Daily Short #42, August 15th, 2017: Kirk Johnson Reminder, Preseason Fantasy Fallout
A Kirk Johnson Reminder
Texas fans should be thrilled to have RB Kirk Johnson "back." I put "back" in quotation marks as there are still a few unknowns about Johnson's situation: namely, is he really, truly healthy again (finally) ... and if so, can he stay healthy this time? Because if the answer to both of those questions is "yes," then Kirk Johnson is the best running back Texas has on its roster, and certainly the most suited skill-set-wise to flourish in a Tom Herman offense.
Johnson is (or at least appears to be) the fastest running back on the roster with the most twitch and what looked to be elite pass-receiving abilities out of the backfield based on high school tape. He's substantial enough through the hips to shed contact through the line of scrimmage in inside-zone as a one-cut, between-the-tackles runner and -- in case you need a reminder -- also has the jets to get to the edge in outside zone versus Big 12 opponents should no cutback lane develop ...
Quick Fantasy Thoughts for Preseason Week 1
You can't put too much stock in preseason football, but, for what it's worth:
- Saints RB Alvin Kamara started out with the ones with Peterson and Ingram out; thought he looked shifty and good - was able to get between the tackles with some nice vision and looked better than a scat back - much better in the YAC department than I anticipated. Had 4 runs for 35 yards - 8.8 per carry and most of them came after contact. If he can be a Sproles/Bush-type, he is clearly fantasy relevant, mainly in PPR. The question is, can there be a Sproles/Bush type supported in a two-headed Ingram/Peterson attack?
- Bears QB Mike Glennon absolutely sucks; owning any part of this passing offense is completely out of the question, even "No. 1 WR" Cameron Meredith sucks, the guy can't catch a cold. RB Jordan Howard looks fine, but this is an awful team; I'm not sure how often they are going to be in scoring position and I also wonder whether or not game script could swindle Howard at times when they are behind as this defense is god awful, too. Rookie RB Tarik Cohen looks capable of being a back that the team might use more in these garbage-time, Jaguars-like situations. Cohen is fast as hell, and while small, not scared to run up the middle on draw plays and stuff.
- Redskins RB Samaje Perine did himself no favors in taking a job from a very sluggish and slow Rob Kelley. But Perine keeps fumbling and blowing opportunities to gain the staff's trust. While I used to be sure he'd enter the season as the starter, now I'm almost sure he won't.
- It's only a matter of time in 2017 before former Longhorn RB D'Onta Foreman becomes a fantasy-relevant option for the Texans.
- I wrote in my column last week detailing my fantasy experts draft why I loved Lions WR Kenny Golladay so much. If you saw his two-TD debut (playing only one half of football), now you understand my line of thought.
- Worried about a target decrease for Bucs WR Mike Evans with new toys Desean Jackson and OJ Howard in the fold? Don't. Another thing I talked about last week is that these players will take attention away from Evans. Jameis Winston absolutely peppered Evans in the preseason opener, shipping seven targets his way in just two series of football.
- It's clear the Chiefs are going to go to WR Tyreek Hill early and often in 2017 as a guy they have to get the balls in the hands of more. The first play of the Chiefs scrimmage versus the 49ers was a bomb down the sideline to the TyFreak. He's a mega-steal in the fifth round of 12-team drafts.
- Bengals RB Joe Mixon is an absolute beast and barring any hard-headedness from the Bengals staff about involving Jeremy Hill more than they should, Mixon could end the season as a Top 5 back in PPR. If he gets the volume, he'll get there, or close. He's an extremely high-upside (if risky) pick in the late-third of current drafts. It was only seven touches over the weekend, but to say Mixon looked like he belonged would be an understatement. He looked fantastic. Now, you have to decide whether you want to roster and cheer for a player on your fantasy team who was caught on tape knocking a female college student out cold ...
Your first reminder of the season that fantasy football always hurts.
A Kirk Johnson Reminder
Texas fans should be thrilled to have RB Kirk Johnson "back." I put "back" in quotation marks as there are still a few unknowns about Johnson's situation: namely, is he really, truly healthy again (finally) ... and if so, can he stay healthy this time? Because if the answer to both of those questions is "yes," then Kirk Johnson is the best running back Texas has on its roster, and certainly the most suited skill-set-wise to flourish in a Tom Herman offense.
Johnson is (or at least appears to be) the fastest running back on the roster with the most twitch and what looked to be elite pass-receiving abilities out of the backfield based on high school tape. He's substantial enough through the hips to shed contact through the line of scrimmage in inside-zone as a one-cut, between-the-tackles runner and -- in case you need a reminder -- also has the jets to get to the edge in outside zone versus Big 12 opponents should no cutback lane develop ...
Quick Fantasy Thoughts for Preseason Week 1
You can't put too much stock in preseason football, but, for what it's worth:
- Saints RB Alvin Kamara started out with the ones with Peterson and Ingram out; thought he looked shifty and good - was able to get between the tackles with some nice vision and looked better than a scat back - much better in the YAC department than I anticipated. Had 4 runs for 35 yards - 8.8 per carry and most of them came after contact. If he can be a Sproles/Bush-type, he is clearly fantasy relevant, mainly in PPR. The question is, can there be a Sproles/Bush type supported in a two-headed Ingram/Peterson attack?
- Bears QB Mike Glennon absolutely sucks; owning any part of this passing offense is completely out of the question, even "No. 1 WR" Cameron Meredith sucks, the guy can't catch a cold. RB Jordan Howard looks fine, but this is an awful team; I'm not sure how often they are going to be in scoring position and I also wonder whether or not game script could swindle Howard at times when they are behind as this defense is god awful, too. Rookie RB Tarik Cohen looks capable of being a back that the team might use more in these garbage-time, Jaguars-like situations. Cohen is fast as hell, and while small, not scared to run up the middle on draw plays and stuff.
- Redskins RB Samaje Perine did himself no favors in taking a job from a very sluggish and slow Rob Kelley. But Perine keeps fumbling and blowing opportunities to gain the staff's trust. While I used to be sure he'd enter the season as the starter, now I'm almost sure he won't.
- It's only a matter of time in 2017 before former Longhorn RB D'Onta Foreman becomes a fantasy-relevant option for the Texans.
- I wrote in my column last week detailing my fantasy experts draft why I loved Lions WR Kenny Golladay so much. If you saw his two-TD debut (playing only one half of football), now you understand my line of thought.
- Worried about a target decrease for Bucs WR Mike Evans with new toys Desean Jackson and OJ Howard in the fold? Don't. Another thing I talked about last week is that these players will take attention away from Evans. Jameis Winston absolutely peppered Evans in the preseason opener, shipping seven targets his way in just two series of football.
- It's clear the Chiefs are going to go to WR Tyreek Hill early and often in 2017 as a guy they have to get the balls in the hands of more. The first play of the Chiefs scrimmage versus the 49ers was a bomb down the sideline to the TyFreak. He's a mega-steal in the fifth round of 12-team drafts.
- Bengals RB Joe Mixon is an absolute beast and barring any hard-headedness from the Bengals staff about involving Jeremy Hill more than they should, Mixon could end the season as a Top 5 back in PPR. If he gets the volume, he'll get there, or close. He's an extremely high-upside (if risky) pick in the late-third of current drafts. It was only seven touches over the weekend, but to say Mixon looked like he belonged would be an understatement. He looked fantastic. Now, you have to decide whether you want to roster and cheer for a player on your fantasy team who was caught on tape knocking a female college student out cold ...
Your first reminder of the season that fantasy football always hurts.
