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Latest News |
| 5/22/2013 | Colin Kaepernick, QB, SF |
Kaepernick loses top receiverNews: USA Today reports 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon on Tuesday and will undergo surgery. It is not known if he will try to play this season. That's a tough blow for quarterback Colin Kaepernick since Crabtree was clearly his No. 1 receiver. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that in Kaepernick's 10 starts in 2012 he targeted Crabtree more than any other receiver. The target breakdown was Crabtree with 94, Vernon Davis with 39 and Randy Moss with 39. Analysis: This injury hurts Kaepernick's value for this season. His receiving corps was upgraded with Anquan Boldin replacing Moss, and the 49ers drafted a rookie in Quinton Patton. But now he's without his No. 1 option in Crabtree, which lowers Kaepernick's value. He is still worth drafting as a No. 1 quarterback, but he should be considered toward the end of the Top 10 at best with a mid-round pick. |
| 5/22/2013 | Andy Dalton, QB, CIN |
Dalton impresses on deep throwsNews: The Cincinnati Enquirer noticed two highlight passes from Andy Dalton in OTA practice Tuesday, connecting on a bomb to A.J. Green on the first throw of the session and another to Marvin Jones, who beat double coverage. "I think it’s quickening up the drop or throwing the ball a little higher on different throws and things like that," Dalton said of what's changed on throwing deep. "With the time that we've had with the phase before this one getting into OTAs we've put in some work and I definitely see an improvement." Analysis: Dalton is surrounded by good talent, from A.J. Green to Mohamed Sanu to a pair of tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert. A quarterback with a good but not great arm needs to be surrounded by this kind of athleticism in order to be productive. Dalton's not necessarily one of the best passers in football but he's shown potential to be a great Fantasy option. For now he's a streaky one -- a few big games have always been followed by a few bad games -- but a good start in 2013 could change that. Consider Dalton among your backup Fantasy quarterback choices in the late rounds on Draft Day. |
| 5/22/2013 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT |
Big Ben digs 'better' playbookNews: Ben Roethlisberger took a while to come around on Todd Haley's playbook last offseason but has no problem with what the Steelers offensive coordinator has planned for 2013. "There's been some changes this offseason in some of the offensive philosophies, playbook and some things that I think are good," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review without mentioning specifics on the changes. "It's some compromise from all the different position coaches, the running back coaches, the line, and quarterback coaches. I think we've taken a little bit of everything and made it a lot better. ... You can ask anybody on offense that, including coaches, and they'll tell you that we all like the way the offense is and where it's going." Analysis: If the Steelers have something in that playbook to enhance their offense with Mike Wallace moving on, then Roethlisberger will really have something to feel good about. Big Ben's top deep target has moved to Miami, leaving him with the skillful Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders along with rookie Markus Wheaton and veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Plaxico Burress. It's a tall order to expect Roethlisberger to have another awesome season with this receiving corps, particularly after the team spent a quality draft pick on rookie rusher Le'Veon Bell. Roethlisberger should be considered more of a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback this summer, albeit one with upside. You should be able to get him in the double-digit rounds in drafts. |
| 5/22/2013 | Peyton Manning, QB, DEN |
Fox: Broncos to 'play much faster'News: Broncos coach John Fox told a group of fans and team sponsors at a private event Tuesday that the offense will use the no-huddle even more in 2013. "I would say that’s a definite yes," Fox said according to the team's official website. "That’s something we played with a lot last year. ... We are definitely doing it that way. We started our OTAs that way as far as practice. We have a game clock out there already, so we are really going to be pedal to the medal and play much faster than we did a year ago." Analysis: This shouldn't exactly be a surprise as Manning has used the no-huddle for much of his career, but it is worth noting that the Broncos will attempt this potentially with inexperienced running backs and a new piece of the passing game puzzle in Wes Welker. Then again, look at who's playing quarterback. Manning has a way of getting his offenses in tip-top shape and with a few months before training camp chances are he and the rest of his weapons will be fine. We were excited to learn Welker and Peyton have been working hard at developing chemistry and think his addition puts Manning ahead of Tom Brady in the Fantasy quarterback pecking order.You're looking at Manning as a third-round selection this season. |
