Fantasy News

The Bengals have selected Washington tight end Drew Sample with the No. 52 pick (second round) in the 2019 NFL Draft.

This is a slight surprise, but Cincinnati decided to target a tight end, and the big three of T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Irv Smith Jr. were off the board. Sample is six-foot-six, 255 pounds with 4.71, and he’s a really good blocker that can contribute immediately in the running game for Zac Taylor’s offense. Sample likely won’t be a fantasy factor in 2019.

4/26/19 - 08:43 PM ET

Josh Gordon has officially signed his restricted free agent tender, according to Field Yates.

This means Gordon is under contract with the Patriots next season, but it doesn’t mean he will be cleared by the NFL to play. That said, the superstar talent would obviously be in a tremendous spot to put up big-time numbers as the potential No. 1 option for a New England offense that will be without red-zone monster Rob Gronkowski (retirement), so dynasty owners willing to gamble might want to buy low if possible. Gordon is currently serving an indefinite suspension and will need to be reinstated to play in 2019.

Via: Field Yates 4/23/19 - 05:06 PM ET

The Titans have selected Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown with the No. 51 pick (second round) in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Brown is an all-around receiver—and a great athlete overall that could have also chosen a path to professional baseball—that can excel both inside a nd outside, and he’ll fit right into the receiving corps of the Titans. He should offer one of the highest floors in both dynasty and redraft leagues among rookies in 2019. Brown will have 100-reception, 1,000-yard potential in the NFL, but it’d help if the Titans open up their passing game a bit more with Marcus Mariota. You can read our scouting report on Brown in the link below, but we believe he was at least a borderline top-ten overall prospect in this year’s class, so this was potentially an awesome value pick for Tennessee.

Via: A.J. Brown Scouting Report 4/26/19 - 08:38 PM ET

The Rams officially exercised Jared Goff’s fifth-year option.

This was obviously fully expected, and it keeps Goff locked up in Los Angeles through the 2020 season. Expect the Rams to try to reach an agreement on a long-term contract with their star franchise quarterback this offseason, as Goff’s price will likely only get higher after he was already in the Super Bowl last season. Goff is entering his fourth NFL season and third season in Sean McVay’s offense.

4/23/19 - 03:07 PM ET

The Vikings have selected Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. with the No. 50 pick (second round) in the 2019 NFL Draft.

You can read out full scouting report on Smith Jr. in the link below, but he’s the son of former first-round pick Irv Smith Sr., and he’s a reliable target that could have a bigger role in the NFL than he did with the Crimson Tide. Smith is more of an on-the-ground target that won’t dominate with elite speed or leaping ability, but he should be a reliable option for Kirk Cousins. As is usual the case with tight ends, Smith has more dynasty league value than he does re-draft value for his rookie season; but we’ll see what happens with incumbent Vikings starter Kyle Rudolph. It’s possible Smith delivers Year 1 value if he’s the team’s top option at tight end.

Via: Irv Smith Jr. Scouting Report 4/26/19 - 08:33 PM ET

Jonathan Stewart has retired from the NFL.

Stewart signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Panthers—the team he spent ten seasons with after Carolina drafted him out of Oregon in the first round (13th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. Stewart’s productive career ends with 1,705 carries for 7,335 yards and 51 touchdowns along with 162 receptions for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns, and he is the Panthers’ all-time leading rusher. The veteran running back spent last season with the Giants, but he’ll be remembered as a long-time Panther that formed a dynamic duo with fellow first-round running back DeAngelo Williams. In 2009, Stewart and Williams became just fifth duo in NFL history to each rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, and no backfield has accomplished the feat since. We wish Stewart the best of luck in his post-playing life.

4/23/19 - 10:45 AM ET

The Broncos have selected Missouri quarterback Drew Lock with the No. 42 pick (second round) in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The wait for Lock, who was thought to be a potential first-round pick, is over as he lands with John Elway in Denver. Lock set the SEC record for passing touchdowns in a single season in 2017 with 44, but he dipped down to 28 touchdowns during his senior season. Lock has a cannon arm with great size at six-foot-four and 228 pounds, and you can read our full scouting report on him in the link below. Joe Flacco is obviously locked in as the Broncos’ starter for 2019, and the team would probably love it if Flacco plays well enough that Lock doesn’t have to hit the field for at least two or three years, but we’ll see. Lock is just a dynasty-league stash for fantasy purposes right now.

Via: Drew Lock Scouting Report 4/26/19 - 07:58 PM ET