Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett has been “erratic and inconsistent” early in training camp, per The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. Meanwhile, Mitch Trubisky has been “progressing” and Mason Rudolph — get this — “continues to shine.” Through 3 practices, all 1st-team reps have gone to Trubisky; all 2nd-team reps to Rudolph. Translation: Pickett, despite his Round 1 status, is an extreme long-shot to start the opener at Cincinnati.
Giants beat writer Paul Schwartz writes that RB Saquon Barkley could lead the team in catches. As Schwartz put it, “there are times when it almost seems as if there is a need to tone down how much Barkley is finding the ball in his hands.” New HC Brian Daboll is using this time to narrow down how the contract-year RB will be used. “You see him,’’ Daboll said. “I mean, you saw him coming out of Penn State. You see him running around here. He’s a pretty skilled player. So, our job is to figure out ways to use him, whether he did it last year or the year before, two years, in college.’’ We remain firmly behind Barkley as a Round 2 fantasy selection.
WR DeVante Parker “looks like the Patriots #1 WR” through 2 days of training camp, per beat writer Mark Daniels. It’s obviously early, and players won’t be in pads until Monday. But the early word has been all positive on Parker, who’s performed “on a different level,” per Daniels. The 29-year-old is currently coming cheaply in FFPC best balls with an ADP of WR65.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Buccaneers are signing WR Julio Jones to a 1-year deal. He joins a WR corps that added Russell Gage on a 3-year deal in free agency and is not putting Chris Godwin on the PUP to open training camp. We'll see about Godwin's status through camp and preseason. We'll also see how the team plans to sort out a crowded WR depth chart. The Jones signing is clearly bad news for the 2022 outlooks on players such as Tyler Johnson, Cyril Grayson, Jaelon Darden, Breshad Perriman and Scotty Miller.
The Colts have placed LB Darius Leonard on the PUP list to open training camp. It's not a surprise. Leonard had back surgery in early June, and it was reported at the time that he'd miss some of camp. Lingering trouble with the ankle that has been bothering Leonard since before last season started might be the bigger concern, though. We'll see how long the star remains on the PUP list, from which the team can activate him at any time. If Leonard winds up on the regular-season PUP list, he'd have to miss at least 4 games. To date, we haven't seen that reported as a possibility. The Colts also placed S Rodney McLeod (undisclosed) and DE Tyquan Lewis (knee) on the PUP ahead of camp starting.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor gives Steelers QB Kenny Pickett a 2% chance of winning the Week 1 starting job. "Throughout OTAs and minicamp, Pickett consistently took third-string reps behind [Mitchell] Trubisky and [Mason] Rudolph," Pryor writes. "To supplant Trubisky as the starter by Week 1, Pickett would have to be the second coming of Johnny Unitas as soon as he hits training camp." We'd give Pickett a better shot at starting opening day just because the competition is so underwhelming. But we've also heard other Steelers beat writers call Trubisky the heavy favorite for the Week 1 nod. We're still projecting Pickett to start more games than Trubisky this year, but it's tough to like the rookie in best-ball drafts if he won't start the whole season.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett practiced with the third-team offense this offseason, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. While a contender for the starting job, Pickett has an “uphill battle” to start the opener at Cincinnati, per Pryor. Outside of superflex leagues, it's easy to avoid Pittsburgh QBs in 2022 fantasy drafts.
Speaking on the Inside the Birds podcast, NFL insider Adam Caplan said that RB Kenneth Gainwell’s role “will grow” in year 2. Caplan particularly noted Gainwell’s involvement in the passing game, where he collected 33 catches (on 50 targets) as a rookie. Gainwell added ~4 carries per game across 16 appearances. Ultimately, barring a Miles Sanders injury, Gainwell’s unlikely to exceed PPR flex range. On skill set alone, though, the Memphis product makes for an intriguing RB4/5.
Colts LB Darius Leonard had back surgery Tuesday morning, his agent confirmed. Zak Keefer of The Athletic reports that Leonard will miss "some camp time" but is expected to be ready for the regular season. ESPN's Mike Wells reports it a little differently, saying the team expects "him to [be] back for training camp." We'll see about Leonard's status as camp gets going. At the least, this adds a complication for a star player who has already been dealing with nagging ankle trouble.
Eagles OC Shane Steichen discussed QB Jalen Hurts at OTAs. “He just has a relentless effort to be great,” Steichen said. “Every approach he takes — he doesn’t have an offseason. He’s always on it. He’s always thinking about football. We’re always talking football, day in and day out, and he’s continuing to grow as a player, as a leader, every single day.” Steichen added that footwork has been an offseason focus as the club looks to add polish to Hurts' game. Ultimately, this offseason couldn’t have gone much better for the 24-year-old (in August). He’s a top-8 fantasy passer with clear upside into the top-3.
