Welcome to the weekly Fantasy Notebook, the must-stop spot for keeping your finger on the pulse of Fantasy Nation. NFL news and developments drive fantasy values. The Notebook is here to keep you in the loop on all of it throughout the season.
Not For Long
As Jerry Glanville, a flamboyant head coach for the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons in the 80s and 90s, used a now-famous line to berate an official: "This is the NFL, which stands for 'Not For Long' when you make them calls," adding an expletive before the final word.
Glanville's barb was meant to slight an individual, but it might be as apt a description of the league as you'll find.
What happened last year isn't what's going to happen this year.
Different personnel, coaches, front offenses, and schedules are just the starting point.
While the year-to-year change is manageable, it's the week-to-week, day-to-day, and even minute-by-minute developments that can spoil the best-laid plans of fantasy investors.
But Glanville was right. Constant change is part and parcel of the league our hobby is based on, and the better we deal with it, the better outcomes we get . . .
Keeping Up Is Your Edge
Of course, helping you stay a step ahead of the competition so you can leverage change to your advantage is a prime objective at Footballguys.
To that end, the Footballguys 2025 Player Projections and Preseason Draft Rankings are updated and adjusted to reflect developments in real time. Articles are written daily to add context.
We know what you need. And we're here for it, even though we know more change is coming . . .
Welcome To The Evolution
While the change is incremental through July, it ramps up in August, when even minor shifts in expected outcomes can have massive implications. Things we thought were certainties heading into camp are suddenly less than that -- or worse -- as we close in on September, the start of the regular season and the games that matter most to us.
The Footballguys 2025 NFL Preseason Reports are a great way to stay on top of the week-to-week changes through August. In particular, there's no better way to get up to speed on what's happened any given week than the Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
In addition, I've started up the Footballguys Daily Update podcast. Along with my SiriusXM Radio cohost Mike Dempsey, we deliver a 10-minute dose of the NFL news and fantasy analysis you need every weekday morning. You'll find it here at the site, and you can subscribe on your podcast platform of choice . . .
Now, with the preliminaries out of the way, let's dig a little deeper into some situations of interest as we head into our drafts this week while realizing what's true today might be "Not for long" . . .
Who's In Command Of Washington's Backfield?
The Commanders went from reportedly shopping running back Brian Robinson Jr. on Monday, to dealing him to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.
A move seemed like a foregone conclusion when Robinson didn't play in Monday night's preseason game against the Bengals. After the game, Commanders coach Dan Quinn said that both he and GM Adam Peters spoke to Robinson on Sunday afternoon, and he said there were "a lot of moving parts" to the situation.
If you're active on social media -- or if you read last week's Fantasy Notebook, this development comes as no surprise -- the question is how we adjust our strategies in light of this news.
While it's important to react, it might be more important to resist over-reacting . . .
Assessing The Aftermath
I first noted the rise of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, or Bill as he prefers to be called, in the July 26 edition of the Fantasy Notebook before following up last week.
This past Tuesday, I talked to Ben Standig, the Commanders beat writer who got the "Robinson is likely on his way out" ball rolling last week.
Standig believes Croskey-Merritt, a rookie seventh-round pick, is the most likely candidate to serve as the lead back. But that's still to be determined. Even if that's how it turns out, Standig told me he expected Chris Rodriguez Jr. to have a role -- perhaps at the goal line and in short-yardage situations.
Quinn confirmed that when asked about it by Standig on Thursday.
For my fantasy football people: I asked Dan Quinn if Chris Rodriguez Jr. replaces Brian Robinson Jr as the short yardage/GL option.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 21, 2025
Will discuss more: https://t.co/qhdXuvQDUi pic.twitter.com/y3NaxfemtO
It's worth noting both backs managed long runs against the Bengals' starting defense Monday night -- Rodriguez gained 40 yards on one run; Croskey-Merritt scored from 27 yards out to cap the second series. They combined for 17 carries and 108 yards.
The Commanders also have veteran third-down back Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. Standig expects Ekeler's role to be mostly unchanged from last year . . .
Reading Too Much Into Robinson's Departure?
Since Robinson's apparently sudden fall from grace came in concert with glowing daily camp reports highlighting Croskey Merritt, we were quick to connect the dots between them.
