Fantasy Impact:

Kittle returns to a great matchup against a Packers defense that ranks 26th in TE aFPA. He should be fired up as a high-end TE1 once again.

Bears RB D'Andre Swift misses Wednesday practice

Kevin Fishbain

yesterday · 1:29 PM EST

Per Bears head coach Matt Eberflus: Ryan Bates remains in the concussion protocol. Elijah Hicks (ankle) and D'Andre Swift (groin) won't practice.

Teven Jenkins will be limited.

Related Players: Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer

Fantasy Impact:

This is definitely a situation to keep an eye on, as Johnson would have a huge workload if Swift were to miss Week 12. Homer has three rush attempts and zero targets on the year.