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We got a hot list of headlines for you this week. But first, a couple quick things:
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Now on to the headlines!
News and Notes:
Kerryon Johnson has been waived by the Eagles.
The Jaguars have released Tim Tebow.
Eagles QB-turned-TE Tyree Jackson has a fractured bone in his back and is expected to be sidelined 8-10 weeks.
Coachspeak and Beat Reports:
âIf there was any previous doubt that James Robinson was the early candidate to be the Jaguars' No. 1 running back entering the 2021 season, that doubt should be mostly put away by now. Robinson was on the field for eight of Lawrence's 15 snaps, including the entire first drive. He had a strong game in pass protection and saw more work on the ground (three carries in just eight snaps) than both Carlos Hyde and Travis Etienne saw. Robinson got the first snaps for the Jaguars and the most significant snaps with the first-team offense, showing the importance and value he holds for Jacksonville's starting offense.â ⊠âThis is why James Robinson is the #Jaguars starting RB. Points out the blitz to Lawrence pre-snap then picks it up perfectly to give him time to convert the first third-down of the game.â
âFrank Reich on Jonathan Taylor: âThat guy looks so good right now ⊠I canât even tell you.â Taylorâs been the best player on this offense throughout camp.â
Fangio on Javonte Williams: â...ultimately the No. 1 job of a running back is to be able to make people miss or break tackles. And he was able to do that. And you could only find that in a game. So I was really anxious to see him, and obviously he didnât disappoint.â
"Hockenson might be having the best summer of anyone in Allen Park, and has been Jared Goffâs No. 1 target in the passing game.... has been the best target in camp, and itâs not close."
Hype for the entire Chargers passing game: âI told you guys, best passing offense in the league. Weâre going to throw this shit down the field.â - Brandon Staley
âAs the running-back-by-committee approach grows in popularity across the league, Seattle will be a bit more traditional and build its run game around one clear-cut starter in [Chris] Carson. âWe roll with Chris,â Morton said. âThatâs how it goes.ââ
âKyle Allen says Washington is trying to push Antonio Gibson into a similar role as Christian McCaffrey played in Carolina. That's a big role.â
âNick Sirianni says Jalen Reagorâs 1v1 reps yesterday were âspecialâ Says he can see Reagorâs elite athleticism starting to pair up with strong fundamentalsâ
âI have a hunch Marquez Valdes-Scantling is going to have a monster season, for him at least. Iâm talking 1,000 yards and eight TDs. His hands have looked much more reliable during camp than they have in seasons past, and I think heâll be far more than just the deep-ball threatâ
âMarquez Valdes-Scantling is easily having his best camp. Showed great hands just nowâ
â[Joe Burrow] bobbed and weaved, feinted and fired on his way to 11 of 15 passing in team drills. And he has old pal Ja'Marr Chase to thank. Chase had a monstrous day himself and scored three times on tight goal line fades despite blanket coverage by [CBs] that was defeated by perfect Burrow lofts.â
âJustin Fields' first preseason game for the Bears:
14-for-20, 142 yards, 1 TD, 106.7
5 carries, 33 yards, 1 TDâ
âRon Rivera has compared rookie RB Jaret Patterson to Chargers great Darren Sproles. And now Rivera says he wants to see Patterson get some reps as a punt returner. Very, very interesting. Patterson looked good last night in preseason openerâ
â[Nico] Collins has been one of the better wideouts in camp, often moving the chains over the middle of the field. At 6-foot-4, Collins is the teamâs tallest receiver â the sort of target the Texans lacked a season ago when they emphasized speed above all else at the position.â
Video of Derek Carr hyping up Bryan Edwards.
There is a fast-growing sentiment among Eaglesâ players that Jalen Hurts is undoubtedly the franchise QB. His work ethic, intangibles and overall skill level have captured the entire locker room. Players Iâve spoken with are consistently blown away by Hurts - on/off the field.
