Wed Jul 10 12:08pm ET
Field Level Media
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson said he understands quarterback Kirk Cousins' decision to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins, after all, signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed after spending the past six seasons with Minnesota.
"I'm not mad at him at all for that," Jefferson said Tuesday on "The Rich Eisen Show."
The Vikings addressed Cousins' departure by signing veteran Sam Darnold and selecting J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
"I always knew that Kirk was going to do whatever he needs to do for (him) business-wise," Jefferson told Eisen, "and I just knew that everything just wasn't the way he wanted it to be here, especially just with having to pay me and having to pay so many other different guys. I feel like he just wanted a new start, a new opportunity to start with Atlanta and a clean slate and I'm not mad at him at all for that. I'm grateful for what he has brought to me and the things that we have accomplished together.
"But at the end of the day, it's a business and you've got to do what you've got to do for yourself and for your family, and I clearly understand that. But it's on to the next. It doesn't really matter what quarterback it is in my eyes. I'm always going to try to make the best of the opportunity. I'm always going to try to be the quarterback's friend and make his job a lot easier. It doesn't matter if it was Kirk or if it's Sam or if it's J.J. I'm going to make it as easy as possible for him."
Jefferson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension last month.
After leading the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022, Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season in 2023 despite missing seven games due to injuries.
Drafted in the first round (22nd overall) in 2020, Jefferson is a three-time Pro Bowl selection with 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns in 60 career games (57 starts). His career average of 98.3 receiving yards per game is the highest in NFL history.
The New York Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, according to sources. The move comes six weeks after the team fired head coach Robert Saleh and just a few days after a one-point loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11 to drop the team to 3-8 on the year. Douglas had been the team's GM since June of 2019 and he finishes his tenure in New York with a 30-64 record. He'll mostly be remembered for missing badly on quarterback Zach Wilson (second overall pick in 2021) and offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (first-rounder in 2020). His big move to acquire QB Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in April of 2023 also has not worked out. The Jets had Super Bowl aspirations at the start of this season but will now go into the offseason with a major overhaul likely coming. New York will need to hire a new GM and head coach in the same offseason for the first time since 2015.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys fell to 3-7 after their 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, but owner Jerry Jones thinks the players still believe in head coach Mike McCarthy. "That losing the team stuff, that's so overblown," Jones said. The Cowboys are currently projected to have a top-10 pick in next year's draft, although McCarthy is in the final year of his contract. The Cowboys have lost their first five home games of a season for the first time since 1989 and they've been outscored by 118 points, the third-highest total though five home games in the Super Bowl era. It remains to be seen if the Cowboys extend McCarthy's contract beyond this year, but at this time, it doesn't seem likely that Jones will make an in-season move to fire the head coach. Dallas faces the division-rival Washington Commanders in Week 12, followed by a Thanksgiving game against the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said he wanted to use quarterback Justin Fields in more packages in the Week 11 win over the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, but the Steelers stalled out on too many of their third downs on offense. "We have two starting quarterbacks," Smith said Tuesday. "It's a very unique situation." Fields only carried the ball twice for 17 yards in the 18-16 win over Baltimore and has rarely seen the field since Russell Wilson took over under center. To be fair, Wilson has looked much better running Pittsburgh's offense than most people expected after missing the start of the 2024 season due to a nagging calf injury. Fields could get more involved in Week 12 on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, but unless Wilson misses more time with an injury, Fields will be off the radar in single-QB fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said after the 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night that he regrets not giving quarterback Trey Lance an opportunity to run the offense late in the blowout. "I think the one thing I should have done at the end, and I just didn't do, was put Trey in there. I could've gotten him a series. That's one thing that I would second-guess myself on," McCarthy said. The former third overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 has barely played in the NFL but should get more opportunities down the stretch in 2024 in a lost season for the Cowboys with Dak Prescott (hamstring) done for the year. Lance, 24, went 4-for-6 for 21 yards and an interception late in the Week 10 blowout loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. If Dallas gets spanked again in Week 12 by the Commanders, Lance should get some more action.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has struggled mightily in 2024 and missed two more field goals in the two-point loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, but head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that the team has no plans to bring in competition for Tucker. The seven-time Pro Bowler has seen his conversion rate fall to 72.7% this year, which is his lowest mark ever 11 games into a season. His six misses are one more than all of 2023, and he's just on miss shy of tying his career worst. In the team's four losses this year, Tucker has missed five field goals. Sunday was just the sixth time in his 206 career games in which he missed multiple kicks. As a result, the 34-year-old veteran is no longer the most accurate kicker in NFL history, as his career success rate of 89.3% ranks behind Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro (89.4%). Despite his struggles, Tucker should be considered a top-10 fantasy kicker in Week 12 on Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
