1) Jonathan Gannon on Kyler Murray: “He is way ahead of last year”
I admit I have some confirmation bias here. I’ve been saying lately that Kyler should go higher than he does. It seems to have worked. Murray’s ADP has gone up to the point where he’s the QB10 in most formats. It feels like that’s his Floor This season, a place in the top five is definitely achievable.
Imagine my delight when Murray’s head coach repeatedly said the veteran quarterback “looks damn good.” It’s been a few seasons since we’ve seen the former No. 1 pick fully healthy. When Kyler was at his best, he was one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy. With the weapons Murray now has at his disposal (hello, Marvin Harrison Jr.!), I’m over the moon about his potential this age-27 season.
2) Terry McLaurin’s deployment will not be “a stationary thing”
Kliff Kingsbury’s attacks have always been a bit exciting. The Air Raid is ideal for fantasy productions. Who would not Want to be part of an offense that presents itself as basketball on grass? The problem was a lack of unpredictability. Kingsbury is notorious for keeping his top receiver static in alignment. In three seasons with the Cardinals under Kingsbury, DeAndre Hopkins took 76 percent of his snaps from the left side of the formation, according to Next Gen Stats. Nuk was still quite productive when they’re active, but one wonders if a lack of creativity is holding the team back. And now that Kingsbury is calling plays for Washington, the same concern is looming for the Commanders’ WR1.
In two preseason games, 28 of McLaurin’s 29 snaps came from the left side. But perhaps the Commanders’ offense didn’t want to show too much. McLaurin has traditionally moved across the formation. Last year, his snaps were evenly split between the left and right sides. Now that Washington has a quarterback it believes in, it would be a shame to limit McLaurin by locking him down to one side of the field.
3) Tim Patrick on the comeback: “You haven’t seen anything yet”
The last time we really saw Patrick in action, he was asserting himself as the Broncos’ No. 2 receiver. It was his second straight season with over 50 catches and more than 700 yards. It seemed like he was ready to take off. That was in 2021. In 2022, Patrick tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training camp. The following year, he tore his Achilles tendon. The breakthrough was on hold, and one could wonder if we always see it.
Now, two and a half years after his last regular season, Patrick returns to a similar situation to the one he left. The Broncos are looking for a WR2 to complement Courtland Sutton and are training a new quarterback. Early results suggest that Patrick and rookie signal-caller Bo Nix are getting along well. The receiver has caught all five passes aimed at him for 44 yards and a touchdown. Patrick still has some way to go in his recovery, but it looks like the previously postponed breakthrough could be underway.
