Cowboys RB Tony Pollard supplied an update on his health. Recall that he sustained a fractured fibula in January. “I’m a little bit ahead of schedule,” Pollard said on Thursday. “I’m not really limited at this point, it’s just being smart with it.” In other words, the 26-year-old is on track for full clearance come training camp. A top-8 fantasy season looks attainable if Pollard’s health cooperates.
Broncos HC Sean Payton said TE Greg Dulcich’s “menu” of routes will be “lengthy.” Payton also said that the second-year TE “has traits that are exciting.” That's a simple fact, as Dulcich recorded an 8.25/10 Relative Athletic Score last year. He’s a TE1 candidate for 2023, and his current ADP looks enticing at TE17.
Browns OC Alex Van Pelt gave his assessment of WR Elijah Moore at OTAs. “He has great flexibility; inside and outside flexibility,” Van Pelt said. “He can run individual routes outside and win out there. He can come into the slot and has the twitch to win in the slot as well. He has excellent hands and a good feel for the game. So, he’s really a complete receiver that can play both inside and out.” Moore’s generated buzz for his early connection with Deshaun Watson. It’s worth noting, though, that Amari Cooper has been limited in practice following offseason core muscle surgery. Still, Moore looks like a strong pick at WR48 on Underdog Fantasy. He sits higher in our WR rankings.
Saints WR Rashid Shaheed said he’s added five pounds this offseason. He now checks in at 6’0, 185 pounds. “It was definitely an emphasis, being a little guy in this league,” he said. “I take a lot of hits. That's why I wanted to add weight.” The 2022 UDFA rehabbed a knee injury over the summer, but he eventually flashed his speed with scores of 44, 53, and 68 yards. “I do think he's a lot more confident in what he's doing,” HC Dennis Allen said. “Obviously, you can see his speed, feel the speed out on the field. We've been able to hit a few explosive plays throughout these last four days. So, I think he's in a good spot right now.” Shaheed is mostly a best ball asset, but that could change if Michael Thomas continues to miss games.
Rams OC Mike LaFleur praised rookie WR Puka Nacua for his efforts at OTAs. “He’s a good-sized kid. He’s got a good frame to him. He catches the ball really effortlessly,” LaFleur said on Wednesday. “He can stay grounded through the catch and so he is doing a good job with it. And particularly moving him around quite a bit, not babying him at all with the motions and the alignments and stuff like that and so he’s doing a good job. You can tell, all you have to do is look at these – especially the young guys – just look at their eyes when they’re in the huddle and you can tell the guys that are swimming, the guys that aren’t and he definitely has a calm demeanor about himself and is fitting in nicely.” Nacua will compete for rotational snaps behind Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson. The 5th-round pick is much more intriguing in dynasty formats.
Retired QB Tom Brady told Robin Lundberg of Sports Illustrated that he’s “certain” he won’t play football again. “I’ve tried to make that clear, and I hate to continue to profess that, ‘cause I’ve already told people that lots of times.” Rumors circulated that Brady, now a part owner of the Raiders, might return to play for the team. We're inclined to believe the 46-year-old (in August) has played his final NFL game.
Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly believes TE Pat Freiermuth will reach 100 catches in 2023. Call it a truly bold prediction. Over the past 10 years, only Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, and Zach Ertz have tallied at least one 100-catch season. Freiermuth hit 60 and 63 catches over his first two NFL seasons. Check the TE rankings to see our detailed projections for Freiermuth.
RB Alexander Mattison sits second on the Vikings' depth chart right now. But he'll climb a peg if RB Dalvin Cook is traded or released. And HC Kevin O'Connell sounds confident that Mattison could handle the lead role. “It’s been really good to see Alex Mattison take a few more reps and really show that all three-down kinda ownership that he’s been capable of for a long time,” O’Connell said Wednesday. Mattison has shown the ability to handle hefty workloads in the past. He's topped 20 touches five times over the last three seasons. His RB29 ADP in recent FFPC drafts will prove to be a bargain if Cook departs before Week 1.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen suggested the team will attempt more deep passes under new OC Kellen Moore. “Obviously, Justin [Herbert] has a cannon,” Allen said. “Mike [Williams] goes deep. He has a new guy named Quentin Johnston. He can go deep. We’re probably going to be going deep.” Justin Herbert wasn’t particularly aggressive last year. Only 9.7% of his attempts traveled 20+ air yards, while his average depth of target (aDOT) sat at just 7.0 yards. But given the arrival of Johnston and a solid O-line, Herbert should be someone you’re targeting in fantasy drafts.
The Broncos signed K Elliott Fry. He's currently the only kicker on the roster after Denver cut Brandon McManus last week. Fry has attempted just six NFL FGs, though, so expect the Broncos to add competition.
