Ravens HC John Harbaugh said Tuesday he expects RB J.K. Dobbins to return to the team soon, according to Sarah Ellison of Ravens Vault (and former editor for the team website. Harbaugh said: "Generally speaking, to be a great player you need to put in the time and effort and get with the team and just get right. And he wants to do that in his case, and that's why I expect him back here pretty soon." We've seen Dobbins' ADP slip in recent drafts. That makes him even more attractive if you have a draft before he returns. We haven't moved Dobbins down our RB rankings at all.
Darin Gantt of Panthers.com says it's "increasingly clear during camp that the passing game is going to be diverse." He says WR D.J. Chark has "made daily highlights" but adds that Adam Thielen caught a deep TD Saturday and that "several other wideouts were making plays." The fantasy takeaway here is that you shouldn't expect any Panthers WR to dominate target share. "Diverse" here means that QB Bryce Young is spreading the ball around, which makes sense given the WR corps. Fortunately, the ADP for everyone in the corps is low enough that we don't need a target dominator. Thielen remains the leader of the group in our WR rankings. We're not ignoring the recent Chark buzz, though.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley says QB Justin Herbert is having the best training camp he's had in Staley's three seasons with the team. Staley is giving a lot of the credit to new OC Kellen Moore. "He makes the game easy for the quarterback," Staley said of Moore. "He really allows the quarterback to play fast, and what we're really trying to do is get Justin to play fast and be aggressive -- not just, like, in the deep part of the field, which is what everyone wants to focus on. It's that, of course, but it's the way that you command the play before the ball's even [thrown]. And now that you've developed this trust and chemistry with your group on the outside, you can really be on the attack." A big talent with a strong pass-catching corps and upgraded play-caller, Herbert is one of our favorite QB targets in fantasy drafts.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh said he keeps in contact with RB J.K. Dobbins but remains unsure about a potential return. "I don't know. It's a fair question," Harbaugh began. "And there is a point when it becomes a concern because - and he knows - JK and I talked last night. We talk a lot. He wants to be out, and he needs to be out there, just like any player does. Other than that, there's nothing else that I can really add because I don't know when he's gonna come back. But I know I'm gonna be really happy when he does.” Baltimore opens up the preseason on the 12th vs. Philadelphia.
The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that Panthers HC Frank Reich is installing a "tight end-friendly offense that features the position prominently in the passing attack." That's particularly good news for TE Hayden Hurst, who signed a hefty three-year, $21.75 million deal with Carolina in free agency. “I love it," Hurst said of Reich's offense. "This is the opportunity that I’ve always asked for. I prepared this offseason like the ball’s gonna come my way a lot. So I’m in the best shape of my life.” TE26 in ADP, Hurst is one of the best values at the position in fantasy drafts.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh called the current situation with RB J.K. Dobbins "complicated." Dobbins opened training camp on the PUP list after missing time in the spring with an alleged sore hamstring. But it sure seems like his absence from the practice field has more to do with his contract. Dobbins is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to make just $1.39 million in 2023. “That’s a J.K. question,” Harbaugh said when asked about the RB's absence. “I wish there was a simple answer. There’s always a lot of things that go into football, but there’s some complexity to it. We’re working through all that, and we’re looking forward to when he’s out there.” We'll keep you updated on the situation. Consider Dobbins a risk/reward pick at his current late-fourth-round ADP.
According to multiple reports, the Chargers have agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million extension with QB Justin Herbert. This move will keep the franchise centerpiece in Los Angeles through the 2029 season, and the $218.7 million in guaranteed money ranks second behind only Browns QB Deshaun Watson among the most lucrative contract in the NFL. Herbert took a bit of a step back in 2022, finishing 9th in Pro Football Focus passing grade. Some of that can be attributed to the fractured rib cartilage he picked up early in the season and the fact that WRs Mike Williams and Keenan Allen didn't play a single complete game together due to their own injuries. We have faith that the Chargers will bounce back in 2023 under new OC Kellen Moore, with Herbert placed highly in our current QB rankings assuming health for all. Next up on the list of young franchise QBs waiting for a long-term deal? Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
Chargers WR Josh Palmer missed offseason practices with an undisclosed injury. He's the Chargers' projected WR4, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, behind Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and rookie Quentin Johnston. (No surprise there.) We’ll keep an eye on Palmer’s participation in training camp, but he’s only worth drafting in deep fantasy formats.
The Ravens placed RB J.K. Dobbins on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Dobbins reported to training camp on Thursday but won’t be ready for the start of team practices. We'll see what news comes out of Baltimore in the coming days. Dobbins, of course, has been plagued by knee trouble since tearing his left LCL, ACL, and meniscus in 2021.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley believes the Ravens “could” field a top-5 O-line in 2023. This unit features three former first-round picks, including LT Ronnie Stanley, C Tyler Linderbaum, and RG Kevin Zeitler. Baltimore should be in fine shape as long as Zeitler (age 33) and RT Morgan Moses (32) remain above-average starters. However, LG is one spot to watch in camp after the offseason loss of Ben Powers. (Powers was Pro Football Focus’ second highest graded guard in 2022.) Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, John Simpson, and Patrick Mekari look like the top candidates to fill in. View our fantasy football rankings to see expectations for key Ravens like Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, Mark Andrews, and others.
