Dynasty Player News

He's up 13 pounds from his 2018 listed weight. Jones had a dismal rookie season and DLF's RB39 rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown on 23 attempts while chiming in with seven receptions for an additional 33 yards. The added weight should help but won't fix the deer-in-headlights indecision that plagued him on nearly every carry. Hopefully an additional year of training camp and a back-to-basics approach will unleash the runner we saw at USC before being an early second round selection by Tampa Bay in 2018. Working in Jones' favor is that the top runner on the depth chart, Peyton Barber (RB68) should present little challenge to overcome should he show any level of ability. As evidenced by DLF's rankings, Jones is fully expected to seize the starting job over Barber but it's a risk-on acquisition for dynasty coaches until consistent touches and productivity are seen.

Working in Gordon's favor, unlike Le'Veon Bell in Pittsburgh, is that the Chargers don't have the depth chart to easily replace him. It certainly appears as there is no bluff in Gordon's words and that he's prepared to sit as long as needed to in order to address the issue. Still under contract, however, he will have to appear shortly after the conclusion of week 10 to get credit for the contract year so his leverage isn't the same as Bell's. As DLF's RB6, Gordon has only once finished a full season and saw only 12 games in 2018, rushing for 885 yards and ten touchdowns while adding another 490 yards and four touchdowns on 50 receptions, his highest receiving yardage total as a professional. Gordon's ADP (12) is near a career high but any holdout is certain to start a decline. At 26 years of age, Gordon has a lot left in the tank and the expectation should be the Chargers will step up to the negotiation table to get a deal done quickly and avoid any potential distraction. Quarterback Philip Rivers is in the twilight of his career and will likely be pressuring the Chargers to clear this hurdle quickly though it's an unwritten rule to never discuss another player's money or contract.

Already rehabbing from a torn ACL that ended his rookie campaign, he's down again and is questionable for the open of camp. The Redskins were already going to take a cautious approach with the sophomore runner and this will undoubtedly lock in a reduced workload. It's a full depth chart with Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson, Samaje Perine and, rookie, Bryce Love so there will be little need to risk further injury to Guice in camp, but the development does cast further doubt on Guice's 2019 prospects. Derrius Guice is found as DLF's RB16 and his ADP (50) rests at a career low. The 22 year old is plenty young enough to have a viable and productive career but his ADP value will continue to slip until we see him suit up on Sundays and consistently produce.

Cameron Sims was an UDFA last year who made a strong impression all during camp, then led the Redskins' receivers last preseason with 131 yards gained during the 2018 preseason. Unfortunately he then suffered a severe high ankle sprain during the first game of the year which ultimately ended his rookie season. Fast forward to today and Sims has been consistently impressing again in camp and is pushing for a starting spot, while largely being overlooked by the dynasty community in favor of rookies Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon.

Sims is a mammoth of a man, measuring at 6'5'' and 215 pounds. He was not invited to the combine, but had an excellent pro day where he ran a 4.52 40, caught everything thrown to him, and was fluid in his route running. Sims has the physical tools to develop into a legitimate WR1 for his team and is squarely in the mix for one of the starting wide receiver spots for the Washington Redskins. He can often be found on the waiver wire, and is an excellent stash in medium to deep leagues while we wait for the dust to settle on the Washington depth chart.

Herndon pled guilty to a DUI in January of 2019, so this suspension should not come as much of a surprise to the fantasy community. It's possible Herndon appeals the length of the suspension, but fantasy managers should plan for the worst. The Jets drafted Trevon Wesco in the fourth round this year, but it will be difficult to trust any tight end on the jets roster during Herndon's absence. Chris will still be participating in all offseason and preseason activities, and will be eligible to rejoin the team on October 7th.

This news may create a small buy-low window for Chris Herndon who is coming off of a superb rookie season where he posted a 39/502/4 receiving line. He is currently DLF's TE12.

Gordon, DLF's RB5 and 11th ranked overall player, has one year for $5.6 million left on his contract. The second contract has become increasingly important for running backs as the NFL has mostly devalued the position across the league. While it is unlikely Gordon misses the season, or gets traded, dynasty owners will rightfully be nervous after watching Le'Veon Bell opt to preserve his body for a year rather than play for a team unwilling to meet his contract demands.

Hypothetically, if Gordon were to miss time that would increase the value of Austin Ekeler (RB49) and Justin Jackson (RB82), unless the Chargers facilitated a trade for another running back or brought in a veteran like Jay Ajayi.

File this bit of news under "Things To Keep An Eye On." It will likely resolve itself in plenty of time before the season, but dynasty owners must always be vigilant.

Nervous dynasty owners can stop squirming now that the RB1 in 2019 rookie drafts has finally made things official with the Raiders. With the ink dry on his rookie deal, Jacobs will be able to participate normally for training camp and —perhaps more importantly to dynasty owners looking for an early glimpse of Jacobs in action — be available for Hard Knocks.

Jacobs has settled into a rookie draft ADP of 2.00 according to DLF's ADP data, though he has been the first overall pick in a fair share of drafts. In startups, he is being valued as RB13 with an ADP of 28.50.

