Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
It can be hard to prep for fantasy football during training camp and the preseason. Things happen every day that might be a huge deal for fantasy … or might be no deal at all.
Sometimes we can figure it out, but sometimes it’s just a matter of paying attention to what happens to know what might matter just so things don’t slip through the cracks.
So each day in this space, we’ll take a trip through the top news and takeaways around the league’s training camps to offer up what fantasy managers need to know as we head through draft season and into the 2023 NFL regular season.
Dalvin Cook Joins the Jets
FTN Fantasy has the full fantasy reaction to Cook signing with the Jets. It is a 1-year deal worth up to $8.6 million, per Adam Schefter:
That’s not bad money at all. Dalvin Cook is not going to be the featured back in New York — that’s still Breece Hall’s job — but the question is how much of a split will there be. The money indicates Cook is likely to see the field a solid amount.
But he doesn’t need to move much up draft boards. He’s being drafted as a flex option, and that still feels right now that he’s in New York. If Hall is slow to ramp up (he was activated off PUP Tuesday morning), perhaps Cook works his way to a tail-end R2 ranking.
Ezekiel Elliott Joins the Pats
After a team visit (plus dinner with Mac Jones), Ezekiel Elliott has signed with the Patriots on a 1-year deal worth up to $6 million, per Ian Rapoport.
FTN Fantasy has you covered with the full fantasy reaction here, but the two main players this impacts are Zeke (obviously) and Rhamondre Stevenson.
For Elliott, he’ll surely see a rise in ADP (he was drafted around 175). Elliott likely steps in as the immediate No. 2 on this team and potential goal line back. Despite his ineffectiveness last season, touchdowns propelled Elliott to the overall RB22 finish in fantasy. There’s path for him to score touchdowns at a solid clip once again in 2023.
As for Stevenson, he remains the top back in New England — but his ceiling is lower. Elliott is a lock to steal at least some of the touchdowns away — and perhaps even the majority. Stevenson is also great as a pass-catcher, but Elliott is not bad out of the backfield, either. Stevenson doesn’t need to move much in fantasy rankings — he’s still a tail-end RB1 or high-end RB2 — but the door to a top-five finish may have just closed.
T.J. Hockenson Is Missing Camp Because of an Ear Infection
It might sound odd at first, but it’s messing with his equilibrium and has caused T.J. Hockenson to miss most of training camp so far. He should be fine by the season.
Mike Gesicki Leaves Practice with a Dislocated Shoulder
Hunter Henry has already surpassed Mike Gesicki in ADP, and this will only lead to a further disparity between the two.
Terrace Marshall Carted off Practice Field with a Back Injury
Third-year wideout Terrace Marshall suffered a back injury and was carted off the field on Monday. There’s no news on the long-term impact yet (or short-term, hopefully). Marshall has been a popular late-round flier in a WR room that is not settled in the slightest. If he’s out for a while, DJ Chark becomes a safer bet.
