Training Camp Daily Dose: Dose: Brady Freed
The DeflateGate saga is finally over. For now, at least. The NFL has appealed Judge Berman’s decision to overturn Tom Brady’s suspension – but in the meantime, Brady will play for the entire 2015 season while the appeals process works out.
This story has been a painstakingly long process and utterly obnoxious to follow at most corners. But let’s cut through the noise: Brady’s back and that can only spell good things for the Patriots offense and the patient fantasy owners who drafted him at a 2-4 round discount.
Tom Brady and the Pats’ offense started off sluggish in 2014, as Brady posted four straight weeks with QB24 overall finishes or worse. As we all know, the Patriots’ offense turned on a switch after Week 4. Brady finished as a “QB1” (top-12) QB in seven of New England’s 12 remaining games and averaged 294.4 passing yards per contest and a 29:7 TD-to-INT ratio from Week 5-16. He’s a locked in top-8 quarterback option in fantasy.
Let’s get to the rest of Thursday’s news.
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Zach Ertz (groin) Unsure If He’ll Suit Up Week 1
If Ertz is unable to go Week 1, it would further damper his potential 2015 breakout. Regardless, Brent Celek was likely to cut sharply into Ertz’s snaps as he’s the more apt run blocker. With Ertz on the mend, Celek may end up playing the majority of the Eagles snaps at TE early in the season.
In 2014, Ertz had a 50.3% snap share and stayed in to run block on just 26.7% of his 603 snaps while Celek was on the field to run block on 53.6% of his 827 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. If Ertz can’t boost his snap share and become more versatile beyond just being a pass catching tight end, his fantasy upside is severely limited. He’s a low-TE1 until further notice.
Dwayne Bowe On The Roster Bubble?
Browns’ preseason broadcaster Solomon Wilcots reported WR Dwayne Bowe “needed to deliver” in Cleveland’s final preseason game insinuating his roster spot may not be secure. HC Mike Pettine after the game said Bowe’s spot on the 53-man roster is not in danger. Bowe has $9.5 million in guaranteed money in his contract and would count $4.5 million against the cap if he was indeed slashed in final cuts. It wouldn’t make any sense to let Bowe go just a little more than week before the season begins.
DeVante Parker (foot) Sees First Preseason Action
Rookie DeVante Parker tested out his foot for eight snaps in Miami’s final preseason game Thursday evening. This is a great sign the ‘Fins No. 14 overall selection will be active Week 1. Parker will likely enter the year as a non-starter, but could certainly warm up to a much larger role as the year progresses. He’s an upside WR4 in fantasy.
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Montee Ball’s Roster Spot In Question
Ball has been slipping down the Broncos’ depth chart during camp and may officially rest behind C.J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman, and Juwan Thompson after a horrendous showing for his roster spot Thursday evening. Against second- and third-string defenders, Ball mustered just 27 yards on 16 carries (1.7 YPC). His future in Denver is bleak at best.
Michael Floyd’s Week 1 Status “Up In The Air”
Still nursing dislocated fingers, Cards’ team reporter Jody Jackson said Floyd’s Week 1 status is unknown. Floyd has still not returned to live drills in practice meaning he’s on the non-positive side of “questionable” to play in nine days. Floyd’s ADP has slipped to WR47 (113 overall).
RB Isaiah Crowell Favorite To Start Week 1?
Browns’ HC Mike Pettine says Crowell has the edge over Terrance West and Duke Johnson for the starting RB job. We’ll see. This backfield is a convoluted mess for fantasy purposes but Cleveland did churn out a total of 16 top-24 (RB2 or better) PPR performances in 2014. Albeit most of those performances were entirely unpredictable due to a muddy RBBC which will continue this year unless one RB runs away with the job.
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Quick Hits
The Bucs’ signed DB Tim Jennings. … Tevin Coleman played in Thursday night’s final preseason game with Devonta Freeman still nursing a hamstring injury. … Jason Pierre-Paul plans to report to the Giants’ next week and expects to play “early in the season.” … Breshad Perriman (knee) still isn’t practicing and is highly questionable to suit up Week 1. … The Packers’ are “not interested” in recently cut WR Jarrett Boykin “to this point.” … Cowboys DE Greg Hardy is “considering an appeal” of his 4-game suspension after the Brady ruling. … Finally, Jets RB Stevan Ridley will likely open the season on the PUP list.
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