Dose: J-Matt To Be Focal Point
Admittedly, I wasn’t buying the WR1/2 hype on Jordan Matthews earlier this offseason, as I was more #TeamAgholor in support of first-round WR Nelson Agholor being the receiver to own in Philadelphia. I was being stubborn and completely ignorant to just how good Matthews is and was last season. Matthews was the No. 4 fantasy scoring rookie receiver in 2014 behind Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, and Kelvin Benjamin, and was a part-time player throughout the year unlike the other three.
I figured Agholor would be the Jeremy Maclin replacement on the outside for coach Chip Kelly, and that very well may still be true, but silly me was being oblivious to the fact that this offense can support so many offensive players due to its high-octane speed and efficiency. Both Matthews and Agholor can be fantasy football studs in 2015 with DeMarco Murray still getting “his” in the running game. The Eagles ran a league-high 70.7 offensive plays per game in 2014 and have the ability to go even faster as long as the referees can keep up. (In the Eagles’ preseason opener on Sunday against the Colts, the refs had to blow the whistle and stop a play because they weren’t ready.) And the offense should be even better with Sam Bradford replacing Nick Foles/Mark Sanchez.
Matthews has been an offseason darling here at Rotoworld with double-digit “blurbs” all relating to his exceptional practice play and potential increased role as a sophomore. While he’s expected to remain in the slot over 90 percent of the time like he was as a rookie, this year Matthews will be nearly an every-snap player with the Eagles’ base offense being “11” personnel — one running back, one tight end, and three receivers. Watching the preseason opener, it was easy to see this passing offense is going to run through Matthews. And beat writer Jeff McLane confirmed it on Tuesday, saying it’s “clear” Matthews is going to be the “focal point.” He was targeted five times through a quarter-and-a-half of action over the weekend and will be a candidate for double-digit looks every game. Kelly is such a great schemer that receivers are often left running wide open through the opposing defense. While I was initially skeptical, I’m fully on board with Matthews. He’s a mismatch nightmare out of the slot at 6-foot-3 and has the agility scores of smaller players like Antonio Brown. Expect him to push for 140-plus targets this season and WR1 status. He’s a favorite in both DFS and season-long.
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In Other News…
Ben Roethlisberger has been in Markus Wheaton’s corner all offseason, going on the radio and calling for a “breakout” year from the third-year speedster. It’s let some air out of Martavis Bryant’s balloon, but considering just how high Bryant’s ADP was climbing at one point earlier this month, this is probably a good thing. While Bryant is the superior talent to Wheaton, beat writer Ed Bouchette expects Wheaton to open the season as the starter opposite Antonio Brown. Bryant will still have a big role with the Steelers likely to be one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league having to play three-wide sets and put up points to make up for their young, inexperienced defense. The Wheaton talk sounds real, making him a worthy dart throw at his current 12th-round ADP.
Bills running backs were bit by the injury bug Tuesday. LeSean McCoy, who battled a toe problem last season with the Eagles and earlier in camp this summer, had to leave practice with a hamstring issue. He’s being sent for an MRI. McCoy’s hamstring is said to be “intact,” but by the early sounds of it, this seems to be a week-to-week more than day-to-day thing. It didn’t stop with McCoy for the Bills, as rookie, and favorite for No. 2 duties, Karlos Williams had to undergo an undisclosed operation that will sideline him “at least” two weeks. Bryce Brown (hamstring), Fred Jackson (hamstring), and Anthony Dixon (calf) are already hurt, leaving Bronson Hill and Ricky Seale as the lone healthy backs.
The darling of the first week of Browns camp, Terrelle Pryor went down with a hamstring injury a couple weeks back before missing the first preseason game and returning to practice over the weekend. His stay on the field didn’t last long. Pryor is back on the sidelines with an aggravated hamstring. He’s missing meaningful reps and can’t be considered a lock for the 53-man roster.
Darren McFadden opened camp on active/PUP with injuries to both hamstrings. He was activated over the weekend and took the majority of the first-team reps in Tuesday’s joint practice with the Rams. Beat writers observed McFadden’s quickness and overall health, while owner/GM Jerry Jones gushed about the possibility of McFadden remaining healthy. He’s pushing Joseph Randle for first-team snaps. We much prefer DMC in the ninth round of fantasy drafts to Randle in the third.