Colts WR Josh Downs is missing this week's OTAs with what HC Shane Steichen called "a little bit of a knee issue." That obviously doesn't sound like anything significant, but the missed reps aren't ideal for the rookie. We'll let you know when Downs gets back on the field. If healthy, he has a good shot to win the Week 1 starting slot job. WR Isaiah McKenzie is Downs' primary competition for that spot.
Giants WR Sterling Shepard is running routes in 7-on-7 work, according to insider Art Stapleton. It's good progress as Shepard works back from a torn left ACL suffered on September 26. He re-signed with the Giants in March on a 1-year deal worth just $1.3 million with $0 guaranteed. So Shepard isn't even a lock to make the final roster -- although Stapleton says, "I think the speculation on here about Shep not making the team is very premature. Would not count him out." We'll see, but Shepard isn't worth a pick in early best-ball drafts.
Per Patriots beat writer Mark Daniels, RB Ty Montgomery “looks like the leader” for the team’s third-down back role. The 30-year-old missed nearly all of last year with an injury. Montgomery’s injury history extends well beyond 2022, so he’s far from a lock to cap Rhamondre Stevenson’s upside. Also note: Stevenson proved solid as a pass-catcher in 2022, ranking top-7 among RBs in targets (88), catches (69), and yards (421). We’ll track this storyline throughout training camp.
Steelers WR Calvin Austin said he’s healthy and a full participant in OTAs. The 24-year-old missed last year with a Lisfranc injury requiring surgery. Austin now figures to slot in as the WR4 behind Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson. But further decline from Robinson could supply Austin — an explosive slot —with more opportunities. He’s also competing for a role on returns.
Jets HC Robert Saleh spoke confidently about RB Breece Hall’s chances of playing in the Monday night opener vs. Buffalo. "He looks good. He looks strong. He looks powerful,” Saleh said at OTAs. “He's learning. I'm excited for him to get back on the field. I'm very optimistic he'll be ready for week 1. He's already hitting over 22 [MPH] on the GPS. He looks freaking good." Hall's been setback-free following his late-October ACL/meniscus injury. Now, the second-year pro has about 13 weeks to round into form. He currently projects as a top-12 fantasy RB.
The Athletic’s Nate Taylor believes Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is “skilled enough to be the Chiefs’ top passing option” for two more seasons. “An argument can be made that Mahomes is so brilliant, from the pocket and improvising out of the pocket, that perhaps he and Kelce can continue to connect for at least 1,000 yards the next three years,” Taylor concludes. Kelce, 34 in October, has hit 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons. He showed no signs of decline last year, but that’ll be a topic worth revisiting each offseason. For now, Kelce remains king of the TE rankings.
Bengals WR Tyler Boyd addressed his contract situation on Tuesday. The 28-year-old is entering the final year of a 4-year, $43 million deal. “I know I’m going to be a free agent next year, and at the end of the day, it will come down to money,” he said. “I have a great, strong feeling that they will come with an offer to where it’s still going to be tough for me to leave ’cause this is my family. I spent my whole career here.” Boyd also admitted he’s behind Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins when it comes to the Bengals’ contract priorities. For 2023, at least, Boyd remains a bench stash who's best utilized when either Higgins or Ja’Marr Chase are inactive.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer spoke to NFL executives on free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins and found mixed opinions on what the 31-year-old has left in the tank. “Not much," one executive said. "He can’t run anymore.” Another was more optimistic: “He’s still a good player. Good route runner, big, physical target that can play a ball in the air. He’s still a threat.” The Cardinals spent the offseason trying to trade Hopkins but found no suitors willing to pay his $19.45 million salary. Per Breer, the Chiefs and Bills were the only two teams that engaged Arizona in trade talks. Those two teams sound like two of the favorites to sign Hopkins now that he's a free agent. Either landing spot would be good for his fantasy football value. Stay tuned.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is not at this week's OTAs. "I hope to see him as soon as possible," HC Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday. "But I think as we work towards minicamp we'll have a real clean cut plan of what that looks like, and hopefully get some work ... It's one of those things that we've had great dialogue throughout the offseason. A lot of that will stay between Justin and I. But I just know that he's getting work, wherever he's spending this offseason. Look forward to having him here when he decides to come up." Jefferson's absence is likely related to ongoing contract negotiations. There's been no talk of a holdout at this point, but we'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation. Minnesota's mandatory minicamp is June 13-14.
Vikings WR Jordan Addison is missing this week's OTAs with an undisclosed injury. “We’re being overly cautious with him right now,” HC Kevin O’Connell said. “Something that popped up toward the end of rookie minicamp. Nothing serious at all. Kind of a day-to-day thing that we’re working through.” Addison is at least with the team this week, soaking up the new offense. The missed reps aren't ideal for a rookie, but this doesn't sound like something that'll impact Addison's 2023 campaign. We'll let you know when he gets back on the field.
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