Fantasy News

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer says he thinks Kirk Cousins is going to play really well in 2019.

At the coaches breakfast during the NFL Owners Meetings, Zimmer said he had a conversation with Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan, who coached Cousins as the offensive coordinator for the Redskins and really wanted to sign him until San Francisco acquired Jimmy Garoppolo from New England, and he came away thinking Cousins will make a jump with Gary Kubiak’s tutelage in Year 2 with the Vikings. Kubiak’s concepts are very similar to Shanahan’s, and Zimmer says “this offense with Kubiak and [offensive coordinator Kevin] Stefanski is going to be right down his alley. So I think this is going to be a really good fit for Kirk.” The Vikings head coach also said “it’s games” where his quarterback has to play better, implying that Cousins was either thinking too much or putting too much pressure on himself in 2018. A more comfortable Cousins would be an obvious candidate to potentially become an elite fantasy quarterback this season given all his weapons to work with—improvement on the offense line would certainly help, though.

Via: ESPN 3/26/19 - 12:55 PM ET

Pete Carroll says C.J. Prosise will have a chance to fill Mike Davis’ role from last season.

Prosise had abdomen surgery, but Carroll says he’s recovered well, so it sounds like he’ll be ready for part of offseason training (and the start of training camp at the least). The Mike Davis role would be pretty sizable for Prosise, as Davis had 112 carries and 34 receptions in 2018, delivering some weeks of FLEX value. The first order of business will be for Prosise to remain healthy leading up to the season, but he’s going to have to play well throughout the preseason—Seattle isn’t just going to hand him the job. The fact that Carroll is talking about the Mike Davis role indicates this is expected to be a full-blown running-back-by-committee with Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny leading the way, but the Seahawks run the ball enough for a couple of guys to be reliable fantasy contributors. Prosise’s 2019 fantasy value would likely come in PPR scoring formats.

Via: Bob Condotta 3/26/19 - 12:31 PM ET

Will Dissly (knee) is not expected to be ready until training camp.

This, according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll at the coaches breakfast during the NFL Owners Meetings. Dissly is dealing with a serious patellar injury, so this isn’t surprising. The Seahawks are undoubtedly going to take things slow with Dissly, as the second-year player as a long career ahead of him that the team is very excited about. The start of training camp might be as stretch, but hopefully Dissly is able to get out there sometime in early August.

Via: Bob Condotta 3/26/19 - 12:28 PM ET

Pete Carroll confirms Doug Baldwin will get sports hernia surgery.

As is the case with many coaches, Carroll can be roundabout and inexact when giving information on injuries to his players, but he didn’t want to give an ETA on when Baldwin will be healthy. The Seahawks head coach did note that the veteran receiver has some “challenges” to overcome to get healthy, which doesn’t sound too optimistic. Baldwin battled injuries throughout the entire 2018 season, and there’s a chance he isn’t ever back to his Pro Bowl level after undergoing so many surgeries. Seattle will obviously be in the market for a receiver in April’s draft.

Via: Bob Condotta 3/26/19 - 12:25 PM ET

Jay Gruden expresses optimism about Derrius Guice (knee).

The Redskins head coach said he expects Guice to get in some individual work during OTAs but will mostly be rehabbing and that the plan is for the 2018 second-rounder to be full go for training camp. Guice might be a little behind schedule after dealing with an infection and going through three additional knee surgeries, but him being ready to go for the start of training camp would be a really good sign. Washington re-signing Adrian Peterson indicates Guice will not be a workhorse this season, but the second-year running back’s health isn’t a major concern right now.

Via: JP Finlay 3/26/19 - 12:08 PM ET

Doug Marrone doesn’t think Chris Conley’s best football has come yet.

During the annual coaches breakfast at the NFL Owners Meetings, the Jaguars head coach said of his new free agent receiver: “There are a lot of things that he does well… we feel like Chris’s best football hasn’t come out yet. There is a relationship with him and Foles, which is good. We’re excited to have him.” Jacksonville has been hitting the receiver position hard the last few years, and he depth chart should have every position up for grabs, with competition hopefully leading to great play on Sundays. The former Chief should be in the thick of it for a starting role—and potentially the role of Nick Foles’ No. 1 target. Foles knows Conley from his one year in Kansas City, which is a plus for the athletic receiver entering 2019. Conley has an insane 45-inch vertical, and it’s possible he becomes Foles’ go-to guy considering the former Super Bowl MVP likes to give his receivers opportunities to make plays in contested coverage on the outside.

Via: Ashlyn Sullivan 3/26/19 - 11:47 AM ET

Jon Gruden says the Raiders are going to give Darren Waller a big opportunity.

At the NFL coaches breakfast at the NFL Owners Meetings in Arizona, Gruden said “it’s sickening” that the team lost tight end Jared Cook in free agency, but he added that “Darren Waller is very interesting. We’re going to give him a chance of a lifetime.” With the tight-end position wide open for the Raiders, Waller looks set to enter offseason training as the No. 1 guy on the depth chart. Waller was drafted in the fifth round by the Ravens in 2015, and he has definite upside as a former receiver. Dynasty leagues in particular should keep an eye on Waller right now, and we’ll see how the tight-end situation shakes out in Oakland leaning up to the regular season.

Via: Michael Gehlken 3/26/19 - 11:41 AM ET