However, when I specifically asked if the move away from Robinson meant big things for Croskey-Merritt, Standig reminded me that he had been talking about Robinson being a poor fit for this offense since before the draft.
Standig added that money was a factor. To that point, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Washington agreed to take on some of the $3.4 million owed to the former third-round pick in 2025, the final year of Robinson's rookie deal, to facilitate the deal . . .
Sorting Out The Remaining Values
As things stand now, fantasy managers should be willing to tap into Croskey-Merritt, whose strong summer makes him a potential difference-maker.
The best part, however, is Croskey-Merritt's average draft position (ADP) has not caught up with the news.
He's still going in the 13th round as RB50. Feel free to jump ahead of that as I expect Croskey-Merritt's price to rise quickly to something closer to Robinson's RB31 spot before the season starts.
Meanwhile, I'm all for getting Ekeler, who scored double-digit points in eight out of the 12 games he appeared in last season, as RB43 in Round 12.
And Rodriguez, currently going as RB70 with the 279th pick overall, is a reasonable free-square play given the likelihood of a goal-line role and the possibility of an even more robust workload . . .
The Flip Side
In adding Robinson, the 49ers add much-needed depth at a position that has been hit hard by injury.
San Francisco has been without rookie Jordan James for most of camp, placed Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, and just got backup Isaac Guerendo back from a shoulder injury of his own.
Starter Christian McCaffrey has made it through camp without issue, but Robinson should provide a power element the Niners' backfield otherwise lacks.
Looking for positives here, Robinson's contingent upside is great, even if the eighth-round (or higher) sunk cost isn't ideal. Conversely, Guerendo has been going as RB52 in Round 13, and he remains firmly in the mix behind McCaffrey . . .
Passing Game Intrigue In Los Angeles
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford practiced for the first time during training camp this past Monday, with the team noting that he was a full participant in an hour-long practice.
In recent weeks, that work has come with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as the triggerman, as Stafford has rested an aggravated disc in his back.
Head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Stafford looked good in his return. "It was good to be able to have Matthew out there. He did a good job," McVay said.
Stafford was back on the field Tuesday, indicating he didn't have a setback or aggravation in Monday's practice.
Better still, Stafford didn't just go through individual drills with the other quarterbacks on Tuesday. USA Today's Cameron DaSilva notes the QB was participating in the team portion of practice, too.
The Rams are still being cautious, but as long as Stafford continues to progress, DaSilva contends that the QB should reasonably be ready for Week 1 . . .
That's Ideal For Us
While Stafford, currently being drafted as QB25 in Round 15, isn't going to be a fantasy starter, his top receiving assets will be. And, as noted in our Week 3 Preseason Insights, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams have looked fantastic in camp over the last month.
Adams is coming off his sixth career season over 1,000 yards, surpassing the mark in 2024 despite an in-season trade from the Raiders to the Jets.
He's averaged 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns per 17-game season (he entered the league before it bumped to 17 from 16) and twice led the league in receiving touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Nacua has racked up 2,476 yards and nine touchdowns in two regular seasons despite missing six games last year.
Both players are being drafted as you'd expect: Nacua as WR6 with the 10th pick overall; Adams is going as WR18 with the 40th pick overall.
The interesting thing is that the difference between the two looks increasingly narrower than their respective average draft positions indicate . . .
Taking Value For The Win
It's easy to envision Nacua losing opportunities to Adams.
After all, Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, who finished the 2024 season as WR9, was WR22 during the 11-game stretch after Adams' arrival in New York last season.
But is that a fair comparison?
Nacua has established chemistry with Stafford and a prominent role in McVay's offense. From Week 10 on last season, Nacua drew an impressive 37 percent target share (11.3 per game). He was at or above 31 percent (or eight targets) in all 10 games.
ESPN's Mike Clay argues the only slight red flag with Nacua is touchdowns, with just the aforementioned nine scores in 28 games. More to the point, he was limited to six end zone targets (53rd at WR) in 2024.
A leap in that area is what he'll need to continue delivering elite fantasy production.
That's not the case with Adams.
Since coming into the NFL, Adams has delivered six seasons with 10-plus touchdown receptions. Only Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison Sr. have more.
Adams finished the 2024 season as WR13 with a 17.1-point per-game average (11th-highest at the position). During his 11-game run in New York, working alongside Wilson and with veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, Adams was WR5 with an 18.8-point per game average . . .
