News: The
New York Daily News reports that Giants receiver
Hakeem Nicks said he's finally fully healthy. Nicks said he hasn't had any problems with the knee that bothered him throughout last season, and that he's feeling "as good as I've felt in awhile."
Analysis: It sounds like Nicks is well on his way to putting last year’s disappointment – 53 catches for 692 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games – in the past. If he's able to rebound at 100 percent then Nicks can return as a must-start Fantasy option, but he has to prove he can stay healthy, which has been a problem his entire career. We view Nicks as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver. His value might improve to be a No. 2 option by Draft Day, but plan on drafting Nicks with a mid-round pick and hope he doesn't suffer any setbacks with his knee.
News: 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.
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.
News: The
Philadelphia Daily News reports Eagles running back
LeSean McCoy's knee is OK following discomfort at practice on Monday. He was back at practice on Tuesday.
Analysis: We assumed McCoy was OK in the first place. Hopefully he stays that way as he figures to be a very integral part of the Eagles' new offense under coach Chip Kelly, which is very run-heavy. 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.
Big Ben digs 'better' playbook
Steelers, TQB PIT,
10:09 AM
News: 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.
Fox: Broncos to 'play much faster'
Broncos, TQB DEN,
9:42 AM
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.
King has knee surgery
Jeff King, TE, ARI
9:32 AM
News: Cardinals tight end
Jeff King had knee surgery earlier this offseason and might miss the start of training camp according to the
Arizona Republic.
Analysis: King might be the NFL veteran with the most playing time and least Fantasy relevance. He needs a nickname in tune with that, maybe email us some suggestions. With 156 catches and 12 touchdowns in seven seasons (84 starts!) we just don't expect him to become relevant for Fantasy purposes. Leave him off rosters.
News: The Raiders have re-signed
Charles Woodson, giving him a one-year deal to play safety. Woodson was originally drafted fourth overall by the Raiders in 1998.
Analysis: We'll probably see Woodson start as a safety and potentially play as a nickel cornerback. He'll turn 37 this season and hasn't been able to stay healthy for long periods of time so there's some risk in leaning on him in Fantasy. Ideally your best move is to draft him late as a Fantasy backup DB.
News: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told the media Tuesday running back
DeMarco Murray tweaked a hamstring over the last week. The team opted to be conservative with him and had him sit out practice on Tuesday. Murray was spotted on the sidelines during the Cowboys' first day of OTA workouts.
Analysis: Murray's injury history goes a long way back -- and the Cowboys know it. Keeping him healthy will be a tough chore for the next several months but taking careful, proactive steps like this will keep him from being absent. His health will remain key as he's missed nine games over his first two seasons in the league and has had the injury bug biting him going back to his high school days. But Murray had 10-plus Fantasy points in half of his 10 games last season and has the confidence of the coaching staff. He's a moderately risky No. 2 Fantasy running back expected to get taken between 25th and 40th overall on Draft Day.
News: The media got to check out the Patriots' second day of OTA workouts in New England. The
Boston Globe reports new Pats wideout
Danny Amendola spent a lot of time with
Tom Brady, working primarily in the slot. According to the Patriots' official website Amendola looked sharp, ran his routes well and got in and out of his breaks quickly. He appeared comfortable which shouldn't be surprising given his past work in Josh McDaniels' offense. "It's familiar," Amendola said. "When Josh was in St. Louis, I got to know it pretty good. It's a little more intricate out here. It's something to grasp. I'm learning every day. It's the verbiage. That's the most important thing, the vocabulary of the offense. I'm learning, day in and day out, studying at night."
Analysis: Amendola is vitally important to the Patriots' offense after the team let Wes Welker go in free agency last year. It's tough to expect Amendola to completely replace Welker in their scheme but he has the potential to be a major factor if he can stay healthy. That's a big if -- he's missed 20 games over the last two seasons. So long as you accept Amendola as an injury-risk who doesn't have the experience of being a volume receiver like Welker, you'll be fine. Amendola is safest as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver with a pick in Round 7 or 8.
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