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"100 Percent" Chance That Kyler Murray Will Start For Cardinals In 2025
Monday, January 6, 2025 6:31 PM
When asked if quarterback Kyler Murray would be the team's starter in 2025, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said, "100 percent," on Burns And Gambo. "He's a top-level, franchise quarterback," Gannon said. Although he led the Cardinals to an 8-9 record and no playoff appearance, Murray did throw for 3,851 yards -- the second-highest total of his career -- 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. His 572 rushing yards -- he added five touchdowns on the ground -- ranked fourth among all QBs in 2024. The 27-year-old isn't going anywhere heading into the second year of a five-year, $230.5 million extension that he signed in July of 2022. Arizona should keep most of their skill players on offense, but Murray will need to establish more chemistry with first-round wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. to take a step forward for the Cardinals and fantasy managers that make him their QB1.
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Brock Purdy Wants Contract Done Sooner Than Later
Monday, January 6, 2025 6:16 PM
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said he would like to have a long-term contract extension done sooner than later this offseason so that he can participate in full for the offseason program. "I want to obviously get it done. If that's an opportunity to be able to get that done quick, that'd be great. Just so we can get back for phase one," Purdy said. If how the 49ers have handled contract extensions with their star players recently is any indication, Purdy is likely to get his hopes up. However, the QB position is the most important when constructing a football roster, so perhaps the 49ers' decision-makers will find more urgency with Purdy's situation. Although the 25-year-old took a step back after his 2023 breakout, he was also without key offensive weapons for long stretches. Although it may not come quickly, San Fran is expected to get something done with Purdy this offseason.
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Christian McCaffrey "Definitely Close" To Being Fully Recovered
Monday, January 6, 2025 6:07 PM
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) said he's "definitely close" to fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2024 season early. McCaffrey told ESPN's Nick Wagoner he would have been able to return had the team made the postseason, but instead, he'll continue to rehab and expects to be ready for organized team activities in the spring. The 28-year-old was specifically dealing with a PCL injury in his right knee that caused him to miss the last five games of the year, but a calf strain and bilateral Achilles tendinitis led to CMC not making his 2024 debut until Week 10. The All-Pro RB was the biggest fantasy bust of the year without question, so his health will be closely watched heading into training camp in the summer. While McCaffrey's lengthy injury history will keep him from being a top pick in the first round in 2025, he's still deserving of first-round consideration.
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Commanders "Not Concerned" With Jayden Daniels' Leg Soreness
Monday, January 6, 2025 6:02 PM
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said, "I'm not concerned" when asked about rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' leg soreness that led to him being pulled in the second half of the win over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The Commanders pulled the impressive 24-year-old at halftime as a precaution since they had already locked up a playoff spot, with backup Marcus Mariota leading the team to a 23-19 victory. Daniels could be limited in practice this week, but all signs point to him being fine for Sunday night's wild-card matchup against the hosting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their banged-up secondary. Although Daniels threw for under 200 yards and no touchdowns against Tampa in his NFL debut way back in Week 1, he should be considered a top-five fantasy QB play this weekend.
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Bills Hopeful Amari Cooper Will Be Available In Wild-Card Round
Monday, January 6, 2025 5:53 PM
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that wide receiver Amari Cooper (personal) hasn't rejoined the team after he was excused for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival New England Patriots due to a personal matter. McDermott is hopeful Cooper will be available for the wild-card playoff game this Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos, but right now the team is taking the situation a day at a time. The move from Cleveland to Buffalo at the trade deadline was supposed to give Cooper a much higher fantasy ceiling, but instead, consistent targets have been hard to come by in the Bills offense. The 30-year-old has caught just 20 of 34 targets for 297 yards and two TDs in his eight games with Buffalo and will be a low-end WR2, at best, in playoff leagues if he's active on Sunday. If he's not, Khalil Shakir and rookie Keon Coleman will become more interesting in fantasy.
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Jason Sanders Hits Two More Field Goals In Week 18 Loss
Monday, January 6, 2025 5:41 PM
Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made 2-of-2 field attempts and both extra points in the 32-20 loss to the New York Jets in Week 18. His long came from 28 yards out. He will end the season by making his last 27 field goals and finishing the year as the fifth-ranked kicker in fantasy football. Sanders started the year slow and inconsistent, but things turned around as soon as Tua Tagovailoa returned from injury in Week 8. The 29-year-old has proved his worth in the 2024 campaign, hitting several big kicks late in games. He figures to be one of the most sought-after kickers when the 2025 fantasy football season comes around in September.
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Jordan Love's Practice Status To Be Determined
Monday, January 6, 2025 3:50 PM
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he's unsure if quarterbacks Jordan Love (elbow) and Malik Willis (undisclosed) will be limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. "We'll find out over the next few days," LaFleur said. Despite not knowing if Love and Willis will practice in full this week, he added that he thinks "they're going to be OK" for the wild-card playoff game this Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. A right-elbow injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Chicago Bears caused Love's right throwing hand to go numb, which led to Willis taking over for the rest of the game. While Love's removal was precautionary on Sunday, it's unclear if he'll be 100% this weekend against the Eagles, which will give fantasy managers pause when setting DFS lineups. Check back for Love's practice status on Wednesday.
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Jalen Hurts Still In The Concussion Protocol
Monday, January 6, 2025 3:42 PM
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said on Monday that he has no new information on quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion), who remains in the league's concussion protocol. Hurts suffered a concussion in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders and missed the final two weeks of the regular season as a result. The 26-year-old is reportedly making progress with his head injury, but his availability for the wild-card playoff game this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers is in question. Hurts is apparently on track to return to practice this week, but we won't know for sure until Wednesday. He's also been dealing with a fractured finger on his left (non-throwing) hand, but that shouldn't keep him from playing in the playoffs. Fantasy managers may be more hesitant to use the overall QB9 in fantasy this year playoff leagues if he returns this Sunday against Green Bay.
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Adam Thielen To Evaluate His Future This Offseason
Monday, January 6, 2025 3:37 PM
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen said that he will go through his normal process and evaluate whether he wants to continue his playing career this offseason. Thielen said he's leaning in a certain direction, "but I'm not going to tell you what that is." If the Panthers choose to do so, they can cut the 34-year-old with only a $5 million dead salary cap hit to get out of the final year of his deal. He missed time in 2024 due to a hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve, but Thielen was productive when healthy as quarterback Bryce Young's favorite target, catching 48 passes on 62 targets for 615 yards and five touchdowns in 10 starts. Staying in Carolina is the likely outcome if Thielen chooses to play another season. His chemistry with Young would give him a solid fantasy floor as a flex, depending on what the rest of the WR room looks like in 2025.
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Anthony Richardson Will Be Colts Starter In 2025
Monday, January 6, 2025 3:30 PM
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (back) will be the team's starter in 2025, according to team sources. Head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard will also get at least one more year to improve the team next season, owner Jim Irsay announced on Sunday night. The Colts missed the playoffs in 2024 for the fourth straight season, which is the club's longest playoff drought since a seven-year streak from 1988-94. Going into his third year in the NFL, Richardson's stock is down considerably with more doubt than ever about his ability to be a franchise QB. He missed the Week 18 regular-season finale with a back injury that he said "might be chronic" and has missed 17 games in his first two seasons due to injury. Richardson finished with the league's lowest completion percentage (47.7), and his 61.6 passer rating is the third-worst by a QB with at least 250 pass attempts since 2010.
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