News

Seahawks expected to hold Sidney Rice out of contact for most of Preseason

stevenlourie News, Seahawks

Sidney Rice is not expected to be cleared for contact for most of the Preseason. It’s mostly precautionary and he should be out there week 1, but it’s definitely not a good sign. Neither is the fact that they’ve signed Antonio Bryant (eventually cut 10 days later), Braylon Edwards, and Terrell Owens in the last couple weeks.

He’s still got upside in fantasy football, if he can stay healthy, and he’s worth a late round flier, but his current ADP in the 9th round is too high. He’s had 3 concussions and 2 shoulder surgeries in the last calendar year. Meanwhile, while he had 83 catches for 1312 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2009, he’s missed a combined 23 games in his other 4 seasons and never gone over 32 catches, 484 yards, or 4 touchdowns in any of those 4 seasons. He’s almost definitely going to be a fantasy dud this season.

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Lions’ Jahvid Best “weeks, not days” away from returning

stevenlourie Lions, News

According to the Detroit Free Press, Jim Schwartz says Jahvid Best is still “weeks” away from practicing. He probably will not return until the 3rd preseason game at the latest. Meanwhile, Mikel Leshoure is still not 100% back from a torn Achilles and will miss the first 2 games with a suspension. Because of this, Kevin Smith will almost definitely be their week 1 starter and could be much more if he impresses early. There’s definite sleeper value here in fantasy circles.

Meanwhile, as for Best, even when he returns, he’ll only be used in a Darren Sproles role to keep him fresh. Sproles is good in fantasy circles in the Darren Sproles role, but he’s the only one. If Best has the mere 87 carries Sproles had last season, he’ll be undraftable in non-PPR leagues. Sproles only had fantasy value because he averaged 6.9 YPC and caught 86 passes for 710 yards and 7 touchdowns. Not a lot of guys can do that.

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Chiefs’ Jonathan Baldwin dominating in absence of Dwayne Bowe

stevenlourie Chiefs, News

Baldwin didn’t do much as a rookie last year, but he was a 1st round pick and a bad rookie year is hardly damning for a receiver. Baldwin has been impressing in Dwayne Bowe’s absence in Training Camp and should be able to nail down a starting job, moving Steve Breaston to the slot, even once Bowe returns.

Breaston had 61 catches for 785 yards and 2 touchdowns last year with inferior quarterback play. Baldwin is more talented and definitely has upside as a late round flier in fantasy football. Unfortunately, he’s limited by his quarterback and Bowe’s presence, as well as the presence of Breaston and Tony Moeaki. He should be more productive in 2013, once Bowe is likely gone.

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Kyle Rudolph shining for Vikings in John Carlson’s absence

stevenlourie News, Vikings

Kyle Rudolph was a 2nd round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and he is reportedly having a very strong Training Camp. Meanwhile, #2 tight end John Carlson could miss a large portion of the preseason. If Rudolph had even the 70 targets that Visanthe Shiancoe, the incumbent starter who is gone, had last season, he would have had 47 catches for 450 yards and 5 touchdowns. Heading into his 2nd season in the league, with possibly improved quarterback play, he could exceed those numbers and end up being the 2nd leading receiver on a weak receiving corps.

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Eric Decker, Peyton Manning clicking in Training Camp for Broncos

stevenlourie Broncos, News

Eric Decker and Peyton Manning reportedly have great chemistry in Training Camp, much better than him and Demaryius Thomas. This makes a lot of sense because Peyton Manning loves crisp route runners with reliable hands, rather than pure athletic freaks like Thomas like Tim Tebow did. With Peyton Manning likely to show diminished arm strength this season at age 36 after 4 neck surgeries and a year out of football, Decker should lead the team in receiving and Peter King’s prediction that Decker will rank among the league leaders in catches doesn’t sound too crazy. He could have 90+ catches for 1100+ yards.

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Eagles’ Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie “just happy” to be playing outside this season

stevenlourie Eagles, News

In an interview with Wilmington News Journal, Eagles’ cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie says he’s “just happy” to be playing outside this season. In his first season with the Eagles, DRC really struggled playing primarily on the slot, allowing 25 completions on 42 attempts (59.5%) for 354 yards (8.4 YPA), no touchdowns, and no interceptions, while deflecting 6 passes and not committing a penalty. He was especially bad on the slot, allowing 17 completions on 23 attempts for 284 yards.

Now playing full time outside with Asante Samuel gone, DRC should have a bounce back year, especially in a contract year. Remember, he was a 2008 1st round pick and a 2009 Pro-Bowler. With Nnamdi Asomugha expected to have a bounce back year now that he’ll be playing more man coverage and less zone, and with Brandon Boykin, a natural fit on the slot, the Eagles should improve over their 16th ranked pass defense in 2011, allowing 7.2 YPA, even without Asante Samuel. With a strong pass rush and improved linebacking corps, the Eagles should have one of the best defenses in the league.