âJalen Hurts in 11v11 today vs. Patriots: 16/17, 1 TD, 0 INT His one incompletion was a drop. He had one perfectly thrown TD called back bc of a penalty, so should have been 2 TDs.â
âConnection with Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle looks sweet out here. Chemistry starting to look reminiscent of Tuscaloosa. Waddle making several tough catches look routine today.â
âFor whatever itâs worth, Carson Wentz has been out at practice each of the last six days, no boot, no cast. Heâll start taking walkthrough reps soon. 25 days until the opener.â
Analysis & Hype:
The final installment of the four-part âUltimate Tight End Draft Guideâ
(Graph) â Looks great for David Montgomery and Mike Davis: âHow often RBs broke tackles as pass-catchers in 2020 per @SportsInfo_SIS. I don't like using elusiveness rating in a vacuum because it's easier to force a missed tackle as a receiver. This chart separates receiving from rushing:â
âCorey Davis receives each of Zach Wilsonâs first 4 NFL throws. Some trust clearly built between the rookie and his WR1.â
(Graph) â2020 Rushing TDs Over Expected: Kamara +4.5 Dobbins +3.7 Chubb +3.4 Gibson + 3.4 --- Zeke -5.6â âEzekiel Elliott had nearly 12 expected rushing TDs last year *without Dak*. Fantasyâs biggest positive regression candidate.â
OBJ speaking about Elijah Moore: âHeâs the one⊠Just wait, he knows [things] I didnât know at that age. Mark my words! May be all-pro as a rookie.â
âPer @PFF_NateJahnke, Clyde Edwards-Helaire played on 10 of a possible 11 snaps on Kansas Cityâs first two drives (w/ the first team O) He played on both 3rd downs (one was 3rd & 4 @ KC 32, the other 3rd & Goal @ SF 8) He also ran a route on every passing playâ
âDamien Harris will run behind a top 5 OL on a team that will be top 5 in carriesâ
/r/fantasyfootball thread: âThis sub was spot on for Mahomes breakout year, Lamarâs breakout year, and Josh Allen breakout year. Whoâs your breakout QB this year?â
/r/fantasyfootball thread: âYour 5 takes for the 2021 fantasy seasonâ
Some pretty serious Trevor Lawrence hype. âAt QB15 (124 overall) Trevor Lawrence is the best value in all of Fantasy Footballâ (video)
An elite club: WRs to average 2+ yards per route run at 22 or younger over the past 10 seasons: 2.75 - OBJ 2.68 - AJB, Jefferson, Josh Gordon 2.38 - Mike Evans 2.27 - D Hopkins 2.17 - A-Rob, JuJu 2.06 - DK Metcalf 2.03 - DJ Moore
/r/DynastyFF thread: âWhat's a notable player that you're ready to sell high on if they have a big game week 1?â
Deep (Mostly Dynasty) Sleepers:
Eagles WR Quez Watkins had beat writers in an absolute frenzy this week, sharing takes and highlights:
âQuez Watkins is the second best wide receiver on the Eagles behind DeVonta Smith.â
(video) âQuez Watkins can flat out FLYâ
(video) âQuez Watkins cooking a top-10 CB in JC Jackson. Starting to become regular.â
âRemember Quez Watkins last year had the second fastest 40 time at the combine 4.35 behind Henry Ruggsâ
Quez Watkins reached a top speed of 21.56 MPH in the 1st pre-season game â the fastest speed reached by any player that week.
âQuez Watkins needs to start Week 1. One of the most dangerous weapons the #Eagles have on offenseâ
âQuez Watkins again another huge touchdown. He is fast! Darius Slay said he is the most improved WR in campâ
âI guess the cat is out of the bagâ -Quez Watkins when asked about Jalen Hurts saying he is no longer a secret
âThere may be something to this Quez Watkins hype. Hurts missed him for a 98 yard TD bomb. Now he just took a bubble screen 79 yards for a TD.â
âAfter missing time early in camp with an illness, Watkins has been the Eaglesâ best receiver since DeVonta Smithâs injury. If he keeps this up, a case might be made to start Watkins â even over 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor.â
Colts rookie WR Michael Strachan has also been getting a lot of buzz lately:
"He's on his way up," says TY Hilton. "âŠMichael Strachan, whose ascent the past few weeks has been startling. Strachan, a 7th-round pick, has been among the biggest surprises of camp. Put simply, the kid can play. He proves it every time heâs out there."
âStrachan flashes every dayâ
(video) âMichael Strachan making it look easy against eighth overall pick Jaycee Horn.â
Reggie Wayne: âOkay. I've seen the practice highlights and was like ok ok. Now my my antennas are up for [Mike Strachan]â
Coach Nagy on Bears rookie RB Khalil Herbert: "He's really caught my attention. He's very, very smooth. When he gets the football, you can see the burst that he has."
Cold Water:
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said the Dolphins will continue to use a three-player backfield rotation.Â
âMy concern w/ [Logan] Thomas has been whether that usage will continue. He was 28th among 34 qualifying TEs in YPRR last year. And w/ Samuel's arrival and Gibson allegedly getting more work in the passing game (questionable after last night) ... those targets gotta come from somewhere.â
âOne of the only consistent notes I've seen come out of Jets camp is that pass protection for [Zach] Wilson has been an issue. The impossible thing for us to know, however, is how many of these sacks are on the line, and how many are on the quarterback.â ⊠âZach Wilson today was 12 of 23. He was sacked 7 times.â
âIn 1-on-1 drills, Ben Niemann overwhelmed Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2 repetitions.
Eric Bieniemy wasnât pleased.â
The Fun Stuff:
Urban Meyer cutting Tim Tebow.
This one-handed grab by Jalen Reagor is bonkers. Another angle.
Fantasy mangers 1 week into the preseason.
Reporter trolling Aaron Rodgers.
âKerryon my waivered sonnnâ
Travis Kelceâs new profile pic.
Jameis Winston is becoming a regular in âThe Fun Stuffâ section.
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