“If you’re single, look for someone who still supports Mecole Hardman. Those people can be disappointed repeatedly and still love you.”
Ooooooh baby. Season is almost here!
There’s just a couple more free spots in our Patreon Discord server. This is where we post all the best headlines we come across throughout the week. If you’re interested in being an active contributor to the headlines/analysis feed we have going in there, shoot a reply to this email, and we’ll get those last free spots filled.
Now let’s get to the good stuff.
Analysis & Hype:
“[Jakobi] Meyers caught five of his six targets from Mac Jones in 11-on-11s, including two highlight-reel touchdowns. He’s been the Patriots’ top receiver throughout camp, maintaining that status despite marquee offseason additions for the second consecutive summer.”
Another Patriots beat writer also commented that Jakobi Meyers has been their best WR.
D’Andre Swift says Duce Staley has him feeling like the sky is the limit. Says his personal goals for 2022 are “1,000 (rushing) and 1,000 (receiving).”
“[George] Pickens has been the star of camp, consistently making play after play, which is highly unusual for a rookie receiver. You would expect to see flashes, but not every day. And I mean every day. He is a polished route runner, he high points the ball with ease”
Lovie Smith on RB Dameon Pierce: “We’ve seen everything you need to see from a good running back. He can catch the ball. He can run in between tackles. He’ll make you miss in the open field. Pads down low, there’s a lot of things to like about Dameon.”
Washington Commanders rookie RB Brian Robinson had nearly 600 touches in college without a fumble.
Matt LaFleur calls Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon running backs “1A and 1A.” “They’re two of the premier backs in our league, in my opinion. They can do anything.”
Patriots beat writer on joint practice: “Out of all the training camp practices I’ve seen since 2018, Davante Adams today was the best for any wide receiver. The things he was doing were downright ridiculous.”
A great, in-depth Twitter thread on Drake London.
Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett this preseason:
19/22
171 yards
3 TDs
0 INTs
138.6 passer rating
“Travis Etienne will lead the Jaguars backfield out of the gate regardless of James Robinson's status.”
“Trevor Lawrence led the NFL with an 11.3% check-down rate, no other QB was over 10% This is a Travis Etienne tweet”
“The way they’re using him in practice, Michael Pittman might have 140 catches this year.” I don’t buy 140, but it’s still nice to hear.
“Michael Pittman Jr. has hit it off with Ryan right away. From the start of training camp, he’s been the new starter’s No. 1 target by far, hauling in 34 passes over 13 practices.”
“Michael Pittman broke out last year on 129 targets. His new quarterback, Matt Ryan, has peppered his WR1 with an average of 161 targets per year since 2009. For the "Well, Pittman isn't as good as Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, or Roddy White" crowd, Harry Douglas led the 2013 Falcons in targets with 132.”
“Alvin Kamara has looked phenomenal all camp. Don't buy the downtick in numbers last year when defenses were able to focus so much attention on him, because the dude is unreal and now he has some help.”
There has never been a reason to get as hyped about Hunter Renfrow quite like this clip.
If WR’s hit alpha size, early declare, first rounder
-19/22 have had top 36 season
-18/22 had a top 24 season
-12/22 have had a top 12 season
-10/22 have had a top 5 season
-7/22 have had multiple top 5 seasons
Treylon Burks meets all three requirements.
Courtland Sutton has been Russ Wilson's "favorite target during training camp."
“The first three completions in Tuesday’s practice went to the same player: Brandon Aiyuk. In other words, the still-sizzling wide receiver finished camp the way he started, and he appears poised for a breakout third NFL season.”
In case you needed more Romeo Doubs hype. (video)
Because we bring you all the most hard hitting analysis: “Aaron Rodgers and Romeo Doubs are lunch buddies”
“Kyle Pitts had 1 touchdown on 110 targets last year (0.009 TD/target) The other TE1s had 74 touchdowns on 1,098 targets (0.067 TD/target) That TD rate and volume should have produced 7.41 TDs. That would have bumped Pitts from TE9 to TE3 in standard fantasy football scoring. If we’re projecting a slight uptick in opportunity and positive regression in the TD department, finishing as fantasy’s overall TE1 is well within Pitts’ range of outcomes.”
