Fan Favorite

It didn’t take long for McLaurin to become a fan favorite in DC. In his debut against the Eagles he exploded for 125 yards and a 69 yard touchdown. He would finish his rookie campaign with 7 receiving touchdowns despite mediocre quarterback play. In fact, that was the theme for McLaurin’s career until last season. Overall, McLaurin has played with 13 different starting quarterbacks over his time in Washington.

Despite the revolving door at quarterback, a terrible owner and several losing seasons, McLaurin never complained but instead perfected his craft. He could’ve complained, asked for a trade or spoke out to the media but that’s not who he is. That’s why he is so beloved in Washington, he has been a true team player.

Contract Standoff

Fast forward to today and McLaurin is one of the few training camp holdouts. There is a clear disconnect in his value between the Commanders front office and Terry’s camp. Rumors suggest McLaurin is asking in the $33m per year range while the Commanders are offering significantly lower than that. Is he worth that asking price?

That’s where this situation becomes tricky. Is he a top 10 WR? Yes, I believe he is right around the 10 range when ranking receivers. If he were to get $33m per year it would put him only below Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. While McLaurin is clearly a star, he is not an elite game-breaking receiver in my opinion.

Adam Peters and the Washington front office most likely think the same but there is the loyalty factor. For many years he was the only bright spot on this Washington team. He is also coming off a franchise record 13 receiving touchdowns but is about to turn 30 in September.

It’s not as easy as giving McLaurin what he wants but at the same time you have to consider what he means to this team and community. My gut is telling me this will get done for around the $30m per year range but this holdout could last all the way through the pre-season.

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These injuries could shape the rest of the fantasy season so it’s important to hit the waiver and consider trades to fill your holes. As for week 3 let’s take a look at some of the injuries we’re keeping an eye on.

Joe Mixon (@ MIN) – Mixon picked up an ankle injury during Houston’s Sunday night win over the Bears. The injury was caused by a hip drop tackle (aren’t we enforcing that this year?) and it didn’t look good initially. Thankfully Mixon avoided any serious injury but his status could be in jeopardy this week.

Justin Jefferson (vs. HOU) – Jefferson had a monster game on Sunday including a 97-yard receiving touchdown. Unfortunately, he also picked up a quad injury that is worth monitoring. As of now, the Vikings are listing him as day-to-day and there’s a good chance he will still play this week.

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Caleb Williams to Chicago

After the block buster move to send Justin Fields to Pittsburgh, it’s more clear than ever that Caleb Williams will be the guy in Chicago. In years past, this would be considered a bad situation to go to, but with one of the best WR duos in the league (Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore) the pressure is on for Williams to perform. Williams is the most NFL ready QB and the clear #1 prospect in this draft.

Drake Maye to Washington.

Drake Maye is one of my favorite prospects in the draft. His big arm and big production makes him a Josh-Allen esque talent. More teams everyday are taking a chances on big talent big risk guys after seeing how well it has worked out. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson should produce very well for Maye.

The only downside to his game is the turnovers, 9 INT’s and 4 particularly in the last 3 games of 2023 is definitely concerning, but it would be criminal to pass on him at 2. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Patriots.

Marvin Harrison is probably the best non-QB prospect in this draft. The patriots having many holes to fill in this roster should just take the best player available. The route of going QB is interesting but the question remains if you want to throw a rookie QB into a bad situation so early on. 

Malik Nabers to the Cardinals

Nabers would be an electric addition to the WR-needy Cardinals. Kyler Murray’s production would skyrocket with Nabers and could seriously upgrade the Cardinals offensively, the option of trading down always remains of course, but going with Nabers seems like the smart choice.

Jayden Daniels to the Vikings (Trade)

Here is the blockbuster trade of the evening, Minnesota trades up 6 places to grab their franchise guy at 5. Daniels had a career year at LSU winning the Heisman and skyrocketing his draft value. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Daniels have the potential to be the best offense in the league and would make this a crazy good pick.

