We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most to you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all the recent happenings around the league.
With the season already in the tank and the poor play of Joe Flacco has been one of the reasons, there is a constant drumbeat for the rookie, Drew Lock. In an Athletic article last week, Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway said, "We have to make sure that [Drew Lock] is ready when he does get in there, if he does get in there. We’re still in the process of evaluating that. He is not ready to go right now, I will tell you that." The team is still assessing if and when to bring Lock back from injured reserve. The Flaccos neck injury forcing Brandon Allen into the starting lineup this week should only speed up timelines. Lock's thumb has healed but he has yet to begin practicing. Denver will go into the 2020 NFL Draft needing a quarterback once again unless Elway signs or trades for another veteran next offseason. Benjamin Allbright tweeted a unique perspective, “One thing with the Broncos & Drew Lock: You want to get best look at him possible. That doesn't necessarily mean ‘longest look.’ Starting him for the 1st time on road vs Minn/Buff defenses are probably not setting rookie up for optimal confidence building. Wait til LAC @ home.” Those are the first three games after the Week-10 bye. Hopefully, the Emmanuel Sanders trade (see below) signals a move toward rebuilding and not putting lipstick on the pig with past-their-prime retread veteran quarterbacks.
Long-time beat reporter Tim Twentyman was first to break the news of Kerryon Johnson going to injured reserve, “Lions placing RB Kerryon Johnson on IR with the hope he can return.” Johnson can return for Week 16, not soon enough for fantasy players. While talented, the young runner has battled injuries throughout his college and professional career. Of the in-house candidates to target, we are higher on multi-dimensional J.D. McKissic in what appears to be a committee. The lack of a viable running game should mean more pass attempts for Matthew Stafford the remainder of the season.
Adam Schefter was the first to report the Kenyan Drake trade, “Trade: Arizona has reached agreement in principle to trade a conditional 2020 draft pick to Miami for RB Kenyan Drake, league sources tell ESPN.” He followed it up with, “Arizona lost RB Chase Edmonds to a hamstring injury Sunday, already had RB David Johnson dealing with an ankle injury that is expected to sideline him this week and now will add RB Kenyan Drake, who could be in line for significant work Thursday night vs. San Francisco.” Ian Rapoport gave the compensation, “The #AZCardinals have traded for #Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake, handing Miami a conditional 6th round pick in 2020 that can become a 5th rounder, source said. Given injuries to David Johnson and Chase Edmonds, AZ jumped in this morning.” Arizona will likely get a better comp pick for letting Drake walk in the offseason. The move gives Mark Walton a free path to the Miami starting gig.
Last week, beat writer JP Finlay was the first to report that Bryce Love needs another surgery. This led Ian Rapoport to chime in, “Sounds like this surgery, happening tomorrow, is a minor procedure aimed at speeding up the rehab from his original knee surgery. He’s in Pensacola now.” John Keim added context, “Told it was minor; to break up the scar tissue in order to help recovery. Skins were not counting on him for this season regardless. We’ll see where it goes in 2020.” With Love out for the season and Derrius Guice expected back soon, the Washington running game will look different next season. Chris Thompson has battled his share of injuries and Adrian Peterson is likely playing elsewhere in 2020. This is Guice’s job to lose. Love has not regained the speed and dexterity he displayed before suffering the knee injury at Stanford.
Mike Klis was first to report that Emmanuel Sanders was traded to San Francisco, “Emmanuel Sanders has to be traded to SF with 5th round pick in exchange for third and fourth round pick. Elway gets great value. #9sports.” Klis added, “Per sources, Sanders met with coach Vic Fangio last Monday and general manager John Elway last Tuesday and let them know if team could get value in return, he would be open to trade. Elway let Sanders know he would try to accommodate. Given this, Elway got nice value. #9sports.” Adam Schefter with context on timing, “Denver wanted to hold on to Emmanuel Sanders for another week and have him play Sunday against Indianapolis. But San Francisco wanted Sanders to play Sunday against Carolina - and now he will.” Klis offered the fantasy implications, “With Sanders gone, Courtland Sutton is unquestioned No 1 WR. DaeSean Hamilton is No 2. Juwann Winfree dresses/competes w/Fred Brown as No 3-4. Tim Patrick comes back after bye to play game 10 vs. Minnesota. So Broncos will be OK at WR position, especially after bye. #9sports.” Benjamin Allbright gave insight into Sanders’ position on the trade, “Per source: ‘Emmanuel Sanders didn't feel like he was in a place to maximize his future market in a contract year. Asked for trade and was obliged.’" Former Footballguys staffer, Heath Cummings, offered a great nugget on Sanders’ fantasy upside after the trade, “The 49ers have only thrown 168 passes this season. Less than half of them have gone to a wide receiver.” Beat reporter Matt Barrows offered a possible reason why the team felt the need to trade for Sanders, “Shanahan said both Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back) have dealt with ‘a couple of setbacks’ and the team isn’t as optimistic about them coming off injured reserve in a month.” So, those of you who have been pursuing Hurd may have to wait until the 2020 season for production. But, given Sanders is on the last year of his contract, Hurd might be a buy candidate if you believe in his talent. For the Broncos, Patrick is an intriguing stash in deep leagues. Many around the team liked his effort in training camp.