So, Are The Prices Right Here?
Not according to Footballguy and Rookie Scouting Portfolio author Matt Waldman, who wrote in a recent Gut Check column, "Does anyone out there realize that Adams is the most complete WR on the Rams, not Nacua?
"If you flip-flop the valuation of Nacua and Adams, you're probably closer to the truth than where it stands today. Personally, I believe both players will be top-12 fantasy WRs. Steal."
Assuming Stafford is good to go Week 1, Waldman's prediction that we'll see two top-12 fantasy assets is realistic.
Remember, the Rams have had multiple top 24 fantasy wide receivers in points per game in three of Stafford's four seasons in Los Angeles. The Rams have led the league in wide receiver target share in three of the past four seasons and were in the top five in that department in the other.
Meanwhile, as SI.com's Brock Vierra reported, "We have had limited opportunities to watch Stafford, Adams, and Nacua together, but when we did, it was unreal to watch. The natural space both receivers created for each other, and the way Stafford was taking advantage.
"It was Greatest Show on Turf-like."
Safe to say that would be a best-case outcome . . .
A Potential Sea-Change In Seattle's Backfield?
ESPN.com's Brady Henderson reported Thursday that "While no one with the Seahawks has publicly acknowledged that the RB1 job is up for grabs, Ken Walker III's ongoing availability issues and the way Zach Charbonnet continues to impress the organization suggest that Seattle's backfield could be more of a timeshare than a typical starter-backup arrangement."
From where I sit, this is a seismic shift.
I spoke with Tacoma News Tribune staffer Greg Bell on Aug. 1, and he was adamant in insisting this is not a 1A-1B situation. According to Bell, Walker was locked in to play a featured role, with Charbonnet used to spell him if all goes as planned.
While it's true that Walker was limited during the offseason program because of an ankle injury and has been sidelined for much of camp with a sore foot, Bell, also reporting on Thursday, noted that Wednesday's session was notable for Walker being full go for a second consecutive practice.
Walker played with the first-team offense in 11-on-11 scrimmaging.
He'd been on a day-on, day-off schedule late in training camp. Head coach Mike Macdonald has said the Seahawks have "a plan" for Walker to be ready for the opening game Sept. 7 against San Francisco, "and we're sticking to that plan . . ."
But Is It Still The Plan?
According to Henderson, between the on-field evidence and off-the-field comments, all indications are that Charbonnet is going to have a significant role this season. Some hints have been subtle while others have been obvious, and they've been mounting.
The latest came over the weekend.
Two days after Charbonnet excelled in his only series of the Seahawks' second preseason game, Macdonald was asked about all the time Walker has missed between the spring and summer.
As Henderson characterized it, Macdonald "jumped" at the chance to acknowledge that while they need to preserve Walker -- ostensibly the starter -- they also need him to get more work to be ready to play in a new offense.
"There's a lot of walk-through reps that need to be had, but at some point, to your point, you've got to do it on the field so you feel confident to go out there and execute at a high level and play your best football," Macdonald said.
While Walker has struggled to stay on the field, Charbonnet hasn't missed a day.
That added some serious weight to what new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said earlier in camp when he was asked about the skills that make an elite running back.
"No. 1 is intelligence," Kubiak, who's installing a run-heavy offense, said. "No. 2 is longevity or just availability. Guys that are available for the whole game . . . Our top two guys are doing some really good things, but Charbonnet, his mental approach to the game is extremely impressive. He does not flinch.
"Really been impressed with him . . ."
That's A Different Tune
Kubiak has been steadfast in his focus on Walker since his arrival in Seattle. The coach told reporters during his introductory press conference, "We're going to get the ball to our best runners -- and that's [Walker]."
When available.
Walker missed six games last season with oblique, calf, and ankle injuries, bringing his career total to 10 missed games since the Seahawks drafted him in the second round in 2022.
That six-game stretch last year opened the door for Charbonnet to emerge. He totaled 909 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games, averaging 4.2 yards per carry to Walker's 3.7.
Still, Walker averaged 16.5 points per game last year -- 12th among RBs -- despite finishing as RB27 overall.
And the split wasn't close when both played last year.
In 11 games together, Walker handled 68 percent of carries and 14 percent of targets, compared to Charbonnet's 19 percent and 8 percent. Charbonnet averaged 6.5 fantasy points per game in those weeks.
