Seahawks HC Pete Carroll plans on deploying a committee backfield this season. "We like playing multiple guys, and we don’t have any problem with that at all," Carroll said. "I’ve said it to you a million times. I’m fine going with who is hot. But also, we have to find a way to keep our guys healthy. That’s why the rotation is so important, so we don’t overwork them, particularly early in the year, so we can keep the good momentum building." Seattle spent the 41st overall pick of this year's draft on RB Kenneth Walker. But, prior to that, they gave RB Rashaad Penny a 1-year, $5.75 million contract with a little more than $5 million guaranteed. Penny, of course, closed 2021 with 671 rushing yards over the final 5 games. Seattle also still has RBs Chris Carson, DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer on the roster. We'll see how the backfield shakes out this summer.
Speaking at OTAs, Colts WR Parris Campbell said he’s fully participating in team drills. It’s noteworthy, as Campbell missed most of last season with a foot injury. In fact, through 3 seasons, Campbell’s appeared in only 15 games. If healthy, he could supply some spot-start value for an offense that’s unproven at WR beyond Michael Pittman.
The Eagles have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with CB James Bradberry, according to multiple reports. The Giants recently released the veteran corner primarily for cap savings after being unable to work out a trade. Bradberry will start opposite Darius Slay in an Eagles defense with significant fantasy upside. He has been just OK to this point as an IDP factor but will be worth a look in leagues that require corners.
The Vikings are “excited” to see how 2nd-year WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette develops, per beat writer Chad Graff. Note that Minnesota didn't draft a WR until Round 6 last month (MSU's Jalen Nailor). According to Graff, Smith-Marsette is “part of the reason” new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah opted against adding an impact rookie WR. As things stand now, ISM will battle Bisi Johnson for the Vikings’ WR4 job.
Vikings beat writer Chad Graff writes that RB Dalvin Cook might see more pass-game involvement in 2022. Cook “lined up in bunch wide receiver sets” at minicamp, though Graff admits it might just be some “tinkering” from a new staff. “I don’t want to just sit up here and tell y’all everything,” Cook said. “We’ve got Green Bay Week 1, so we’re gonna wait and see.” The veteran RB saw ~3.8 targets per game last season. Current projections have him at 41 catches (in 14 games).
RB Tarik Cohen ruptured his Achilles while working out on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. That figures to cost Cohen, who's currently unsigned, the entire 2022 season. Cohen hasn't played since tearing an ACL in September of 2020. He turns 27 in July and looks like a long shot to make a meaningful fantasy contribution again.
Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo believes QB Kenny Pickett must “blow their doors off to beat out [Mitch] Trubisky to start the season opener.” We’d be surprised if Pickett doesn’t start games in 2022. But the point stands that Trubisky — with 50 career starts — has the upper hand early on. Our current QB projections have Pickett starting the majority of Pittsburgh's games next season.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Rams TE Tyler Higbee had offseason knee surgery. Per Rodrigue, Higbee is “working back up to full football activity.” Higbee, 29, posted 61-660-5 in 15 games last season. He projects as a top-20 fantasy TE.
Vikings beat writer Sam Ekstrom writes that TE Irv Smith “looked pretty agile” during minicamp drills. Ekstrom also observed Smith running at close to full speed. Last preseason, the 23-year-old sustained a meniscus injury that cost him all of 2021. If Smith can regain pre-injury form, he’ll carry a TE1 ceiling into a contract year. HC Kevin O'Connell recently added some fuel to the hype train by calling Smith "a major part" of the offense.
RB Phillip Lindsay inked a 1-year deal with the Colts, his agent announced. Lindsay was a revelation as an undrafted rookie back in 2018, running for 1,037 yards on 5.4 yards per carry. He backed that up with another 1,000-yard season in 2019 but has struggled the past 2 years, totaling 751 rushing yards on 3.6 yards per carry for 3 different teams (Denver, Houston, Miami). He'll battle for a backup job behind Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis. Lindsay would figure to lose passing-down work to Nyheim Hines even in the case of a Taylor injury, so Lindsay isn't an attractive handcuff.
Free agent RB Tarik Cohen suffered an injury while working out in a video streamed live on Instagram. Cohen grabbed his right Achilles upon going down, and the injury appeared serious. We’ll update you when we learn more, but we truly hope that Cohen dodged a bullet here. He missed all of 2021 and most of 2020 with a knee injury.
UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Cohen tore his Achilles.