| 5/22/2013 | Case Keenum, QB, HOU |
Keenum could back up SchaubNews: The Houston Chronicle reports that Texans coach Gary Kubiak predicted that Case Keenum, who spent his rookie season last year on the practice squad, is “going to push” T. J. Yates for the backup quarterback job behind Matt Schaub. “Everybody’s always competing,” Kubiak said. “Case has obviously made up a bunch of ground from the standpoint of what he knows and what he can handle as a player.” Analysis: Keenum would only have Fantasy value if something happened to Schaub. Keep an eye on what happens with Yates, but Keenum is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues. |
| 5/22/2013 | T.J. Yates, QB, HOU |
Yates could lose jobNews: The Houston Chronicle reports that Texans coach Gary Kubiak predicted that Case Keenum, who spent his rookie season last year on the practice squad, is “going to push” T. J. Yates for the backup quarterback job behind Matt Schaub. “Everybody’s always competing,” Kubiak said. “Case has obviously made up a bunch of ground from the standpoint of what he knows and what he can handle as a player.” Analysis: Yates would only have Fantasy value if something happened to Schaub. Keep an eye on what happens with Keenum, but Yates is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues. |
| 5/21/2013 | Tony Romo, QB, DAL |
Romo out until minicampNews: The Dallas Morning News reports Tony Romo had a cyst removed from his back and will be out until at least Cowboys minicamp in June. He should be fine for training camp. "If this was the regular season and I had to play next week, I could," Romo said. "This is just about being smart. That’s why I did it now. This will have no effect on training camp. No way will it have an impact. And I still think there’s a good chance I’m on the field for minicamp." Analysis: Romo isn't a quarterback anyone is targeting on Draft Day, he's more like a passer you'll settle for starting in Round 6. There's nothing wrong with that: Romo was one of 10 quarterbacks to average over 20 Fantasy points per game (in standard formats) and has consistently put up big numbers, albeit not amazing numbers. Fantasy owners can win with Romo as their starter. |
| 5/21/2013 | Josh Portis, QB, SEA |
Seahawks waive QB PortisNews: The Seahawks have waived quarterback Josh Portis, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI recently. Analysis: Portis was never a contender to see playing time this season anyway. Keep him off of rosters. |
| 5/21/2013 | Russell Wilson, QB, SEA |
Wilson ahead of 2012 paceNews: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday that quarterback Russell Wilson was "a million miles ahead of where we were." But there's more to it than that: Wilson has put on six pounds of muscle to his lower body to handle the wear and tear of the football season. He also is taking first-team reps this spring instead of third-team reps, which is where he was as late as last August. Wilson also said a passing camp he held with teammates in L.A. helped him get a head start on offseason training. As such, the offense flowed rather smoothly in OTA workouts Monday. "I thought we did great," Wilson said. "There were a couple of miscues here and there, but I thought we were pretty sharp. Compared to where we were last year, compared to where we were last week, I think we’re miles and miles ahead." Analysis: Wilson arguably had the most surprising season of anyone last year, completing 64.1 pct. of his passes for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns and adding 489 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. He also had two-plus touchdowns in nine of his last 11 games including the postseason. Those numbers are awesome but they all came without Percy Harvin on the roster. He'll help push Wilson's numbers even higher. There's nothing wrong with targeting Wilson with a pick starting in Round 5, which is where he went in our most recent mock draft. Once Cam Newton goes off the board, expect Wilson to follow within the next 20 selections. |
| 5/21/2013 | Brandon Weeden, QB, CLE |
Norv sounds in favor of WeedenNews: The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner spoke quite highly of quarterback Brandon Weeden recently, citing his composure, competitiveness and work ethic as big positives for him to play well in his second year. He also thinks playing as a rookie will ultimately be a good thing for him. "Brandon was in here with a very young group of guys," Turner said of Weeden's rookie year. "So when you have a lot of young guys and they're trying to feel their way together, it's hard. All those guys having a year together, including Brandon, will help him a great deal." Analysis: Turner also referred to new Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer as a backup candidate, which means the battle to start in Cleveland is between Weeden and veteran Jason Campbell. All signs point to Weeden winning that competition and being at the helm of what could be a pass-heavy offense loaded with young (and unproven) talent. Chances are Weeden will go undrafted in all Fantasy league drafts but be worth considering off waivers when faced with a favorable matchup, such as in Week 6 vs. Detroit when Matt Ryan is on bye. |
