News: Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley confirmed that running back
Maurice Jones-Drew will step up the intensity in his workouts in Miami with noted trainer Pete Bommarito. MJD is working his way back from a Lisfranc injury. Bradley is fine with the move because he and Jones-Drew are on the same page with where the running back is at, according to the
Florida Times-Union. Bradley especially wanted Jones-Drew in camp while the team installed the offense. "It’s going to take some time and it should come back," Bradley said of Jones-Drew's injured foot. "We're just taking the next step in the rehab process."
Analysis: Expectations remain MJD will be ready for the start of training camp in July and potentially be on the field for a June minicamp. Fantasy owners need to see him before drafting to have some level of confidence in his game. The injury he suffered is a tough one to come back from. On the plus side, Jones-Drew had at least 1,600 total yards in each of his previous three seasons before 2012 when he held out of training camp and ultimately got hurt after six games. Some will be afraid to draft the 28-year-old but most owners should go ahead and consider Jones-Drew a Top 15 running back for now, making him worth a pick between 20th and 30th overall in drafts assuming he is a full participant in Jags camp. That seems to be on pace to happen.
News: Rob Gronkowski had successful surgery on his left forearm Monday and doctors found no infection inside according to multiple reports. He had a new plate installed in his arm to keep things in place inside his forearm and should be done having surgery there. A consultation on his back is expected within the next three to four weeks with surgery to potentially follow.
Analysis: Great news! Unless there's a setback with the arm or a serious issue with his back Gronkowski should be ready for the start of training camp. That makes him a safer pick in Fantasy Football since he'll have the time to get ready for the season and potentially play 16 games. We're not out of the woods yet but be ready to consider Gronk with a Top 20 pick in drafts this summer.
Romo out until minicamp
Tony Romo, QB, DAL
8:37 AM
News: 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.
News: The
Baltimore Sun's reading of the tea leaves suggests second-year receiver
Deonte Thompson has the inside track to earning the No. 2 receiver role with the Ravens. Thompson's a speedster with good hands and with
Torrey Smith would give the Ravens a pair of deep-ball threats. "[Thompson] could sneak in there, he looks different, is fast and catches everything," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "But the other guys like (Tandon) Doss and (David) Reed have done well and worked hard during the offseason. As I've always said, the best player will play."
Analysis: Thompson caught just five passes for 51 yards last season but has run below 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash. And at 6-foot and 203 pounds he's not exactly a twig. The former Florida Gator will compete for playing time this summer and is someone to watch out for in training camp.
News: 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.
News: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed running back
Marshawn Lynch was not in attendance for Monday's OTA workout. There's a chance he could be in town for the team's last OTA session on June 6. No reason was given for the absence. "This is voluntary," Carroll said of the workouts. "That's the rules and the guidelines. ... He came in 10 days ago and he's in very good shape. He's working an intense program in his area and he is benefiting from it. We'd love to see everybody here."
Analysis: Lynch was just in town for a previous offseason program workout and looked great so there's nothing to sweat here. There's not a lot of concern for Lynch, 28, heading into the 2013 season. He's fighting a DUI charge in a California court in June and if excused from that won't have to worry about any possible suspensions. And while the Seahawks added Percy Harvin and drafted Christine Michael, both speedsters who can snag carries from Lynch, he's still believed to be in line for close to 275 touches and work at the goal-line. That's the kind of running back you want with a first-round pick. Lynch will get taken between third and seventh overall in every draft this summer.
News: 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.
Hall has torn thumb ligament
Leon Hall, DB, CIN
11:45 AM
News: The Bengals official team website reports cornerback
Leon Hall will return to OTAs eventually after suffering a ligament tear in his thumb. The injury occured lifting weights. He's expected to be fine for training camp.
Analysis: Hall hasn't been as productive a tackler as he was earlier in his career but still does well defensing passes and picking off quarterbacks. He's a low-end DB option worth a late-round pick in Fantasy drafts, particularly since he hasn't had more than 50 tackles in each of the last three years and has been bothered by injuries the past two seasons.
Harvin off and running in Seattle
Percy Harvin, WR, SEA
10:14 AM
News: It was just the first of 10 OTA practices in Seattle but Seahawks players and coaches are enamored with new weapon
Percy Harvin. The official team website believes the 'Hawks will use him just as the Vikings did -- as a receiver lined up wide and in the slot, as a rusher and as a kick returner. That's making use of Harvin the right way but coach Pete Carroll spoke of an underrated factor that makes his fit in Seattle all the better. "The benefit that we might not mention too many times is the fact that he’s been with Bev (offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell), so he’s jumped right into the system," Carroll said. "He already knows quite a few of the nuances. He’s very explosive. He took the ball and turned it up a couple times today and he’s just lightning fast. You can see why he’s such a factor catching and running and in the kicking game."
Analysis: Harvin admitted he's still getting acclimated to the terminology but otherwise it's looking great for him in Seattle. He even seemed chipper talking to the media. A happy Harvin could yield some insane Fantasy totals after averaging over 80 total yards per game over the last two seasons with Christian Ponder under center (Russell Wilson should only make that number go up). There might be an issue about his total touches with Marshawn Lynch the primary weapon in the Seattle offense but the Seahawks didn't get Harvin for nothing and they'll work hard to get him involved. His familiarity with Bevell will only help him. We like Harvin as a low-end No. 1 Fantasy receiver worth a pick between 30th and 40th overall on Draft Day.
Alonso already starting in Buffalo
Kiko Alonso, ILB, BUF
11:35 AM
News: The Bills have put rookie linebacker
Kiko Alonso with the first-team defense in OTA workouts. He's been working as the middle linebacker and also is calling plays for the defense according to the official team website.
Analysis: Alonso worked as the Sam linebacker previously but it looks like he could move inside. That's a fantastic place for him to be in terms of statistical production. Alonso played inside linebacker in college, finishing with 143 tackles, six interceptions and 3.5 sacks in 36 games, including 17 starts. Alonso is also familiar with the scheme the Bills run. The secret's out on him -- consider Alonso worth a mid- to late-round pick in seasonal leagues, a mid-round pick in deeper dynasty/keeper leagues and a late second-/early third-round pick in rookie-only formats.
