2020 NFL ROOKIES

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Face It 49ers, Kinlaw Isn't Ready for the NFL

https://www.49erswebzone.com/commentary/2430-face-49ers-kinlaw-isnt-ready-nfl/

[Scoots1994]

Face It 49ers, Kinlaw Isn't Ready for the NFL

https://www.49erswebzone.com/commentary/2430-face-49ers-kinlaw-isnt-ready-nfl/

Fan commentary isn't really news is it?

Maiocco said Kinlaw was doing good enough to get base down snaps, but his pass rush was not good. That's pretty much what was expected.

[CrimsonCrew]

I didn't love the Kinlaw pick. At all. But it's way too early to judge. As Scoots notes, word is that he's been solid in the run game - maybe even an upgrade over Buckner - and struggling with pass-rushing technique. He's saying all the right things, and the physical tools are there, so the hope is that he develops. But if he's not making an impact as a pass-rusher, he wasn't worth the pick.

[Scoots1994]

I didn't love the Kinlaw pick. At all. But it's way too early to judge. As Scoots notes, word is that he's been solid in the run game - maybe even an upgrade over Buckner - and struggling with pass-rushing technique. He's saying all the right things, and the physical tools are there, so the hope is that he develops. But if he's not making an impact as a pass-rusher, he wasn't worth the pick.

The question is ... when? If he's solid against the run and a top 10 DT pass rusher by year 3 then he's easily worth the pick. If his pass rush is just okay next year I think it's too early to call it a bad pick. Unfortunately there is a long history of huge powerful DTs taking time to develop their hand use skills and footwork. And word out of camp is that Kinlaw's power and short area quickness is good but that his technique is failing. Considering the limited offseason work it's not too surprising based on what we saw on tape.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

J.K. DOBBINS
RB, BALTIMORE RAVENS

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said rookie RB J.K. Dobbins will likely have a "significant role" in Baltimore's offense.

Ravens beat writers for weeks have said Dobbins will have an immediate role in the team's backfield, alongside 31-year-old Mark Ingram, but it's good to hear Harbaugh confirm Dobbins should be part of the team's attack. Even if the team's league-leading rush rate dips a bit -- Baltimore running backs saw 393 carries in 2019 -- there should be plenty of carries for Dobbins. The 31st running back off the draft board, Dobbins should be a priority for fantasy footballers who take wide receivers and tight ends in the opening rounds.
SOURCE: Jamison Hensley on Twitter

Sep 1, 2020, 12:12 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TUA TAGOVAILOA
QB, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said QB Tua Tagovailoa's dislocated hip injury from last season will play a role in picking a Week 1 starting quarterback.

Flores' comment comes as a surprise after a month of reports saying Tagovailoa has displayed mobility in training camp. He has practiced without limitations since the beginning of August. We're not sure how much concern there is about the rookie's recovery from a major injury, but it seems Ryan Fitzpatrick is in line to start the season opener against New England. The Bearded One is a sensible late-round selection in superflex and 2-QB formats, even if fantasy managers might not get 16 games out of the veteran.
SOURCE: Palm Beach Post

Sep 1, 2020, 9:08 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TEE HIGGINS
WR, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Bengals WR Tee Higgins will likely be a rotational player to start the season after missing time in training camp with a hamstring injury.

Though Higgins scrimmaged with the Bengals' first team offense with several receivers out of action, he's not expected to start the season in three-receiver sets with A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd. The Athletic's Paul Dehner, Jr. said Higgins' absence from camp "opened the door for [Auden] Tate to establish a quick connection" with rookie QB Joe Burrow. Higgins would need to make the most of his limited opportunities -- or injuries to Tate and John Ross III -- to become the team's No. 3 wideout.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Sep 1, 2020, 8:33 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JONATHAN TAYLOR
RB, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Athletic's Stephen Holder said Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is "a candidate to contribute in the passing game" this season.