The Giants have moved RB Saquon Barkley around the formation in OTAs. NJ.com's Zack Rosenblatt says that in addition to traditional RB routes, Barkley has "on numerous occasions" lined up as a receiver -- both in the slot and outside. It fits with what we (and Rosenblatt) expected to see from Barkley's role based on the words of new HC Brian Daboll. Rosenblatt also notes that Barkley is the healthiest he's been entering summer "maybe since his rookie year." There's big fantasy upside on the Giants' feature back
Per team insider Matt Barrows, the 49ers loved Tyrion Davis-Price’s burst on tape. He reached one of the fastest recorded speeds of the NCAA season on one run vs. Alabama, according to the team. “A lot of times, guys reach higher speeds because they have the opportunity,” assistant GM Adam Peters said. “They maybe aren’t as fast as other guys, but because they have the opportunity to run 60 yards in a straight line they reach a high speed. (Davis-Price) reaching his top speed in a short amount of space is more impressive.” A Round 3 pick, TDP also brings some much-needed physicality to the backfield. There’s room for him to carve out a year 1 role in Kyle Shanahan’s system.
Colts LB Darius Leonard has been on the sideline at OTA practices this week because of lingering ankle issues, according to multiple reports. HC Frank Reich said: “Sometimes when you are going through something you hit a lull and can’t get over that hump. Sometimes you have to pause and say, ‘Why are we not getting over this hump?’ That’s a little bit what it is with Darius. We are just continuing to be cautious with him.” They're reportedly not yet considering another surgery on the left ankle, on which Leonard had surgery last June. Leonard missed only 1 game last season, and that for a stint on the COVID list. We'll see where this goes.
Based on OTAs so far, Patriots insider Evan Lazar believes "the early-front runners to dominate reps at wide receiver in 11-personnel are [DeVante] Parker (X), [Kendrick] Bourne (Z), and [Jakobi] Meyers (slot)." That'd leave 2nd-round rookie Tyquan Thornton and veteran Nelson Agholor as the 4th and 5th WRs. Lazar suggests that Agholor could be a trade or cut candidate if he doesn't climb the depth chart. None of these Patriots WRs are super exciting in fantasy drafts.
49ers RB coach Anthony Lynn gave his assessment of rookie RB Ty Davis-Price. “We saw a body type that we don’t have right now.” Lynn said at OTAs. “A bigger back that can run, and physical, who can block. You want that thunder and lightning approach. We have some guys who can move around. We’ve got lightning. Hopefully Ty brings that thunder.” Added Lynn: “He’s made a couple cuts on the field that shows his natural running ability. And for a big man to be able move the way he can move, and he’s shown some soft hands. I will get him right pass protection-wise, but right now, in shorts, we have no idea.” The San Francisco backfield is certainly one to watch closely over the next few months.
Beat writer Dan Duggan puts the odds of RB Saquon Barkley returning to the Giants in 2023 at 40%. Barkley, who enters a contract year, was the focus of offseason trade rumors. Duggan considers the franchise tag a potential “compromise option” next spring, but it’ll be costly ($13 million). Of course, Barkley’s 2021 performance will play some role in his future with New York. But we agree that he'll likely play elsewhere in 2023.
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.
49ers 3rd-round rookie RB Ty Davis-Price said he plans to play this season between 220 and 222 pounds. He cut down to 211 to run a 4.48 forty at the Combine. According to David Lombardi of The Athletic, a heavier TDP “signals that the 49ers are indeed trying to add more thump to a backfield that might be asked to execute more inside-zone runs with Trey Lance.” The LSU product enters the summer looking to carve out a role alongside Elijah Mitchell.
Beat writer Eric Branch believes the 49ers could "hand off even more this season while easing in Trey Lance.” Last year, San Francisco ranked 6th in rush attempts (29.3 per game). Under HC Kyle Shanahan, the team’s ranked top-14 in rushes in 4 straight seasons. The 49ers were reportedly sold on Tyrion Davis-Price’s “size, physicality and aggressiveness,” per Branch. The rookie will need to earn a role this summer. But Elijah Mitchell’s durability concerns and a lost 2021 from Trey Sermon shows there’s a path to year 1 snaps for TDP.
The Giants have released CB James Bradberry, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. This has been an anticipated move for the cap-strapped franchise, which clearly failed to find a trading partner for the high-priced corner. Bradberry -- who will turn 29 in August -- will land somewhere, though, likely with at least a chance to compete for a starting role.
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