Casserly still has close ties with members of the Washington organization, so his statements do have a level of credibility. While Casserly has a reputation for showing some bias towards his former team — he said McLaurin, a third rounder, is playing like a first round draft pick — it isn't hard to believe that McLaurin stands a chance to make an impact for a team without much depth at the receiver spot.

Casserly added that Washington's coaches have loved McLaurin's speed and ability to play every receiver position. Also aiding McLaurin is his already established chemistry with Dwayne Haskins, his college teammate at Ohio State.

DLF's data shows McLaurin has a rookie draft ADP of 24.90, tying him with Pittsburgh's Diontae Johnson. Depending on which of these two is selected first, that would make McLaurin the 13th or 14th wide receiver off the board in most rookie drafts. Despite his potential starting role and higher NFL Draft capital, McLaurin is still being taken after pre-draft darlings like Kelvin Harmon (who Washington took in the sixth round) and Hakeem Butler. If McLaurin can secure a starting role, he could up being one of the steals of this year's draft.

It's not a stretch. Fournette's rookie season was what everyone expected as he piled up more than 1,300 total yards and ten total touchdowns. But in 2018, the wheels came flying off. Ongoing ankle issues, a lingering and slow-to-heal hamstring injury and lackluster enthusiasm down the stretch found Fournette in Jacksonville's doghouse. Early into the off-season, it seemed to be a forgone conclusion that Leonard Fournette would be playing elsewhere in 2019, perhaps to his benefit in addition to his fantasy owners'. But the ice has thawed and Fournette and J'ville's brass are seemingly on the same page once again talking up expectations for 2019 with new quarterback Nick Foles under center. The Jaguars also added Alfred Blue and drafted Ryquell Armstead in 2019 NFL Draft. An early down runner, taking the place of the departed T.J. Yeldon (BUF), Armstead could see material touches should Fournette falter. Much has changed for Fournette, who was much ballyhooed out of LSU though did bring ankle concerns with him into the NFL. Few doubt his potential should he remain off the trainer's table in 2019, but as his DLF RB17 value and falling ADP (33) highlights, the fantasy community isn't showing confidence in that potential. Leonard Fournette represents a high-upside, low-floor, risk-on acquisition in all formats in 2019.

Williams posted 600 total yards and 10 total touchdowns in his last six games in 2018, a mark surpassed by only Todd Gurley. At 27 years of age, Williams was thrust into a starting role following the surprise release of Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs never lost a beat and Williams produced well down the stretch and now sits atop the depth chart in 2019. He's likely to face competition from the recently added Carlos Hyde but shouldn't struggle to retain top-back honors to lead the Chiefs in carries and, potentially, receptions out of the backfield as well. Williams is currently found as DLF's RB27 providing for an odds-on opportunity for significantly out-producing his current ADP (43).

Mark Ingram was signed during the off-season and will be the starter with Gus Edwards as his backup. The third down back for the Ravens will get snaps and it will remain a battle between Dixon and Hill. Dixon finished 2018 with 333 yards and two touchdowns on 60 totes, ending the campaign with his first 100 yard performance of the year. Justice Hill is a 5'10/198 lb. back best suited for third-down duty but did see volume carries at Oklahoma State. In the Ravens offense, however, touches will likely be limited to passing downs only in the near term. We've seen Hill's name at the end of the first round in dynasty rookie drafts which would seemingly be a stretch when considering near term upside potential. Hill is found as DLF's RB49. As long as Dixon remains healthy, he should hold off the rookie for 2019, likely sending him to the practice squad but should HIll display talent out of the backfield, material snaps could be in play. It's a battle to watch during the pre-season.

Foreman had flashes during his rookie year in 2017, rushing for 327 yards and two touchdowns on just 78 attempts. However, his rookie campaign ended on a sour note as he wound up tearing his Achilles' tendon. This essentially wiped out his entire 2018 campaign, with him only playing in one game, where he was far from stellar. Achilles' injuries are brutal, and generally considered a two-year recovery process. Houston seems to be banking on Foreman regaining his previous form as they did not address the position this offseason and let Alfred Blue sign with Jacksonville. That would indicate they expect Foreman to be the primary compliment to fantasy football enigma Lamar Miller.

Foreman can be had for relatively cheap, going around pick 134 in start up drafts according to DLF's recent ADP data. While it's fair to be concerned about how he will rebound from his injury, his price point and potential role should help offset that risk.

Fantasy owners can breathe a collective sigh of relief as Elliott will not face any league discipline for an altercation that occurred in May of this year. This event should also have no bearing on any possible future sanctions against Elliott, since the NFL found that Ezekiel was not in violation of the league's personal conduct policies. Ezekiel Elliott remains an elite dynasty asset, and a top four running back heading into 2019.

A second year UDFA, Cox has shined during offseason workouts gaining a firm hold of the third tight end spot on the Colts' depth chart. While Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron seem entrenched as starters, both have missed time this offseason due to injuries, and both are scheduled to be free agents at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Mo Alie-Cox could be fantasy relevant if either Doyle or Ebron were to miss time, and is an intriguing stash that could pay large dividends starting next year.

