Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the 49ers with a chest injury. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Freiermuth returned to the game.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Panthers. That leaves a few touches behind for RBs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s opener vs. the Panthers. He was limited in practice all week. Patterson shouldn’t be in your Week 1 fantasy plans, but his absence would be a slight boost for RB Bijan Robinson.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. He went down with this thigh injury in mid-August but seemingly has a shot to play vs. the Panthers this weekend. Patterson isn't a fantasy option but could siphon a few touches from RB Bijan Robinson.
The Eagles released RB Trey Sermon. Philly will carry RBs D'Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, Rashaad Penny, and Boston Scott into Week 1. We're expecting that to be the order in terms of snaps to start. But this figures to be an ever-evolving backfield throughout the season.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson will miss a couple of weeks with a soft tissue injury. HC Arthur Smith said he’d have a clearer picture of Patterson’s status following Week 3 of the preseason. Even if the veteran gets on track for Week 1, he’s only a fantasy factor for your best ball strategy.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni said not to read too much into the backfield usage in Saturday's preseason opener vs. the Ravens. RB Kenneth Gainwell was held out of that one, while RBs D'Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny played. That could be interpreted as Gainwell being atop the depth chart. But Sirianni said that's not necessarily the case. "We wanted to see Rashaad go. Rashaad hasn't played in a little bit," Sirianni said. "My plan with the backs ... I always like those guys getting tackled, so the first time they get tackled isn't in game one [of the regular season.] So, next game, [Boston Scott] or [Kenny Gainwell] will get a couple carries, like Swift did today. And the next game the other one will get a couple carries." So don't expect to learn too much about the Eagles' backfield plans the rest of this preseason. We know that it'll be a committee attack -- but exactly how touches will be divvied remains uncertain.
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic expects little change to RB Jaylen Warren’s role. “Honestly, I don’t see much more of a role than he had last year if [Najee] Harris stays healthy,” Kaboly wrote. Harris played through a foot injury in 2022 but still appeared in all 17 games. Warren averaged 6.5 touches per game overall; nearly 11 over the final month. The second-year back is an ideal RB5.
Jets beat writer Brian Costello believes the team must be "concerned" about the O-line, “particularly at the tackles.” This unit has struggled at training camp, including in today's joint practice with Carolina. Likely LT Duane Brown is on the PUP list. And RT Mekhi Becton remains a major wild card. “With Duane, he’s going to play well,” Rodgers said. “We got to figure out who the first five is going to be. So, a lot of guys in competition right now. It seems like they’re switching the tackles left and right, just about daily with Max [Mitchell] and Billy [Turner], just looking for consistency with those guys. I feel like the interior has been a bright spot, pretty consistent for us both the first and second group, we just need a little more consistency on the edge.” The Jets open the regular season vs. a deep Buffalo D-line.
Kenneth Gainwell has been the Eagles' "featured RB during the two-minute drill" in training camp, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Josh Tolentino. Gainwell has played plenty in that role over the past two seasons, but it's surprising to hear he's still in it after the Eagles acquired RB D'Andre Swift. Losing that work would be a blow to Swift's fantasy value. We'll see if preseason action reveals anything else about the Eagles' backfield plans.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini doesn’t expect Jets QB Aaron Rodgers to play in the preseason. No surprise there, as Rodgers hasn’t suited up for preseason play since 2018. New York opens the regular season September 11 vs. Buffalo.
The Jets and QB Aaron Rodgers agreed to a new two-year, $75 million contract, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. It's a significant pay cut from the $108.7 million Rodgers had been scheduled to make over the next two years. It's also worth noting that a big chunk of Rodgers' new deal is paid out in 2024, adding incentive for him to play a second season with the Jets. It's a slight boost to his dynasty fantasy football value.
