Housler "hopeful" for Week 3

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians is "hopeful" that TE Rob Housler (ankle) will be back for Week 3.  Housler has yet to practice since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Arizona's 3rd preseason game.  He's worth rostering in deeper leagues but won't be a fantasy option right away.

Browns HC Mike Pettine said that TE Rob Housler "needs to work on catching the ball."  That's not a good look for a pass-catching TE.  Housler has had a quiet start to camp and reportedly dropped 2-3 balls on Tuesday.  There's still opportunity on a Browns TE depth chart that includes Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge, but Housler needs to pick it up.  He's just a late-round flier for now.

Browns HC Mike Pettine called Rob Housler the "ideal 'F'" TE.  Here's how Pettine described that position: "The F is more of a move type, off the ball, more of a wing. You can flex him out some."  That's the kind of role we want our fantasy TE playing.  Housler was signed by the Browns to be a pass-catcher.  Although he disappointed in Arizona, there's still upside here.  Housler goes 6'5, 250 pounds with a SPARQ (athleticism) score in the 92nd percentile among TEs.  He's a nice late-round flier in fantasy drafts.

TE Rob Housler has agreed to a deal with the Browns.  It might be a sneaky-good spot for his fantasy value.  With Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray as the only other TEs on the roster, Housler should easily emerge as the lead pass-catching TE.  And that could mean plenty of targets on a team with Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins atop the WR depth chart.  Housler was mostly invisible last year but totaled 84 catches and 871 yards between 2012 and 2013.  The 27-year-old goes 6'5, 250 pounds and ripped up the 2011 Combine with a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and 37-inch vertical.

Cardinals TE Rob Housler worked with the 1st-team offense in Saturday's preseason opener, making this catch-and-run for 38 yards.  Previous reports had him 4th on the depth chart.  It now looks like he'll at least see time in 2-TE sets with John Carlson.  Rookie Troy Niklas figures to open the season 3rd on the depth chart but could work his way up.  None of these guys are likely to emerge as reliable fantasy assets this year.

Cardinals insider Josh Weinfuss believes TE Rob Housler is 4th on the depth chart heading to training camp.  "He's just not the type of tight end head coach Bruce Arians prefers," Weinfuss writes.  Housler is an athletic pass-catcher but doesn't offer much in the blocking department.  Weinfuss believes the current pecking order at TE is John Carlson, Jake Ballard, Troy Niklas and then Housler.  We just adjusted our projections for the Arizona TEs, but none of them are worth drafting in fantasy football right now.