So What's The Answer?
Even Henderson acknowledges that when healthy, Walker is arguably the Seahawks' best big-play threat, with seven of his 26 career touchdowns coming from 20 or more yards out, and three on plays of at least 60 yards.
His explosiveness has been on occasional display on the days he has practiced.
"He looks great," Macdonald said. "He's fast. It's exciting to have him out there. When he's been out there, he's been really good . . ."
Breaking The Tie
Since Bell and Henderson are getting (and giving off) slightly different signals, I spoke with Curtis Crabtree, a Seahawks reporter for Fox 13 Seattle, on Thursday night.
I asked if both backs are healthy, how will the touches be split?
Crabtree responded that he expects coaches to lean on Walker as the true No. 1 with Charbonnet spelling him.
Meaning we've come full circle . . .
Final Call
Even with all the missed time over the last month -- and despite Henderson's reporting, Walker is being drafted as RB16 in the fourth round.
Charbonnet is being drafted as RB36 at the end of Round 9.
I remain Team Walker. But I'm not going to lie; I'm slightly less confident in my position than I was last week . . .
Other Paradigm Shifts Worth Watching
While the major changes are clearly important, sometimes it's the more subtle changes that can make the difference for fantasy players . . .
Increasing Confidence
In last week's Fantasy Notebook, I questioned whether Bucky Irving really merits his current RB9 ADP.
Specifically, I wondered if he's worth the 20th pick overall after breaking out with a 1,122-yard, eight-TD season in 2024, the best of all the rookies.
My concern has been based on the fact that Irving did all that on just 254 touches.
But there's context to that. As Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke pointed out last week, Irving started last season playing just over 30 percent of the Buccaneers' offensive snaps and ended playing around 70 percent of their snaps.
As I acknowledged last week, if he continues to receive close to 70 percent of the workload -- especially if he gets it consistently from the start of the season -- it's hard to claim Irving is overpriced.
So, when I had a chance to speak with FOX Sports' NFC South reporter Greg Auman this week, the topic was top of mind.
When asked if Irving would get more touches this year than last, Auman didn't hesitate: "He'll have a bigger load."
Auman added the Bucs will be careful not to overwork Irving, but expecting a workload similar to what we saw in the second half last year -- in an offense that's likely to put more emphasis on the run (more on the team's receiving corps in the This And That section below), makes sense.
If so, Irving's current draft position is right where it should be . . .
A Crowded Runway In New York
According to JetsX.com's Nick Faria, "It's not an overreaction to say that Braelon Allen outplayed Breece Hall during camp."
It might not be an overreaction, but it's somewhat surprising.
Fauria went on to explain that the 235-pound Allen's physical nature and ability to bounce off would-be tackles made him a welcome sight for the Jets' running game.
Faria added, "Allen is in line for a big year in 2025. If his work in camp is any indication, he may just end the season as New York's top back."
For those who might have missed it in a previous Fantasy Notebook, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic recently reported the Jets plan to model their offense after the one incoming offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and new head coach Aaron Glenn brought with them from Detroit, where, in theory at least, Hall would play the Jahmyr Gibbs role.
At the same time, Allen would step in as the David Montgomery, power-running type.
Let me remind you again: over the first 14 weeks, when both were in the lineup in Detroit last year, Gibbs was RB5, averaging an impressive 18 points per game during that span.
Montgomery was RB9 over that same 14-game stretch before a sprained MCL sidelined him.
Meanwhile, Hall's ADP has dropped from RB13 to RB15 over the last two weeks. He's currently available with the 39th pick overall.
Allen has risen nine spots over that same two-week span. He's being drafted as RB45 in Round 12.
Going back to the notion of the Jets leaning into a two-back approach similar to the Lions' approach, I've been hitting Allen hard in this range.
But as the price drops on Hall, he's gone from Round 3 to Round 4, I'm paying attention.
I'm not saying he's the same kind of back as Gibbs, but don't forget how effective Hall was as a receiver two years ago when he led all NFL running backs with 90 targets -- 5.2 per game. He's a more-than-capable receiver -- when his quarterback's willing.
The concern for me is that Justin Fields seems more likely to tuck the ball and run than dump it off to his running back . . .
Overlooked In Minnesota?
In a 2024 Week 2 game, then-San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had a fantastic outing against the Vikings.