“Kyle Pitts had more receiving yards as a rookie than CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf… If we were ranking him as a WR – he would be a Top-10 Dynasty WR, maybe Top-5. & he plays the scarcest position in fantasy. He should be the 1st non-QB drafted in all dynasty startups.”
“Rashod Bateman was the first rookie WR since Brandin Cooks to log 500+ receiving yards on fewer than 70 targets. 195 targets opened up on the Ravens with the Brown/Watkins departures.”
“The Panthers QB competition wasn't close between Baker Mayfield and Sam Daronld. "My understanding is Baker ran away with the job””
“Rookie RB Rachaad White will have a role. In NE, Brady always had really good third-down backs, and White might be the best pass-game RB he's had as a Buc.”
“Rachaad White was the highest PFF graded receiving RB in the class. And was 1st in missed tackles forced as a receiver. He also has Top 2% athleticism at his position all time”
PFFs highest-graded TE in NFL preseason so far is Ravens rookie Isaiah Likely - 92.2
"It’s wise to keep expectations in check, but [Isaiah] Likely will have a significant role in the offense. He’s shown he’s ready for it."
“Jared Goff says that Amon-Ra St. Brown reminds him of a young Cooper Kupp”
“Javonte Williams broke a tackle on 31% of his carries last year Which was the HIGHEST RATE from a RB since 2006 In his only game with 20 touches, he put up 29.8 fantasy points”
Threads on /r/fantasyfootball:
Who is someone you’re hyped about that isn’t getting as much attention right now?
Who are your league winners?
Are you a Dynasty fiend? Here’s a thread for you on /r/DynastyFF: The 2023 Draft Class Primer - Quarterbacks (Part 1 of 2) - Preseason Edition
Deep Sleepers + Dynasty Stashes:
“Nobody is drawing ‘who the hell is that guy’ commentary like [Rams WR] Lance McCutcheon.”
Texans TE Brevin Jordan hype article.
“At the end of the 2-on-2 period, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel called for the ‘best two’ on offense and defense for one play. The offense sent out Robert Woods and Kyle Philips…”
On Broncos rookie TE: “They want Greg Dulcich to be the guy.”
Cold Water:
‘I get we all want Rhamondre szn. But Montgomery is the most natural fit in the receiving back role. Doesn’t mean Stevenson can’t catch more passes this year. Just how I see it right now.”
Mike Gesicki has been "less a focal point of the offense" this summer.
Cold water video on Deebo Samuel.
“One of the biggest reasons to be bullish on Cam Akers this season is Sean Mcvay’s tendency to use a workhorse running back. @CharlesRobinson noted that Mcvay is one of the few coaches willing to change his approach and will be using Akers & Henderson in tandem this season.”
The Fun Stuff:
Punt at your own risk.
“If you’re single, look for someone who still supports Mecole Hardman. Those people can be disappointed repeatedly and they still love you.”
Davante Adams talkin’ his shit.
“Been scouring the internet, reading every article, grinding every tweet. Here's what I've learned: Every NFL player is having the best camp of his career.”
Tyreek 60 yards downfield.
Nick Chubb in Weeks 1-11 without Deshaun.
Skip Bayless debating himself on Aaron Rodgers.
KaVontae Turpin speaking his tweet from January 16th, 2022 into existence
“Who will be this year's Sammy Watkins (massive Week 1, top of the waiver wire, disappoints rest of season)? My pick: Sammy Watkins”
“It’s very easy for me not to be Deshaun Watson. Trust me.” - Jacoby Brissett
👋 That’s it for now. Join our community onPatreon and get access to our Discord chat, where everyone shares and discusses the beast headlines/analysis, daily. You can also follow us onTwitter, where we browse over 1,000 analysts and beat writers and retweet/post all the good stuff.