We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most to 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 the recent happenings around the league.
The Jared Goff contract extension went relatively unnoticed given the dollars involved. Last week, Los Angeles handed Goff a four-year, $134 million contract extension, which includes $110 million guaranteed. That is the highest guarantees in league history. The extension means that Goff will be with the Rams through the 2024 season and will make a whopping $161 million during the next six seasons. The bar is now set. We expect this contract to be eclipsed very soon. With the rapid rise in salary cap the past few years, the quarterback salaries are about to explode. This is just the beginning.
Reporter Ralph Vacchiano reported last week that the New York Giants will start Eli Manning under center as long as the team is in the playoff race. This should not take too long. The quarterback debate has been hotly discussed in the Big Apple. The team drafted Daniel Jones and he will start several games this season. The question is only a matter of when. With top receiver Golden Tate suspended for the first month, we do not expect Jones to replace a healthy Manning until October. The schedule does not let up after the lopsided loss to Dallas. Manning may get to finish his career outside of New York if Jones plays well as a rookie. The veteran passer does not seem like the type of player to enjoy holding the clipboard and supporting the youngster day-in, day-out.
After Nick Foles exited the loss to Kansas City with a clavicle injury, rookie Gardner Minshew completed 22 of his 25 pass attempts for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Minshew will be a hot pick up in super-flex leagues. The caution for fantasy owners should be how the conservative Jacksonville will look to establish a running game to take the pressure off the youngster.
After the Ezekiel Elliott holdout, trips to Cabo to train, and much lip-service in the media, the two sides were able to agree on a six-year, $90 million contract extension. If the $15 million average per season was not market-setting enough, the contract includes $50 million in guarantees. The 24-year-old Elliott gets the contract he desired – bigger than that of Todd Gurley – and the Cowboys are now left to lock up Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. The Cowboys offense goes through the running game and Elliott is primed for a big season.
Last year, the San Francisco 49ers gave Jerick McKinnon big money and the former Viking has yet to take the field for the team. Last week, McKinnon underwent another knee surgery. He will spend the 2019 season the same place he spent the 2018 year – on injured reserve. If released, McKinnon would only cost the team $4 million in dead money. The crack beat writers were all over the story last week. Chris Biderman tweeted, “RB Jerick McKinnon was back in the #49ers locker room today on crutches with a heavy brace. He had surgery on his right knee Tuesday. He said the procedure wasn’t to fix his previously torn ACL and he’s maintaining optimism heading into rehab.” Then Matt Maiocco tweeted, “Jerick McKinnon underwent surgery on his right knee on Tuesday. Now, he’s focused on his mental state and returning to full strength for the 2020 season. Will he be back with the #49ers.” The play of Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman will dictate the team’s desire to retain McKinnon. Plus, we have no way of knowing how much of his explosiveness has been sapped by the surgeries. The 49ers are a team in transition playing in a strong division.
Adam Schefter was the first to report on Julio Jones’ monster contract extension last weekend. He tweeted, “Atlanta and Pro-Bowl WR Julio Jones just reached agreement on a landmark three-year, $66 million extension that includes $66 million guaranteed - $64 million of which is due at signing, sources tell @mortreport and me. It ties together the two sides for the next five seasons.” Getting most of the contract guaranteed is a huge win for the players’ union. Experienced fans and fantasy owners know that NFL contracts are only as good as the guarantees included. Schefter also tweeted this gem, “On Julio Jones’ three-year extension, 97 percent of the deal is guaranteed at signing; the previous high guarantee at signing for a non-QB was Trey Flowers at 74 percent.” Jones will be 36 years of age at the end of the contract so there is some risk for the Falcons. He has endured his share of injuries, but the team is looking at a closing window with Matt Ryan throwing the ball to the future Hall of Fame receiver.
Jones was not the only big-time receiver to get a big-time three-year extension last week. The Kansas City Chiefs gave Tyreek Hill a three-year deal worth $54 million, including $35 million in guarantees. Given Hill’s off-field issues, we expect much of the contract to have clauses and provisions to protect the team if Hill gets in more trouble. The speedy receiver promptly injured his collarbone in the victory over the Jaguars and will miss a few weeks of action.
