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We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most for you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all of the recent happenings around the league.
The Panthers are unsure when Cam Newton will resume practicing, but are hopeful he can play this Sunday as Carolina chases a playoff spot. The nasty car crash last week with two transverse process fractures in his lower back. This is almost the same injury that Cowboys passer Tony Romo suffered earlier this season. Such bad timing for an unfortunate accident. Ian Rapoport said over the weekend that the Panthers are optimistic Newton will play this week.
Washington head coach Jay Gruden pulls no punches. Last Thursday, Jay Gruden said that he does not need to see any more of quarterback Robert Griffin III III to make a determination about what the quarterback can and cannot do on a football field. Ouch! Gruden is saying he has not confidence in Griffin's ability to lead the lowly team. We have been saying for weeks that one (or both) Griffin or Gruden would be gone after the season. Comments like this one by the coach help us understand the situation even when there are reports (like one last week) that the team might keep the quarterback. Any talk of this kind is an attempt to muster up some trade value, even though there is very little. Griffin could use a change of scenery and sit behind an established quarterback. He played surprisingly well against the Giants Sunday. Arizona and Philadelphia would both be ideal in that coaches Arians and Kelly are great at grooming quarterbacks.
With so much more demand than quality supply of quarterbacks expected on the 2015 free agent marketplace, it was not surprising when Albert Breer reported last week that the Rams would like Sam Bradford back next season, likely with new contract. Bradford is due in excess of $16 million in the last year of his rookie deal. There is little way the oft-injured Bradford will collect that much after suffering in ACL injuries in consecutive seasons.
It was no shocker when the NFL Appeals officer Harold Henderson upheld Adrian Peterson's suspension. After all, Henderson has close ties to Roger Goodell. The superstar runner will not be suspended for the remainder of the season, and he can resume football activities April 15, 2015. It will be interesting to see whether the Vikings are willing to keep Peterson and his huge salary next season.
The groin injury that sidelined Denver tailback Montee Ball twice this season has now landed the former Broncos starter on injured reserve. The outstanding play of C.J. Anderson has minimized the need to rush Ball back. Plus, Ronnie Hillman should return shortly, adding depth to the running back position.
Kevin Acee, who covers the Chargers, is one of the better NFL beat writers. Acee said last week that he does not anticipate San Diego re-signing impending free agent running back Ryan Mathews. This is understandable as Mathews has been injured often with only one strong season under his belt. The former first round pick will find a market for his service, even though a lucrative contract is not expected. After all, he has played all sixteen games just once and is not getting any younger.
One of the running backs who could have breakout next season is Denard Robinson of the Jaguars. Toby Gerhart and the rest of the Jacksonville ball carriers are barely average. This past week, though, Robinson was placed on injured reserve with a mid-foot sprain. Still transitioning to the running back position after playing quarterback in college, Robinson could garner a larger role in 2015.
We recently wrote that Oakland receiver Rod Streater was back practicing after his foot injury and could play this season. He has been out of action since Week 3 and has been unable to get healthy. Well, it was determined this past week that Streater will not return to the field in 2014. He is a restricted free agent this offseason and should be back in Oakland for 2015.
As though being in the coach's doghouse was not sufficient, Raiders wide receiver Denarius Moore suffered ankle and knee injuries falling down the stairs at the team's hotel a week ago. After he showed so much potential early in his career, Moore has not been able to see the field much the last two seasons. The good news is that he will be a free agent in the offseason and will jettison out of Oakland as quickly as possible.
Few players in the history of the NFL have gone from mountaintop to the valley like wide receiver Mike Williams, who was injury/waived last week by the Buffalo Bills with a calf injury. Not one of the other 31 teams claimed Williams due to his staggering guaranteed $5 million salary for 2015. He now goes to the injured reserve list for Buffalo. After a great rookie season, Williams has just 30 receptions in the past three seasons. With the receiver-deprived Bills releasing Williams, it sends a signal that he has little left to offer.
It was great to hear Ravens coach John Harbaugh tell reporters last week that tight end Dennis Pitta should return for the 2015 season. There has been doubt as Pitta suffered his second hip dislocation and fractures in as many years. Pitta has been dropped in some leagues. Now is the time to target him on the cheap in hopes of getting a starting tight end for next year.
One of the more disappointing young tight ends has been Vance McDonald of the 49ers. He has struggled with dropped passes and has not been able to assert himself into a larger role in the offense. This past week, McDonald was placed on injured reserve with a back injury. Beat reporter Can Inman suggests that the injury should not impact McDonald's offseason or the 2015 season. At this point, it is difficult to recommend McDonald as a dynasty option going forward.
Detroit Lions tight end Joseph Fauria originally injured his ankle while tripping over a pet months ago. He has not been able to get healthy and was finally placed on injured reserve. After showing off his touchdown dance seven times as a rookie in 2013, Fauria only caught six total passes in 2014. Rookie Eric Ebron should limit any upside Fauria possesses going forward.
Injuries to monitor
Nick Foles: Collarbone
Matt Cassel: Foot
Carson Palmer: Knee
Knowshon Moreno: Knee
Montee Ball: Groin
Ryan Mathews: Knee
Stevan Ridley: Knee
Ahmad Bradshaw: Fibula/Ankle
C.J. Spiller: Collarbone
Fred Jackson: Groin
Danny Woodhead: Ankle
Victor Cruz: Knee
Allen Robinson: Foot
Marvin Jones: Foot/Ankle
Jordan Cameron: Concussion
Tyler Eifert: Elbow
Feel free to email me (Tefertiller@Footballguys.com) with feedback. Also, I am on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/JeffTefertiller), LinkedIn, and Google+, so you can ask me questions on one of these as well. Subscribe to the Footballguys Dynasty-centered Google Hangouts.