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Commanders Trade Up for Caleb Williams

Early on in the offseason, it seemed like a lock the Chicago Bears would select Caleb Williams with the first pick. Fast forward to today and that is no longer a guarantee. As it stands quarterback Justin Fields is still on the Bears roster and hasn’t been traded. Most assume that is because nobody wants him but what if the Bears intend to keep him instead?

Yesterday, Chicago pulled off a surprising trade with the LA Chargers and received Keenan Allen for a 4th round pick. Allen is no longer in his prime but is still a top-level receiver in the league. Pairing him with DJ Moore gives the Bears something they have been lacking for years. Weapons.

Some would assume getting Allen is to help Caleb Williams but what if it’s for Fields instead? Fields has not had a great supporting cast since he was drafted. This move could put less pressure on Fields and allow him to stay in the pocket more as these two receivers will eventually get open. Keep in mind the Bears also signed running back De’Andre Swift in free agency. Swift is another weapon that Fields could utilize.

So what would it take for the Commanders to move up? Well with the trade yesterday the Bears now only have 4 picks in the upcoming draft. I believe Washington who just acquired an additional 3rd round pick for Sam Howell could offer the below package.

• Commanders get 1st overall pick —> Bears get 2nd overall pick, 36th pick, 67th pick and a 2025 1st round pick

That may seem like a lot to move up one spot but if Washington believes that Williams is their franchise QB of the future they have to pull the trigger.

Vikings Move Up and Draft Drake Maye

Earlier today the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a trade to swap draft picks with the Houston Texans. This gives Minnesota the 23rd pick in the upcoming draft. The Vikings now have two first-round picks at their disposal and I believe they will use them to move up for Drake Maye.

As it stands the Vikings are too far back to wait on a quarterback and with the departure of Kirk Cousins they need to address the position. I do realize the Vikings picked up Sam Darnold this week but I don’t think he is there to be the starter. Maye makes a lot of sense for this Vikings team who still have star Justin Jefferson and recently brought in ex-Packer Aaron Jones.

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Although Wilson failed in Denver he will still be attractive to QB needy teams. Wilson was serviceable last season for the Broncos and in the right situation, he could flourish. There have been plenty of rumors since his release on potential landing spots. Let’s focus on 3 teams and breakdown why each one would be a fit.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The obvious best overall fit for Wilson would be the Steelers. Pittsburgh has strong leadership in place with Mike Tomlin at the helm and they are in need of a quarterback. Current Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has had his ups and downs in Pittsburgh but hasn’t really panned out. Picket seems better suited for a backup role and with Wilson on board he could learn from a vet.

When you look at the Steelers roster they have several strengths. They have young talented receivers led by George Pickens and a potential future star in the backfield in Jaylen Warren. They are always stout on defense which will be important for Wilson’s next team. In order for Wilson to thrive he will need to play more ball control on offense but there are times he takes risks. That’s why it’s important to have sold defense backing him. The Steelers will be able to provide that.

Minnesota Vikings

Another team that looks to be poised to enter the quarterback market is the Vikings. Kirk Cousins will most likely be on the move this offseason which will leave a massive hole on offense. Minnesota could plug that quickly by adding Wilson. This would also be an attractive destination for Wilson who would get to play with superstar Justin Jefferson.

The Vikings aren’t contenders yet but they have about $37 million in cap space and 9 picks in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson would also get to work with coach Kevin O’Connell who has proved he knows how to run an offense. If the Vikings don’t make a play for Wilson I could see them drafting a quarterback with the 11th pick.

Las Vegas Raiders

Finally, the Raiders are another potential team to watch in the Russell Wilson sweepstakes. Las Vegas will be looking to add to its quarterback room this offseason. With Antonio Pierce now the full-time coach there are several pieces already in place in Vegas.

The Raiders finished the 2023 strong winning 3 of their last 4. They also provide Wilson with a strong defense led by Maxx Crosby. On offense, they can provide Wilson with a star receiver in Davante Adams. They will however need to look to add to their running back room as Josh Jacobs is likely on the move.

