Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
Training camps provide our first look into NFL players and teams as we prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season. Information will now begin to flood our social media timelines, leaving us to determine the subsequent fantasy impact. It’s a matter of knowing which information matters, and which should be ignored.
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 2024 NFL regular season.
Today, let’s review the major news as we start from Wednesday into Thursday.
Broncos Announce Bo Nix as Starter
It felt inevitable that Nix would take over as the QB1 in Denver, and that was made official Wednesday when Sean Payton announced he’d start Week 1. Nix has looked solid in the preseason against primarily backups, and he’s expected to be an excellent fit for Payton’s offense. His legs make him relevant as a QB2 in fantasy. Jarrett Stidham will likely be the No. 2 in Denver, with Zach Wilson the No. 3.
Maye, Brissett Both Will Play in Preseason Finale
Many teams are resting their core players for Week 3 of the preseason, but the Patriots — who still have a QB battle between journeyman Jacoby Brissett and third overall pick Drake Maye — will roll their quarterbacks out there against the Commanders. The team hasn’t announced a Week 1 starter yet, but Brissett has struggled big time this preseason and Maye has looked good, so barring a complete reversal in this week’s preseason game, it seems like there’s an increasing chance Maye gets the starting job.
Tyquan Thornton Gaining Steam, Javon Baker Losing It
Former second-round WR Tyquan Thornton has failed to launch so far in his career, with 405 yards and 3 touchdowns in 22 games through two seasons, but after a solid camp, it looks like he’s still part of the Patriots’ strategy. DeMario Douglas and rookie Ja’Lynn Polk have been the other two receivers running as the ones along with Thornton, and Kendrick Bourne will be very involved when he’s back from the PUP list. K.J. Osborn is also going to matter. So there’s no sure thing for Thornton, and he’s not worth a fantasy draft pick outside of the deepest of leagues, but his speed is a unique skill in New England, so it’s at least worth monitoring.
Further reports Wednesday said rookie fourth-rounder Javon Baker has fallen down the depth chart. At best he’s a dynasty stash right now.
AJ Dillon Still Dealing with 2023 Stinger
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said veteran RB Dillon has been held out of practice as a precaution as he works with the injury. With rookie MarShawn Lloyd also missing practice with a hamstring injury, things are setting up right now for Josh Jacobs to be an extreme bell cow early in the season.
Deshaun Watson Dealing with Soreness
It’s something of a make-or-break season for the Browns and Watson, so the fact that he’s already being held back with what head coach Kevin Stefanski described as “general arm soreness” feels a bit ominous. Stefanski did say he wasn’t “overly concerned,” but he did pull back from his previous statements that Watson would play in the team’s preseason finale. Watson was already one of the riskiest draft picks in fantasy even before this.
Kendre Miller on the Outs in New Orleans?
Saints head coach Dennis Allen has found a new hobby this preseason, and it’s “dogging Kendre Miller.” Allen spoke about the second-year back again Wednesday, saying he doesn’t know if Miller can learn the system because he hasn’t practiced thanks to a hamstring injury. Alvin Kamara is locked in as the RB1 in New Orleans, and Jamaal Williams appears set as the RB2, though he was pretty bad last year. If Miller can’t get up to speed (no pun intended), expect Taysom Hill to be very relevant in the team’s backfield.
Browns Trade K Cade York to Washington
The Commanders have been hunting kickers this offseason. They brought in Brandon McManus but had to release him after off-field allegations. They signed Riley Patterson, but he’s never shown much in the NFL. Now it’s Cade York’s turn after the commanders traded a conditional seventh-round pick for the former Browns starter early Thursday. The Browns burned a fourth-rounder on York in 2022 and used him as the starter in 2022, with him converting only 75.0% of his 32 field goal attempts. Dustin Hopkins joined the Browns last year and rendered York irrelevant. Now, he’ll compete with Patterson for the starting job in Washington.
Saquon Barkley Returns to Practice
The new Eagles running back left practice Tuesday with a back injury, but he was back in practice Wednesday and appeared good to go. If Barkley misses time, Will Shipley and Kenneth Gainwell will be the names to monitor, but Barkley appears to be good to go for now.
Treylon Burks Leaves Practice
Third-year WR Treylon Burks left Titans practice Wednesday with what appeared to be a back or hip injury. He walked off under his own power. Burks is fourth on the depth chart behind DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, but Hopkins has been missing time with a knee issue, so there is a theoretical path to Burks getting another shot if he can get on the field.
Jaylen Waddle Back at Practice
Wednesday was Waddle’s first time practicing in two weeks with an injury that no one in Miami has disclosed. Knowing that he’s back in practice, and without knowing what the injury is (or was), all we can really say right now is that Waddle appears good to go for the season and should be drafted as at worst a high-end WR3. Teammate Tyreek Hill missed practice Wednesday with a thumb injury, but he’s expected to be good to go for Week 1 as well.
Tomlin: Warren Injury ‘Not a Long-Term Concern’
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren is missing time with a hamstring injury, but head coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday that it’s not something they’re concerned about for the long-term. It would be a moderate surprise at this point if Warren is ready to go for Week 1, which would boost Najee Harris’ fantasy stock, but for the season, this should only ding Warren a little in fantasy drafts.
Roman Wilson Out for Steelers Preseason Finale
The rookie receiver had an ankle injury at the start of camp and hasn’t gotten back. With the Steelers barely seeing the third-rounder yet, it’ll be some time before Wilson can take over in the lineup. George Pickens is locked in as the WR1 in Pittsburgh, and Van Jefferson will be the WR2 at least until Wilson is back to full strength.
Pierre Strong Jr. Leaves Practice in Ambulance
Strong is the second Browns running back to have to leave practice in an ambulance this training camp. D’Onta Foreman ended up returning from practice and looks fine, and Strong’s departure appears to have been precautionary as well after he experienced shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with a rib contusion and released from the hospital Wednesday. Until Nick Chubb is back, the Cleveland backfield is a big quagmire for fantasy.
Jerry Jones Says Trey Lance Has Earned Roster Spot
The outspoken owner of the Dallas Cowboys seemingly confirmed former third overall pick Trey Lance has earned a spot on the roster after passing for 339 yards and rushing for another 77 in two preseason games. “Earned a spot” is a ways away from “earned a role,” because Lance is going to be the No. 3 quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush, but this seems to lock in that the Cowboys will keep three QBs on the roster. The door isn’t all the way closed on Lance being a fantasy factor someday.
Eagles Release TE C.J. Uzomah
It was always a longshot for C.J. Uzomah to matter in Philadelphia, but the team confirmed it Wednesday by releasing him as he tries to play his 10th season. Dallas Goedert is still the only Eagles tight end who matters, but this narrows the focus behind him to Albert Okwuegbunam and Grant Calcaterra. Goedert has missed games every year of his career since he was a rookie, and he missed practice Wednesday with an oblique injury, so while Okwuegbunam and Calcaterra aren’t on the radar, they could find themselves there eventually.