Now he'll play for them after an offseason trade to Minnesota.
While the initial outlook had Mason working behind Aaron Jones, the latest reporting suggests that won't be the case. Instead, Mason will work alongside Jones.
In a column published on August 4, following a visit to the Vikings training camp, ESPN's Dan Graziano advised readers that Mason would likely be the co-RB1. Graziano argued that something of a 50-50 distribution was not off the table, depending on how things unfolded.
Based on multiple reports, it's unfolding in Mason's favor.
At least one local observer, Purple Insider's Matthew Coller, told me the first week of August that he saw it the same as Graziano.
More recently -- as in this week, BMTNSports.com's Will Ragatz confirmed it's still looking good for Mason.
Notable for Vikings fans and fantasy football players: It sure seems like this backfield is going to be pretty close to a 50/50 split. I charted 11 touches for Aaron Jones and 10 for Jordan Mason in today's scrimmage.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 20, 2025
As the Vikings learned when he ran the ball 20 times for 104 yards with a 10-yard touchdown against them, Mason was impressive in Christian McCaffrey's absence. Footballguy Hutchinson Brown noted that Mason's ability to create explosive plays raised his fantasy ceiling.
Brown pointed out that Mason ranked in the top eight in breakaway run rate among 69 qualifying running backs with 50-plus carries last season. Better still, he ranked as RB6 through the first four weeks with the backfield all to himself.
How realistic is a 50-50 split?
As Graziano pointed out, Vikings running backs coach Curtis Modkins oversaw Denver's tailbacks in 2021 when Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams each had exactly 203 carries.
Even if it's not a completely even split, Mason's RB32 ADP and 9th-round price are intriguing when compared to Jones, who's going as RB26 in Round 6 . . .
This And That: Bumps And Bruises Edition
Time to get a feel for some injury situations of interest as we close in on the start of the 2025 NFL season . . .
Jefferson Good To Go, But Who's With Him?
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson returned to practice on a limited basis Monday after sitting out since the second practice of training camp with a hamstring injury. He was scheduled to be re-evaluated after that session, and it seems that the assessment went well.
"You'll see him take part in bits and pieces of it," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. "It'll be kind of a ramp-up."
The Vikings play their first two weeks from Monday, which gives Jefferson time to work his way up to full speed before the season opens in Chicago.
Jordan Addison's three-game suspension and a hand injury that has Jalen Nailor listed as week-to-week make having Jefferson all the more important for first-time starter J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota offense.
It also has the Vikings considering possible moves at the position.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Vikings have inquired about trading for Adam Thielen.
The Vikings and Thielen are plenty familiar with one another. After entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013 with the club, Thielen began contributing as a receiver in 2014 before emerging as a genuine threat in 2016 when he caught 69 passes for 967 yards with five touchdowns.
Thielen's last season with Minnesota was O'Connell's first with the club in 2022. The wideout caught 70 passes for 716 yards with six touchdowns that year.
We'll see if the Panthers and Vikings can come to an agreement to secure the reunion.
In the meantime, I'm not necessarily worried about Jefferson's hamstring. But it's getting difficult for me to take him ahead of CeeDee Lamb given the circumstances -- and I'm not even factoring in McCarthy being a first-time starter . . .
Nabers' Tender Toe Cause For Concern?
After sitting out the spring because of a toe injury, Giants receiver Malik Nabers had three touchdown catches from starting quarterback Russell Wilson in the Giants' first training camp of the summer.
While the toe didn't stop Nabers as a rookie last year, when he had 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, the second-year star conceded that surgery was talked about.
They elected to let it heal, and he's feeling good now.
As for whether surgery is eventually needed, that may need to be a decision for further down the road. Nabers isn't positive the toe problem will ultimately go away.
"Not sure," he said. "Time will tell."
Adding to the concerns, Nabers missed 11 days of camp due to a back issue. The problem was characterized as "normal camp tightness."
I spoke with Chris Bisignano of GiantInsider.com Monday night, and he confirmed all that.
Bisignano added there's no concern among team officials about the back, although the toe issue is something that will have to be managed. Still, Nabers appears to be moving well, and the Giants are counting on him to be one of the top receivers in the league.
Fantasy managers drafting him as WR4 with the eighth pick overall expect the same.
But are we doing it with confidence?
