Corey Davis, Laviska Shenault, Marquez Callaway, and Jakobi Meyers Hype Week
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Now let’s get to the headlines!
News & Notes:
Travis Etienne suffered a mid-foot Lisfranc injury and is out for the season.
Broncos named Teddy Bridgewater their starting QB.
The Patriots traded Sony Michel to the Rams.
Jaguars officially named Trevor Lawrence as Week 1 starting quarterback.
“Three consecutive practices for Carson Wentz. No issues with the foot.”
Panthers and Robby Anderson have agreed to terms on a 2-year, $29.5M extension.
Coachspeak and Beat Reports:
“Jakobi Meyers caught six of his seven targets today with two TDs from Mac. Would've caught all seven w/three TDs but Mac overthrew a deep crosser.”
“Damien Harris took the first handoff of every 11-on-11 period, which has been the case throughout the summer. Rhamondre Stevenson took the second handoff each period today, so he got the biggest bump following the Sony Michel trade.”
Adam Schefter believes Sony Michel will “Probably be the lead back.”
“Mac Jones finished practice 21-of-26 in 11-on-11s, his best practice yet with the Patriots against the Giants starting defense. One might call it surgical.”
“The Goff-Hockenson connection looks ready. Those two worked on routes off to the side today, just them. And in 11-on-11 sessions, Goff repeatedly found his TE, both over the middle and on out routes. Right now, Hockenson's the guy Goff seems to trust most in a tight window.”
"Who do you think is gonna have a more productive year, Ruggs or Edwards?" VicTafur: "Gruden wants to show people that [Henry] Ruggs was a good pick over Jeudy and Lamb."
“Carson Wentz lighting up the red zone session to close practice — TDs to Pascal, Pittman and Dulin on three consecutive snaps.”
“Carson Wentz's foot looks fine.” (Video)
“My goodness, Eagles WR DeVonta Smith just put Jets CB Bryce Hall in a spin cycle. Short zip route, but Smith’s footwork is so crisp.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen Devonta Smith get touched off the line one time all night. Being 170 doesn’t matter if DBs can’t even get a hand on you anyway.”
Chad Johnson: “Do y’all fucking see Devonta Smith off the line of the got damn scrimmage, holy pigeon shit that mofo gone be nice”
“I think people have gotten a little crazy with the Drake talk. [Josh] Jacobs will still get the majority of touches, and he looks tougher & faster this camp, if possible. Drake will be moved around on 3rd downs and in the red zone, & Richard will be a distant third in terms of usage.”
“Dallas Goedert is quietly having an outstanding training camp. He has the most catches (39), targets (46) and touchdowns (6) of any player on the roster”
Arians says Gio Bernard has been “more than pretty good”. Said he’s already going to be a major part of the offense
Analysis & Hype:
PFFs highest-graded WRs this preseason:
Marquez Callaway - 95.4
Jakobi Meyers - 91.3
Corey Davis - 90.2
Marquez Callaway has been getting a lot of hype recently. Jim Nagy says he’s more than just a preseason flash in the pan and pointed to his analysis on Callaway in 2019: “If you grade the tools and flash plays WR Marquez Callaway is among the top WR prospects in this year’s class. Explosive PR ability (career 13.5 avg, 2 TD) showcases his big-play ability with the ball in his hands.”
“Jakobi Meyers finished with a 72.6% success rate vs. man coverage last year, placing him at the 80th percentile. Solid scores against man and zone as well. Really underrated separator that #ReceptionPerception has ranked higher than consensus.”
"He's a great player. I just have a lot of trust in him and all his 1-on-1 routes that he's gonna get open. And you know, I hope he has trust I’m gonna get him the ball" -Zach Wilson on Corey Davis
“Corey Davis had more 100 yard games last season than A.J. Brown.”
Want something steamy? Read this thread about Laviska Shenault, “who now has 0 competition for Meyers' invaluable joker role. In NCAA, Percy Harvin = 24.1 FPPG Curtis Samuel = 25.2 due to crazy usage”
“Trevor Lawrence threw 23 times tonight (113 yds). Here’s his targets:
- Laviska Shenault: 7
- Marvin Jones: 5
- Dorsett: 2
- Austin: 2
- Travis Etienne: 1
- Carlos Hyde: 1
- Treadwell: 1
“For what it's worth, Next Gen Stats has Sony Michel with the HIGHEST rushing yards over expectation per attempt last year among backs with 50 or more carries.”
“#Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is 20 of 32 for 184 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs in the preseason so far. He has a QB rating of 78.13
#Jets QB Zach Wilson is 15/20 for 191 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs in his two appearances. Good for a QB rating of 137.71”
Passer rating through first 2 career preseason games for Jets QBs
Zach Wilson: 137.3
Bryce Petty: 85.2
Sam Darnold: 82.3
Mark Sanchez: 82.3
Geno Smith: 54.6
Christian Hackenberg: 35.7
“last year, Teddy Bridgewater played the #1 most difficult schedule of pass defenses >> he played 11 games against top-15 pass defenses this year, the Broncos are projected to play the #1 easiest schedule of pass defenses from #1 most difficult to #1 easiest”
“The case for Nick Chubb early in fantasy: RB4 per game in half PPR in a committee last year. Efficiency projects very well because he's a baller and the Browns OL might be No. 1. With CLE DEF likely better, more positive game scripts is possible. And what if Kareem Hunt misses???”
