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 Robert Griffin III III saga in Washington has been epic. He went from having the public support of the coaching staff to the bench, possibly for the entire season. Griffin's concussion only made the situation murkier. Even with the demotion, there was a report by Adam Schefter saying some in the organization wanted to cut ties with the former first round pick. The team was unable to pull off a trade to rid the team of the circus, but one thing is for certain: there will be more drama. Kirk Cousins is not a NFL starter and will be shown as such in short order. There is a real chance that Colt McCoy starts games this season. Let that sink in. We expect Griffin to be traded before the trade deadline, even if for a conditional late draft pick.
The Seattle Seahawks signed tailback Fred Jackson to a one-year contract. He is reunited with fellow ex-teammate Marshawn Lynch. They played together in Buffalo early in their respective careers. Jackson is 34 years of age and should not be counted on as anything more than a quality handcuff for Lynch. Robert Turbin was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. This leaves undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls as the third back. The team LOVES Rawls and he will benefit from having two great examples to learn from each day at practice. Rawls could be the starter as early as next season. He is a player to acquire on the cheap, if possible.
In a related move, the Seahawks traded Christine Michael to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a conditional late-round pick. The trade shows confidence in Rawls. This move was rumored after Seattle signed Jackson, but still comes as a bit of a surprise. Michael's presence could shake up the Cowboys running back depth chart. It would be hard to fully defend any of the incumbent ball carriers after this move. The situation looks like a big committee, with Randle getting the most carriers in first couple of weeks and Michael catching up by week three. We expect Michael to have a legitimate chance to be a star by midseason.
Montee Ball was waived as the Broncos needed to get to the roster limit. This move was anticipated after Ball was passed on the depth chart by Ronnie Hillman. Keep an eye on Juwan Thompson, who would benefit if C.J Anderson were to be injured. Thompson has looked good in preseason and is a great fit for coach Kubiak's zone blocking system, something Ball was not. Making matters worse, Ball passed through waivers unclaimed.
The New York Jets placed running back Stevan Ridley on the reserve/PUP list since he has been slow to get back on the field after the knee injury suffered late last year. Ridley was signed from the Patriots and will be a great addition to the New York offense. The reserve/PUP list means he must sit out the first six games of the season. This will allow Ridley time to get fully healthy. His absence should allow Chris Ivory to solidify his spot as the primary ball carrier for the team. Zac Stacy and Bilal Powell will serve as reserves until Ridley gets back.
Dolphins rookie RB Jay Ajayi suffered multiple cracked ribs in last Thursday night's preseason finale. The injury landed the rookie on the injured reserve/designated to return. This means he will be eligible to return for the week-ten game. The fifth round pick in last spring's NFL Draft played well in preseason after finally returning from a hamstring injury. Many thought Ajayi would be drafted higher, but the injury concerns were one of the main reasons cited for his slipping in the NFL Draft. Damien Williams makes a great pickup while Ajayi is out. Williams will backup Lamar Miller and play a regular role in the Miami offense.
The Tennessee Titans had a flurry of activity at the deadline to trim rosters. The team placed rookie runner David Cobb on injured reserve/designated to return list, then traded a conditional seventh round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Terrance West. There was even a report of Jonas Gray working out for the Titans. This backfield looks like a hot mess. The starter, Bishop Sankey, is not overly talented and the team is looking for options. West struggled with consistency during his time in Cleveland so the new start might be a great change for him.
It has been a whirlwind for wide receiver James Jones. After getting released by the New York Giants, the veteran pass catcher got on a plane and headed to Wisconsin to visit the Green Bay Packers, his former team. It did not take long for the two sides to work out a deal. Jones could be fantasy viable as he fights for targets with Davante Adams and Randall Cobb. The Cobb injury scare a few days ago only illustrates the upside Jones could possess in the Green Bay offense.
Keep a close watch on rookie receiver Breshad Perriman who has been slow to return from his sprained PCL. Beat writer Jamison Hensley reported last week that Perriman could be out until October. While possessing all of the physical tools, Perriman is missing an opportunity to refine his skills as he came into the NFL fairly raw. Missing training camp will slow his development. He could become a great dynasty buy target after the first few games are missed and his owners get anxious.
There was an interesting article in the Denver Post last week suggesting second-year receiver Cody Latimer might not open the season as the Broncos WR3. This would be a surprise given his competition is only Andre Caldwell and Jordan Norwood. The Denver WR3 has fantasy upside and is definitely a situation to monitor as the season progresses.
The New England Patriots placed wide receiver Brandon LaFell on the reserve/PUP list as he has been slow to recover from a foot injury. Per usual, the team has been secretive about the injury. LaFell was spotted with a walking boot on this summer. He can re-join the team after the first six games of the season. LaFell's absence means Julian Edelman is the lone legitimate receiver for the Patriots. Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson should see the field some, but Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski, and the backs should see most of the targets.
Tampa Bay placed rookie receiver WR Kenny Bell on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was leading in the fight for the WR3 job before hurting his hamstring. We like his chances of coming back strong in 2016.
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