Fantasy News

Jon Gruden says Amari Cooper is up to 223 pounds.

223 is almost certainly the biggest Cooper has been in his career. Gruden sounds happy about it, and the fourth-year receiver probably hit the weight room and trained extremely hard after his disappointing 2017 season, which is a major positive sign as he looks to get back on track this year. Added weight can sometimes cause issues, but it sounds like Cooper is looking good so far in training camp, so he probably didn’t sacrifice speed or quickness with the added weight. Cooper is said to be the “focal point” of Gruden’s offense, and he’s a major bounce-back candidate in 2018.

7/27/18 - 02:55 PM ET

Phillip Dorsett has spent some time in the slot to start Patriots training camp.

With Julian Edelman (suspension) out the first four games of the season, New England is going to need someone to step up into a bigger role to start the year. Dorsett has typically been an outside deep threat his first three NFL season between the Colts and Patriots, in part because of his 4.3 speed; but says he feels he can do it and feels “comfortable playing any position on the field on any portion of the field.” It’s also worth noting that former Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola told NBC Sports Boston’s Mike Giardi last season that there’s nothing the former first-round pick can’t to, and that “he’ll get there” into Tom Brady’s “trust tree” at some point. While Dorsett didn’t put up solid numbers last season (12 receptions for 194 yards), he seemingly made plays whenever he was given opportunities—his presence could be a reason the Pats felt comfortable trading Brandin Cooks to the Rams. Sleepers are harder to come by with the way fantasy football is today, but Dorsett looks like he might be one for 2018.

Via: NBC Sports Boston 7/27/18 - 02:43 PM ET

Delanie Walker has signed a two-year extension with the Titans.

The veteran tight end was entering the final year of his contract with Tennessee, so this deal keeps him with the team through the 2020 season. Walker has had at least 800 yards in each of his last four seasons for the Titans, and he’s become Marcus Mariota’s most reliable target over the middle. Walker will be 34 in a few weeks, but he’s still playing at a high level and is locked in as one of the Titans’ top options in the passing game this season. Second-year tight end Jonnu Smith might take over the starting role from at some point in 2019 or 2020, but Walker hasn’t showed signs of slowing down yet; and the deal is reportedly worth over $8 million per season, so the team probably expects him to perform like a top-ten player at the position moving forward. He’s again a TE1 option for 2018.

7/27/18 - 02:13 PM ET

Terrance Williams is expected to be limited early in training camp.

The good news is Williams avoided the PUP list, but he’s not a full participant after he had offseason foot surgery. Dallas has a crowded group of receivers with everyone looking to emerge into a big role, so hopefully Williams is fully participating soon. Allen Hurns and Cole Beasley were the top two receivers to start Cowboys camp.

Via: DallasCowboys.com 7/27/18 - 08:27 AM ET

DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, and Danny Amendola were the clear top three Dolphins receivers to start training camp.

The Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero says that while it’s only one practice, he is “having a hard time understanding how the Dolphins are going to maximize” Albert Wilson this season. Parker and Stills are likely locked in as the team’s top two receivers, and Salguero has said a couple of times that Ryan Tannehill to Danny Amendola is going to be a “thing” in 2018, so Wilson could be the odd man out despite getting a three-year, $24 million contract this offseason. Things could change, but Wilson might be more of a special teams weapon and someone that mixes in on offense, which probably isn’t enough for him to deliver significant fantasy value.

Via: Miami Herald 7/27/18 - 07:52 AM ET

Jordan Reed says he feels “100 times better” this year.

Reed had surgery on both his big toes in the winter after playing in just six games last season, and he says it “feels like a 360 turnaround” from before. The Redskins tight end says that last year he couldn’t run and could barely walk last July after  stem-cell shot didn’t help him. For now, the Redskins are taking things slow with Reed, but it’s positive that he’s feeling a lot better; he should be a full participant sometime this summer. Currently going near the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts, Reed looks like a good value pick in 2018.

Via: Washington Post 7/27/18 - 07:18 AM ET

Tyler Eifert says there is no setback with his back.

According to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Eifert says there “is no setback. I’m feeling good. This is just the route we chose to take,” before going on to say he “100 percent” thinks he’ll play in Week 1. Eifert is currently on the PUP list, but he can be taken off at any time; for now, consider him out indefinitely. It’d be easier to feel good about drafting Eifert if he’s seen in preseason action, but there’s no guarantee that happens.

Via: Cincinnati Enquirer 7/26/18 - 07:10 PM ET