The rookie caught a touchdown in Monday's scrimmage after dropping two passes out of the backfield at Saturday's scrimmage. Nyheim Hines should see a fair amount of pass catching involvement in the Colts' offense. Still, Holder believes Taylor will see at least some of the pass catching opportunity out of the Indianapolis backfield this year. "Considering Rivers’ propensity for throwing the ball to running backs, it would be surprising if Taylor wasn’t somewhat a factor as a receiver out of the backfield," Holder said. One or two impressive early-season outings and Taylor has a chance to run away with the Colts' starting job.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Sep 1, 2020, 8:12 AM ET

[CrimsonCrew]

I didn't love the Kinlaw pick. At all. But it's way too early to judge. As Scoots notes, word is that he's been solid in the run game - maybe even an upgrade over Buckner - and struggling with pass-rushing technique. He's saying all the right things, and the physical tools are there, so the hope is that he develops. But if he's not making an impact as a pass-rusher, he wasn't worth the pick.

The question is ... when? If he's solid against the run and a top 10 DT pass rusher by year 3 then he's easily worth the pick. If his pass rush is just okay next year I think it's too early to call it a bad pick. Unfortunately there is a long history of huge powerful DTs taking time to develop their hand use skills and footwork. And word out of camp is that Kinlaw's power and short area quickness is good but that his technique is failing. Considering the limited offseason work it's not too surprising based on what we saw on tape.

When can we call him a bust? I would say if he's not performing by year three. But there's no bright line. I wouldn't consider Armstead a bust even though he didn't really break out until his fifth year. He had shown - at least in flashes - that he could be a solid starter and possibly even an impact pass rusher. And he dealt with some injuries that stymied his growth. But he was really close to being a bust before he wasn't.

I suppose by that standard it's not too late for Solomon Thomas to shake the bust label, but he hasn't dealt with injury and has never really made any sort of an impact. He'll have to basically explode this year for him not to be considered a bust. For instance, I would consider Jimmie Ward to be a bust even though he's an effective player now. During his rookie deal, he never came close to living up to the draft pick.

[Scoots1994]

I didn't love the Kinlaw pick. At all. But it's way too early to judge. As Scoots notes, word is that he's been solid in the run game - maybe even an upgrade over Buckner - and struggling with pass-rushing technique. He's saying all the right things, and the physical tools are there, so the hope is that he develops. But if he's not making an impact as a pass-rusher, he wasn't worth the pick.

The question is ... when? If he's solid against the run and a top 10 DT pass rusher by year 3 then he's easily worth the pick. If his pass rush is just okay next year I think it's too early to call it a bad pick. Unfortunately there is a long history of huge powerful DTs taking time to develop their hand use skills and footwork. And word out of camp is that Kinlaw's power and short area quickness is good but that his technique is failing. Considering the limited offseason work it's not too surprising based on what we saw on tape.

When can we call him a bust? I would say if he's not performing by year three. But there's no bright line. I wouldn't consider Armstead a bust even though he didn't really break out until his fifth year. He had shown - at least in flashes - that he could be a solid starter and possibly even an impact pass rusher. And he dealt with some injuries that stymied his growth. But he was really close to being a bust before he wasn't.

I suppose by that standard it's not too late for Solomon Thomas to shake the bust label, but he hasn't dealt with injury and has never really made any sort of an impact. He'll have to basically explode this year for him not to be considered a bust. For instance, I would consider Jimmie Ward to be a bust even though he's an effective player now. During his rookie deal, he never came close to living up to the draft pick.

I agree. We need some flashes this year. The lack of flashes is what kind of doomed Solomon Thomas (who did deal with injuries, and the death of his sister) ... they keep talking about the team not moving him from place to place is going to unlock him this year, we'll see. The same thing of changing positions happened to Ward, and they started doing it with Moore too.

I think we need a different word for a draft pick that doesn't pay out because of injuries than bust. Steve Emtman showed enough to prove he was going to be a good player but injuries derailed his career. At the time of the draft he was a good pick, in the end, because of injuries and not because of performance when healthy that draft pick didn't pay off for the Colts ... so the pick was a bust for payout, but the player was not a bust? I think we need a different word.

