Fantasy News

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians says he wants to “build around” Peyton Barber.

Arians said he turned on the film and was really impressed with Barber, stating: “I love him, for a man that size. You know, when you watched the tape, you don’t see him as a 230 [pounder]. You think he’s a 205-pound running back because he’s got great feet. Not every back’s going to be a home run hitter. He gets those 10, 15-yard runs breaking tackles, power runner, punishing runner. When were’ building something, that’s the kind I want to build around.” The Buccaneers new head coach added that that Barber is “so subtle in some of the things he does for a big man.” As we’ve learned in the past, Arians isn’t afraid to speak his mind (like when he hyped David Johnson leading up to his emergence into a star in Arizona), and the veteran coach sounds genuinely excited about Barber. The Bucs also have 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones in the mix, so it won’t be a major surprise if they opt against selecting a running back high in the draft when many people are expecting them too. If Barber is Tampa Bay’s top running back in 2019, he’d have obvious upside in the middle of fantasy drafts.

Via: JoeBucsFan 4/4/19 - 11:57 AM ET

Anthony Miller: “Chicago hasn’t seen how I can play yet.”

Miller spoke with Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune, and he talked about his rehab from a January shoulder surgery on his torn labrum. The 2018 second-round pick said that his shoulder dislocated “maybe five or six times,” and you could see the pain he was in during the noticeable occurrences, with his arm hanging down. Despite the shoulder issues throughout his rookie season, Miller played in 16 of 17 games (including playoffs), catching seven touchdowns and showing the major flashes that made him one of our favorite prospects in last year’s draft. Miller told Kane that he won’t practice in offseason training until he’s fully healed, but he said Bears head coach Matt Nagy will be “getting a beast coming back” when he gets on the field. The former Memphis receiver, who is rehabbing at home this offseason, added, “Chicago hasn’t seen how I can play yet. Every time I tried to stiff arm [last season], it would come out, or if I kind of ran crazy, it would come out. Really I was playing games with like one arm, making it happen. This year, I’ve got two, so watch out.” Miller certainly isn’t lacking confidence, and he should be taken at his word that the shoulder injury had an impact on his play last season. He’ll be one of the top mid-to-late-round targets in fantasy drafts this summer.

Via: Chicago Tribune 4/4/19 - 10:44 AM ET

The Raiders released Seth Roberts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This was expected after the team added Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson, and Ryan Grant all this offseason. Roberts has been a reliable guy for Derek Carr these past four seasons, eclipsing 397+ yards in each of those years and recording 158 receptions for 1,826 yards and 13 touchdowns in total. The 28-year-old can play both in the slot and on the outside, and he shouldn’t have much trouble landing with another team soon.

Via: Adam Schefter 4/4/19 - 09:27 AM ET

Phillip Lindsay won’t put a timetable on his return from his wrist injury.

Lindsay says he’s doing everything the trainers allow him to do during offseason training, but that he’s not able to participate in every drill. The 2018 undrafted star said that he doesn’t want to put a time limit on his return to full strength, which is the right approach to take to avoid any setbacks; the wrist injury Lindsay suffered at the end of last season was said to be a serious one, but him getting to 100% for the start of training camp should be a pretty good possibility. Lindsay appears to have the right mindset heading into his second season, saying that he’s “just got to keep going” and cannot rest on his strong rookie season in which he earned a Pro Bowl nod. We’ll track Lindsay’s status leading up to camp this summer.

Via: DenverBroncos.com 4/4/19 - 08:18 AM ET

The Raiders signed Ryan Grant.

Grant, who spent last year with the Colts after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Redskins, is a familiar player for Jon Gruden, as the former fifth-round receiver played for Jay Gruden in Washington. Oakland has added Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson, and Ryan Grant to go along with 2018 seventh-round pick Marcell Atman in a totally revamped receiving corps, so the team is less likely to worry about targeting a receiver in this month’s draft if players go flying off the board at the position. As things stand, Grant will likely be the team’s primary No. 3 receiver, which could lead to some FLEX consideration in deeper leagues, but we’ll see how the draft goes.

4/3/19 - 02:07 PM ET

The Browns have signed TE/FB Orson Charles.

Charles, who caught three passes for Cleveland last season, should have a good shot of earning a roster spot as versatile depth at tight end that can also lead the way for Nick Chubb as a fullback. That said, he would clearly be behind David Njoku and Demetrius Harris on a loaded offense, so Charles shouldn’t be on the fantasy radar in 2019.

4/3/19 - 11:25 AM ET

The Chiefs signed Blake Bell.

The former Niners, Vikings, and Jaguars tight end lands in a good spot with the Chiefs, as he’ll have a chance to compete for the No. 2 tight end role behind Travis Kelce after Demetrius Harris left for the Browns in free agency. The former Oklahoma quarterback turned tight end has 30 receptions through four NFL seasons, but he’s still just 27 years old, and his best football might be in front of him. He likely won’t deliver consistent fantasy value in 2019 as long as Kelce remains on the field, though.

4/2/19 - 04:29 PM ET