We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most to you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all the recent happenings around the league.
After committing to Tyrod Taylor as the Chargers starting quarterback just a couple of weeks ago, coach Anthony Lynn reversed course this week, naming rookie Justin Herbert the starter for the remainder of the season. Herbert’s strong play influenced Lynn’s decision. He has played well as a rookie. The game at the Saints Sunday was an outstanding showing by the youngster as he was facing an elite defense without star tailback Austin Ekeler. Plus, Keenan Allen was forced from the game in the first half. Herbert is a player.
Last Wednesday, Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera made the drastic decision to bench quarterback Dwayne Haskins for Kyle Allen. Ian Rapoport was the first to tweet about the move, “Sources: The Washington Football Team is making a QB change. Kyle Allen will get the start vs. the #Rams, while former starter Dwayne Haskins goes to the bench.” Rapoport followed that up with, “Kyle Allen’s familiarity with the system Washington is using goes back to the #Panthers. WFT has a window where it thinks it can do some damage. Now it’ll be Kyle Allen under center for it.” This led to several attending Rivera’s press conference to report details from the coach. First was Rhiannon Walker with, “Ron Rivera said he's ready to put Alex Smith back on the field, because the doctors cosigned him being out there. Rivera wouldn't put Smith out there otherwise.” Then, Kyle Stackpole tweeted, “Ron Rivera said he did not see the growth he wanted to see from Dwayne Haskins through four games. So, with the division up for grabs, he wants someone who knows the system backed up by a veteran who knows the system.” While many in the fantasy community liked the growth seen from Haskins, beat reporter JP Finlay tweeted, “Ron Rivera says he's been thinking about going to Kyle Allen ‘for a while’ and the schedule presents an opportunity with 4 NFC games and 3 divisional games.” So, for those scoring at home, the coach thinks Allen gives the Football Team a chance to win the division. Mike Garafolo piled on, “#WashingtonFootballTeam OC Scott Turner says they saw ‘repeat mistakes’ from Dwayne Haskins. ‘Did a nice job in camp,’ but games are different. Plus a limited camp. Point being, their chance to evaluate him was in live games: "Sometimes it's good for a guy to take a step back." Fellow beat John Keim added a pair of tweets from Thursday’s press conference, “Rivera said it's a game-by-game decision with Kyle Allen. ... Also said Chase Young was moving well in practice today. Will know more tomorrow; see how groin responded to him working today...” and “Rivera on Kyle Allen: ‘He's kind of a game manager with some big play ability.... Always steady; always smart. Tough as nails. Doesn't say much, just goes about his business. He's very professional.’" Alex Smith was the backup Sunday against the Rams. This was his first game active since the gruesome injury almost two full years ago. Late last week, Rivera said about Smith, “I got Alex next because Alex has been in the system … He understands it, and I want to put the ball back in the hands of somebody else that’s been in it. That’s my thought process behind that. Just to see what happens again.” This entire situation is serious shade on Haskins by the coaching staff. Well, as fate would have it, Allen left the game with injury and Smith entered. He was not sharp, completing just 9 of 17 passes for 37 yards and took 6 six. Neither passer played well as the Football Team amassed just 108 total yards. After the game, Keim tweeted, “Kyle Allen will return as the starter; kept him out with an ‘abundance of caution’ today.” On an emotional day, Jason McIntyre might have said it best, “On the day Alex Smith returns from 23 months of missing football, and nearly losing his leg, Dak Prescott goes down with a broken ankle and is carted off in tears. The highs and lows of football.” There are reports that Washington trades Haskins for peanuts this season since he is obviously not in the team’s long-term plans.
Midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, Dak Prescott went down after being tackled on a designed run. The injury was later described as a compound fracture to his ankle. It was a gruesome injury. He had surgery Sunday night. Prescott will miss the remainder of the season. The sad news is that the star quarterback was on a record pace and he was waiting until the offseason to sign a mega-deal. Andrew Brandt tweeted positive context, “Re Dak, not agreeing with ‘he should have taken the long-term deal’ narrative. Assuming no career-ending damage, he'll be in same position this February as last February. Cowboys have to sign him, apply 2nd Franchise Tag or set him free to a market desperate for a proven young QB.” Against the Giants, Andy Dalton entered the contest and led the Cowboys to victory. Dalton completed 9 of his 11 pass attempts for 111 yards in the game. Expect more Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas running game in the coming weeks.
Veteran DeAndre Washington was a popular waiver-wire addition a month ago when he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. The pieces were there for a sleeper stash: veteran (and coach Andy Reid loves veterans), college teammate of quarterback Patrick Mahomes II at Texas Tech, and no viable competition behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire. But Washington was signed to the Chiefs practice squad and not even in competition for touches. Well, that was until he was signed to the active roster last week. Washington instantly becomes a viable handcuff behind the rookie tailback once acclimated. The veteran was a healthy scratch Sunday in the loss to Las Vegas. He is just another lottery pick for dynasty players.
Washington Football Team receiver Steven Sims Jr was a trendy late-round pick this past offseason due to his strong finish to the 2019 season. Whether due to injury or the new offense, Sims has disappointed. Yes, some may point to him topping 50 receiving yards the first two weeks, much of those targets came as a result of injuries to teammates. Late last week, he was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury. At a minimum, he will miss three games.
Last Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns activated tight end David Njoku from injured reserve. He has recovered from the knee injury that landed him on the list. Sadly, for Njoku, rookie Harrison Bryant has played well in his stead and may not relinquish the TE2 job. For now, expect Njoku to occupy the TE3 role in Cleveland.
Packers beat reporter Rob Demovsky was the first to report about the injury to Green Bay rookie tight end Josiah Deguara last Tuesday. He wrote, “Sounds like the Packers have lost rookie TE Josiah Deguara to a knee injury. ‘Unfortunately it looks to be a pretty bad one,’ coach Matt LaFleur said. ‘We expect him to bounce back from it, and we still think he's got a really bright future.’” This is a tough break for the youngster. Deguara led the snap count in Week 1 before getting injured and the Week-4 victory over the Falcons was his first game back in action. With the bye week, the Packers have been slow to add Deguara to injured reserve, frustrating some fantasy players. He is a great player to stash as the fantasy world is focused on Robert Tonyan Jr.
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