As always, NFL roster cuts had an unexpected impact on some key fantasy football players. Here's a look at the biggest fantasy storylines from cut day.
LeSean McCoy out, Devin Singletary in
If you drafted LeSean McCoy in your fantasy football draft, chances are you weren't expecting him to be released during NFL roster cuts.
Though the Buffalo Bills had been adamant that McCoy wouldn't be traded or released, the team did elect to part ways with him ahead of the 2019 season. The move signifies that the Bills are confident that rookie third-round pick Devin Singletary can be their lead back. And based on what he has done in the preseason, he should have a good chance to live up to the expectations.
Singletary will move up in fantasy football running back rankings moving forward. He should be the backfield leader and though Frank Gore will be mixed in for some carries, Singletary profiles as the squad's lead back moving forward.
As for McCoy, his value won't evaporate entirely. He's still worth picking in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts, as he's bound to sign with a running back-needy team. The Houston Texans stood out as a team that could use him in the wake of Lamar Miller's season-ending ACL tear, but they traded for Carlos Hyde, so it's unclear if they will be interested in McCoy. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys could explore getting him on the cheap with both of their star running backs holding out.
New England Patriots
McCoy could even consider reuniting with his former head coach Andy Reid in Kansas City if the Chiefs aren't confident in their running back rotation of Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson. In all likelihood, McCoy won't be out of work long.
Beyond fantasy, the departure of McCoy will take away one of the Bills' top offensive weapons, and that will be good news for the New England Patriots. While Singletary has upside, he is unproven.
Conversely, McCoy has generally performed well against the Patriots, totaling 104 carries for 427 yards and a touchdown while catching 31 passes for 283 yards and a score in seven games against the Patriots since 2015. He struggled against them last year, but he was dealing with injuries and dealt with poor offensive line play during the worst season of his career.
Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott holdout updates
The Gordon and Elliott holdouts appear to be heading in different directions. Gordon's representatives have reportedly been given permission to seek a trade for the talented running back, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. At this point in time, it's unclear what teams might be interested in his services. It looks like he's ready to explore his options and he still could return to Los Angeles, but he could land elsewhere.
As for Elliott, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that talks between Elliott and the Cowboys are "intensifying" and that they're hoping to have a deal done this weekend. That's definitely a good sign for Elliott's availability, so he's looking a bit less risky than he has in the past. It's still not guaranteed, but if you have a late fantasy draft, there's reason for optimism at this point in time.
Carlos Hyde traded to the Texans
The Texans managed to get another running back for their offense by acquiring Carlos Hyde in exchange for Martinas Rankin on Saturday. Hyde ran the ball 172 times last season for 571 yards and five touchdowns last year while playing for the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, he'll get a chance to work in rotation with Duke Johnson with the Texans.
Ironically, Hyde and Johnson were the top two backs in Cleveland last year before the emergence of Nick Chubb and Hyde's trade to the Jaguars. They will now split touches again. That said, the Texans have a poor offensive line so Hyde, who averaged only 3.3 yards per carry last season, may have trouble earning playing time. Johnson will certainly get more catches and may get more of an opportunity to carry the ball than he did in Cleveland as well. Both profile as FLEX plays, but Johnson has more upside, especially in PPR leagues.
Jadeveon Clowney trade weakens Houston defense, strengthens Seattle
Last year, the Chicago Bears made a cut-day trade to get Khalil Mack. His explosive ability off the edge had a massive impact on the Bears defense and helped to make them the top fantasy defense last season.
This year, the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks made a swap that could have a big impact on fantasy defense rankings. The Texans dealt Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks in exchange for a third-round pick, pass rusher Jacob Martin, and former Patriots linebacker Barkevious Mingo. Without Clowney, the Texans defense is thin on pass rushing options, so their sack numbers should decline. J.J. Watt will still make them a solid starting unit, but their big-play upside is lessened without Clowney.
As for the Seahawks, Clowney is the perfect replacement for the departed Frank Clark. He is a formidable pass rusher who has had at least nine sacks in each of the past two seasons and should impact the Seahawks' defensive line. That should at least help to make up for some of the production lost with the trade of Clark and given that they only gave up a couple of rotational pieces, their defense should be much better.
Both the Texans and Seahawks can be trusted as starting fantasy defenses, but the Seahawks are certainly trending up after this trade.
Matt Bryant signs with the Atlanta Falcons
Kickers don't usually require a lot of attention, but Bryant is playing for a potential high-level offense and could have a lot of scoring opportunities. The 44-year-old is rejoining the Falcons and will have a chance to be the top kicker this season.
Why is Bryant's signing so important? The Falcons have 13 indoor games this season. So, if Bryant can stay healthy and effective, he won't have to deal with potential poor weather very much. That will make him an intriguing kicker option because of his past performance and potential consistency.
Check out our full 2019 fantasy draft kit here>>>
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.