[CrimsonCrew]

The question is ... when? If he's solid against the run and a top 10 DT pass rusher by year 3 then he's easily worth the pick. If his pass rush is just okay next year I think it's too early to call it a bad pick. Unfortunately there is a long history of huge powerful DTs taking time to develop their hand use skills and footwork. And word out of camp is that Kinlaw's power and short area quickness is good but that his technique is failing. Considering the limited offseason work it's not too surprising based on what we saw on tape.

When can we call him a bust? I would say if he's not performing by year three. But there's no bright line. I wouldn't consider Armstead a bust even though he didn't really break out until his fifth year. He had shown - at least in flashes - that he could be a solid starter and possibly even an impact pass rusher. And he dealt with some injuries that stymied his growth. But he was really close to being a bust before he wasn't.

I suppose by that standard it's not too late for Solomon Thomas to shake the bust label, but he hasn't dealt with injury and has never really made any sort of an impact. He'll have to basically explode this year for him not to be considered a bust. For instance, I would consider Jimmie Ward to be a bust even though he's an effective player now. During his rookie deal, he never came close to living up to the draft pick.

I agree. We need some flashes this year. The lack of flashes is what kind of doomed Solomon Thomas (who did deal with injuries, and the death of his sister) ... they keep talking about the team not moving him from place to place is going to unlock him this year, we'll see. The same thing of changing positions happened to Ward, and they started doing it with Moore too.

I think we need a different word for a draft pick that doesn't pay out because of injuries than bust. Steve Emtman showed enough to prove he was going to be a good player but injuries derailed his career. At the time of the draft he was a good pick, in the end, because of injuries and not because of performance when healthy that draft pick didn't pay off for the Colts ... so the pick was a bust for payout, but the player was not a bust? I think we need a different word.

Thomas hasn't dealt with any significant injuries. Sure, he's been banged up here or there. He plays professional football. I do cut him some slack as a result of the death of his sister. In hearing him talk, it sounds like that dramatically impacted his second season. And I'm hopeful that a full-time shift inside helps him.

Calling someone a bust isn't necessarily meant to be a criticism of that player - certainly not on a personal level. By all accounts, Jimmie Ward is a great guy, and he dealt with a bunch of pretty random injuries (though by the like fourth broken bone, it's hard to consider them random) and misuse by the coaching staff. It's just a comment on their on-field performance in relation to their draft status. Solomon Thomas should never have been playing outside, and if we drafted him third with that expectation, then the busted pick is more on the FO than the player, IMO. I'm hopeful that he can really capitalize inside this year, but he played inside a fair bit last year and was mediocre at best, so I'm not holding my breath.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JUSTIN JEFFERSON
WR, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

ESPN's Courtney Cronin believes Justin Jefferson will begin the year as the Vikings No. 3 receiver.

It's a notable distinction because 51% of the Vikings pass attempts late last season came with only two receivers on the field. Bisi Johnson appears to be the other starter in two-TE sets alongside Adam Thielen with Jefferson getting reps in three-receiver sets and when the two starters need a breather. Keep expectations low for Jefferson early, but he's a breakout candidate in the second half of 2020. Cronin believes Jefferson "looked every bit the part of a first-rounder in training camp whether he lined up in the slot or outside."
SOURCE: ESPN.com

Sep 2, 2020, 2:56 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KJ HAMLER
WR, DENVER BRONCOS

ESPN's Jeff Legwold writes KJ Hamler (hamstring) "could potentially start the year on injured reserve."

Hamler tweaked his hamstring in training camp and is set to miss at least a few weeks. The Broncos have a few receivers they want to keep on their initial 53-man roster, so Legwold believes there's a chance that Hamler is stashed on injured reserve similarly to how they treated Drew Lock's injury last season. That would cost Hamler three games, but he'd likely be fully healthy for October and beyond. Regardless, the Broncos three-receiver set for Week 1 seems set. Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Tim Patrick are the projected starters.
SOURCE: ESPN.com

Sep 2, 2020, 2:26 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DENZEL MIMS
WR, NEW YORK JETS

Jets second-round WR Denzel Mims (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday.

