49ers TE George Kittle -- along with LB Fred Warner -- is sitting out OTAs with what HC Kyle Shanahan called a "lower-half" issue. "Both have similar issues, so we’re being smart with them," Shanahan said. "Could go. Being smart. Good chance we’ll hold them out until training camp. ... They’ll be alright." It doesn't sound like this is something that'll impact Kittle's 2022 season, but we'll keep an eye on him when the 49ers open training camp.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has been impressed by WR Christian Kirk this offseason. "He’s great. Just from a football IQ sense, I think he’s really quarterback friendly," Lawrence said. "The way he sees the field, different coverages unfold, the way he runs his routes, I just think he’s quarterback friendly. And then obviously his speed is something that we really needed and it’s going to help us a lot." Jacksonville gave Kirk a boatload of money in free agency -- $72 million over 4 years, with $37 million guaranteed -- making him the favorite to lead the team's WRs in targets this season. Kirk is a solid value at his 11th-round ADP in FFPC best-ball drafts.
Saints QB Jameis Winston was a limited participant in OTAs this week, according to The Athletic's Katherine Terrell. Winston took part in individual drills, 7-on-7s and some 11-on-11s but was sporting a "bulky" brace and had a noticeable limp, per Terrell. Winston just resumed running earlier this month after last October's season-ending left knee injury. “The biggest thing about my specific injury was the meniscus,” Winston told reporters. “It wasn’t the ACL and MCL. The MCL actually healed on its own before surgery and the ACL, Dr. Neal ElAttrache did a phenomenal job. … It was a pretty simple procedure. But the meniscus repair has been the biggest limiter for me right now, in terms of moving, rolling out, in terms of certain movements that I’m not able to do just because of the timetable of the recovery. But my ACL is very stable, my MCL is very stable. Right now I’m building around and fighting with the meniscus.” The fact that Winston was on the field at all in May is a positive sign. We're expecting him to be under center for the Saints come Week 1.
The NFL announced changes to the 2022 IR rules, the most notable being that designated-to-return players must miss at least 4 games. It was a minimum of 3 games last season. Also noteworthy: A player can now be designated-to-return twice per season, rather than just once. These changes will be worth keeping in mind as you make roster moves during this coming fantasy football season.
Niners TE George Kittle said this week that QB Trey Lance appears to be taking over the offense. “I definitely think he’s taken ownership, for sure,” Kittle said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “You can kind of tell that in meetings, he’ll talk. He’s assuming responsibility. … He’s letting his personality show a little bit. And he’s going to be out there slinging the rock around.” Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the San Francisco roster, but we'll be surprised if Lance isn't the Week 1 starter. The current uncertainty is keeping Lance outside the top 12 at QB in best-ball drafting.
The Browns have agreed to a 4-year, $56.75 million extension with TE David Njoku, NFL Network reports. The deal includes $28 million guaranteed and makes him the league's 5th highest paid TE by annual average. Njoku looks like a 2022 breakout candidate and sits inside the top 15 of our dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Saints HC Dennis Allen told reporters Thursday that WR Michael Thomas "isn't ready yet," according to John Hendrix of SI.com. Allen added that he expects to have Thomas back in time for training camp. That kind of report on a veteran this time of year is often not a big deal, but Thomas missed all of last season with an ankle injury that dates all the way back to Week 1 of 2020. So we'll consider him high risk at least until he's back on the field -- and probably even after that.
Cowboys WR James Washington had a walking boot on his left foot at team OTAs Wednesday, according to multiple reports. The team refused to reveal Washington's specific injury, but Pro Football Talk says multiple outlets point to tendinitis. Washington called it "nothing serious, more precautionary" afterward, according to SI.com. The wideout added that he expects to be back soon. With Michael Gallup coming of an ACL tear, we'll be interested to track Washington's status leading up to training camp. There figure to be some early-season targets available in Dallas.
The Falcons announced Thursday that LB Deion Jones will miss the entire offseason program after undergoing shoulder surgery. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the team does expect Jones to be ready for the start of training camp. Assuming no setbacks in his rehab process, this may not be such a big deal for the 7th-year veteran. The most significant question on Jones is whether he makes it to the regular season on Atlanta's roster.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan still believes QB Jimmy Garoppolo will be traded. "I expect at sometime, most likely, he’ll be traded but, who knows,” Shanahan said of the veteran passer. “That’s not a guarantee. It went on hold when it (surgery) happened. When he’s healthy we’ll see what happens.” Carolina and Seattle make the most sense as potential landing spots. But this has the potential to drag out for months.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire revealed on the Arrowhead Addict podcast that he missed a bunch of time last offseason after undergoing gallbladder surgery in early March. "My gall bladder completely stopped working," CEH said. "I was down to about 160 pounds... I didn’t run, didn’t do anything all the way up until [OTAs] and was still dealing with stitches and recovery over the course of the summer.” That can at least be partly to blame for Edwards-Helaire's underwhelming 2021 campaign. This will actually be his 1st full offseason with the Chiefs, and Edwards-Helaire says he's "completely healthy." He added, "This offseason is gonna be perfect for me to do the things I need to do to have the season I feel like I should have." There remains plenty of fantasy appeal here -- largely because of the offense CEH is operating in. And he's cheaper than ever, with a 7th-round ADP in FFPC best-ball drafts.