As Sigmund Bloom wrote in his annual All-Rolaids Team: Players You're Relieved Someone Else Drafted, "For Nabers to pay off on a top 10 pick cost, he'll need to be on the field and not playing through injuries more often than not."
It's a fair point, especially with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, Derrick Henry, Ashton Jeanty, Nacua, and Brian Thomas Jr. all going after Nabers . . .
Opportunities In Tampa
The Buccaneers plan to activate wide receiver Chris Godwin (and left tackle Tristan Wirfs) off the active/physically unable to perform list and add him to their 53-man roster to start the season.
But Godwin won't be an immediate contributor.
Head coach Todd Bowles indicated Thursday that the Buccaneers want Godwin on the 53-man roster when the season starts so he's eligible to practice with the team and to make sure the wideout is quicker to get into "football shape."
Sources told Schefter earlier Thursday that Godwin is unlikely to play until October as he continues recovering from the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 7 last season. Instead, Godwin is expected to start practicing in Week 2, sources told Schefter.
Schefter added the Buccaneers are pleased with his recovery and think the nine-year veteran is right where he should be at this time.
Remember, Tampa Bay will start the season short-handed at wide receiver due to the recovery timeline for Godwin and the recent neck injury to Jalen McMillan, who is scheduled to start the season on injured reserve and could be sidelined until after the Bucs' Week 9 bye week.
That will put the onus on rookie Emeka Egbuka, the team's first-round pick, who has primarily been playing a lot of slot receiver in Godwin's absence.
As PewterReport.com's Scott Reynolds wrote, "Egbuka is super polished and is doing the best Godwin impersonation I've ever seen."
Reynolds went on to note that at 6-1, 205 pounds, Egbuka is built like Godwin, moves like Godwin, and catches everything like Godwin.
This is where I remind you that through the first seven weeks of last year, Godwin enjoyed arguably the best season of his career, leading the league with 50 catches. His 576 receiving yards were the second most in the league, and his five touchdown catches were tied for third.
He was fantasy's WR2 through those first seven games.
If Egbuka can imitate that, fantasy investors who have been drafting him at cost are going to be big winners.
While his price has been dropping all month, Godwin was still going ahead of Egbuka as recently as last week.
That's changed.
Egbuka is now going as WR39 in Round 7, with Godwin falling to WR44 in Round 8.
For what it's worth, Egbuka's Footballguys projection mirrors his ADP. The rookie is projected to finish as WR39, scoring an average of 12.05 points per game. Godwin is projected to finish as WR60, but with an impressive 13.85 points per game -- which would put him in tail-end WR2, early WR3 territory upon return.
There's value to be found in both players . . .
Gordon Looming In Miami
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane is not expected to practice this week because of a calf injury, and head coach Mike McDaniel said the plan is to have Achane ready for Week 1. "All trainers across the league have horror stories with calves if you're too aggressive coming back," McDaniel told David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Miami Herald Omar Kelly suggested calf issues are even more worrisome for players like Achane, who rely heavily on their speed, because it could lead to other strains.
Achane rushed for 907 yards with six touchdowns and caught 78 passes for 592 yards with six touchdowns for Miami last season.
With Achane sidelined, and with Alexander Mattison on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending neck injury, Miami planned to lean on Jaylen Wright, who has struggled this exhibition season, averaging 1.5 yards per attempt on 13 carries. But Wright was injured Thursday, leaving rookie Ollie Gordon II to handle the tailback workload in the final preseason game and during the practices that led up to the regular-season kickoff.
While Wright will be the No. 2 if available, Gordon is an ideal fit for the offense.
I spoke with Travis Wingfield of the team's official website this week, and Wingfield is keen on Gordon.
"Gordon has made his case," Wingfield said. "The way he is looking on those outside zone runs that the scheme is predicated on -- running them with power . . . I think there's a lot to like there. And maybe not from jump, but a guy you can get late in drafts and stash for your playoff run . . . Gordon could be a huge part of the offense, especially in scoring situations."
Gordon is being drafted as RB61 in Round 16 . . .
Chubb Picking Up The Pace
Among the things the Texans are working through this month is a lingering foot-ankle injury for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon.
According to KPRC 2 in Houston's Aaron Wilson, Mixon is progressing from wearing a walking boot to wearing a brace, to gaining increased mobility over the summer, to now still being out indefinitely while rehabbing and navigating a somewhat complicated medical issue. He remains on the non-football injury list and may start the season there, barring significant progress in the next few weeks.
