Richard, Eisenberg chat replay (8/3)
News: Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was pulled from an OTA practice Monday with knee discomfort according to PhillyMag.com. He was on a sideline late in practice working on his own and getting stretched out by trainers. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer McCoy looked fine and said he "did something to his knee."
Analysis: It doesn't sound too serious. So long as McCoy is healthy and active for training camp there's nothing to be worried about. McCoy is expected to see a ton of work in the Eagles offense under new coach Chip Kelly. He has potential for a very good year, making him a Top 15 pick in all formats. Pairing him with Bryce Brown in Round 9 is a very smart idea.
News: ESPN reports that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is scheduled to undergo the fourth surgery on his left forearm on Monday, should be OK. The report says doctors feel confident that the infection has been eradicated, but they won't know for sure until they take tests during the procedure and then examine those over the next week. A new plate is expected to replace the one already in his arm and he will begin a new 10-11 week recovery period.
Analysis: We're glad to hear that Gronkowski should be OK after the forearm surgery, but he still has to deal with the upcoming procedure on his back, which should take place in 3-4 weeks. The goal is get Gronkowski back on the field for training camp, but he might not be ready until just before the start of the season. If Gronkowski is 100 percent with all his ailments then he has the chance to remain the No. 1 tight end in Fantasy with a pick in Round 2. But based on his health in May, he is dropping down the rank lists to more of a Top 5 Fantasy tight end. He's still worth drafting by Round 3 or 4 in the majority of leagues, but his value has taken a hit with another forearm surgery and the potential back problem. Stay tuned, and hopefully we get more good news as the offseason moves on.
News: 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.
News: The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Dolphins rookie Mike Gillislee, who ran for 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season at Florida, will compete with Lamar Miller, a 2012 fourth-round pick, and Daniel Thomas, a 2011 second-round pick, for the starting tailback spot during training camp this summer. Gillislee was drafted in the fifth round this year.
Analysis: We'd be shocked if Gillislee was the starting running back this season, but he doesn't have to leap frog proven veterans. Miller is unproven after barely playing as a rookie, and Thomas has struggled in two years. Still, Miller is expected to start, and Gillislee has the chance to beat out Thomas for the No. 2 job. Keep an eye on what happens, and unless Gillislee somehow ascends to the top of the depth chart he is only worth drafting with a late-round flier in standard leagues. In rookie-only formats take a chance on Gillislee with a second-round pick.
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.
News: As the Jets opened OTA practices on Monday running back Mike Goodson was on the sidelines. Goodson was slated to work in the rotation at running back but was arrested last week on drug and weapon charges. There's been speculation that Goodson's spot on the roster is in jeopardy because of his incident.
Analysis: By not practicing, Goodson can't get hurt. Players who get hurt practicing are promised the entirety of their annual contract. This suggests the Jets are non-committal to Goodson at this point and could move on from him. With Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight still on the roster, Goodson could be cut without much worry from the coaches or front office. We'll see what happens but Goodson shouldn't be on anyone's Fantasy team.
News: 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.
News: The Denver Post reports Broncos running back Willis McGahee is not expected to attend Monday's OTA workout. The voluntary session means he could practice away from the team. McGahee was present for Broncos OTA workouts last year. His agent told the paper that he'll attend. "He's following the same routine he's done his whole career. He'll be there," agent Chafie Fields said. "He's ready to compete. No messages."
Analysis: McGahee is assumed to be headed toward a limited role in Denver with rookie Montee Ball added in the draft. Broncos exec John Elway referred to McGahee as "that big back for us right now" about a month ago. Landing a lot of carries will be a challenge for him as he not only deals with a younger back who could supplant him but also coming back from a broken leg and torn MCL. While Ball is drawing plenty of attention in Fantasy, McGahee has turned into a late-round depth-filler with very limited potential.
News: The Denver Post reports Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno should be ready for offseason workouts this week after suffering a knee injury in the playoff loss to Baltimore. Moreno could be fighting for his roster spot with Willis McGahee after the Broncos drafted Montee Ball. The report says "there isn't much doubt" the Broncos want Ball and Ronnie Hillman be their 1-2 running punch.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Moreno and McGahee heading into training camp, and hopefully the Broncos make it easier on owners to know who will make the final team. If Moreno is still with Denver once the season starts we expect him to provide a veteran presence behind Ball and Hillman but get little work. He is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues.
News: According to mlive.com, Reggie Bush could be in line for a breakout season. The report says Bush was a solid contributor in Miami, but Detroit's offense is built for his skill set. Bush will play in an offense similar to the one he excelled in during his standout years in New Orleans. He also will not have to worry about competing for playing time, which occurred during the end of his career with the Saints. The report ends with this line: "Detroit has so many weapons, Bush will rarely see stacked boxes, which might make him, and those who own him in Fantasy Football, very happy."
Analysis: We agree with this report that Bush should have a good season with the Lions. He is expected to start ahead of Mikel Leshoure, and coach Jim Schwartz said Bush could be in line for as many as 80 catches. We consider Bush a solid No. 2 Fantasy running back in standard leagues with the chance to be a No. 1 option in PPR formats. He's worth drafting as early as Round 3 in standard leagues.
