Fantasy News

Joe Mixon is down to 218 pounds and feels good.

As a rookie last season, Mixon was 230 pounds but says he couldn’t drop weight. Last night at a celebrity softball game in Cincinnati, Mixon said he “was working in the heat” this offseason: “I feel like that’s where I play my best. I was trying to get low last year but I wasn’t able to make it. I feel real good. My body feels real good. I feel like I’m in really good shape.” It can vary for each individual, but weight loss is typically a very good sign for bigger running backs. With over ten pounds of weight shedded, Mixon should be lighter and quicker—and he’s still plenty big enough to deliver punishment to defenders at 218 pounds. This weight loss is a positive sign for Mixon as he looks to have a more consistent role in 2018. The second-year back has elite talent, and he’s one of the better early-to-mid-round selections in all fantasy drafts this summer.

Via: Bengals.com 7/19/18 - 08:19 AM ET

Jets wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell thinks Robby Anderson “is really going to explode” this season.

Dorrell believes the third-year receiver, who has been a very good deep threat through two NFL seasons, will become a more all-around player in 2018. Dorrell said: “There are some different roles on our team, doing secondary jobs to help other people out and I think that is something he will learn and grow with. He’ll be better at that now and he knows the scope of it. I think Robby is really going to explode and become a more complete player because of it.” The 2016 undrafted free agent has had off-field issues but says he’s more mature now and owes the Jets the world because they stuck by him. After coming 59 yards short of the mark last season, Anderson has obvious 1,000-yard upside in 2018.

Via: NYJets.com 7/19/18 - 08:11 AM ET

Randall Cobb is out of his walking boot and says he’ll participate in training camp.

At his football camp, Cobb told Chris Roth of WBAY Sports that the walking boot was just “for protection” and that he’ll talk about it more when training camp begins. The Packers receiver said he “will be involved in training camp” and feels “great” but that he’ll need to talk to the team’s medical staff before he can say whether he’ll have restrictions. Cobb probably won’t be full-go to start camp, but his injury status isn’t a concern for his real-life and fantasy value right now.

Via: WBAY Sports 7/19/18 - 07:44 AM ET

Chad Williams reportedly looked much improved this offseason.

Williams was drafted in the third round of last year’s draft, but he had just three receptions for 31 yards in limited action for the Cardinals. This season, Mike Jurecki of the team’s official website believes Williams will be in the mix for the No. 2 receiver role behind Larry Fitzgerald. Jurecki says Williams looked “much better. He looked confident, comfortable, and definitely improved his route running working with Chad Johnson in the offseason.” Williams’ pure athletic ability is part of why the Cardinals took him with a third-round select in the 2017 draft, so improvements in comfortability and route running after working with the crafty Chad Johnson is a really good sign. Former Cowboys receiver Brice Butler, J.J. Nelson, and rookie Christian Kirk are also among those in the mix for the No. 2 spot behind Fitz.

Via: AZCardinals.com 7/18/18 - 05:06 PM ET

The Saints are signing Shane Vereen, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

The former Patriots and Giants running back is coming off a 44-catch season with the Giants, but he only averaged 5.8 yards per reception (by far a career low). The veteran will have a chance to compete for a roster spot, and there’s basically an extra running-back spot open with Mark Ingram suspended to start the regular season. At the very least, Vereen could be a good example for second-year back Alvin Kamara throughout the summer.

Via: Mike Garafolo 7/18/18 - 11:11 AM ET

Brandin Cooks’ five-year extension is worth $80 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It comes out to $88 million over the next six years including this season. This is big money for Cooks, but he has had three straight 1,000-yard seasons in New Orleans and New England with 24 touchdowns in that span. Cooks will still be just 30 when this contract expires, so the Rams should have him through his prime, and he’ll potentially have an opportunity to hit free agency for another huge payday in 2023. This contract pays Cooks as a top-ten receiver, so while you can expect him to be a field-stretcher that opens things up for everyone else on offense, you can also probably expect him to deliver production in terms of numbers. Cooks is going outside the top 20 WR in fantasy drafts, but he is a potential WR1 option for 2018.

Via: Adam Schefter 7/17/18 - 03:34 PM ET

Brandin Cooks and the Rams have agreed to a five-year extension.

That didn’t take long. The financial numbers are not out yet, but the Rams clearly liked what they saw from Cooks throughout offseason training. After acquiring Cooks and a fourth-round selection in exchange for their first-round selection (No. 23 overall) and a sixth-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Rams have given the fifth-year receiver a deal that keeps him under contract through the 2023 season. Rams head coach Sean McVay said in a statement: “Brandin Cooks has shown himself to be a class act on and off the field since the first day he joined our team. He’s a proven professional in this league and signing him to a long-term contract was always our goal. We’re excited to keep Brandin in a Rams uniform through 2023.” Despite entering his fifth year in the league, Cooks is going to be just 25 years old this September. It’ll be interesting to see how much Cooks is getting paid, but there’s obviously no question he’s a big part of the Rams’ plans in 2018 and beyond.

Via: TheRams.com 7/17/18 - 03:06 PM ET