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Vikings' Justin Jefferson 'not mad' at Kirk Cousins for departure

Wed Jul 10 12:08pm ET
Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson said he understands quarterback Kirk Cousins' decision to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.

Cousins, after all, signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed after spending the past six seasons with Minnesota.

"I'm not mad at him at all for that," Jefferson said Tuesday on "The Rich Eisen Show."

The Vikings addressed Cousins' departure by signing veteran Sam Darnold and selecting J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

"I always knew that Kirk was going to do whatever he needs to do for (him) business-wise," Jefferson told Eisen, "and I just knew that everything just wasn't the way he wanted it to be here, especially just with having to pay me and having to pay so many other different guys. I feel like he just wanted a new start, a new opportunity to start with Atlanta and a clean slate and I'm not mad at him at all for that. I'm grateful for what he has brought to me and the things that we have accomplished together.

"But at the end of the day, it's a business and you've got to do what you've got to do for yourself and for your family, and I clearly understand that. But it's on to the next. It doesn't really matter what quarterback it is in my eyes. I'm always going to try to make the best of the opportunity. I'm always going to try to be the quarterback's friend and make his job a lot easier. It doesn't matter if it was Kirk or if it's Sam or if it's J.J. I'm going to make it as easy as possible for him."

Jefferson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension last month.

After leading the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022, Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season in 2023 despite missing seven games due to injuries.

Drafted in the first round (22nd overall) in 2020, Jefferson is a three-time Pro Bowl selection with 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns in 60 career games (57 starts). His career average of 98.3 receiving yards per game is the highest in NFL history.

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This Week in the TFC (8-1)

Player Notes
Kylen Granson Aug 2 7:40am CT
Kylen Granson

Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson has reportedly been impressive early on in camp. It looks like the Colts are having an open tryout for starting tight end with no real standalone star in the picture. At the moment, Granson has appeared to take an early lead in the running for starter, but there's still plenty of time left in camp. Mo Alie-Cox and Jelani Woods are also candidates, but they appear to offer a little less upside. Over the last two seasons, Granson has hauled in 30-plus receptions and 300 or more receiving yards in both campaigns. His fantasy value is going to be dependent on how the Colts decide to use the tight end position next season.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks Aug 2 7:30am CT
Treylon Burks

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks is going to see increased reps over the next month or so. The Titans took a significant hit this week with star wideout DeAndre Hopkins (knee) going down for four-to-six weeks. It's next man up in Tennessee, which means Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd move into the No. 1 and No. 2 roles. It also means that Burks gets to play first-team reps for at least a month. Burks is coming off two underwhelming campaigns in Tennessee. Through two seasons, Burks has recorded 49 receptions, 665 receiving yards, and one touchdown in 22 games. The loss of Hopkins does give Burks increased looks, but that doesn't mean much for his fantasy value. The expectation is that Hopkins is back by Week 1 or Week 2 of the regular season. The absence of Hopkins isn't going to raise the draft stock of Burks by too much.

From RotoBaller

Andy Dalton Aug 2 7:20am CT
Andy Dalton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (quad) is currently in danger of missing the beginning of the regular season. The 36-year-old suffered a quad injury that is expected to hold him out for a few weeks. This doesn't mean too much for the Panthers considering Bryce Young is the starter in Carolina. Dalton is a 13-year veteran with a ton of experience, but he offers little upside on the field right now. He'll serve as the No. 2 quarterback once he's healthy, so fantasy managers can continue avoiding him.

From RotoBaller

Teagan Quitoriano Aug 2 5:10am CT
Teagan Quitoriano

Houston Texans tight end Teagan Quitoriano (lower body) had a notable performance in the Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears, catching two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. The Texans rested starter Dalton Schultz and backup Brevin Jordan. This left Quitoriano and rookie Cade Stover as the only tight ends on the roster. Quitoriano started the game, taking the first five plays before Stover rotated in for a few snaps. Quitoriano, a 2022 sixth-round pick from Oregon State, scored the touchdown but was carted off the field later due to an injury. The 24-year-old went for evaluation of a lower-body injury with no further update. Stover continued as the lone tight end for the remainder of the game. Neither Quitoriano nor Stover will have significant fantasy value unless Schultz and Jordan miss time.