Running backs with the most yards created per attempt in 2020:
Nick Chubb 3.15
Derrick Henry 2.51
JK Dobbins 2.18
Dalvin Cook 1.85
Kareem Hunt 1.71
Ronald Jones 1.71
Zack Moss 1.71
“Jalen Hurts averaged 11.5 rushing attempts per game in his four starts. That’s more than any other QB. The upside is there.”
Most games with 300+ pass yards, 60+ rush yards -- NFL history:
1. Steve Young -- 4
T2. Russell Wilson -- 3
T2. Michael Vick -- 3
T4. Donovan McNabb -- 2
T4. Rich Gannon -- 2
T4. Dante Culpepper -- 2
T4. Jalen Hurts -- 2
“Jalen Hurts is the only player in NFL history to accomplish this feat twice in his rookie season. He's started just 3 full games.”
Quick brush up on James Robinson’s season last year —In 15 games as a rookie:
* 1,414 yards from scrimmage (most ever by an undrafted rookie)
* 1,070 rushing yards: 2nd most ever by an undrafted rookie
* 10+ fantasy points in every game
“James Robinson was 2020's RB7 on a points per game season On a team that averaged 19.1 points (30th)”
Thread on /r/fantasyfootball: “High upside WRs you can target if you go RB heavy.”
“WR35 Laviska Shenault: 42nd overall pick, 691 yards as a rookie, only plays in 3-WR sets, plays for the Jaguars, didn't go to USC WR53 Michael Pittman: 34th overall pick, 630 yards as a rookie, plays in all formations, doesn't play for the Jaguars, went to USC”
“Jerry Jeudy will be the Broncos’ No. 1 receiver by virtue of Sutton’s timeline for return to full strength, and I’m not sure that wouldn’t be the case if Sutton wasn’t dealing with the rehab. That’s how dynamic Jeudy has been during his second NFL training camp.”
Article outlining 10 redraft sleepers.
“Terrace Marshall through 2 preseason games:
- 25 of 28 first-team snaps
- 6 receptions for 138 yards
- 75 yards after the catch
- 4.93 YPRR
- 116.7 passer rating when targeted
Very significant, especially on an offense that supported 3 top-25 fantasy WRs last year.”
Ravens RB snaps with the first-team offense Saturday:
Gus Edwards 10
J.K. Dobbins 8 (started)
Third-down RB snaps:
Edwards 3
Dobbins 1
“Jameis Winston already has two throws tonight better than any Taysom has had in his entire career”
Ryan Fitzpatrick has played 37 snaps this preseason. Logan Thomas:
* In on all 37 snaps
* 13 snaps slot, 3 wide
* 22 routes run on 22 Fitzpatrick dropbacks
* 3 targets on 21 Fitzpatrick pass attempts (14.2%)
“Tua [Tagovailoa] is completing 70% of his passes with a 8.3y/att... any given year both those numbers are easily top 3 at the position It's preseason but he's doing all you could ask for imo”
“Diontae Johnson has 10 WR1 (top-12) games in his two-year career.”
Deep (Mostly Dynasty) Sleepers:
“WR turned TE Juwan Johnson was filling a version of the Jared Cook role for Saints even before the Adam Trautman injury. Johnson 60 snaps this preseason, 32 of them lined up slot or wide. Seen five targets.”
Rhamondre Stevenson [Preseason 2021] Quarters Played: 5 Rushing Attempts: 25 Rushing Yards: 193 Rushing Touchdowns: 4
Since 2015, there are only four Power-5 RBs to average at least 100.0 rushing YPG and 35.0 receiving YPG in a single season:
- Christian McCaffrey (2015)
- Dalvin Cook (2016)
- Joe Mixon (2016)
- Rhamondre Stevenson (2020)
Sean Payton via Steve Levy on MNF: “If you’re asking me today, my #2 running back is Tony Jones.”
Thread on /r/DynastyFF: “The case for Salvon Ahmed and a deep breakdown of the 2021 Dolphins backfield”
“New Patriots TE Kahale Warring was a popular target on waivers, with the Colts and Saints also attempting to claim him, per source. New England had highest priority and acquired the 2019 third-rounder.”
Cold Water:
“Long term outlook on [Travis Etienne]: There’s a 21% production dip year 1 after Lisfranc surgery. That makes him volatile in year 2. This is close to worst case scenario for a rookie RB.”
“Through 2 seasons, Mecole Hardman has not missed a game... He has 103 career targets in those 32 games”
“Tiny sample, could be a preseason thing, not overly concerned. But still worth noting Trey Lance only 1-8-0 rushing on 63 snaps so far. Justin Fields 9-79-1 on 71 snaps.”
“An all too common sight in Eagles training camp: Miles Sanders with a drop.”
“Panthers WR Terrace Marshall has looked so good that I'm starting to wonder if he's a threat to D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson.”
The Fun Stuff:
It feels like almost daily we’re getting half a dozens of highlight videos of DeVonta Smith barely letting DBs touch him. Exhibit 1. Exhibit 2.
“If Celebrities Gave Fantasy Advice” (Video)
If you drafted Austin Ekeler (Or plan to), he’s going to be doing signed jersey giveaways this season.
“Someone check Lasik's stock prices tonight? Jameis should have just made them millions.”
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