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    Weinfuss: Love might not be ‘every-down guy’

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    ARI Running Back #4
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    Speaking on the Pat McAfee show, ESPN’s beat writer said he thinks Jeremiyah Love could be used “more as a feature back, so not the every-down guy.”

    Love is currently dealing with a sprained ankle he suffered in the preseason against the Raiders. Weinfuss said that, based on how he has seen Love used in training camp, Love might be used more as a feature back in “unique situations,” while also noting that Tyler Allgeier was signed to “be that short-yardage, bruising type of back.” This certainly isn’t what fantasy managers who invested third-round draft capital in Love want to hear. It also comes as a bit of a surprise given the 14 touches Love saw in Thursday’s preseason game. While it wouldn’t be surprising to see Allgeier vulture a few goal-line touchdowns, we would still expect Love to lead this backfield in touches by a wide margin while adding plenty of value in the passing game. Fantasy managers shouldn’t balk at whatever ADP slide he might see to his injury, as it could present a nice opportunity to scoop up the talented rookie at a discount price.
Why NFL teams downplay training camp injuries
Mike Florio explains why NFL franchises downplay training camp injuries with the league rules and strategic advantages at play to this approach.

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  • ARI Running Back #4
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    We suspected this might be the case when Schefter’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, reported earlier today that the team is “hopeful” Love can play in Week 1 against the Chargers. This evening, Schefter echoed that phrasing, saying the team is “hoping” he can return in time for the season opener. Love has just under a month to get healthy. He remains a high-upside pick, but RB Tyler Allgeier should be targeted as a bench stash. The Cardinals surprisingly gave Love 14 touches in Thursday’s preseason game. One imagines they might be more conservative with his early-season touch count, assuming he is able to play, but only coach Mike LaFleur knows for sure.
  • ARI Running Back #4
    The language regarding Love’s ankle injury continues to evolve. The team initially said the No. 3 overall pick could have re-entered Thursday’s preseason game if necessary. Coach Mike LaFleur later said Love would need at least a week off. On the plus side, Fowler referred to Love as the team’s “soon-to-be lead back,” furthering the notion that some of the training camp rotation hubbub was perhaps inaccurate. Love has time to recover and play productively this season. His recovery is simply worth tracking right now.
  • ARI Running Back #4
    Love came out of the Cardinals preseason game on Thursday with an ankle injury. HC Mike LaFluer said after the game that Love could have returned. On Saturday morning, he changed his tune. LaFluer told reporters Love’s ankle is a “little more sore” and that he’ll be out for at least week. He didn’t commit to Love returning for the Cardinals third preseason game, only that the 21-year old running back will be re-evaluated in a week. Love totaled 73 scrimmage yards and looked like the clear-cut starter against the Raiders on Thursday, but Tyler Allgeier could end up being the de facto starter if Love’s ankle injury lingers into the regular season.
  • ARI Running Back #4
    Love apparently also picked up a minor ankle injury, but coach Mike LaFleur said he could have played through it were it the regular season. Whew. Love looked powerful and explosive against the Raiders tonight, at one point showing off a leaping spin move and later a hurdle. The first-round rookie running back out-snapped RB Tyler Allgeier 8-3 on the first drive with QB Jacoby Brissett. The two running backs continued rotating through the second drive, helmed by backup QB Gardner Minshew. Allgeier hung up his cleats after that, while Love played on 8-of-10 snaps on the third drive. If the first-drive snap count is any indication, Love may already have earned the clear-cut starting role in Arizona. His continued participation on the third drive clouds the picture. Hopefully we learn more next week.
  • ARI Running Back #4
    NFL teams have begun hosting training camp scrimmages to give fans a glimpse into elements like play calling, starters and so on. Does this development mean Love has secured the Week 1 starting role? Not necessarily, no, but this is certainly encouraging. At worst, he seemingly has decent odds of rising to the Cardinals’ RB1 role early in the year. He remains a worthwhile pick at his current ADP.
  • ARI Running Back #4
    Regarding running backs who play “all 65 snaps,” LaFleur says that he has “seen that story when guys are a little bit overloaded,” it hurts them either in the short- or long-term. Fortunately for all involved, not even 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey plays on 100 percent of snaps. He handled 81.6 percent last year, which is extremely high. This is a bit of a straw man argument from LaFleur, who ultimately concluded his comments by saying he wants to keep his running backs fresh and healthy for 17 games. That makes sense, but when a player is taken with the No. 3 overall pick, like RB Jeremiyah Love, we should expect them to eventually settle into a workload in which they are playing on a comfortable majority of snaps. The Cardinals’ coaching staff is seemingly intent on keeping Love’s ADP in check. We’ll take it.
  • ARI Running Back #4
    Per Weinfuss, through eight days of training camp, veteran RB Tyler Allgeier “has been getting the majority of the carries with the first team, with Love getting the rest.” This should, helpfully, keep Love’s ADP somewhat suppressed. It is a worthwhile buying opportunity. The No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft should be expected to take over as the starter in-season at the latest. Allgeier will be worth stashing on benches. The team does trust him.
  • ARI Running Back #22
    The Cardinals began training camp very early, with both rookies and veterans reporting on July 22nd. Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love is the only other Cardinals back to take first-team reps. Should we now view Allgeier as the season-long lead back? No. Allgeier may end up having standalone value early in the year, but the team drafted Love to be their star. It would even be unsurprising to see Allgeier split first-team snaps 50-50 with Love before the season starts.
  • ARI Running Back #6
    The four running backs are Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, Trey Benson. Given the recent draft capital and financial investments in Love and Allgeier, those two are obviously locks to make the final squad. Conner, 31, and Benson, 24, seem like reasonable trade candidates. Both players’ seasons ended prematurely due to injury. Conner has one year left on his deal. Benson has two. Love should take over the starting role soon enough, but perhaps the RB2 battle could take a while to sort through. Weinfuss believes “Conner and Benson won’t roll over easily and give their jobs away.” If they do indeed keep four running backs, and one player were to miss time, this might make for a tough waiver wire read.
  • ARI Tight End
    Reiman is expected to be an “important cog in the offense” this year, as a reliable blocker in the run game. Per Cardinals team reporter Darren Urban, LaFleur has, unprompted, mentioned Reiman multiple times this offseason. LaFleur told Urban that he had a lot of respect for Reiman as a prospect and was excited to inherit Reiman when he accepted the Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy this offseason. Reiman’s expected return is good news for both RB Jeremiyah Love and TE Trey McBride. He will provide extra help in the run game while fully freeing up McBride in play action. That said, it does not sound like Reiman will be fantasy-relevant at all this year.

