Zegura, Richard chat replay (12/21)
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: 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.
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: USA Today reports that Giants chairman Steve Tisch remains confident a deal with receiver Victor Cruz is coming soon. "We're talking. (Cruz's agent) Tom Condon is talking to (Giants general manager) Jerry (Reese) and I'm personally confident that Victor wants to be a Giant, will be a Giant," Tisch said. "He's a great guy. It's just taking its time." The report says Cruz and the Giants have made some progress but a deal isn't imminent, despite a report from the New York Post stating the sides were at the "2-yard line." At this point, it seems they're barely in the red zone, but things could change as the spring winds down. Cruz has yet to sign the tender he was extended as a restricted free agent that would pay him $2.879 million. The Giants could lower the rate to $630,000 if Cruz hasn't signed by June 17, but that might only strain the negotiations.
Analysis: We hope that Cruz is signed prior to training camp because we don't want to see a potential holdout. Continue to monitor what develops, and if Cruz signs on time then he would remain a high-end No. 2 Fantasy receiver worth a pick as early as Round 4. If he ends up holding out then his value will decline.
News: The official team website reports that for the first time in voluntary offseason workouts, Bills receiver Stevie Johnson was on the field Tuesday doing individual drills. He had been forced to watch previous practices because of a lower back injury. Johnson doesn't know if he'll be back on the field in the coming days. "(Tuesday) was random,” said Johnson. "I wasn't even supposed to do what I did and I ended up getting through it. So we’ll see. I’ll just play it by ear and continue working on it and we’ll see what happens for the rest of the week and minicamp."
Analysis: Any steps Johnson can take to be ready for the summer are good news to Fantasy owners. Johnson looks like a solid No. 3 Fantasy receiver with upside. He has at least 76 catches, 1,004 yards and six touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. Johnson has the potential to be around 90 catches, 1,200 yards receiving and double digits in touchdowns, and moving around on offense -- he could play in the slot -- should help his cause. He is worth drafting with a mid-round pick in all leagues.
News: The Browns have waived safety Eric Hagg.
Analysis: A year ago Hagg was competing for a starting job, today he's on the street. He shouldn't be a part of Fantasy rosters.
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: 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.
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.
