NEWS: The Buffalo Bills have cut RB LeSean McCoy.
UPDATE: The Kansas City Chiefs have signed McCoy. (9/1)
ANALYSIS: Rookie RB Devin Singletary will likely be the RB1 while leading a committee with RBs Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon. Even though Singletary hasn’t done enough to solidify a firm RB1 role on this team, he’s still the clear-cut back you want to own. By releasing McCoy, it should be clear that the Bills want to give Singletary every chance to succeed.
This deal clears up nearly $6.5M in cap space. The Bills signed Gore & Yeldon while drafting Singletary for to transition to a new era in the Bills backfield.
McCoy could be headed to the Cowboys (Zeke holdout), Chargers (Gordon holdout), Texans (Miller injury), Chiefs (Hyde replacement) and Raiders according to the internet rumors. Until McCoy is signed onto a new team, we’ve moved him outside of our Top 80 at the RB position. Singletary is now a high-level RB3 or flex play with upside for more. Gore and Yeldon saw moderate bumps to their projections, however, they do not have much value in a typical redraft league.
Talks between Cowboys and RB Ezekiel Elliott “intensifying”
NEWS: According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, talks between the Dallas Cowboys and Zeke Elliott are suddenly heating up. Both sides would like to get a deal done this weekend.
ANALYSIS: While this is great news, the two sides still have to come to a deal. Which side is going to blink? My guess would be if the Cowboys want Zeke playing Week 1 or even in the weeks after, they are going to have to make him the highest paid rusher in the NFL. He is seeking more than the $15 million per year the Rams have given to Todd Gurley. The Cowboys have been reluctant to pay him what he’s looking for. We will have to just wait and see how this plays out.
As soon as Zeke signs he becomes a top RB1 and possibly a steal for a ton of Fantasy owners as his ADP has fallen the past few weeks. There is no guarantee a deal gets done before Week 1 though. Tony Pollard will serve as the RB1 as long as Zeke is out and will become a top handcuff once he returns. It’s doubtful Pollard has stand-alone value once Elliott returns.
Chargers grant RB Melvin Gordon permission to seek trade
NEWS: The Los Angeles Chargers have given disgruntled running back Melvin Gordon permission to seek a trade.
ANALYSIS: This was the inevitable conclusion of this holdout. The Chargers were never going to blink and pay him the money he wants. That’s just not how that franchise operates. All the signs were there that Gordon was dug in for the long haul ever since praising Le’Veon Bell last season. It appears the bridges have been burned and this relationship is nearing an end.
The issue could be finding another team that is willing to give up and asset and pay Gordon what he wants. While he is a very good back, he’s not great and teams just aren’t willing to pay backs like they want to be paid. He’s not close to as important as Zeke Elliott is to the Cowboys and he’s having a hard time getting paid. It’s not a foregone conclusion a deal gets done because of the money issue. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson will be manning this backfield until further notice. LeSean McCoy has also been linked to the Bolts, but he is on his last legs at this point.
Texans acquire Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil from Miami
NEWS: The Houston Texans have traded two first round picks, a second round pick, OT Julie’n Davenport and DB Johnson Bademosi to the Miami Dolphins for WR Kenny Stills, LT Laremy Tunsil and fourth-round pick.
ANALYSIS: It appears that the Miami Dolphins are truly throwing in the towel on their season already trading one of the best young left tackles in the league to the Texans for draft picks. However, they did get a massive haul for Tunisl. Kenny Stills was likely on his way out either way. The Houston Texans are all in on this offense right now loading up and their biggest area of need. This is a massive upgrade for the entire offense. Miami may regret this move regardless of the huge return.
Stills is now playing in a much better offense with a much better quarterback. He should be viewed as bench option with upside. Keke Coutee and Will Fuller have major injury issues and Stills could easily be the WR2 in Houston sooner rather than later.
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