Tyrod Taylor’s arrow has been screaming upward since his impressive preseason debut. Coach Rex Ryan announced Taylor would start the second exhibition and also upped his first-team snaps in practice. Now, GM Doug Whaley is saying Taylor is “everything you’re looking for” in a quarterback. In the fantasy community, we’re all definitely rooting for Taylor. Due to his dual-threat skills, Taylor will have QB1 upside and is min-priced in DFS for Week 1. Only Matt Cassel stands in his way.
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Quarterback & Running Back Slants
ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini reports the Falcons have interest in free agent Rex Grossman, who has a long history with OC Kyle Shanahan. … Melvin Gordon admits he has to be more “decisive” with his runs. … Fumbling has reportedly been an issue for Lance Dunbar at Cowboys camp. … The Jets signed Matt Flynn to a one-year contract. … Joique Bell (knee, Achilles’) remains on the active/PUP list at Lions camp. … Coach Jay Gruden said Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy remain in an “open competition” to be the Redskins’ No. 2 quarterback. … T.J. Yeldon (finger) remains “up in the air” for Jacksonville’s second preseason game after missing the opener. … Despite the addition of Chris Johnson, the Cardinals website expects Andre Ellington to open Week 1 as the starter. CJ2K hasn’t been promised a roster spot. … Settlement talks between the NFL and Tom Brady have gone “nowhere.” … Geno Smith (broken jaw) is expected to avoid I.R./designated for return and miss only about the first four weeks. … Brandon Bolden and James White remain in competition for the Patriots’ passing-down-back job. … Vick Ballard may be on the outside looking in for a roster spot in Indianapolis. … Cardinals rookie RB David Johnson (hamstring) has resumed practicing. … Lions undrafted RB Zach Zenner mixed in with the first-team offense Monday after his strong preseason opener. … Bernard Pierce has been better than the Jaguars expected at camp. … Seahawks signed backup QB Jake Waters. … DeMarco Murray (rest) is expected to practice Wednesday after sitting out roughly a week. … Beat writer Rich Cimini expects Stevan Ridley (knee) to open the season on reserve/PUP. … Steelers waived QB Tajh Boyd. Fun times when he was being talked about as the future No. 1 overall pick while at Clemson. … Owner John Mara expects the Giants and contract-year QB Eli Manning to agree to an extension before Week 1. … Coach Bill O’Brien said there is no timetable for him to name a starting quarterback.
Wide Receiver & Tight End Slants
Jarvis Landry is “clearly” Ryan Tannehill’s go-to receiver this summer. … Third-rounder Sammie Coates is expected to open the season as the Steelers’ fourth or fifth receiver. … Jets claimed 2014 fifth-round TE Arthur Lynch off waivers from the Dolphins. … Saints WR Seantavius Jones is battling for one of the final receiver spots. … Percy Harvin’s hip issue is worse than the Bills originally thought and has required a pain-killing injection. … Jordan Reed (hamstring) remains sidelined. … Falcons third-year TE Levine Toilolo has had an “impressive camp.” … The Bears have expressed zero concern about Alshon Jeffery’s calf injury. … NFL suspended 49ers WR Jerome Simpson six games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. … Cowboys No. 2 TE Gavin Escobar has been diagnosed with a concussion. … Brandon Coleman appears locked in as the Saints’ No. 3 receiver, even after not playing offense in the preseason opener. … Michael Floyd (dislocated fingers) had the stitches removed from his left hand. … Dennis Pitta (hip) will open the season on reserve/PUP, costing him at least the first six games. … Breshad Perriman’s (knee) MRI came back normal. He’s been sidelined for over two weeks with a sprain. … Duron Carter is expected to make the Colts’ 53-man roster at this point. … Kendall Wright has been the “most consistent” receiver at Titans camp. … Richard Rodgers has passed Andrew Quarless as the Packers’ starting tight end. … Rueben Randle continues to battle a knee injury. … Patriots acquired TE Asante Cleveland from the 49ers in exchange for G/T Jordan Devey. … Giants TE Adrien Robinson and WR James Jones are on the roster bubble. … Free agent TE Chris Cooley said he is “literally begging” to be signed by the Redskins. … Emmanuel Sanders has missed the last 11 days of Broncos camp with a hamstring injury.