This was inevitable after video surfaced of Ezekiel Elliott knocking over a security guard in Vegas during the offseason. Elliott was briefly detained by the police, but was quickly released after the security guard declined to press charges. This meeting will be Elliott's chance to voice his side of the story before the NFL decides if there will be any penalty for his transgression. He was previously suspended six games for a domestic violence case in 2016, despite never being criminally convicted.

While it is impossible to say for certain, it seems unlikely that this will result in a lengthy suspension and could very easily have zero repercussions. Currently there is no clear handcuff for Elliott, but Dallas did draft running backs Tony Pollard in the fourth round, and Mike Webber in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The dynasty outlook on Ezekiel should remain unchanged with this news, but Elliott will likely fall a couple of spots in early redraft and best-ball leagues due to the risk of him missing a couple of games to start the season.

Moncrief's best season came in 2015, his second year in the league, when he recorded 64 receptions for 733 yards and six touchdowns with the Colts. Surprisingly, Andrew Luck only played seven games that season, as injuries led Matt Hasselbeck and Josh Freeman playing a combined eight starts. Last season he played for Jacksonville Jaguars and had arguably his second best season as a pro, despite once again playing with sub-par quarterbacks.

Moncrief is an intrigue player in dynasty for a number of reasons. For one, he's always possessed tantalizing athleticism. Standing 6-foot-2, Moncrief has 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash. At the combine he also tested into the 90th percentile in the vertical and 95th percentile in the broad jump. Still young — he'll turn 26 in August — there's a chance Moncrief could carve out a role as a deep threat on a Steelers team that has a lot of question marks behind JuJu Smith-Schuster following the offseason trade of Antonio Brown.

Moncrief is largely being ignored in start up drafts, with our ADP data showing him going around pick 186.50. That's well behind other Steeler receivers who have yet to prove much in the NFL, players like second year James Washington (93.50) and rookie Diontae Johnson (140.50). If you're looking to get a piece of the Pittsburgh passing attack, Moncrief is far and away the cheapest option, and could wind up being a steal if the Steelers hand the No. 2 receiver job to a more experienced player.

Guice has never played an NFL down since falling to injury during 2018 training camp and Peterson is 34 years old. That hasn't stopped Guice's ADP value (48) from slipping to a career low while his DLF ranking holds steady as the RB15. The belief is that Guice remains the long term upside play for the Redskins and he'll begin taking control of the backfield by mid-season as long as he can remain off the trainer's table. With carry-the-load size (5'10/224) with some three-down ability, Guice seemingly has the body and runway to carve out material production in short-order though one can never ignore Peterson's determination, fitness level and intensity. Dynasty coaches not averse to risk and looking for longer term upside may wish to select Derrius Guice just ahead of his current ADP value as recent activity suggest he's rising rather than falling.

It's not a surprise after Love tore his ACL late in 2018. The Redskins already posses Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice who was drafted in 2018 coming of an ACL of his own and veteran third down component, Chris Thompson. It's a crowded backfield fraught with risk for dynasty owners. On the surface, it's Guice who should carry the biggest premium but it's a tenuous position at best as he has yet to play a down in the NFL. For Love, look for him to start the season, at the very least, on the PUP list with a strong possibility he's given the full year to rehab as a member of the IR. Bryce Love is found as DLF's RB75. Should Love find any semblance of his early collegiate form, he represents a high-ceiling dart throw for patience coaches.

Carson managed 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018 even while missing two full games and parts of others. For his part, Penny did average 4.9 ypc. on 85 rushes, ultimately producing 419 yards and two touchdowns. At 24 years of age, Carson is Penny's senior by a mere year, they possess similar skill-sets and head coach Pete Carroll used "one-two punch" when describing both. It's not a situation which provides any level of clarity, at least not enough to raise dynasty value for 2019. Despite Carson's age, productivity and lead role, it's Penny who carries the higher ranking. On DLF's running back rankings, Rashaad Penny is found as the RB25 while Carson rests as the RB37. At these rankings, Penny appears priced to perfection while Carson will carry risk-on upside. Both should carry no greater than RB3 value heading into 2019 until more about the share of carries is understood. Even then, until one of the backs moves on to another situation, it may be an ongoing annual dilemma.

What does seem to be apparent is that the case against Hill has weakened of late and it's getting more difficult to project more than an eight game suspension. Reports within the Chiefs' organization say the meeting went so well we shouldn't expect no more than a four game ruling. Others are saying not so fast and that a full-season ban isn't off the table. With a suspension expected before training camp opens near the end of July, any selection of Hill by dynasty leaguers must be made with the full understanding that nothing is certain and he remains a large risk-on acquisition. Hill's ADP (69) has stabilized and he's currently found as DLF's WR36. Regardless of Hill's status in 2019, his talent is so great that dynasty coaches won't allow him to fall much below the fifth round in new drafts and any ban below eight games will quickly begin healing his pre-event value.