Per the official team website, Cowboys RB Tony Pollard is medically cleared to begin training camp. Pollard sustained a broken fibula in the team's playoff loss to the 49ers in January and required surgery. He'll enter 2023 as the Cowboys' RB1 and play on a $10.1 million franchise tag. While it's still unclear who'll end up spelling Pollard and help shoulder the workload, this is excellent news for fantasy managers to see. We feel confident Pollard will be a stellar fantasy asset this upcoming season. See where he sits in our current RB rankings.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor has been placed on the PUP list ahead of training camp. The former All-Pro back missed the last three games of 2022 with an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. We'll keep an eye on how quickly he'll be able to return to the practice field and ramp up action.
The Giants are starting WR Sterling Shepard on the PUP list for training camp. That's no shock. Shepard's 2022 ended with a torn left ACL. And that followed a 2021 Achilles' tendon tear. We'll see how soon Shepard can return to action in 2023. Don't be surprised if he has a low-impact season in a suddenly crowded WR corps, though.
The Giants have placed WR Wan'Dale Robinson on the PUP list for the start of training camp. This isn't a surprise, given that Robinson is coming off an ACL tear. We'll see how soon he's ready to return to action.
The 49ers don't expect Edge Nick Bosa to report with the rest of the team for the start of training camp. There's no injury to worry about, though. GM John Lynch says the two sides are trying to find the "sweet spot" on a long-term extension that's a "little more complicated," according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Bosa has shown throughout his still-young career that he can deliver even after limited practice time. So this shouldn't alter your draft plans in your IDP league. Bosa hasn't moved in our IDP rankings.
The Cowboys and CB Trevon Diggs have agreed to a five-year extension worth $97 million (plus incentives), according to multiple reports. The $19.4 million annual average ties Diggs for fifth at the position. The deal comes as no surprise. Diggs heads into just his fourth year and won't turn 25 until late September. He announced himself to the public with a league-leading 11 INTs in 2021. That number (predictably) tumbled in 2022, but Diggs improved in coverage. One measure: He allowed a career-low 12.1 yards per catch, down drastically from 18.7 in 2021. Diggs also saw 10 fewer targets in coverage last season despite playing 80 more snaps in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. Expect the young CB to remain an inconsistent contributor in fantasy football leagues. Diggs sits low in our 2023 IDP rankings.
The 49ers have cleared QB Brock Purdy (elbow) for training camp. He’s expected to be on a pitch count, throwing for two days, followed by one day of rest. HC Kyle Shanahan said they hope to have Purdy throw without restriction in about two weeks. It’s an excellent development for the 2nd-year QB, who’s avoided setbacks in his recovery. Purdy remains the favorite to start Week 1.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid revealed Tuesday that WR Kadarius Toney has had surgery to clean up the cartilage in his troublesome knee. It's the same knee in which Toney had another "cleanup" procedure this offseason. Reid says "there's a chance" Toney could be ready for the start of the regular season. That means you shouldn't bet on him being there. Look for Toney to slide down our WR rankings. His absence through camp and preseason action will present opportunity in a WR corps with roles up for grabs. Just watch the ADP moves on players such as Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice, to see if anyone starts getting into overvalued range. We'll keep our eyes on reports of roles and summer performances.
The Cardinals will be signing TE Geoff Swaim, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Swaim -- who will turn 30 on Sept. 16 -- spent the past three years in Tennessee, after one with Jacksonville and four in Dallas. He caught just 12 passes last season, despite leading Titans TEs in playing time. Swaim caught a career-high 31 balls the year before and has reached double digits in just four of eight seasons. His arrival in Arizona could just mean early insurance against Zach Ertz's ACL return -- or it could signal doubt about Ertz's status. Either way, we're not moving Trey McBride down our TE rankings for this signing.
The Falcons begin training camp Wednesday, and it doesn't sound like TE Kyle Pitts will be taking the field right away. "He's still getting back. He's still working," WR Drake London said Tuesday, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "Once he heals up, he's going to be the same Kyle Pitts we all know." We certainly hope that will be the case, but it's worrisome that Pitts isn't yet healed up from a MCL injury that knocked him out in November. Don't be surprised if Pitts slides down our fantasy football rankings a bit in the coming days. Any delay to Pitts' usefulness would likely be good news for London's target share. The WR trailed Pitts in that category before the TE went down last season.