Then there is the revenge factor. If Wilson joined the Raiders he could stay on the West Coast and more importantly, stay in the AFC West. This will allow him to face the Broncos twice a year which will be extra motivation for the jettisoned quarterback.

Regardless of where he ends up, Wilson will likely sign a contract for less than $10 million. This makes him an enticing option going forward.

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Josh Jacobs – Jacobs left last weeks contest with an apparent quad injury. So far details have been sparse on the severity of the injury going forward. We should know more about his injury later today when the Raiders practice. If Jacobs does miss time Zamir White would be next in line to handle the workload.

Justin Jefferson – It was a short-lived return for Jefferson in week 14. After missing 7 games with a hamstring injury Jefferson returned to action last week. Unfortunately, he suffered a chest injury that knocked him out of the game vs. the Raiders. Early reports are that Jefferson could play this week but be cautious in starting him.

Tyreek Hill – Hill went down with an ankle injury in the Monday night loss to the Titans. The good news was he was able to return but he looked to be laboring a bit in the second half. This situation will need to be monitored closely throughout the week.

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Trevor Lawrence – When Lawrence went down on Monday night it didn’t look good. His ankle was stepped on and his knee was bent back in an awkward position. As of now, it looks like the injury is not as bad as it looked as Lawrence has been diagnosed with just an ankle sprain. His status on a short week is still up in the air but he hasn’t been ruled out yet by head coach Doug Pederson.

Justin Jefferson – Jefferson is finally set to return for the Vikings after missing 7 games with a hamstring injury. It comes at a perfect time for fantasy managers who could use him for the playoff run. It’s still worth keeping an eye on the Vikings practice report this week but if Jefferson is cleared to go then insert him right back in your starting lineup.

Rhamondre Stevenson – Stevenson suffered an ankle injury in the week 13 shutout to the Chargers. It looks like he will miss time and could eventually be shut down for the season. Ezekiel Elliott is set to take over the lead-back position for the foreseeable future.

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Aaron Jones – Jones suffered an MCL sprain in last week’s game and his game status for Thursday is up in the air. It looks as of now he is unlikely to play. If that’s the case AJ Dillion would get a bump in our rankings.

Kyren Williams – Williams looks set to return from the IR this week vs. the Cardinals. Nothing is official as of yet but the Rams recently released Darrell Henderson which is a good indication Williams will start.

Justin Jefferson – Jefferson has been in this section for several weeks now as fantasy managers are still waiting for him to return. His status for Monday night is still not clear which makes it tricky to start him this week. The Vikings then have a BYE which would mean a week 14 return if he doesn’t play this week.

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Justin Jefferson – We won’t know for sure until later this week but it looks as though Jefferson is set to return from the IR. This is big news for Jefferson owners as the push for the fantasy football playoffs continues. As always hamstring injuries are delicate so keep an eye on any setbacks at practice this week.

Justin Fields – The Bears are set to get back their starting quarterback as Fields is in line to return in week 11. He has been dealing with a thumb injury to his right hand. If Fields returns the Bears offense will be upgraded although don’t expect amazing numbers from this unit.

Tee Higgins – Higgins who is also dealing with a hamstring injury may miss another week due to the short turnaround. The Bengals play the Ravens on Thursday Night Football and Higgins was absent from Tuesday’s practice. Keep an eye out today for his official game status.

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James Conner – Conner has been officially designated to return from IR by the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Jonathan Gannon recently stated that Conner is looking “excellent” in his rehab which is a great sign. If he indeed suits up this week he will get a bump in our rankings.

Justin Jefferson – Jefferson is also eligible to come off IR this week but the lack of updates is concerning. He is dealing with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the last four games. We should know more about Jefferson’s status later today.

Justin Fields – Fields is dealing with a thumb injury but may return this week for Thursday Night Football. Fields has logged limited practices for the Bears leading up to the game. We will know his official game status later today.

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