From RotoBaller

Dare Ogunbowale Aug 2 5:00am CT
Dare Ogunbowale

Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale started and recorded 14 yards on three carries while catching two passes for 21 yards on two receptions in Thursday's Hall of Game against the Chicago Bears. Following him, J.J. Taylor gained 16 yards on six carries without involvement in the passing game. Both Ogunbowale and Taylor took the field ahead of Cam Akers, who has been with the team for only a week. As Akers continues to acclimate, he could move up the depth chart. The Texans' new starting running back, Joe Mixon (quad), is dealing with a soft tissue injury that has kept him out of practice. Even if he were fully healthy, Mixon wouldn't have played in the game, and there are no concerns about his readiness for the regular season. The Texans also rested backup halfback Dameon Pierce, which suggests the team considers him a strong candidate to keep his role as the primary backup. Ogunbowale will continue to battle Taylor and Akers this preseason for a roster spot. None have fantasy value without injuries to both Mixon and Pierce.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Hutchinson Aug 2 5:00am CT
Xavier Hutchinson

Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson led the team with five catches for 56 yards in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears. He started alongside John Metchie III, who, along with Hutchinson, was slotted in as the fifth and sixth wide receiver on Houston's depth chart last season. The snap counts indicate that Metchie is the current favorite, followed by Hutchinson. Metchie caught only one pass for 4 yards, suggesting Hutchinson may have narrowed the gap. Ben Skowronek was the third wide receiver, and Steven Sims also saw action. Skowronek and Sims continued into the second half, highlighting that Hutchinson and Metchie are clearly in contention for roster spots. Hutchinson stood out as the best wide receiver for Houston on Thursday night and is worth monitoring in fantasy leagues if a role opens up in the Texans' high-powered offense.

From RotoBaller

Davis Mills Aug 2 4:50am CT
Davis Mills

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills delivered an impressive performance, completing 10 out of 13 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's Hall of Game against the Chicago Bears. He capped a 13-play, 74-yard first drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Teagan Quitoriano. Mills guided the offense to 10 points and controlled the clock for over 13 minutes before his night ended after the second Texans' possession. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, Mills competes with veteran Case Keenum for the backup role and made a compelling case for the No. 2 spot on Thursday night. While neither backup quarterback has fantasy value unless C.J. Stroud is injured, it is reassuring that Houston's skill position players should still perform well if Mills or Keenum needs to step in temporarily.

From RotoBaller

Cam Akers Aug 2 4:50am CT
Cam Akers

The Houston Texans' running back Cam Akers (Achilles) rushed five times for 13 yards and caught both his targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears. He displayed quickness on a 14-yard reception that set up his touchdown catch. Akers is working to make a comeback with the Texans after suffering a torn Achilles tendon for the second time in three years, which cut his previous season short. Returning to the field just under nine months after the latest injury, which occurred in Week 9 of last season with the Vikings, is an impressive feat given the challenges of recovering from multiple Achilles tears. Akers is competing for the No. 3 running back spot with Dare Ogunbowale, rookie sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan, and J.J. Taylor. None of these backs hold significant fantasy value unless Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are injured.

From RotoBaller

Tarik Cohen Aug 2 1:13am CT
Tarik Cohen

Dynasty | Former Bears running back Tarik Cohen is retiring. Dynasty Analysis: Cohen was attempting a comeback with the Jets but things were clearly not working out. He was once a highly coveted dynasty asset and caught 79 passes for Chicago in a great 2019 season. Cohen has just run out steam it seems and he's calling it quits at age 29. Such is life as a running back in the NFL. Cohen can be dropped from dynasty rosters at this point.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Aug 2 1:13am CT
Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Dynasty | Clyde Edwards-Helaire has revealed he deals with PTSD. Dynasty Analysis: The story is worth a read for sure. It seems CEH may have been part of an electronics sale that went wrong and resulted in one person being shot and killed while he was at LSU. While he hasn't disclosed many particulars, he has missed practice time in the past for personal reasons and this explains some of it. CEH has largely been disappointing from a dynasty perspective during his time in the league but this story reminds us all these are human beings we root for. He remains a deeper roster stash at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Collin Johnson Aug 1 11:00pm CT
Collin Johnson

Chicago Bears wide receiver Collin Johnson caught three of his six targets for 56 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 21-17 shortened win over the Texans. Johnson showed great rapport with quarterback Brett Rypien in this game to help give Chicago a slight edge over Houston. In a receiver room loaded with talent at the top, there isn't much room on the active roster for Johnson. More performances like this throughout camp bolster his case to be on the practice squad at the least. Johnson's next chance to show his ability in a game comes August 10th at Buffalo.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Herbert Aug 1 10:50pm CT
Khalil Herbert

Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert rushed four times for 35 yards in the team's 21-17 shortened win over the Texans. Herbert averaged 8.8 yards per carry and broke a run as long as 19 yards in his preseason debut. Although he trailed Roschon Johnson in overall carries in this game, Herbert was the most effective rusher on a team that used three different running backs. Behind new addition D'Andre Swift, Herbert and Johnson will likely split the backup duties based on situation. Herbert's next chance to bolster his case comes on August 10th at Buffalo.

