We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most to you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all the recent happenings around the league.
Marcus Mariota played very well in the upset over the Eagles. Dynasty players are encouraged to keep an eye on the situations, but the young quarterback looks to be out of the woods from his elbow injury.
Now is the time to trade for Joe Mixon. He was back on the practice field this past week after getting his knee scoped a couple of weeks ago. Mixon has resumed running and cutting. He is expecting to be cleared for contact this week and to play against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5.
Of the Packer running backs, Aaron Jones has the best chance to emerge from the committee to become a weekly fantasy starter. Last Thursday, beat reporter Ryan Wood tweeted, “Philbin first impression on #Packers RB Aaron Jones: ‘He's definitely got some explosiveness, some twitch, and some playmaking ability. There were a couple runs where he definitely made some things happen on his own.’" This quote by the coach only solidifies our belief that Jones is a player to buy before he has a monster game. He was the third of the Green Bay tailbacks to enter the game against Buffalo, but we see him being valuable down the stretch this season.
The legend of Rex Burkhead will need to wait another year. He was placed on injured reserve last week with a neck injury. This leaves James White the favorite on passing downs and rookie Sony Michel picking up early-down work. Both had big games against the Dolphins Sunday.
He was off the radar except in the deepest of leagues, but beat reporter Jordan Raanan tweeted late last week, “RB Jonathan Stewart is being placed on injured reserve, per sources. This is likely the corresponding move.” Stewart is droppable at this point. Wayne Gallman will see more time behind Saquon Barkley.
T.Y. Hilton was in and out of the lineup Sunday against the Texans. He missed time early in the contest with a chest injury. After returning to the field, Hilton injured his hamstring and was not able to re-take the field. Coach Frank Reich told reporters after the game that Hilton was unlikely to play on Thursday night given the short week. Indianapolis travels to New England for the game. Andrew Luck will miss Hilton’s big-play ability. A player to monitor is Chester Rogers who was a trusted target for Luck after Hilton exited. Against the Texans, Rogers hauled in 8 passes for 85 yards plus a two-point conversion reception. There are few other options for the Colts quarterback in a game that could be high scoring.
After seeing his targets diminish, receiver Rishard Matthews asked for his release from the Tennessee Titans. The release came after Matthews left the team for an extended period of time. The situation came after the Titans extended his contract a few months before and the receiver had failed to distinguish himself from Taywan Taylor. The Tennessee passing game played surprisingly well Sunday with Matthews gone and Delanie Walker on injured reserve. The superb performance by Corey Davis helped the Titans offense not miss a beat versus Philadelphia.
This has not been a good year for tight end injuries. This week, Tyler Eifert broke a bone in his ankle in the victory over the Falcons. It was an UGLY injury for those who have viewed the video. He will soon be placed on injured reserve. Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah will split targets going forward. The improvement of the Cincinnati passing game could lead to both players becoming spot-starters for fantasy players.
Last week, Ian Rapoport reported that Giants tight end Evan Engram was expected to miss 2-4 weeks MCL sprain. This was more of a confirmation than news but still good to hear. Rhett Ellison makes a solid sleeper until the athletic Engram returns.
Greg Olsen was asked last week about his recovery from the foot injury that has sidelined him for several weeks. Let’s remember that this is a re-injury of the foot ailment that ended Olsen’s 2017 season. Olsen said, "Last year at two weeks I was laying in my bed in a cast. I couldn't do anything … What that time frame is, we're optimistic. Hopefully, it's sooner rather than later." With his team on a bye this week, hopes are growing for a return before midseason.
Broncos tight end Jake Butt suffered an ACL injury during last Thursday’s practice. Still just 23 years of age, Butt has endured his share of knee injuries. This is the third known ACL tear of Butt’s football career. This one is to his left knee after the first two were to his right knee. Superb beat reporter, Mike Klis, had a string of great tweets on the topic. Klis tweeted, “Jake Butt was going through walkthrough-speed coverage on kickoff assignment when he suffered injury, according to a source close to Butt. Similar to how TE Jeff Heuerman tore his ACL during his rookie minicamp in 2015. #9sports” … Vance Joseph on Jake Butt's ACL injury: ‘Jake has worked his tail off to recover from his previous injuries, and we feel terrible for him. He’s a great kid who’s developed into a very good football player. We have no doubt Jake will come back stronger than ever’ #9sports … Yes, Jake Butt will be back playing football. ‘It’s my other knee,’ he said …. The grind of ‘rehab isn’t so bad. It’s not being out there when you want to that makes it tough.’ #9sports.” We strongly recommend dynasty owners run – not walk – to the waiver wire and scoop up Troy Fumagalli, who is sidelined himself with a sports hernia injury. Of the tight ends currently on the Denver roster, Fumagalli has the best chance to be a fantasy factor next year. He flashed in training camp.
The top rookie tight end this season had been Will Dissly. Sadly, the Seahawk tight end tore his patella tendon in the victory over the Cardinals on Sunday. Nick Vannett will take over the duties for the remainder of the season.
Feel free to (email me) with feedback. Also, I am on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/JeffTefertiller), LinkedIn, and Google+, so you can ask me questions on one of these as well.
