Patriots QB Tom Brady suspended for four games

May 11, 2015

The NFL took deflate-gate very seriously, hammering the New England Patriots with unheard of punishment in the matter of deflated footballs.

The league announced Monday that quarterback Tom Brady was suspended four games, the team was fined $1 million and will lose its 2016 first-round draft pick and a fourth-round pick in 2017.

Fantasy Impact:

If Brady doesn't win his (probable) appeal, his fantasy value will take a huge hit. The Patriots have a Week 4 bye, so he wouldn't be available to owners until Week 6. Jimmy Garoppolo will likely get the start in his place. One potential strategy would be to stream the position until his return, but it depends on how far his ADP falls. With a four game suspension, he won't be ranked in the top 25 in our initial projections. This will be a case of where his season-long ranking won't jibe with what he'll produce on a per game basis upon his return. The loss of Brady for four games will negatively impact the entire New England offense, though they have survived before without him (in 2008 with Matt Cassel). Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell all take a small hit.

Apr 02

49ers GM John Lynch expects WR Brandon Aiyuk to remain with team in 2025

Mike Garafolo

Apr 02 · 11:18 AM EDT

At the league meeting this week, 49ers GM John Lynch said he expected WR Brandon Aiyuk to stick in 2025. His 2026 option-bonus guarantee triggered yesterday. He’s owed $24.875m this year, $27m in ’26. The $76m that was effectively guaranteed at signing is now fully guaranteed.

Fantasy Impact:

This is likely the best case sceanrio for the 49ers and Brock Purdy's fantasy aspirations, but it's hard to say if it's a positive for Aiyuk. That would have all depended on his eventual landing spot, but it seems like we'll have to wait at least one more year for that shoe to drop. Consider the vet somewhere in the back-end WR3 range for now, with Jennings a tier or two above that.

Mar 31

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert will be a "player to watch" for a Draft Day trade

Mike Garafolo

Mar 31 · 3:37 PM EDT

Dallas Goedert entering the last year of his deal with the Eagles. This has felt like it could go either way. Not a player they’re looking to dump but a possible tough decision on financials and what a trade might net. One of the players to watch as we get closer to the draft.

Related Players: Grant Calcaterra, Harrison Bryant, Kylen Granson

Fantasy Impact:

The Eagles went out to grab Bryant and Granson to add to what is now a pretty crowded tight end room, presumably in preparation for a possible Goedert trade. Though Goedert's fantasy value could possibly take a hit, it's worth pointing out that he hasn't caught more than four touchdowns since the 2019 season, and he could very easily go to a team with a higher pass rate than Philadelphia. It could end up being a net-neutral spot for the 30-year-old vet.

Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk recovering from offseason shoulder surgery

Mike Reiss

Mar 31 · 3:32 PM EDT

Wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, a 2024 second-round pick out of Washington who had a rocky rookie season (12 catches, 87 yards, 2 TDs), is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Vrabel said he has been excited about how Polk has approached his rehabilitation, working on his lower-body strength.

Related Players: Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins

Fantasy Impact:

There's no timetable for recovery here, but Polk certainly didn't need any setbacks after catching only 38.7% of his 31 targets as a 2024 rookie. He should be considered more of a Dynasty hold than a redraft option, particularly with the Patriots tied to a number of options in the '25 Draft class.