Rotoworld

  • SF Defensive Lineman #97
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    49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Nick Bosa (knee) is making progress.

    Shanahan noted that the tendinitis that has been bothering Bosa has been “subsiding” over the past few days. The 28-year-old defender missed Tuesday’s scrimmage against the Chargers, but it sounds like he should be back in action in a relative short time.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • NO Wide Receiver #11
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    Ronnie Bell left Tuesday’s scrimmage against the Cowboys with an apparent lower-body injury.

    Bell had to be carted off the field. The 26-year-old is competing for one of the final spots on the Saints’ roster. Further updates on Bell should be available in the coming days.
    - Christopher Crawford
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    Free agent WR Chase Claypool worked out for the Saints on Tuesday.

    He was joined by Josh Reynolds. The Saints are apparently looking to add to the depth of the room with the news that Jordyn Tyson will miss time early in the season with a hamstring injury. Claypool worked out for the Colts in late July and with the Packers in rookie minicamp. He’s trying to find another shot in the league.
  • FA Cornerback #28
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    Free agent CB Trevon Diggs worked out for the Seahawks on Tuesday.

    Perhaps they’re looking for shorter-term help than Terrion Arnold is able to give them now that he’ll be on the commissioner’s exempt list if signed. Diggs worked out with the Lions earlier in August. He’s looking to find a new team after hitting free agency for the first time this offseason following a tumultuous ending with the Cowboys.
  • LAC Wide Receiver #1
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Quentin Johnston (undisclosed) is not expected to miss much, if any, practice time.

    Johnston limped off at today’s 49ers-Chargers joint practice but it seems like this isn’t serious. A source told Schefter that Johnston was “totally fine.”
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    Colts CB Charvarius Ward (back) is sidelined indefinitely.

    Ward was contemplating retirement this offseason due to a scary amount of documented concussions, but gave it a go at training camp only to wind up missing tons of time due to this back injury. The 30-year-old will start for the Colts if he’s healthy for Week 1, but that sounds like an open question at this time.
  • IND Running Back #21
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    The Athletic’s James Boyd left DJ Giddens off his 53-man roster projection.

    It’s been hard to find a good word from a beat on Giddens this offseason, so this isn’t an overly surprising conclusion to see listed out. He’s been sidelined for most of camp with a hamstring injury. The Colts look like they’ll keep Seth McGowan as their main backup to Jonathan Taylor. In this projection, Giddens loses the third running back spot to Ulysses Bentley IV.
  • SEA Running Back #8
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    Seahawks RB jadarian Price (upper-leg soreness) returned to full participation in practice on Monday.

    Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said after the drills Monday that Price “isn’t fully unleashed for unlimited work, and that his practice participation will ramp up some.” The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell believes Price will be the lead back in Week 1. It sounds like he’s going to be healthy for the opener as things sit right now; we’ll see how things shake out in preseason Week 2 before we go making sweeping declarations.
  • WAS Running Back #34
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    Commanders placed RB Jerome Ford on injured reserve.

    No word on what the injury was; it’s possible Ford is released with an injury settlement and resurfaces elsewhere this year. Not being close to making the Commanders depth chart at running back is ... a bleak endorsement of Ford’s future prospects. He’ll look to catch on elsewhere.
  • TB Wide Receiver #11
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    Jalen McMillan (leg) returned to practice on Tuesday.

    He was sidelined for a little over two weeks. McMillan is being treated like an afterthought in drafts, going off the board behind Cooper Kupp in the WR6 ranks. McMillan had a nine-target game last year despite missing most of the season and is still just 24 years old. Even with the Ted Hurst hype coming out of camp, there’s a chance for McMillan to be a useful spot starter in fantasy leagues this year.