Patriots TE Jonnu Smith is soaking up all the reps he can get in OTAs after missing time last offseason. “My [2021 offseason] was choppy and I missed some quality time here. I recognize how valuable that time is. I’m here to take advantage of that," Smith said Monday. After inking a 4-year, $50 million deal with New England last year, Smith's 2021 campaign was a disaster. He turns just 27 in August, though, and is at least worth keeping an eye on this summer.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel is participating in this week's OTAs. That's notable because he was available for only 84 snaps all last season due to a lingering groin injury that required offseason surgery. “I’m great," Samuel told reporters Tuesday. "Y’all saw me flying around out there." Samuel faces added target competition with the arrival of 1st-round rookie WR Jahan Dotson. But Washington gave him a 3-year, $34.5 million contract with $23 million guaranteed last offseason, so we're expecting him to be a significant part of the offense -- barring injury.
The Cardinals have agreed to a deal with former Chiefs RB Darrel Williams, according to Jordan Schultz. Williams delivered double-digit PPR points 9 times from Week 4 on, including 4 outings of more than 15.5 points (Top-12 level). A Week 5 hip injury to Clyde Edwards-Helaire helped boost Williams' role, and a December shoulder injury for CEH allowed Williams to star in Week 17. He looks like the best bet to back up James Conner in Arizona, with better size than Eno Benjamin and no less receiving upside. Rookie Keaontay Ingram is also in the competition for roles.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor confirmed on Tuesday that WR Tee Higgins (shoulder) is on track to be ready for training camp. Higgins underwent surgery to repair his left labrum in March and is doing rehab work at this week's OTA sessions. We'll continue to monitor his progress, but Higgins is fine to draft at ADP in early best balls.
The Ravens on Tuesday announced a contract agreement with CB Kyle Fuller. The 30-year-old starting 10 games with the Broncos last season but saw his playing time dwindle late in the year. He spent nearly all of the previous 6 seasons starting for the Bears. Fuller should compete for the 3rd corner spot in Baltimore this summer, which can be a fantasy-relevant role for deeper IDP leagues.
ESPN's John Keim writes that the touch count "should remain high" for Commanders RB Antonio Gibson this season but that "his usage could vary weekly." That comes after the team drafted Alabama RB Brian Robinson in Round 3, an addition that has elicited multiple comparisons to former Panthers RB duo DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Keim specifically highlights Robinson's power and short-yardage potential. That could vulture goal-line touches from Gibson, who has racked up 18 TDs on the ground through 2 seasons. Add the return of J.D. McKissic, and it's easy to see the risk factors on Gibson's 2022 workload. His best-ball ADP has dipped significantly since the NFL Draft. We'll see where he settles as summer approaches.
The Colts on Tuesday announced the signing of RB Ty'Son Williams. The former Ravens RB failed to take over the top backfield spot when given the opportunity early last season in Baltimore, winding up 5th on the team in carries. With the Colts, Williams figures to compete with Phillip Lindsay for a spot on the game-day roster -- barring further additions at the position. The 2 look like similar special-teams prospects. That could be a key area to determining who sticks on the roster.
Falcons beat writer Jeff Schultz of The Athletic calls LB Deion Jones "almost certain" to leave the team as a post-June 1 cut this year. Schultz cites cap relief in 2023 as the primary reason to make such a move, rather than keep the veteran around until next season. Trading Jones at that point would help the team's cap situation even further, but it's tough to imagine another team taking on the bloated salary for a non-edge LB. We'll see, of course, whether this actually comes to fruition. And the decision (either way) should come well before most IDP leagues are drafting for 2022. One reasonable reaction now, though, would be to move 2nd-round rookie LB Troy Andersen up your dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said RB Rashaad Penny is resting a slight hamstring issue. We’d typically avoid posting about a minor injury in May, but we’re talking about Rashaad Penny here. If he misses significant time in OTAs, we’ll let you know. Following the addition of Kenneth Walker, Penny looks like just a depth option in fantasy.
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