The Athletic’s Daniel Popper believes the Chargers’ O-line is in "outstanding shape” entering training camp. “The starting five has a chance to be special, especially with [Zion] Johnson moving to his more natural position at left guard next to an All-Pro in [Rashawn] Slater," Popper adds. Call it a bonus for QB Justin Herbert, who should already benefit from the addition of Round 1 WR Quentin Johnston. Without question, Herbert is one of the top fantasy QBs for 2023.
The Chargers “remain high” on RB Isaiah Spiller, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. It’s not shocking since Spiller arrived in Round 4 just one year ago. He battled an August ankle injury and never locked down the RB2 job behind Austin Ekeler. Across six games, Spiller posted only 41 yards on 18 carries. We’ll see if the Chargers add a veteran RB over the coming weeks. Even if they pass, Spiller must beat out Josh Kelley for the backup job.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic published a report on Monday that should excite fantasy managers about the Ravens' offense in 2023. Zrebiec wrote that new Ravens OC Todd Monken has "prioritized" the team playing with "a faster pace" and integrating RBs into the passing game more often in OTAs and minicamps. This is particularly good news for RB J.K. Dobbins, a player who has only seen 32 targets in 23 games (1.39 per game) in his career. His fantasy value would take a sizable leap forward in PPR formats if he can add pass-catching to his repertoire. Fortunately, throwing the ball to Dobbins more often than the Ravens did under former OC Greg Roman is a low bar to clear. That said, fantasy managers should pump the brakes a little before getting too happy. It's tough to say how much of an increase Dobbins will see with Monken at the helm. In four NFL seasons as an OC (Buccaneers 2016-18, Browns 2019), only three RBs have received 40 or more targets in a Monken-led offense: Nick Chubb (49 - 2019), Kareem Hunt (44 - 2019), and Jacquizz Rodgers (45 - 2018). We currently have Dobbins projected for 43.4 targets in 2023. Check out where currently he sits in our RB rankings.
"There were no visible limitations, both in terms of workload and the type of throws" Chargers QB Justin Herbert made at Wednesday's practice, The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes. Herbert underwent surgery in January to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He resumed throwing in May. "Herbert is looking healthier and healthier, and he should enter training camp with minimal limitations physically," Popper adds. This should be a non-issue by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Ravens RB Gus Edwards will be "partially ready" for next week's minicamp, HC John Harbaugh said. Edwards played in just nine games last year after his 2021 ACL tear and subsequent hamstring injury. But he played in the final seven regular-season games and Baltimore's playoff loss, so it's unclear what's ailing him now. "No setback," Harbaugh said. "Maybe they're being a little cautious, but that's what they're doing." Harbaugh added that Edwards should be "fully ready" come training camp, but his health is worth monitoring this summer.
Panthers TE Hayden Hurst is back on the field after undergoing sports hernia surgery earlier this offseason. Barring a setback, that procedure won't impact his 2023 campaign. Hurst isn't an exciting pick in fantasy drafts -- but he's a volume-based value at his TE24 ADP.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen suggested the team will attempt more deep passes under new OC Kellen Moore. “Obviously, Justin [Herbert] has a cannon,” Allen said. “Mike [Williams] goes deep. He has a new guy named Quentin Johnston. He can go deep. We’re probably going to be going deep.” Justin Herbert wasn’t particularly aggressive last year. Only 9.7% of his attempts traveled 20+ air yards, while his average depth of target (aDOT) sat at just 7.0 yards. But given the arrival of Johnston and a solid O-line, Herbert should be someone you’re targeting in fantasy drafts.
Panthers TE Hayden Hurst is recovering from sports hernia surgery, per HC Frank Reich. Hurst will sit out OTAs until further notice, but we’ll let you know when he’s back on the field. There’s a lead TE job waiting for him when he returns to 100%. The 30-year-old (in August) inked a 3-year deal with $13 million guaranteed in March.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley said QB Justin Herbert has resumed throwing following January labrum surgery. The procedure was on Herbert’s left shoulder. “He’s progressing through a throwing progression right now,” Staley said. “But how much he does during when we actually practice, that’s to be determined.” We’ll keep an eye on Herbert’s status going forward. But the fourth-year pro should be a full-go for training camp.
The Chargers selected TCU WR Quentin Johnston with the 21st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnston goes 6’3, 208 pounds but plays smaller. That’s not necessarily a knock. He’s one of the most impressive after-catch receivers we’ve seen come into the league in recent memory. He combines good agility and burst with plenty of physicality with the ball in his hands. Johnston averaged a huge 8.9 yards after the catch at TCU last year. He’s also a weapon on deep balls, leaving school with a career 19.0 yards-per-catch average. But Johnston struggles more than you’d expect in tight coverage. He converted just 42.7% of his contested opportunities over three college seasons, according to PFF, including just eight of 23 (34.8%) last year. His hands are inconsistent (10.7% drop rate last year). And his route running needs work. Johnston certainly isn’t the safest WR prospect – but he might have the highest fantasy ceiling in this year’s class. Landing in a Justin Herbert-led offense only helps. Just keep 2023 expectations in check, as long as Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are healthy. Current projections land Johnston in WR4/5 range.
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