| 5/20/2013 | Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS |
RG3 begins throwingNews: The father for Robert Griffin III told USA Today his son has been throwing a football since late April. That suggests he's ahead of schedule and could be ready to play in Week 1 against the Eagles on Sept. 9. RG3 posted on Twitter he had been doing "a couple of roll out throws," meaning he's running and throwing at the same time. "Everybody in the organization is targeting that season opener," Robert Griffin II said. Analysis: The father added that RG3 is a little ahead of himself in his rehab compared to when he tore his right ACL in college, another good sign. Griffin tore up his knee on January 6 and the typical recovery from just an ACL procedure is nine months. His knee was damaged beyond that -- he also injured his MCL and PCL. Training camp opens on July 25, less than seven months after he got hurt. The Redskins' first game takes place September 9, eight months and three days after he got hurt. If the Redskins approach the injury with the long-term picture in mind then they might not rush him back so soon. A Fantasy gameplan: Draft Griffin with a pick in Round 7 or 8 and pair him with Carson Palmer in the final rounds. Palmer has a great early-season schedule and the Cardinals take on the Panthers in Week 5 when the Redskins are on bye. We'll keep you posted on RG3. |
| 5/20/2013 | Michael Vick, QB, PHI |
Vick: New offense is 'a lot easier'News: In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, Michael Vick said his critics "know nothing about football" and preferred not to address issues about his play up to this point. That's because he's excited about the future, mainly working in Chip Kelly's new up-tempo no-huddle offense. Vick's working on ball security with Kelly, just one of several areas he has to clean up in order to efficiently play, which he's excited to do. "We had a lot of deeper throws last year, which required more time," Vick said. "It's just a big difference. Not to say there was anything wrong with the West Coast system, I loved it. I spent seven years in it, and it was cool. But I think the change of pace for me at this point in my career is good and the game is a lot easier now." Analysis: If Vick likes the new offense and thinks it's easier to run, that can only mean good things for his statistics. There's still a camp battle to be had with Nick Foles and rookie Matt Barkley but we expect Vick to get the job. How long he has it is another question since he has a propensity for getting hurt. Vick is one of the appealing No. 2 Fantasy QBs to draft with a mid-round pick this summer, particularly to pair up with a starter you end up waiting for on Draft Day. |
| 5/20/2013 | Josh Freeman, QB, TB |
Schiano: Freeman is our starterNews: After talking up rookie Mike Glennon and not fully committing to Josh Freeman in the last couple of hours, Bucs coach Greg Schiano came out and confirmed what we already figured. "We have a starting quarterback and it is Josh Freeman," the coach said Monday. Glennon was once recruited by Schiano while he coached at Rutgers but chose an ACC school over Schiano's Big East school. Schiano's interest in Glennon was believed to be so strong that he'd consider him for playing time if he did well in camp. Analysis: So it appears Freeman will stay under center to begin the year for the Bucs but it doesn't mean he'll stay there. If Freeman gets off to a cold start or struggles mid-season then Schiano could pull him for Glennon, a move that wouldn't be a huge surprise given how much we know Schiano likes the youngster. Freeman has fantastic potential given the offense around him but must be drafted as a No. 2 quarterback with a late-round pick. |
| 5/20/2013 | Alex Smith, QB, KC |
Pistol in Smith's futureNews: The Chiefs have hired former University of Nevada head coach Chris Ault to a consultation position. Ault is best known for developing the pistol formation (quarterback in shotgun with the running back a few yards behind him). The Kansas City Star reports Alex Smith was spotted running "a handful of plays" out of the formation during OTA practices recently. Analysis: If the Chiefs stick with the pistol then Smith could provide a few rushing stats to go with passing stats. It's a tall order to expect Smith to suddenly become a solid Fantasy option after being a limited passer with the 49ers for eight seasons but he is among the quarterbacks worth looking into as a No. 2 option, albeit behind the likes of Andy Dalton, Michael Vick and others. You might not see Smith drafted this summer but he could be useful as a one-week option, perhaps in Week 3 vs. Indianapolis or in Week 8 at Jacksonville (Andrew Luck's bye week). |
| 5/20/2013 | EJ Manuel, QB, BUF |