New Packers OC Adam Stenavich commented on rookie WR Christian Watson. Stenavich is a former O-lineman who most recently coached Green Bay’s O-line. “His combination of size and speed is great,” Stenavich said. “He's a big guy, he can move, he's going to be a problem once he figures things out.” Watson’s physical traits are obvious. But as Stenavich noted, it’ll be the mental part that’s key for the WR's development.
The Associated Press reports that Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy's girlfriend on Friday asked a judge to dismiss the misdemeanor charges against him. Jeudy was arrested after allegedly locking some of the woman's belongings in his car to keep her from leaving town. The woman said she contacted police merely to "monitor the situation." We'll see if this case goes anywhere else, but Jeudy doesn't appear to be in danger of facing any league discipline.
Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy praised 2nd-round DE Sam Williams after the team's 1st rookie minicamp practice over the weekend. "I think we'd all agree that Sam Williams looks like a guy that was born to play professional football," McCarthy told the Dallas Morning News on Saturday. "He has the gifts. He has the physical traits." Williams set the Ole Miss single-season record with 12.5 sacks last season and then delivered a 99th-percentile speed score at 6'4, 261 pounds in pre-draft testing. Off-field concerns might have pushed him into Round 2. Williams landed in a defense that presents immediate opportunity if he proves ready to seize it. Keep an eye on Williams as a potential late-round sleeper in 2022 IDP drafts. And check out his spot in our dynasty rookie IDP rankings.
The Dolphins have reached a deal with veteran EDGE Melvin Ingram. The 33-year-old split 2021 between the Steelers and Chiefs, tallying just 2 sacks but racking up 51 total pressures. We'd bet on Ingram remaining light in stat production, but his arrival bolsters Miami's pass rush. According to Pro Football Talk, the Chiefs applied the seldom-used unrestricted free-agent tender to Ingram earlier this offseason. That means they'll get a compensatory pick for his departure.
Joey Knight of The Tampa Bay Times writes that WR Russell Gage could enter Week 1 with a “prominent role.” It’s a reminder that Chris Godwin — who tore his ACL in December — might miss the early portion of next season. Gage has quietly pulled in 138 receptions across 2020-2021 (30 games).
According to beat writer Nate Ulrich, the Browns are “confident [WR David] Bell is capable of making an immediate impact.” Per Ulrich, the plan is for Bell to be the primary slot this season. HC Kevin Stefanski, however, thinks Bell could do more. “[Bell is] a very competitive player,” Stefanski said at rookie minicamp. “Catches the ball really well. We thought he had some savviness. When you're looking at the draft, there are so many guys who can fit, and you better have a lot of guys who can fit in your scheme. It's really what traits do you feel like you can exploit, so to speak. We thought he was really competitive at the catch and has some versatility to play outside and inside.” The 3rd-round pick has a clear path to the slot role with Jarvis Landry now in New Orelans.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson is scheduled to meet with NFL officials this week, insider Josina Anderson reports. The Athletic's Lindsay Jones adds that meeting with Watson is one of the last steps in the league's investigation into the sexual assault claims, so it looks like we might be nearing a resolution in that department. (Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits.). Stay tuned.
Titans QB Malik Willis "passed his first test" in rookie minicamp, Jim Wyatt of the team's official website writes. "I left the two-day camp impressed by Willis, from how he carries himself to his arm," Wyatt added. "For the second day in a row Willis was on the practice field way early. Before and during practices, I like the way he slaps hands with his teammates, encouraging them. He looks like a leader. And, he threw the ball well over the past two days despite throwing an interception on Saturday." Willis won't be a threat to take over as the starter this season unless QB Ryan Tannehill and the Titans really struggle. But Willis could be under center in 2023 and remains a nice dynasty stash.
Despite the addition of 3rd-round rookie RB Rachaad White, it doesn't sound like the Bucs plan on altering RB Leonard Fournette's role much this season. “Why it’s tough to get Lenny off the field, he’s a three-down back,” OC Byron Leftwich said. “He’s a smart guy, and he and Tom [Brady] can play ball. They can play ball together when it starts moving on them and things are changing and things have to happen, Lenny and him can play ball. They’ve been in these situations. That’s why it’s hard to really get him off the field because of what he brings and the connection him and Tom have. I think it’s unique. It’s not that we’re forcing him on that field. It’s because he’s the best in what we’re asking him to do." Fournette averaged 13.1 carries and 6.1 targets across 14 healthy games last season. Perhaps White cuts into those numbers a tad, but we're expecting the rookie to be more handcuff than standalone fantasy option this season. Fournette checks in as a top 10 RB.
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