NFL Player News

Rookie D’Qwell Jackson will start in his place.

The good news is that Blue took “some” snaps in team drills for the first time this week, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The bad news is that Blue was the fourth player up behind starting RB Javonte Williams and fellow backups RB Malik Davis and RB Israel Abanikanda. Earlier today, COO and co-owner Stephen Jones said Blue and RB Phil Mafah were being “pushed” by Davis. While it’s possible the team is just easing Blue back into action, his spot in the rotation, coupled with Jones’ comments, is concerning. He had received positive reviews to this point, but a fantasy-related reassessment may be in order. The backfield rotation in Saturday’s preseason game against the Cardinals is worth tracking.

The Lions are retaining “all” of last year’s play-calling verbiage, and “it was on Drew Petzing to learn the offense,” not the other way around. Goff apparently “had as much of a hand in getting Petzing familiar with the offense as the offensive staff did.” Mays believes these developments speak to the command, agency and autonomy that Goff possesses at this stage in his career. We agree. For those who were concerned about the Lions scrapping the tactics that coach Dan Campbell employed as the Lions’ play caller in Weeks 10-18 last year, it sounds like those concepts aren’t going anywhere. Will Petzing be allowed to add his own elements to that playbook? Yes, we assume so. At the end of the day, this year’s offense could look a lot like last year’s fantasy-friendly unit, though. Draft accordingly.

The 49ers have had poor injury luck at the running back position this summer. Herbert, 28, provides a steady veteran presence. The team correspondingly placed RB Patrick Taylor on injured reserve.

The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes that at 30 years old, Samuel is “not going to be close to an every-down player.” 49ers WRs Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing are competing to be Samuel’s backup, though neither player will be reliable in fantasy. Samuel may also struggle to return FLEX value at this point in his career.

Barrows’ phrasing leaves room for interpretation, but it seems as though he is suggesting Kirk could be a cut candidate. The veteran wide receiver was sidelined by a calf injury in the spring and reinjured it in the first practice of training camp. He should probably be avoided in fantasy drafts at this time.

The Rams have now hosted Donald for two workouts in recent weeks. McVay believes there will be more. Donald is reportedly “feeling good” right now, but there doesn’t seem to be a lean one way or the other. With the regular season opener fast approaching, one assumes a decision will come in the next two or so weeks.

Beck is scheduled to resume throwing after practice today, though, so the Cardinals’ rookie is indeed on the mend. Beck looked good in his prior preseason action. Hopefully, he has a chance to return in time for his team’s final preseason game against the Packers next week.

The 49ers’ quarterback is not a straight-line burner, but he is more agile than he is given credit for. Purdy adds that he won’t constantly be looking for opportunities to run, however, he believes he can help the offense by scrambling for 10-12 yards from time to time. Purdy has racked up 113 carries over the past two NFL seasons, including the playoffs, proving himself an efficient scrambler with a 47.8 percent conversion rate that ranks first among quarterbacks with at least 50 attempts. He’s a borderline QB1/2. Scrambling more often could get him into the weekly low-end QB1 tier.

Rapp spent the last three in Buffalo. He totaled 19 tackles and one quarterback pressure in six games last year. The Broncos correspondingly waived LB Levelle Bailey with an injury designation.

Williams spent Weeks 3-8 on injured reserve with a knee injury last year. He later ruptured an Achilles tendon in Week 16. He totaled three pass breakups, one interception, 37 tackles and three quarterback pressures while active.