Manuel loves Bills offenseNews: Bills rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel told SiriusXM NFL Radio that his new team's offense is easier to learn than the one he ran at Florida State. "To be honest it’s a true West Coast type progression offense," Manuel said, "and that’s really what I wanted coming through the pre-draft process where I could just go in and go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and just check it down or run. It’s that simple and I love it. I've done great and the learning curve for me is a lot shorter simply because of what I had at Florida State, which is a little harder to catch on and learn. But this offense is very simple, and having Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin doesn't hurt either. And Stevie Johnson when he’s healthy and C.J. Spiller, we’re going to have some fire power on the offense." Analysis: If the offense is easier for Manuel to run, perhaps big stats will follow. Manuel should be considered a low-end No. 2 Fantasy quarterback in seasonal leagues, and he's a late first-round/early second-round pick in rookie-only formats. |
| 5/20/2013 | Carson Palmer, QB, ARI |
Arians: Palmer 'still has it'News: Bruce Arians continues to heap praise on quarterback Carson Palmer, telling ESPN the veteran can still sling it. "He's tough as nails. As good a deep-ball thrower as I've ever seen. I mean really accurate on the deep ball. He still has it," Arians said. "What he did last year with the Raiders, in a crazy situation, I thought was very, very impressive." Analysis: Palmer's fit in Arians' offense is a good one. Arians likes his quarterbacks to throw it deep and Palmer can not only do that but has a great target in Larry Fitzgerald (and another young option in Michael Floyd). Palmer won't get much love in Fantasy drafts unless he has a solid preseason. Prepare to either snag him with a late-round pick or pick him up off waivers for bye-week use in the early going. He might be the right passer to pair with Robert Griffin III thanks to a moderate early-season schedule plus a nice home matchup vs. Carolina in Week 5 when the Redskins are on bye. |
| 5/20/2013 | Mike Glennon, QB, TB |
Schiano talks up GlennonNews: Bucs coach Greg Schiano confirmed Monday that Josh Freeman was the team's starting quarterback, not rookie Mike Glennon. This despite of comments made by Schiano about Glennon to the National Football Post, where he called the rookie a competitor and wouldn't quite rule him out. Glennon was once recruited by Schiano to play at Rutgers but instead chose N.C. State. Analysis: Meanwhile, Glennon said Monday that his "head is spinning" and is still learning the playbook. Schiano can like Glennon all he wants but until the rookie knows what's what he won't sniff the field. We might have to wait until 2014 to see Glennon play. He shouldn't be drafted in seasonal leagues but is worth a late-round pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and a middle-round choice in rookie-only drafts. |
| 5/17/2013 | Matt Ryan, QB, ATL |
Ryan speaks on O-lineNews: Matt Ryan's receiving threats are well documented and the Falcons' run game got a strong upgrade in Steven Jackson. But the offensive line is undergoing some changes as center Todd McClure retired and Tyson Clabo was released. Ryan says not to worry about it. "We've got a guy in Peter Konz that played guard for us last year, but during practice, I got a lot of snaps with Peter. Joe Hawley has played a little bit for us when Todd’s been out for a series or two throughout games the last couple of years. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine with those guys in terms of the snap," Ryan told 790 The Zone in Atlanta. "It’s a little different and that takes some getting used to so it becomes something you don’t even think about. ... We've got Mike Johnson who has played a number of different roles for us. Then a young guy like Lamar Holmes, he’s a guy we drafted high last year that we feel really good about. He’s extremely talented and I think he’s beginning to learn the offense more and more and this offseason has been productive for him. I’m excited about those guys. I think they’re fully capable of coming in and playing good football for us. They just need to do it." Analysis: The Falcons' offensive line is actually a significant factor for Ryan. Last season when he was not under pressure and not blitzed he completed over 70 percent of his passes. When he was blitzed or under pressure that completion percentage fell to under 62 percent according to Pro Football Focus. That's probably typical for most quarterbacks but we've seen passers' numbers completely decline when they're under duress (think of Arizona last year, Chicago and St. Louis in years past). Granted, Ryan's a very talented passer and the O-line shouldn't be what does him in, it's just something to watch in camp this summer. He remains a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback who will fall to Round 4 in drafts this summer. |
| 5/17/2013 | Brian Hoyer, QB, CLE |
Browns ink QB HoyerNews: The Browns have signed quarterback Brian Hoyer, according to multiple reports. Analysis: Hoyer is a dark horse candidate to start for the Browns and probably has a better chance to be their backup. He'll start camp behind Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell on the depth chart. Only Hoyer's relatives will draft him in Fantasy. |
| 5/16/2013 | Andrew Luck, QB, IND |