It was the first time Mims has practiced since training camp started after he pulled his hammy the day before camp. Mims has a long way to go before getting into the starting mix, but the good news is he doesn't have a whole lot of talent ahead of him, making a quick rise possible. The Jets are currently projected to open the year with Chris Hogan as a starter on the outside. Breshad Perriman (knee) can't keep the swelling down and is uncertain for the opener. Jamison Crowder is the lone reliable wideout as the slot man.
SOURCE: Manish Mehta on Twitter

Sep 2, 2020, 11:32 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

VAN JEFFERSON
WR, LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue expects second-round rookie Van Jefferson to be the Rams' No. 3 receiver.

Jefferson has been one of the standouts of Rams camp, and he appears to have passed Josh Reynolds on the depth chart behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Before training camp, it was expected to be Reynolds replacing Brandin Cooks in three-wide sets. The Rams have a ton of targets up for grabs in coach Sean McVay's scheme that relies heavily on 11 personnel. Anyone who plays significant snaps in this offense is automatically on the fantasy radar.
SOURCE: The Athletic

Sep 2, 2020, 11:22 AM ET

[I_am_1z]

KJ HAMLER
WR, DENVER BRONCOS

ESPN's Jeff Legwold writes KJ Hamler (hamstring) "could potentially start the year on injured reserve."

Hamler tweaked his hamstring in training camp and is set to miss at least a few weeks. The Broncos have a few receivers they want to keep on their initial 53-man roster, so Legwold believes there's a chance that Hamler is stashed on injured reserve similarly to how they treated Drew Lock's injury last season. That would cost Hamler three games, but he'd likely be fully healthy for October and beyond. Regardless, the Broncos three-receiver set for Week 1 seems set. Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Tim Patrick are the projected starters.
SOURCE: ESPN.com

Sep 2, 2020, 2:26 PM ET

Do people realize how much Vic Fangio likes KJ Hamler? My prediction is Hamler will only be out a week.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

JAMYCAL HASTY
RB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT

49ers released RB JaMycal Hasty.

We laugh at "he had a good camp" tweets, but Hasty by all records was truly having a good camp. The 49ers plan to put him on the practice squad. He simply needs an injury or two to crack the 53-man roster behind Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Jerick McKinnon.
SOURCE: Matt Barrows on Twitter

Sep 5, 2020, 3:54 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

KJ HAMLER
WR, DENVER BRONCOS

Broncos GM John Elway said WR K.J. Hamler (hamstring) is "getting close" to returning.

He'll avoid opening the year on injured reserve. Initially expected to work as Denver's starting slot wideout from Week 1, Hamler's soft tissue injury — obviously detrimental for a player with 4.2 40-speed — has held him out for a majority of camp. Tim Patrick will get the nod between Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy in the interim with DaeSean Hamilton on standby.
SOURCE: Andrew Mason on Twitter

Sep 5, 2020, 3:37 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

LYNN BOWDEN
RB, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Dolphins acquired RB Lynn Bowden and a 2021 sixth-round pick from the Raiders in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick.

It's the same fourth-round pick the Raiders initially dealt to Miami in exchange for Raekwon McMillan. Bowden had never played running back before being designated there on draft night and reportedly failed to "flash a lot of speed" at camp, but this news still comes as a surprise. It will be interesting to see the variety of ways coach Brian Flores and OC Chan Gailey scheme up both slot WR Malcolm Perry, who previously played quarterback at Navy, and Bowden in 11 personnel. There's some hope Bowden offers re-draft value after the Dolphins declared him as a wide receiver upon acquiring him, but he is still a thin stash to open the year while learning the team's playbook.
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Sep 5, 2020, 3:23 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

HARRISON BRYANT
TE, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Browns TE Harrison Bryant was voted the “top-performing rookie” at training camp.

Bryant repped with the first team when David Njoku (wrist) was sidelined. Njoku’s contract ($1.7M dead money) saved his roster spot but there’s a chance he’s traded before Week 1. We’ve seen talk Bryant is ahead of Njoku. The Browns are expected to feature more 12 personnel under Kevin Stefanski.
SOURCE: clevelandbrowns.com

Sep 6, 2020, 9:49 AM ET