The Huddle Daily -- Week One Archive

By The Huddle | January 1, 2013 12:00 am ET

July 26, 2013

Eagles’ Michael Vick works on securing the starting job at training camp.

• The big news out of New England’s camp was that Tim Tebow was catching passes! Before you cross off “Gronkowski” and write “Tebow” on your cheat sheets, Tebow was just filling in on a drill. His throwing left something to be desired, but by now that’s a familiar refrain. In New England news that actually matters to your fantasy fortunes rookie Aaron Dobson was running with the first team, lining up both outside and in the slot and looking good. It should be noted that Julian Edelman was on the sidelines in sweats.

• Drafting running backs early is the easy part, but finding fantasy value in the late rounds of your draft can win you a championship. In today’s Finding Fantasy Value at Running Back we uncover five late round backs that have a chance to make a fantasy impact in 2013

• A pair of Jaguar receivers stood out during their practice session. Cecil Shorts was uncoverable, according to the Florida Times-Union’s practice report, catching an unofficial 10 passes on the day. Rookie Ace Sanders also made a couple impressive grabs. The rest of the report out of Jacksonville wasn’t nearly as glowing, with Mohamed Massaquoi missing time due to cramps and both Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne throwing picks.

• Michael Vick takes the early lead in the Eagles’ quarterback battle, taking the first set of first-team snaps during Friday’s practice. Nick Foles also saw some work with the ones as Chip Kelly test-drives his new offense.

• There was little new news on Percy Harvin and his troublesome hip. What we do know is that he’s headed to New York for a second opinion, and the Seahawks should know by early next week when–or if–they will have their major offensive offseason acquisition. .

• Other injury news saw the Jets lose backup cornerback Aaron Berry for the season with a torn ACL.

• Join The Huddle today for full access to our 2013 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

• Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins was suspended for the first four games of the season due to a violation of the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. Jenkins apologized and said the suspension was for a substance he’d never heard of and didn’t know how it got into his system. Jenkins was expected to fill the void created by the continuing injury absence of Adam Carriker, who will need yet another surgery on his quadriceps tendon and is out indefinitely.

• Cardinals sixth-round pick Ryan Swope was placed on the reserve/retired list due to concussion issues. Coach Bruce Arians said the team was aware of the risks–Swopes reportedly had a couple concussions in college–but all indications early on were that he was healthy. By June OTAs, however, things weren’t looking as good and Arians compared Swope’s situation to that of Austin Collie, whom Arians had experience with in Indianapolis. Looking to fill in the gaps on the Arizona depth chart are undrafted Jaron Brown and Arena Leaguer Robert Gill.

• For the second straight day the Jets bolstered their offense by signing a veteran, bringing back Braylon Edwards. No need to adjust your cheat sheet.

• Finally, 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown is looking for a new agent after learning, apparently via Twitter, that he had missed out on a $2 million bonus by failing to attend offseason workouts. Let that be a lesson, kids: always read the fine print.

July 25, 2013

Percy Harvin, WR, Seahawks is sitting on the PUP list with a hip injury.

• To the surprise of no one, except maybe Joe Flacco’s agent, the Falcons beat the rush and extended the contract of Matt Ryan for five years at a price of more than $100 million. Of course, waiting on Flacco produced a Super Bowl win so maybe the Falcons are going about this wrong.

•The Cardinals shored up both lines with a pair of veteran signings. John Abraham inked a two-year deal to help pressure the passer, while Eric Winston signed on as an option to keep Carson Palmer upright.

• The Bears also added a pass rusher, signing veteran Jamaal Anderson to provide depth on the same day the team learned defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was hanging up his cleats.

• The biggest injury news of training camp thus far comes out of Seattle, where Percy Harvin was placed on the PUP list with a hip injury. Harvin missed time with a hip injury during OTAs, but his only previous hip issues came during the early part of the 2010 season. The Seahawks are seeking a second opinion and hope Harvin can take care of the issue through rehab rather than surgery; would surgery be necessary, Harvin would be down for an estimated three months. Though the injury doesn’t appear to be the same as former Vikings (and current Seahawks) teammate Sidney Rice, the circumstances are: both waited until training camp to address the injury, with Rice ultimately having surgery and missing 10 games in 2010. So it’s not just the coffee in Seattle that is making folks jumpy.

• A.J. Green, gave the Bengals and fantasy owners a scare, limping off the practice field with an apparent left knee injury. The good news is Green didn’t require a cart, and Cincy coach Marvin Lewis said he thinks Green will be fine.

• Join The Huddle today for full access to our 2013 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

• After a shaky showing Tuesday, Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins’ offense bounced back on Wednesday. Tannehill hooked up with Mike Wallace on multiple occasions and also hit Armon Binns on a pair of long plays. Most importantly, after throwing two pick-sixes on Tuesday Tannehill was turnover-free Wednesday.