Early last Tuesday, Adam Schefter was the first to report the Mohamed Sanu trade, “Another trade: Falcons are sending WR Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots in exchange for a second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.” A couple of minutes later, Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Source: The #Patriots have traded for #Falcons WR Mohamed Sanu in exchange for a 2nd rounder. They tried during the draft, Atlanta held off, finally get him now.” Schefter added, “Patriots needed more offensive help, period. They had been trying to trade for Mohamed Sanu since before the 2019 draft. As Atlanta’s season continued to go south, Falcons began looking out long term while Patriots are upgrading for short term.” Ace beat reporter Mike Reiss added context, “WR Mohamed Sanu's contract extends through the 2020 season, so this trade for the Patriots has more than a short-range scope to it.” The Sanu trade brought out great commentary from the beat writers. One such nugget was from Jeff Schultz, “To be clear about Sanu: He was going to be released after the season. There also was conversation about trading him or releasing him before ‘19 season because Falcons needed cap space and he basically was their high paid third receiver. So getting a 2 is impressive.” Salary cap expert Jason Fitzgerald opined, “Wonder if the Falcons are paying Sanu's salary. Pats don’t have the cap space to fit him at the moment. That would explain getting a 2 vs a later pick.” With NKeal Harry coming back soon from injured reserve, this is a curious move from the Patriots standpoint. Sanu does help stretch the field and he adds another ex-quarterback to the mix for trick plays. He will be hit-or-miss in fantasyland.
One reason the Patriots acquired the services of Mohamed Sanu might be the Josh Gordon situation. First, Field Yates was the first to break the news of Gordon going to injured reserve, “Source: the Patriots have placed WR Josh Gordon on IR. His season is over due to a knee injury.” Then, Mike Garafolo piped in with, “Josh Gordon believes he’s close to returning to play, source says. So his IR designation today means he’s likely done with the #Patriots but could be available for teams as a free agent soon. Very interesting.” This was followed by Albert Breer adding, “Source says Patriots WR Josh Gordon expects to be medically cleared soon, and that his knee injury is ‘minor’. I was told he ran 22 MPH on the treadmill during a rehab session today. Once he's cleared, he hopes to be released off of IR and sign with a new team.” Not to be outdone, Ian Rapoport tweeted, “#Patriots WR Josh Gordon was placed on Injured Reserve today because of two bone bruises in his knee that he dealt with before the injury against the #Giants, sources say. His time in NE is likely over as they are moving on. He’ll be waived off IR when fully healthy.” These give a great picture of both the situation and the reporters’ connection to the agent and front office. You can tell which is connected to which side of the table. Tom Pelissero offered, “All players go through waivers when released starting next Wednesday (the day after the trading deadline). So, even though Josh Gordon is a vested veteran, he’d go on waivers if the #Patriots cut him off IR after that ... meaning the likes of the #Dolphins would have first crack.” Ace beat reporter Mike Reiss offered some thoughts on the situation in a series of tweets, “Josh Gordon thoughts: 1. IR - a surprise from pure football standpoint. 2. His final play as a Patriot, hustling after defender on fumble recovery, reflected all-out effort; also played through pain (finger). 3. Post-game interviews: Insightful, articulate, some of best on beat” … “4. IR designation w/ minor injury means Gordon must be released once healthy. So he could play for another team. Sparks question as to why Patriots wouldn't wait. 5. Without being in building every day, there will often be some gray areas in analysis. BB has most complete info.” … “6. When a transaction doesn't seem to add up, I often go back to core principles of BB program - do your job, put the team first, be attentive, work hard - and ask where there could be a possible blind spot. 7. Sad ending in NE for a player who quickly became a fan favorite.” … “The Patriots had announced the transaction as a way to make room for WR Mohamed Sanu. But later in the day, the club instead placed WR Josh Gordon on IR to create the roster spot, which sparks a question that perhaps something happened with Gordon on Wednesday to change plans.” As with most things in the NFL, we will know in a few days. News cannot be concealed for too long given all of the connections these reporters have with all parties. We are hoping Gordon lands in another plum situation. He is a talented receiver who has endured a circuitous route. We are cheering for him.
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