In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Underdog Fantasy:
We’ve known Brandon Aiyuk has been upset for some time now, but it seemed very unlikely that anything would change.
The Niners are in win-now mode and Aiyuk has virtually no leverage.
But the NFL rumor mill is swirling that something might actually give here…
Multiple national reporters have used the exact same language recently, saying that the “ball is in Brandon Aiyuk’s court” right now.
This is because Aiyuk essentially has what Adam Schefter is calling an “unofficial ‘no trade’ clause.”
Interested teams must check two boxes with their offers:
- Compensation that the Niners agree to
- A contract offer that Aiyuk agrees to
And now reports say the Niners have the framework of a trade with both the Browns and the Patriots. That means it all boils down to whether Aiyuk agrees to one of the new contracts presented to him.
I’d go ahead and inch up George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall up your board before it’s too late…
What else is in today’s newsletter?
- Waz’s Rankings Update: What to do with Nuk
- Watercooler: Training camp nuggets
PPR Rankings Update: Hopeful for Hopkins
- by Rob Waziak
With another week of training camps and nearly three quarters of football in the books, there have been plenty of reasons to be excited about the quickly approaching fantasy football season.
Throughout these weeks, it is important to find notable trends among players and teams, including how these teams are evaluating and using their players. This process is a key factor in deciding where players are ranked and becomes especially vital when trying to decide how to intertwine rookies and veterans within tiers.
Unfortunate injuries are often the cause for most player movement within ranking sets, but training camp developments and preseason game usage often provide a glimmer of understanding on how to face these challenges.
Thursday marks the start of NFL Preseason Week 1, a reliable catalyst for movement within the ranks. Through Sunday, all 32 teams will showcase a variety of players to aid them ahead of their deadline to cut their rosters down to 52 players on Aug. 27.
Until then, below are eight players who saw movement in my PPR rankings, which assumes fantasy leagues that require starting three WRs every week.
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📈 Jayden Daniels, WAS | QB9 ↑
I’ve moved Jayden Daniels (QB9) above Kyler Murray (QB10) and Jordan Love (QB11), and it has everything to do with the hype surrounding the rookie.
I know, I know. I just spent a chunk of pixel space last week breaking down why I’m lower on fellow rookie and first overall pick Caleb Williams (QB18), and a lot of the same could be argued for Daniels, but there’s a lot to like about what the Commanders are doing and how they are describing the second overall pick. I’m buying into it and I’m not alone either.
On Sunday, as reported by Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Commanders HC Dan Quinn further highlighted Daniels’ decision-making, emphasizing how his rookie QB appears locked in on both the skill work and processing work of playing the position at a professional level. Geoff Ulrich is in on Daniels at +650 for Rookie of the Year, and considering the difference in odds between him and Williams (+135), why wouldn’t anyone? Dwain is projecting him as the QB6 in scoring, highlighted by 3,457 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns with an additional 734 yards and nearly 5 touchdowns on the ground.
Daniels is expected to make his debut on Saturday for the Commanders’ preseason opener against the Jets.
📉 DeAndre Hopkins, TEN | WR42 ↓
DeAndre Hopkins (WR42) recently sustained a knee injury that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks and may prevent him from suiting up for Week 1, but a recent update reveals that it will not require surgery.
Fantasy Points Medical Analyst Dr. Edwin Porras suggests the likelihood of an LCL injury and believes that missing Week 1 would be a worst-case scenario.
The Titans will be hosting the Jets at home after Hopkins’ fifth week of recovery, but there is reason to believe the 32-year-old will take the field in the season opener seeing how the Titans’ opening betting lines for Week 1 have remained static.
I’ve dropped Hopkins slightly, but am remaining optimistic that he will recover in time for Week 1, where the Titans are 4.5-point road dogs.
As ADP adjusts during Hopkins’ recovery window, other Titans players to watch for value-based draft strategies include Calvin Ridley (WR41), Tony Pollard (RB29), Tyjae Spears (RB34), Will Levis (QB25), Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE18), and Tyler Boyd (WR65).
If Hopkins were to miss time, I expect Okonkwo and Boyd to be the biggest beneficiaries.
RELATED CONTENT:
- Waz breaks down the rookies he’s out on for 2024 at their ADP.
- Ian’s must-draft players for 2024.
🐶 Anyone Ready to Draft?
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The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds:
🔍 Malik Nabers Rookie WR1? What to do with Puka Nacua? Answers to your burning WR questions.
👀 A head coach alluding to a three-down role? This RB’s stock is sky-high for 2024.
⚾️ An MLB athlete talking fantasy football … during a game!
🚑️ An injury update on Puka. Not great, but not serious.
🤫 A sleeper WR in Philly. Every day he’s making plays …
🦶 Kickers get paid, too. Highest paid in NFL history, to boot.
⚖️ The latest on Jordan Addison. The league could act soon.
🚀 WR1 upside at a discount? A WR with untapped upside for 2024.