• For the second straight day the Jets bolstered their offense by signing a veteran, bringing back Braylon Edwards. No need to adjust your cheat sheet.

• Finally, in the “you knew it was coming” category, Bryant McKinnie is being held out of Ravens training camp because he reported over the team’s prescribed weight. Coach John Harbaugh indicated that McKinnie was in “good shape”, but that he “wasn’t real comfortable putting him out there today at that weight,” according to NFL.com. It’s an annual ritual for McKinnie, who was a key cog in the Ravens’ Super Bowl push late last year after a similar out-of-shape start to the season.

July 24, 2013

New Chiefs’ QB Alex Smith will likely put up career high pass attempts this season.

• Andy Reid had his Chiefs working on the hurry-up offense, and it’s notable that Alex Smith completed his first two passes to rookie tight end Travis Kelce. Sure, it’s early but it reinforces that Reid’s offense a) will throw and b) will throw to the tight end. Free agent signee Donnie Avery and incumbent tight end Tony Moeaki were also targets as Smith starts warming up his arm for what is expected to be a career high in usage.

• Get ready for training camps with a team-by-team breakdown of the receiver position in today’s Fantasy Football Pre-Season Receivers Preview.

• Victor Cruz got paid, but both he and free agent-to-be Hakeem Nicks have some kinks to work out. Not so for Ruben Randle, who recorded perfect attendance during OTAs and enters camp as the Giants’ WR3–a role that has yielded fantasy production in the past. He’s an insurance policy for (or bargaining chip against) Nicks and also allows Cruz to operate out of the slot.

• The Buccaneers signed wide receiver Mike Williams to a six-year, $40 million contract extension, with $10 million guaranteed. It’s the biggest contract extension for a wide receiver without a 1,000-yard season to his credit; it also means both Buc wideouts are getting paid while the guy charged with getting them the ball, quarterback Josh Freeman, is still eligible for free agency following the season.

• The Titans’ PUP list is getting crowded, with both tight end Delanie Walker and Kevin Walter added to the list. Walker is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery but hopes to make it back for some preseason action. Walter has back issues that might not only keep him from cracking a crowded receiver rotation but flat-out prevent him from making the team.

• Still in search of receiver help opposite Calvin Johnson, the Lions signed former Jet Chaz Schilens. It’s enough to make fantasy owners hope even more that Ryan Broyles gets well soon.

• Join The Huddle today for full access to our 2013 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

• Chip Kelly’s practices operate at the same rapid tempo as his offense, and when undrafted rookie running back Matthew Tucker failed to complete the Eagles’ conditioning test in a timely manner Kelly placed him on the non-football injury list. Clearly the saying, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” doesn’t apply in Philadelphia.

• For the second straight day the Jets bolstered their offense by signing a veteran, bringing back Braylon Edwards. No need to adjust your cheat sheet.

• Finally, set your DVR for November when Chris Johnson and Devin Hester race a cheetah for the television show Nat Geo Wild. While the show has already been recorded the results of the race have yet to be released, so feel free to place your bets.

July 23, 2013

Panthers’ back Jonathan Stewart has yet to be cleared for practice.

• Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew has been cleared for practice, though the plan is to bring him along slowly as he works his way back from the Lisfranc injury that scuttled his 2012 season.

• Get ready for training camps with a team-by-team breakdown of the receiver position in today’s Fantasy Football Pre-Season Receivers Preview.

• New England tight end Jake Ballard passed his physical and was activated from his brief stay on the PUP list. Ballard gives the Patriots options at a position where they’ve suddenly become thin this offseason. Fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski remains on the PUP list, as does wide receiver Julian Edelman.

• Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart has yet to be cleared for practice. Panthers coach Ron Rivera has only a vague “we’ll see” to offer when asked if Stewart will be available for any of the team’s training camp or even by Week 1, so as per usual it’s buyer beware on Stewart.

• Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller, coming back from a torn ACL suffered late last season,is expected to open the season on the PUP list.

• The Dolphins practiced in full pads Tuesday; hopefully the padding provided ample protection as the Ryan Tannehill hype train suffered an early derailment. Shaky offensive line play led to Tannehill being pressured, resulting in not one but two pick-sixes during the session. It’s still early, right?

• The Buccaneers signed one-time Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis, but it’s unlikely he’ll even come close to denting Doug Martin‘s touches in Tampa Bay. That said, if you’re into handcuffs he’s right there in the mix alongside Brian Leonard.

• The Jets bolstered their offense by signing veteran kicker Billy Cundiff to compete with Nick Folk. Hey, in 32-team fantasy leagues that’s a relevant move.

• Finally, it was a bad day to be named Matt Brown; both the Packers (Illinois State quarterback) and Buccaneers (Temple running back) released players with that name.

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