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Dolphins’ Chad Johnson arrested on domestic violence charges

stevenlourie Dolphins, News

Chad Johnson was arrested Saturday night on domestic violence charges after allegedly head-butting his wife in a dispute over a condom receipt found in her car. Though he’s caused plenty of controversy in his career, this is actually his first arrest. Still, he could be subject to discipline from the NFL, regardless of whether or not he is convicted. This also hurts his chances as he tries to make the Dolphins’ roster, after catching just 15 passes last season. And if he can’t make the Dolphins, who might have the thinnest receiving corps in the NFL, it could be curtains for Chad Johnson’s NFL career.

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Former Charger Marcus McNeill retires

stevenlourie Chargers, News

One of the most prominent names remaining on the open market has retired. That player is Marcus McNeill, formerly of the Chargers. McNeill is a former two-time Pro Bowler who was only heading into his age 29 season, but he was cut by the Chargers this offseason to save 10 million in cap space, after signing a 6 year, 48.9 million dollar extension in October of 2010.

He drew interest in free agency by several teams, including the Falcons, Lions, Chiefs, and Eagles. However, neck and spine injuries derailed his once promising career and were the primary reasons for his early retirement. Hopefully, McNeill has not suffered any sort of permanent damage and can live a long and healthy life after football.

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Ed Dickson and Torrey Smith both leave Ravens’ first preseason game with injuries

stevenlourie News, Ravens

The Ravens had two key members of their receiving corps go out with injuries in their first preseason game, as Ed Dickson left with a shoulder injury and Torrey Smith left with an ankle injury. Both are expected to miss most of the preseason and, while they are expected to be back for week 1, this will mean that Joe Flacco will be without 3 of his top-4 receivers for most of the Preseason as Dennis Pitta will also miss all of the preseason and possibly week 1 with a broken hand. The only one healthy currently is Anquan Boldin, who is heading into his age 32 season and has declined noticeably over the last 2 seasons.

This could hurt Joe Flacco’s timing with his receiving early in the season, which won’t help him bounce back from a season in which he had his career worst completion percentage, 57.6%, and YPA, 6.7 YPA, along with 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. There will be more pressure on the offense this year, with what should be an inferior defense (as compared to 2011) behind them, thanks to an injury to Terrell Suggs, the losses of Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding, and Ray Lewis and Ed Reed aging. The Ravens could have a down year this season.

As for Dickson and Smith, missing time could hurt their timing once the season starts. This is disappointing for Smith, who looked poised to have a breakout year, after catching 50 passes for 841 yards and 7 touchdowns last year, despite playing most of the season with a hernia, including 27 catches for 416 yards and 3 touchdowns in his final 7 seasons. In his first full offseason, Smith was impressing and looked like someone who could have a 1000 yard season in 2012. With this latest injury, expectations should be tempered slightly.

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Vontae Davis shows up out of shape to Dolphins’ Training Camp

stevenlourie Dolphins, News

Vontae Davis, a 2009 1st round pick, finally came into his own last season, allowing just 36 completions on 66 attempts (54.5%) for 496 yards (7.5 YPA), 3 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, while deflecting 6 passes and committing 4 penalties. However, he could regress this season. Reports say that Davis showed up to Training Camp out of shape and has not done much to win over his new coaching staff so far, reports which were confirmed by HBO’s Hard Knocks. He was also listed as a 2nd stringer on the Dolphins’ first official depth chart.

Davis is still getting some reps with the first team, splitting reps with Sean Smith and Richard Marshall, all of whom are competing for positioning on the depth chart. Sean Smith has reportedly done the opposite of Davis this offseason, showing up to camp slimmed down 24 pounds to 6-3 190, making a strong impression, and looking poised to bounce back from a down season.

In 2011 he allowed 61 completions on 104 attempts (58.7%) for 793 yards (7.6 YPA), 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, while deflecting 5 passes and committing 2 penalties. In 2010, he allowed 24 completions on 45 attempts (53.3%) for 325 yards (7.2 YPA), 1 touchdown and 1 interception, while deflecting 8 passes and committing 1 penalty in 11 starts at cornerback.

Richard Marshall, meanwhile, is looking continue his strong play from 2011. He allowed 28 completions on 54 attempts (51.9%) for 394 yards (7.3 YPA), 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, while deflecting 5 passes and committing 6 penalties last season. He ranked 3rd in the league in receptions per coverage snap, 7th in yards per coverage snap, and 2nd in targets per coverage snap. Between the three, the Dolphins should be able to field two talented starting cornerbacks in 2012.

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