Hope you had a great Memorial Day Weekend. We've got the News and Notes you need so let's get to it.
2. ATL - WR Julio Jones mending fences?
3. CAR - WR Devin Funchess not a No. 1 WR?
Hurns signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Cowboys and they need him to come through in a big way. They've moved on from Dez Bryant, and Hurns could be the top pass catcher for Dallas in 2018. He'll compete for targets with guys like Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. Rookie Michael Gallup could also get some playing time this season. Hurns has a current ADP of WR50 (11.05) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Jones created a frenzy when he removed all references to the Falcons on social networking platforms about a month ago. It's all good, and Jones is just looking for a 'correction' to his current contract situation. He's got a $12.9 million cap hit in 2018, and that number ranks 7th in the league this season.
Carolina Panthers WR Devin Funchess has the talent to reach 1,000 yards, according to Bill Voth of Panthers.com, but Voth doesn't believe offensive coordinator Norv Turner wants a 'true No. 1 wideout' for his offense.
Funchess reached career highs in catches (63), receiving yards (840) and receiving touchdowns (8) last year. He took advantage of the opportunity presented when Kelvin Benjamin was traded away and Greg Olsen went down with a foot injury. We'll see what Funchess does this year with a healthy Olsen and exciting rookie WR D.J. Moore added to the mix. His current ADP is WR28 (6.07) in 12-team PPR leagues.
Baltimore Ravens RB Kenneth Dixon will be a factor this year as long as he continues to do the right things 'on and off the field,' according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
Keep an eye on this backfield, especially if you want Alex Collins on your team (current ADP RB20 4.05, 12-team PPR). Dixon missed all of 2017 with a meniscus injury but is healthy now, and his all-purpose skill set could be tempting to get on the field.
Ross set the Scouting Combine on fire in 2017 with his record-setting 4.2 second 40-yard dash....after that he didn't do much. His rookie season was a wash due to injury, and he's looking to get things back on track this year. Ross has the speed to take the top off the defense, and he's competing to be the primary complementary receiver opposite A.J. Green.
New York Jets TE Chris Herndon is one of the players who has 'stood out' during the first week of OTAs, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
Herndon is competing with Jordan Leggett for the top spot on the depth chart. There's a dash of Charles Clay (Bills) to his game, and the rookie fourth-round pick from Miami has the athleticism to create mismatches over the middle of the field. He injured his MCL in the regular season finale for the Hurricanes and is still finishing up his recovery.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy said he will have 'mandatory extra' practice for DT Vita Vea and the other rookie defensive linemen.
McCoy will be a great resource for Vea to learn from. Vea is huge (6'4" 350 pounds), strong and has violent hands. He can learn how to get off the line cleaner and quicker from a pro like McCoy. Having Vea man the middle should help the Bucs ground defense which ranked 23rd in the league in 2017 by allowing an average of 117.5 rush yards per game.
Free-agent RB Adrian Peterson (Cardinals) listed the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams as potential teams who could use his services.
That's fantastic and all, but the interest has to be there from the other teams. Houston is okay with Lamar Miller and D'Onta Foreman (when healthy). The Packers have a talented group of backs with guys like Ty Montgomery, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. The Panthers seem set with C.J. Anderson and Christian McCaffrey. The Dolphins have Kenyan Drake, Frank Gore and rookie Kalen Ballage in their backfield...and the Rams, well, they've got one of the best in the game in Todd Gurley. As you can see, there's not a lot of room for Peterson with these teams. He may have to wait for injuries to strike in camp before he gets a job.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Keelan Cole appears to be the leading candidate for slot receiver job at this point, in the opinion of FirstCoastNews.com's Mike Kaye.
Cole is arguably the best route runner on the Jaguars roster, he has strong chemistry with QB Blake Bortles and he's not afraid to run routes over the middle. We should see Donte Moncrief and Marqise Lee start on the outside for the Jaguars, leaving Cole to man the slot. Cole should produce like a WR4 or deep flex receiver for fantasy owners in 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert has a solid chance to be the primary backup at tight end this season because he is a better blocker than TE Richard Rodgers.
Goedert is an exciting rookie prospect at the tight end position, but we'd be more excited about his immediate fantasy impact if he was with a different team. Yes, Trey Burton moved on in free agency to the Bears and Brent Celek is currently looking for work but the Eagles tight end position is all about Zach Ertz. He's been a top-10 fantasy TE each of the last two years, and Ertz should continue to produce at a TE1 level in 2018. Goedert should get some looks here and there but won't do much unless Ertz misses time. We love Goedert in dynasty formats.
Philadelphia Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) remains out of practice in organized team activities.
Jeffery was ruled out of OTAs quite some time ago. This isn't new news, but it still highlights the fact that the Eagles are going to go through most of the offseason with Jeffery banged up. He might be ready at some point in the preseason, but the 'hope' is that Jeffery will be ready for the start of the regular season.