The Antonio Brown saga has been epic this offseason. The feet issues after cryotherapy. The helmet debacle. Posting inflammatory messages on social media. But, the altercation with General Manager Mike Mayock, emotionally apologizing to the team, then requesting his release when the Raiders voided the contract guarantees pushed things to a whole new level. Oakland granted Brown’s request and released the receiver on Saturday. Schefter was again out front of things on Twitter, “Drew Rosenhaus: ‘Now that Antonio is a free agent, we are focused on the future and I will immediately work on signing him to a new team. Antonio is looking forward to a new beginning.’” We have to hand it to Rosenhaus. He made lemonade out of lemons by getting Brown a helmet sponsorship deal after Brown refused to wear an approved helmet. The agent also lost 3% of Brown's $30-million salary for 2019, roughly $900,000. Benjamin Allbright tweeted, “Imagine quitting on three teams in a calendar year (Steelers, Bills (refused to play for), and Raiders and not getting that the issue might be....you.” Brown’s lack of accepting personal responsibility has been an underlying issue throughout the last year. Most have forgotten how he refused to go to Buffalo after Pittsburgh had worked out a trade of the All-Pro receiver to the Bills. The Raiders are using Brown’s behavior as “Conduct Detrimental to the Team” as the reason for voiding the contract guaranteed. Former Jets general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, tweeted on the topic, “A key aspect to the Raiders decision making over the next several hours is that it's ultimately up to an Arbitrator to determine what ‘Conduct Detrimental’ is. No matter how bad or unusual they feel the conduct has been, it's ultimately a third party that would make that decision.” He would have been right had this situation been rational. But, as things played out, it was apparent that Brown was playing the Raiders. This was evident when he immediately signed with New England, minutes after the release from Oakland. We would not be surprised if Mayock does not encourage the league to investigate tampering allegations. Brown's presence should impact the 2019 outlook for Demaryius Thomas and NKeal Harry as Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman are locked in. Thomas and Harry are working to get healthy but the urgency has diminished.
Beat reporter Michael-Shawn Dugar reported last week that Seahawks receiver David Moore would miss at least a couple of weeks. He tweeted, “David Moore won’t play this week. He won’t play next week either. Pete sounds optimistic that he’ll have a decent chance to play in the weeks after that.” The fantasy community knows not to trust Pete Carroll’s optimism. Carroll consistently undersells recovery timeframes. With rookie D.K. Metcalf back in the lineup, Moore will not be rushed back. The team will need him for the long season ahead.
With Washington tight end Jordan Reed sitting out the lopsided loss to Philadelphia, Vernon Davis stepped into his stead. He did not even make the flight. This means that the tight end may not be close to returning. Reed suffered his sixth KNOWN concussion a few weeks ago and was unable to get cleared in time for the game. The lack of proven wide receivers should allow Davis (or Reed, if he returns) to gain in target share as the season progresses. He was able to score from 48 yards out against Philadelphia. Davis has fantasy appeal if Reed misses extended action. With the scary long-term implications of concussions, we hope Reed is able to live a symptom-free life after football.
The Rams surprised with another contract extension last week, this time locking up tight end Tyler Higbee to a four-year deal worth more than $31 million and including $15.5 in guarantees. Higbee had not been overly involved in the passing game but was capable as a blocker. Even with Gerald Everett being more athletic, and a darling of the fantasy community, it was Higbee who was given the big money. He was able to catch four passes – including one for a score – on Sunday afternoon. In the end, though, the Rams rarely use the tight end in the passing attack, so this extension likely says more about Everett – and his limited upside – than Higbee.
We had high hopes for rookie tight end, Jace Sternberger. But he has been nicked up almost since the day he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. With 2019 being the last year starter Jimmy Graham is under contract, Sternberger had an opportunity to learn from a great player and eventually replace him. The rookie was placed on injured reserve last week with a left ankle injury. Expectations should be tempered even if Sternberger returns midseason. Most rookies find it difficult to transition to the professional level at the position. Without the ability to practice, it might take another offseason. Graham should be gone by then.
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