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 are not meant to be an exhaustive look at all the recent happenings around the league.
While carrying his team to a big victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8, New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston was lost for the season with a knee injury. Winston departs with the Saints 6-2 and in a prime playoff position. For those dynasty managers thinking Winston will have a shot to lead the Saints in 2022, long-time beat reporter Larry Holder said last week that he "doubts" Winston will be next year’s starter. New Orleans will likely seek a long-term solution at the position. Holder mentioned a trade for Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson as possibilities. Quarterbacks want to play for coach Sean Payton. As for Winston, he signed a one-year deal last March and did not play well enough to warrant a hot free-agent market in 2022.
Monday morning, Ian Rapoport tweeted, “#AZCardinals RB Chase Edmonds is feared to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, source said, bringing a stint on short-term IR into play if today’s MRI confirms. He hurt his ankle on the 1st play, and high-ankle is worst-case. Generally, these injuries knock players out 4-6 weeks.” Edmonds left the game in the first quarter and did not return, James Conner dominated touches as Arizona trounced San Francisco. For those seeking an upside back, Eno Benjamin looked spry on his nine carries in the victory.
The distraction of Odell Beckham is now over for the Cleveland Browns. After multiple trade requests, according to beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot, the team finally waived Beckham, but after his contract was restructured. The mercurial receiver has been high maintenance when healthy. Saturday, Ian Rapoport tweeted out several nuggets on the situation, “The #Browns and WR Odell Beckham signed their settlement to finalize his release & send him to waivers on Monday, sources say. The agreement grants Beckham the release he wanted while allowing CLE cash & cap savings if he goes unclaimed. A mutual ending to his tenure in Cleveland … Details: The agreement reached between Odell Beckham and the #Browns takes the remaining two years off the deal, and he’ll be waived Monday. If he’s claimed, the acquiring team would owe him $7.25M. That’s his amount through waivers. But, it’s complicated … Important detail: If Odell Beckham passes through waivers, a settlement will kick in which means the #Browns would only be on the hook for $4.25M (— $3M savings). He will then become a free agent and be able to sign with any team … Finally: Odell Beckham agrees not to seek termination pay. He gets his wish to be released after the #Browns could not trade him and the team gets cap and cash relief for a player who wanted out. Beckham likely gets to choose his next destination beginning Tuesday.” We are interested to see which teams are interested in Beckham. He was not painted as a great locker room guy in either New York or Cleveland. Not many teams have the internal capacity to help Beckham focus and be successful. There is no doubting his talent. It has never been the issue. As for the Browns, we are expecting Donovan Peoples-Jones to have an opportunity. Plus, expect a continued high rate of two- and three-tight-end sets for the Browns.
News broke Wednesday morning that Saints receiver Michael Thomas will not be returning this season. The news broke less than 16 hours after the trade deadline. Thomas has voiced unhappiness with the team and the team was less than thrilled that Thomas waited until June to have ankle surgery. Now, two years removed from the awesome 2019 season, Thomas will have much to prove in 2022. Still just 28 years of age, a healthy Thomas should be primed for a big season with a new quarterback.
The sad details of the Henry Ruggs fiery wreck last Tuesday morning. The collision killed a woman and her dog in the car Ruggs collided with and his passenger was severely injured. As expected, the former first-round pick was charged with multiple felonies. Later in the week, Adam Schefter tweeted, “Chief Deputy District Attorney Eric Bauman said in court today that former Raiders' WR Henry Ruggs was traveling at 156 MPH before the car crash that left a 23-year-old woman dead, and Ruggs' blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.” The Las Vegas Raiders waived Ruggs. It is a sad ending to a promising career.
Friday afternoon, Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Source: The #Dolphins are placing WR DeVante Parker on Injured Reserve after suffering a setback with his hamstring in practice. He’s now out three games minimum.” The Dolphins have been in a tailspin this season and Parker’s injury only adds to the mayhem. Expect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to lean on Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki even more.
Later Friday Adam Schefter was the first to report that the Detroit Lions waived receiver Tyrell Williams from Reserve/Injured with an Injury Settlement. Williams was expected to make a large impact for the Lions offense but it did not materialize. He now will get a chance to contribute for a new team down the stretch after recovering from injury.
After asking – and getting – his release from the Los Angeles Rams, the Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Even at 34-years-old, Jackson still possesses blazing speed and should help fill the void left by Ruggs. We expect Jackson, Hunter Renfrow, and Zay Jones to see the most wide-receiver targets going forward, not Bryan Edwards. Quarterback Derek Carr likes to target after-the-catch receivers and Edwards is not that type of player. After the loss to the New York Giants Sunday, the Raiders are at a crossroads of the season. The division is winnable if they can get hot down the stretch, but bottom-of-the-division is also a possibility.
The Chicago Bears released veteran receiver Breshad Perriman this week. He was never able to make a dent in the lineup after signing with the Bears right before the season. He was with the Lions in the preseason and the New York Jets in 2020. Considering he has been dumped by two bottom-of-the-barrel NFC North offenses just this season, we wonder how much (or little) the veteran has left in the tank.
For those dynasty teams needing a boost at the tight end position, Washington Football Team’s Logan Thomas is expected back after the team’s Week-9 bye. Ricky Seals-Jones has played well in his stead. Getting Ryan Fitzpatrick back in the near future would boost the entire offense.
Many dynasty players expected Dallas Cowboys' tight end Blake Jarwin to regain his pre-injury starting role once healthy. It never transpired as Dalton Schultz has continued his strong play from 2020. Making it worse from a fantasy perspective is Jarwin’s nagging hip injury. He was finally placed on injured reserve over the weekend. He hopes to return later in the season, but hip injuries are difficult rehab. In very deep leagues, Sean McKeon makes a great stash. As a young player, he has flashed in the preseason and could be a viable fantasy option should Schultz go down with an injury.
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