No slump ahead for LuckNews: The Indianapolis Star reports that Colts coach Chuck Pagano has plenty of faith in second-year quarterback Andrew Luck to avoid a sophomore slump. “We don’t talk about a sophomore slump at West 56th Street, believe me," Pagano said. "Nobody is harder on themselves than Andrew. This guy’s a tireless, tireless worker." Pagano also added that Luck will change his style a little this season under first-year coordinator Pep Hamilton. “We’re still going to take our shots down the field, calculated," Pagano said. "We don’t want to waste plays. We want to be efficient. The biggest difference might be a little bit more quick-game, if you will. Get the ball out of Andrew’s hands. Three- and quick five-step drops. Get it into our playmakers’ hands. A little bit more catch-and-run type of things." Analysis: Luck did well as a rookie, so getting better will be tough. He completed 54.1 percent of his passes for 4,374 yards, 23 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, and he also added 255 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Still, we expect more consistency, and we agree with Pagano that he'll only get better. We consider Luck a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in 2013. He should be drafted with a mid-round pick in all formats. |
| 5/16/2013 | Mark Sanchez, QB, NYJ |
Sanchez should make final rosterNews: ESPN reports that with David Garrard retiring, that should allow quarterback Mark Sanchez to remain with the Jets this season. New York’s quarterback competition has been reduced to four quarterbacks now. But in reality, there are only two legitimate options: Sanchez and rookie Geno Smith. The report says there was some debate of whether Sanchez would last in New York. The Jets would like to get rid of his huge salary but didn’t want to take the cap hit. However, Garrard had an opportunity to beat out Sanchez and provide the veteran leadership needed in New York's quarterback room. But post-Garrard, the Jets definitely need Sanchez now. He’s the only Jets quarterback with extensive experience. Sanchez is a four-year starter who has won playoff games and advanced to the AFC title game in back-to-back years following the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms have one career start among them. Analysis: Sanchez might even win the starting job ahead of Smith, but clearly he's just holding Smith's place since he's the eventual starter for the Jets. Keep an eye on the quarterback battle during training camp, but Sanchez has minimal Fantasy value in the majority of leagues even if he's starting in Week 1. |
| 5/16/2013 | Aaron Corp, QB, MIA |
Dolphins give Corp a whirlNews: The Dolphins have signed quarterback Aaron Corp. Analysis: Corp figures to be a camp arm. He's on his third team in just over two weeks. |
| 5/16/2013 | Joe Webb, QB, MIN |
Webb officially moves to receiverNews: Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Joe Webb's move from quarterback to receiver is official. "We had been talking about it for a while, and we made the decision that this was the way to go after we had our draft," Frazier said. Analysis: Between college and the pros Webb has caught 33 passes for 480 yards and four scores. He admitted that there would be a lot of work ahead for him but the payoff could be nice as Webb has good size, speed and athleticism. Only owners in the deepest of dynasty/keeper leagues should gamble a late-round pick on Webb. |
| 5/16/2013 | Ryan Tannehill, QB, MIA |
Wallace: Tannehill's arm better than Ben's?News: New Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace told the Miami Herald that his new quarterback's arm is as strong, if not stronger, than his old quarterback's arm. In a quick comparison of both passers Wallace noted both are former receivers and both developed chemistry with him early on. "Both have strong arms," Wallace said. "Ryan has a cannon, can really fling it. ... [He] may be able to throw the ball a little farther than Ben. Obviously, Ben is more experienced in game-time experience. The way it's going, it won't take long for Ryan to be one of the great quarterbacks. I feel like we can make a lot of big plays." Analysis: Expect to hear some glowing remarks on Tannehill between now and the start of the season. With an improved receiving corps around him there's a chance he could have a solid season. There's a little concern about his O-line and his schedule doesn't quite help. He's a name to consider with a late-round pick but not ahead of guys like Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco. |
| 5/16/2013 | David Garrard, QB, NYJ |
Garrard forced to retireNews: Jets quarterback David Garrard told SiriusXM Radio that swelling in his knee will force him to retire. Garrard had been practicing with the Jets and was a dark horse contender to start for them this season but his knee was "not holding up." Analysis: Garrard recently posted some messages from well wishers regarding retirement on Twitter, suggesting the retirement is for real. He'll leave as a quarterback who was seemingly always on the fence as a borderline Fantasy starter when he was in his prime but was an afterthought after injuries limited him over the last few years. |
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Which of these rookies do you think will make the biggest impact in Fantasy in 2013?