The Commanders are signing WR Byron Pringle to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Pringle spent last season with the Bears but managed just 10 catches for 135 yards on 16 targets across 11 games. Injuries limited his chances to contribute at various points. Pringle has exceeded 13 receptions in just one of his four NFL seasons. So don't bet on a significant contribution in Washington -- barring injury to at least one starter.
Cardinals beat writer Bob McManaman guesses QB Kyler Murray (ACL rehab) will miss the first 3-5 games. “Don’t buy into any of the rumors that may suggest he won’t play a single down during the entire 2023 season,” McManaman writes. Beyond the ACL recovery, Murray will also learn a new system under OC Drew Petzing. Our current QB rankings project 12 games played for Murray.
Bucs RB Sean Tucker has been medically cleared for the start of training camp. A pre-draft physical revealed a heart issue that seemingly had Tucker's football future in jeopardy. "I always knew it was just a matter of time," Tucker said. "When it was right, I was already ready and didn't have to ramp anything up. I was keeping my body right and staying in good condition." We'll keep an eye on Tucker's health and standing in a relatively wide-open Bucs RB room.
Saints WR Michael Thomas is expected to be a full participant for the start of training camp on Wednesday, according to insider Nick Underhill. The key for Thomas will be staying healthy throughout the rest of the year. He's played just 10 games over the past three seasons due to an assortment of injuries. We're skeptical that Thomas can regain pre-injury form or production, especially competing for targets with WR Chris Olave. But Thomas is certainly capable of paying off his ninth-round, WR44 ADP.
The Saints signed TE Jimmy Graham to a one-year deal. Yeah, that Jimmy Graham. The 36-year-old hasn’t played since 2021 when he tallied only 14 catches with the Bears. We’re not counting on Graham to make a fantasy impact alongside Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau.
Patriots HC Bill Belichick said Tuesday that WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is "ready to go" for the start of training camp. JuJu missed most of spring practices dealing with the knee injury he suffered in last year's AFC Championship Game. We'll see if it becomes an issue again at any point ahead of Week 1. Smith-Schuster isn't an exciting fantasy pick but does project as the favorite to lead New England in targets this year.
Lions WR Jameson Williams suffered a leg injury on Monday and is expected to miss the next couple of days, HC Dan Campbell said. This obviously doesn't sound like a serious issue, but Williams could use all the reps he can get after playing just 78 snaps in his 2022 rookie campaign. He, of course, is suspended for the first six games of this season for violating the league's gambling policy. We'll let you know when Williams gets back on the practice field.
Jets WR Corey Davis shared his thoughts following an offseason of trade/cut rumors. “All of that was out of my control,” Davis said. “It was kind of a long offseason. There was a point where there was uncertainty. Obviously, with all the moves going on, it’s hard not to think that. It’s still a business, but I’m happy to be here. Happy they kept me.” New York added WRs Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. But HC Robert Saleh said all offseason that the team intended to keep Davis. The 28-year-old is under contract for one more season, and he’s essentially free in current fantasy drafts.
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles told reporters Tuesday morning that WR Russell Gage has a "little bit ways to go" to be healthy enough for training-camp practices. Gage likely has more missed practice days than receptions since joining Tampa Bay last offseason. Fortunately, he sits at the very end of drafts in ADP -- when he gets selected at all. Don't expect Gage to be an impactful fantasy asset for 2023.
The Giants and RB Saquon Barkley have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That total would beat the RB franchise tag by a little, and the two sides had passed the league deadline for a long-term contract. Most importantly for fantasy football managers, the agreement means Barkley will start training camp -- and, barring injury, the season -- on time. Uncertainty over his contract has pushed Barkley later in Round 2 in many recent drafts. He's a good pick anywhere in that round, across 1-QB formats. He can even make sense as a Round 1 consideration, according to our 12-team PPR fantasy football draft guide.
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