Jets HC Robert Saleh envisions QB Aaron Rodgers playing behind 2023. (Well, of course.) "Odds are, if you enjoy playing football, you're going to want to keep doing it,” Saleh said via ESPN. “I wouldn't put pressure on him to commit to something like that anyway, but I'd be shocked if he doesn't play multiple years. He looks like a little kid out there.” Entering camp, Rodgers seems to be feeling the Jets’ vibe. "When you have so many great players on rookie deals, it's pretty exciting, knowing you can do something," Rodgers said. "You've got a good window. It's not just a one-year thing where you can be competitive, which is fun.” Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, projects as a QB1 spot-starter.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth has shown a ton of promise in his NFL career so far. He finished last season as the TE11 in PPR points per game (9.3) in a less-than-stellar offense. Though he logged nine top-12 weekly finishes with a pair of top-24 finishes, Freiermuth finished as a TE3 or worse in his other five games in 2022. But when you look under the hood, his production profile looks much better. Among 27 TEs who received 50+ targets in 2022, Freiermuth ranked sixth in Pro Football Focus receiving grade, sixth in target share (19.6%, sixth in air yards share (19.7%), and sixth in yards per route run (1.68). Better yet, he led the Steelers in targets per route run rate (23%), ranked sixth among all TEs in targets per game (6.2), and seventh in target share (20.9%) following the Week 9 trade that sent WR Chase Claypool to the Bears. What makes Freiermuth's feats in that stretch of time even more impressive is that he ranked 22nd in snaps player per game among TEs (47.8) during that period. Whether or not fantasy managers believe in the strength of the Steelers' offense, QB Kenny Pickett developed a strong relationship with Freiermuth that puts him in fairly high standing in our current TE rankings. Take a chance on him in the later rounds of your drafts this season.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf underwhelmed last year, finishing 24th among WRs in PPR points per game and 29th in non-PPR. Blame bad TD luck. Metcalf scored a career-low six times on a career-low 6.7% TD rate. He found the end zone on 13.4% of his receptions over his first three seasons. And it wasn't for lack of opportunity last year. Metcalf ranked second among WRs with 27 red-zone targets, sixth in targets inside the 10-yard line, and first in end-zone targets. He's a safe bet for more TDs in 2023 -- and potentially A LOT more TDs. We currently project Metcalf for 8.2 scores.
Texans WR Robert Woods endured easily his worst NFL season in 2022. He tallied his fewest receptions per game (3.1) since he was a 2013 rookie. He posted career lows in yards per catch, yards per target, and yards per route. He earned his lowest Pro Football Focus receiving grade since 2015. But it's also worth remembering that Woods was coming off a November ACL tear. He signed a two-year deal with the Texans that includes $10 million guaranteed and a $7.6 million annual average. Woods has finished among the top 40 WRs in target share every year since he left Buffalo. That included top-30 rankings in all five Rams seasons (with highs inside the top 15). He'll compete for roles with an unproven WR corps that includes Nico Collins, John Metchie, and third-round rookie Tank Dell. Woods had already seen his average depth of target shorted in recent years (before the injury) while still running more than half his routes from outside. That could make him a nice complement to Collins, who tends to work deeper downfield. And Houston should get a QB upgrade, from Davis Mills to rookie C.J. Stroud. No one's expecting big things from Woods in 2023, but that's what makes him most interesting for best ball drafts. His ADP sits outside the top 80 among WRs, despite a path to leading Houston in targets. There's no risk -- but at least decent upside -- to mixing in some Woods late in drafts, especially in full-PPR formats. See how his spot in our 2023 fantasy football rankings compares with that ADP.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is dealing with an undisclosed injury, per beat writer Brian Batko. “He’s frustrated because he has something that’s kind of slowed him down from having a good camp,” TE coach Alfredo Roberts said. “He was having a really good camp. He’s missed in the red zone, for sure.” Freiermuth says he’ll be ready for training camp. But before that, he'll take part in a different camp — “Tight End University” — led by Greg Olsen, George Kittle, and Travis Kelce. Freiermuth remains a top-8 option in our TE rankings.
Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly believes TE Pat Freiermuth will reach 100 catches in 2023. Call it a truly bold prediction. Over the past 10 years, only Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, and Zach Ertz have tallied at least one 100-catch season. Freiermuth hit 60 and 63 catches over his first two NFL seasons. Check the TE rankings to see our detailed projections for Freiermuth.
Steelers WR Calvin Austin said he’s healthy and a full participant in OTAs. The 24-year-old missed last year with a Lisfranc injury requiring surgery. Austin now figures to slot in as the WR4 behind Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson. But further decline from Robinson could supply Austin — an explosive slot —with more opportunities. He’s also competing for a role on returns.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers strained a calf in Tuesday's OTA session, CBS' Josina Anderson reports. "It’s considered minor as of now. The anticipation is he should be back fairly quick," Anderson adds. It doesn't sound like this will have any impact on Rodgers' 2023 season, but we'll keep an eye on the 39-year-old.
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