From RotoBaller

Roschon Johnson Aug 1 10:50pm CT
Roschon Johnson

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson rushed six times for 24 yards and caught his only target for seven yards in the team's 21-17 shortened win over the Texans. Johnson trailed Khalil Herbert in rushing yards on the day with a modest 4.4 yards per carry but led all players in touches. Following the addition of D'Andre Swift in the offseason, Johnson looks to step into a solid supporting role heading into his second season. He appears set to work in a timeshare with Herbert based on the situation. Johnson's next chance to improve his game film and earn a bigger role comes August 10th at Buffalo.

From RotoBaller

Brett Rypien Aug 1 10:40pm CT
Brett Rypien

Chicago Bears quarterback Brett Rypien lit it up in the Hall of Fame game by completing 11 of 15 passes for 166 yards and three passing touchdowns in the team's 21-17 shortened win over the Texans. Rypien also rushed one time for nine yards and entered the game late in the second quarter. After signing in free agency, Rypien will compete with Tyson Bagent for the backup quarterback role behind first-overall pick Caleb Williams. He'll have the rest of camp to prove he's worthy of a roster spot, with his next preseason chance coming on August 10th at Buffalo.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Aug 1 9:50pm CT
Justice Hill

When asked about running back Justice Hill, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh referred to him as a "high-value running back." It's apparent that Hill has solidified his role as the RB2 in Baltimore's backfield. "he's a high-caliber running back, I think he's going to play a lot," said Harbaugh. However, with Derrick Henry in front of him and Lamar Jackson slated to get his fair share of the team's carries, the opportunities will be scant for the fifth-year RB. Hill had the most productive season of his career in 2023, amassing 593 yards and four touchdowns on 112 total touches. He holds little standalone value but would be the most obvious player to benefit if Henry were to miss any time. Standing as the current RB72 in NFFC ADP, Hill presents as nothing more than a handcuff option or late-round best-ball flier.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Aug 1 9:20pm CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee, hip) missed his second straight practice Thursday after getting "banged up a little bit" at practice this past Tuesday. He came up favoring his leg after having a defensive teammate collide with him during non-contact drills. Smith is set for imaging on Thursday evening to assess the severity of the injury. For now, the news around the injury remains murky. Sam Howell will step into the QB1 role for the time being, with P.J. Walker backing him up. Any time away from the field right now is negative with the installation of Ryan Grubbs' new offense, and this offense gets a clear downgrade with one of the other current quarterbacks on the roster manning the helm. Smith is the NFFC QB23 and could be seen as a solid QB2 target in best-ball and superflex drafts before the injury. However, it might behoove fantasy managers to steer clear of this situation for now while we wait for news on his injury.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Aug 1 9:13pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Dynasty | Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a knee injury. Dynasty Analysis: Hopkins apparently has a knee strain that's going to keep him out a month or more. It doesn't look like a long-term concern but his status for week one is clearly in question. Regardless, we won't be seeing him this preseason. Hopkins' dynasty value has cratered in recent years but he's in line to be a solid value for a contender should this injury prove to be minor, as expected.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Sam Williams Aug 1 6:00pm CT
Sam Williams

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From RotoBaller

Jermaine Burton Aug 1 5:50pm CT
Jermaine Burton

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (ankle) was forced to leave practice early on Thursday. Luckily, Burton doesn't appear to have suffered a serious injury. The organization is calling it only an ankle tweak. The third-round rookie was pulled out of practice as a precaution and isn't expected to miss much time. Burton has been seeing increased reps in practice with Ja'Marr Chase currently out. The assumption is that Burton is going to fill the vacant spot left by Tyler Boyd, which should mean steady targets.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Aug 1 5:30pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is in danger of missing the beginning of the regular season. The veteran wideout suffered a knee strain during Tuesday's practice. Hopkins was reportedly wearing a wrap on his knee during Thursday's practice session. The organization believes that Hopkins could miss four to six weeks of action because of this injury. Hopkins could potentially be unavailable for the Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears. When healthy, Hopkins should be considered a high-end WR2 for fantasy purposes. The knee injury is a concern, but it shouldn't drop him too far on draft boards.

From RotoBaller