Mixon's chances of being ready for the season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams are slim.
The Texans will take their time with managing his recovery and will not rush him back onto the field after missing the entire offseason and the majority of training camp so far. Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley can lean on Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, and Woody Marks in his absence in something of a committee approach to the running game.
While I noted in last week's Fantasy Notebook that at least one local observer hadn't impressed in practices, Wilson notes that Chubb displayed burst and his trademark ability to break tackles and maintain balance after contact in last week's exhibition game against the Panthers.
"Chubb did a really nice job playing physical, running behind his pads," head coach DeMeco Ryans said. "I just like the way the whole team played a physical brand of football, the type of football I expect us to play, and I'm really proud of the guys for that."
Considering he's all but certain to open the season as Houston's starter, Chubb's 12th-round price tag doesn't seem all that high . . .
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Every week, the NFL delivers a remarkable range of stories. I like to use this spot to encapsulate that broad expanse here.
The Good: Clarity In Cleveland
The Browns entered training with a quarterback competition between four contenders: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
The team announced on Monday that Flacco will open the season as their starter.
Flacco, 40, is back with the Browns for a second stint following a five-game stretch in the 2023 season that rivaled any that the franchise has seen from a quarterback since its return to Cleveland in 1999.
They went 4-1 under Flacco, who threw for over 300 yards in four straight wins before the run came to an end in a loss to the Texans in the wild-card round.
Flacco was later named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.
David Njoku averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game in that five-game stretch with Flacco. Then-Browns wideout Amari Cooper had 11 catches for 265 yards, a career-high and a franchise record, in a Week 16 win over the Texans and credited Flacco with helping him achieve greatness.
It's fair to view Flacco's starting assignment as a very good thing for Njoku and Jerry Jeudy . . .
The Bad: Spreading The Wealth In Buffalo
As ESPN.com's Ben Solak pointed out, after Joe Brady's first full season as the Bills' offensive coordinator last year, his impact on Josh Allen can be captured in just one stat: Interception rate. Allen's fell to a career low of 1.2 percent in 2024.
That seems really good, right?
Well . . . Yes and no.
Brady helped Allen lower that interception rate by using a spread-the-wealth approach. The message to Allen is: Don't feel like anyone needs to get fed.
"[Allen]'s extremely mindful, understanding that when he plays good football, sound football -- when he's checking the ball down and progressing through -- we're tough to beat," Brady said.
Unfortunately, if we're talking fewer big plays, spreading the ball around to more weapons, and not focusing on any one target, that's bad news for investors looking to find ways to leverage Allen's success without landing Allen . . .
The Ugly: Colts Pull The Plug On Richardson
The Colts' months-long quarterback battle is over.
Head coach Shane Steichen selected Daniel Jones to be Indianapolis' Week 1 starter, opting for the veteran free agent acquisition over the club's 2023 first-round choice, Anthony Richardson Sr..
Richardson's injuries and inconsistency prompted the decision to add competition, but he responded with a strong training camp and encouraging preseason performance. There did not seem to be much discernible separation between the two quarterbacks in camp, but in the end, minute factors loomed large in the decision.
The decision gives Jones an ideal opportunity to resurrect his career after his six seasons with the Giants ended abruptly and unceremoniously last season, when he was benched before ultimately being released.
But Richardson is left with an uncertain future.
The Colts have publicly stated that he did not need to win the quarterback battle to have a future in Indianapolis, but it remains unclear where he goes from here.
I talked to James Boyd, who covers the Colts for The Athletic, this week, and asked him if Richardson has a future in Indy.
"I don't think so," Boyd replied. "I know the Colts are saying all the right things, but when you bench the player you invested the fourth pick overall twice in two years, you're giving up on him.
"Does he have a future in the NFL? Sure. But with the Colts, I don't buy it."
If Boyd is correct, it will be an ugly end for Richardson and the Colts just two seasons after the team made him the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft . . .
The Final Word
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Bob Harris was the first-ever Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year and is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. You can catch Harris' "On The Hotseat" every Tuesday on the Footballguys Audible channel and listen to him on weeknights at 8 p.m. ET on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio's The Football Diehards show on Sirius channel 87.
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