News And Notes From Around The League

[Go PRO](=) | [View Online](=) [Unsubscribe]( | [Sign Up]() [Footballguys.com](=)Daily Email Update • Vol. 22, #172 • Oct. 6th, 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------- Howdy {NAME}, Here we go. We're rolling towards another Thursday night game and we've got the NFL News and Notes you need. Let's go. J --------------------------------------------------------------- SITE NEWS A. [The Audible - Week 5 Waiver Wire Special]() In This Episode: Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom and Dr. Jene Bramel go over the hot waiver wire pickups. Topics Include - which Chargers RB is the best to pick up while Austin Ekeler is out, could Broncos WR Tim Patrick be a flex play consistently moving forward, break the bank for Packers TE Robert Tonyan, plus more! B. [On The Couch - Sigmund Bloom Talks To Ian Hartitz]() In This Episode: Sigmund Bloom and Ian Hartitz (PFF) talk NFL. Topics Include - Ding dong Bill O'Brien was fired, How much to spend on Damien Harris, under the radar running backs to stash, plus more! [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [MIA - QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to start Week 5](#1) 2. [NYJ - QB Sam Darnold not expected to play](#2) 3. [TB - RB Kenjon Barner hit with four-game ban](#3) 4. [TB - RB Leonard Fournette iffy for Week 5](#4) 5. [TB - TE O.J. Howard put on IR](#5) 6. [DEN - KJ Hamler sitting out practice](#6) 7. [NFL - Trey Lance declares for 2021 draft](#7) 8. [TB - TE Rob Gronkowski limited Tuesday](#8) 9. [DEN - TE Noah Fant unable to go Tuesday](#9) 10. [SF - WR Mohamed Sanu back on the market](#10) 11. [CHI - RB Lamar Miller officially on board](#11) 12. [PIT - WR Diontae Johnson cleared to return](#12) 13. [DEN - QB Drew Lock unable to practice Tuesday](#13) 14. [LAC - Justin Herbert excelling under pressure](#14) 15. [TB - Tampa Bay's top four WRs sit out practice](#15) 16. [MIA - OC discusses TE Mike Gesicki's recent production](#16) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [MIA - QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to start Week 5]( Source: MiamiDolphins.com Miami Dolphins QB [Ryan Fitzpatrick](=) was confirmed the starter for Week 5 by head coach Brian Flores. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We're all waiting for Fitzpatrick to get benched. The Dolphins have 2020 first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa as a potential franchise quarterback and he'll be starting for them eventually. Fitzpatrick is doing his usual hot-and-cold routine and is only a bridge quarterback until the Dolphins deem Tagovailoa ready. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [NYJ - QB Sam Darnold not expected to play](=) Source: New York Daily News - Manish Mehta New York Jets QB [Sam Darnold](=) (shoulder) is not expected to play in Week 5 due to his separated shoulder. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] That means the Jets are looking to Joe Flacco as the starter. It looks like their first win of the season will continue to elude them. The Cardinals defense looks like a good play against the Jets in Week 5. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [TB - RB Kenjon Barner hit with four-game ban]() Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB [Kenjon Barner](=) was suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Barner was working mostly on special teams when healthy for the Buccaneers. They are thin at the position with Barner suspended and both Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy banged up with ankle injuries. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [TB - RB Leonard Fournette iffy for Week 5]() Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB [Leonard Fournette](=) (ankle) may run a bit on Wednesday, Oct. 7, but head coach Bruce Arians expects him to be a game-time decision for Week 5 versus the Chicago Bears. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] No surprise here. We could see plenty of Ronald Jones and a dash of rookie KeShawn Vaughn with Fournette banged up. The Buccaneers play on Thursday night against the Bears. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [TB - TE O.J. Howard put on IR]( Source: NFLCommunications.com Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE [O.J. Howard](=) (Achilles) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Now the move is official. It's bad news for the young tight end who will be entering a contract year in 2021. We've seen him flash during his pro career but never quite put it all together. We'll see if Howard can finally do that next year. The Buccaneers move forward with Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate at the position. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [DEN - KJ Hamler sitting out practice]( Source: The Denver Post - Ryan O'Halloran Denver Broncos WR KJ Hamler (hamstring) was held out of practice Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Hamler has a ton of speed but he's barely been able to stay healthy. He was banged up last year at Penn State and that injury bug has followed him to the pros. Hopefully, Hamler is able to get healthy and get out there for the Broncos in the near future. We have moved on in re-draft leagues (while he's banged up) and are obviously holding onto Hamler in dynasty formats. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [NFL - Trey Lance declares for 2021 draft]( Source: Yahoo! Sports - Pete Thamel North Dakota State QB Trey Lance announced Tuesday, Oct. 6, he's declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft. He's leaving school to focus on training. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Lance could be a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He went 17-0 as a starting quarterback and only threw one interception in his college career. Lance is a 6-foot-4, 228-pound dual-threat prospect who is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in this class behind Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State). [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [TB - TE Rob Gronkowski limited Tuesday]( Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE [Rob Gronkowski](=) (shoulder) was limited at practice Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Gronkowski will have more passes thrown his way with O.J. Howard (Achilles') out for the season. Fantasy GMs should consider him a TE2 with upside. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [DEN - TE Noah Fant unable to go Tuesday](=) Source: 9News.com - Mike Klis Denver Broncos TE [Noah Fant](=) (ankle) did not take part in practice Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It will be interesting to see what the Broncos do without Fant. He was having a strong season before this injury, and the Pat Shurmur offense is known as very tight end friendly. Next up? Jake Butt and perhaps even rookie Albert Okwuegbunam. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [SF - WR Mohamed Sanu back on the market](=) Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport San Francisco 49ers WR [Mohamed Sanu](=) was released Wednesday, Oct. 7. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Sanu is simply not the same player he used to be. The ankle injury he suffered in 2019 has robbed him of the game he used to have. Perhaps some team will have interest in the veteran but he's unlikely to do much if he finds a new landing spot. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [CHI - RB Lamar Miller officially on board]( Source: NFLCommunications.com Free-agent RB Lamar Miller (Patriots) was officially signed to the practice squad of the Chicago Bears Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Bears have a banged up running back room with Tarik Cohen out for the year. David Montgomery is the team's lead back and Miller will compete for a spot behind him in the pecking order. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [PIT - WR Diontae Johnson cleared to return](=) Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Ray Fittipaldo Pittsburgh Steelers WR [Diontae Johnson](=) (concussion) is no longer in the league's concussion protocol and will return to full practice Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for the young wideout here. Johnson should be good to go for Week 5 against the Eagles. Fantasy GMs can consider him a WR2 with upside if healthy. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [DEN - QB Drew Lock unable to practice Tuesday]( Source: The Denver Post - Ryan O'Halloran Denver Broncos QB [Drew Lock](=) (shoulder) was held out of practice Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Lock was out there...but he wasn't in uniform and was merely watching practice. Some say that he's 50/50 to play on Sunday against the Patriots. That may not be the case if he's not practicing early in the week. We'll have more clarity on his status this Friday. The Broncos are likely to start Brett Rypien for the second week in a row. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 14. [LAC - Justin Herbert excelling under pressure]() Source: Pro Football Focus Los Angeles Chargers QB [Justin Herbert](=) has thrown for a league-high 433 yards while under pressure, according to Pro Football Focus. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Herbert is looking really good on the football field. He joins Patrick Mahomes as the only QBs since the merger with at least 850 passing yards and a 100-plus passer rating over their first three career games. Herbert is somewhat robotic in what he does, but he's athletic and has a big arm. The Chargers are not winning games, but Herbert is looking good for a rookie passer. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 15. [TB - Tampa Bay's top four WRs sit out practice](=) Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine Tampa Bay Buccaneers WRs [Mike Evans](=) (ankle), [Chris Godwin](=) (hamstring), [Justin Watson](=) (chest) and [Scott Miller](=) (hip, groin) did not participate in practice Tuesday, Oct. 6. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Buccaneers play against the Bears on Thursday night. We'll see what any of these wide receivers can do on Wednesday to get ready for the game. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 16. [MIA - OC discusses TE Mike Gesicki's recent production](=) Source: The Miami Herald - Barry Jackson Miami Dolphins TE [Mike Gesicki](=) has been limited to one catch on three targets for 15 yards in each of his last two games following a Week 2 outburst in which he amassed eight catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey attributed the recent downturn to tighter coverage from opponents and not wanting to force the ball to him when it looks like he is double-covered.'A few times it's looked like they were double-covering him and they ended up single-covering him; but to the quarterback on his first look, it looked double covered, so ([Ryan Fitzpatrick](=)) got off of him. We just have to pay closer attention to how they are actually playing him during the course of the game. I think hopefully now that we've put the ball in other places, things will start to come back his way,' Gailey said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Fantasy GMs may have a decision to make on whether or not to keep Gesicki on their roster. He had 11 receptions in the first two games of the 2020 season only to have one catch in back-to-back games. A quarterback change is coming soon for the Dolphins, and perhaps rookie first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa will favor Gesicki as a security-blanket target. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J = = Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! You're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =