Popper thinks Mitchell will beat Vidal for RB2 gig

Mitchell has been out of action for more than a week after experiencing a “minor setback” for an undisclosed injury. This could be a situation where we’re all left in the dark until the team is required to disclose injuries in the week leading up to Week 1, leaving fantasy managers to plan for contingencies. Any missed time from Mitchell would be a measurable boost to the weekly expectations of Omarion Hampton.

Speaking to media Monday, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said running back Jeremiyah Love “took another step yesterday and he’ll take another step today,” with the goal of being ready for Week 1, when the Cardinals visit the Chargers to kick off the regular season. The high ankle sprain suffered in the team’s first preseason game has the potential to cost Love regular season games considering the timing, but it sounds as if there is at least a sliver of hope that Love will not miss any regular season time. That said, there is also the possibility that Love is active come Week 1 but not at full strength, something that could realistically influence his workload early in the season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor the situation closely as the regular season approaches.

Flowers has been a bit banged up in the latter portions of the offseason program, missing practices for two separate issues over the previous month. Even so, the team continues to assert he will be fine for Week 1. Fantasy managers will want to track his status over the coming two weeks.

This was always though to be the case, with the team’s decision to keep only six receivers through cuts Sunday seemingly backing that notion up. Pryor adds that the teams is expected to “ease in” both Metcalf and Pittman, but it certainly sounds as if each receiver will be on the field in less than two weeks for Week 1.

Blue now becomes a free agent and can be signed by any running back-needy team, including the ability to sign onto the Dallas practice squad. It has been quite the fall from grace for Blue over the previous 24 hours, seemingly going from the favorite for backup duties for the Cowboys to without a home. It is also noteworthy that only one running back was claimed during the waiver period, veteran Emari Demercado, by this same Cowboys team. Blue appears to have lost all fantasy value and faces an uphill battle for a meaningful role in his sophomore campaign.

Even so, the team was uncertain whether he would take part in practice Monday. Bond likely finds himself competing with veteran Jerry Jeudy for perimeter snaps at wide receiver for the Browns after the team’s release of Cedric Tillman over the weekend.

The Raiders had the No. 1 waiver spot and used it to claim just one player, cornerback Darrell Luter, who was released by the 49ers Sunday. Luter is likely to join the active roster for a team in desperate need of depth pieces in the secondary.

Cook joins starter Malik Willis and recent acquisition Kyle McCord in the pecking order at quarterback for the Dolphins, with the assumption that McCord will serve as the primary backup on game days during the regular season. Either way, Cook now gets a fresh start after four starts across five appearances for the Jets during his rookie season. Tight end Justin Joly also joins the Dolphins after being released by the Broncos. The team kept four tight ends through final cuts, making the path to a roster spot more muddied, but he lands on his feet after being forced to contemplate a potential practice squad spot in Denver. Also claimed were DB Marcellus Dial, T Chukwuebuka Godrick, T Jarrett Kingston, DB Reese Taylor, and DB Julius Wood.

Demercado enters a wide open backfield depth chart behind starter Javonte Williams and primary backup Malik Davis, the two of whom were the only running backs to survive 53-man roster cuts Sunday. It does not appear the Cowboys are finished adding to their backfield, with most teams keeping four running backs on the active roster throughout the season. More to come.

Ertz is on the mend after tearing his ACL last year. While nothing is imminent, Ertz could make sense for the Eagles current tight end room. Philadelphia is lacking in legitimate receiving options behind Dallas Goedart despite keeping four tight ends on their initial 53-man roster. Ertz turns 36 in November and is unlikely to be a fantasy factor at this point in his career, but could still be an upgrade on the Eagles’ current tight end depth.