From RotoBaller
Newly acquired Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo failed to catch a pass from four targets in a 34-10 loss to Houston on Monday. Dallas gave up a fourth-round pick in a trade with Carolina at the trade deadline, but couldn't get the second-year receiver involved at all against Houston. With quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) out for the season and the Dallas running game unable to muster much of anything, it's difficult to see the situation improving at all. At this stage, Mingo doesn't need to occupy a fantasy roster spot, even in deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott caught all three of his targets for 16 yards and carried once for eight yards in a 34-10 loss to Houston on Monday. It was ugly all around as the Cowboys rushed for just 64 total yards and spent most of the night playing catch-up behind backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Running back Rico Dowdle had 10 carries for 28 yards, leading the team in both categories. Elliott's best days are behind him as is, but the entire Dallas backfield simply can't be trusted as the team prepares for Washington in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III hauled in all three of his targets for 33 yards in the Texans' 34-10 victory at Dallas on Monday night. The third-year receiver was coming off a career game last week against Detroit, and remained involved despite the Texans seeing the return of top receiver Nico Collins. The Alabama product has now played more than 60% of Houston's snaps three weeks in a row and appears to have hold of their third receiver spot now that Stefon Diggs (knee) is out for the season. Metchie won't get much volume, though, so he'll mostly be a desperation streaming option as Houston takes on Tennessee in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert caught just two of his five targets for 21 yards during Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. The 25-year-old posted double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in four of his first eight games this year, initially giving him some low-end WR3/FLEX appeal. However, ever since Cooper Rush has taken over for Dak Prescott (hamstring), Tolbert has fallen off the fantasy radar. He continues to play north of 90 percent of the Cowboys' offensive snaps but has just five catches for 35 yards over his last two games combined. Tolbert can be benched in fantasy leagues with 14 teams or fewer.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught six of his 10 targets for 56 yards during Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. While Schoonmaker typically operates as the Cowboys' No. 2 tight end, he was bumped up to the first-team offense early in Monday's game after Jake Ferguson (concussion) was ruled out. The 26-year-old has shown off his ability to step up on offense before, catching six passes for 43 yards when Ferguson was sidelined back in Week 2. If Ferguson's concussion forces him to miss Week 12 against the Washington Commanders, Schoonmaker would temporarily become a fringe top-12 fantasy tight end.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin caught each of his three targets for a total of 86 yards during Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. The bulk of his production came on a 64-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. This was Turpin's best game of the year, bringing his season totals to 20 catches, 267 yards, and two touchdowns. The 28-year-old is a talented big-play threat but doesn't have the volume needed to justify rostering him in leagues with 14 teams or fewer.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb turned 12 targets into eight catches for 93 yards during Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. He also tallied a 13-yard rush. Even with the Cowboys' offense faltering under Cooper Rush, Lamb was able to be productive, turning in 18-plus fantasy points (PPR) for the fourth time this season. This was his highest fantasy point total this season in a game where he failed to find the end zone. The Cowboys' No. 1 receiver should continue to see heavy volume moving forward, which will allow him to remain in the low-end WR1 tier for fantasy purposes.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed for 28 yards on 10 carries during Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. He also caught two of his five targets for an additional six receiving yards. Even as quarterback Cooper Rush racked up production in garbage time, the Cowboys' starting running back was not able to get very involved. Between his subpar volume and reduced efficiency, Dowdle will drop to the low-end RB3 tier next week against Washington.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush completed 32 of his 55 pass attempts for 354 yards, one touchdown, and one interception during Monday's loss to the Houston Texans. He also fumbled twice, but both were recovered by the Cowboys. All in all, Rush put together a solid fantasy showing by racking up yardage during garbage time. This was enough to reward fantasy managers who may have opted to stream him in Week 11. Moving forward, Rush will drop back down to the QB3 tier. He faces the Washington Commanders next Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell finished his team's 34-10 victory at Dallas with four catches for 54 yards on seven targets. Interestingly, it was exactly the same stat line as No. 1 receiver Nico Collins, who returned to the lineup following a prolonged absence. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed passes to eight different receivers, but running back Joe Mixon accounted for all three of Houston's offensive touchdowns. Dell and the Texans will look for a breakout day against the Tennessee Titans in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 23 of 34 passing attempts for 257 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in a 34-10 victory at Dallas on Monday. The second-year quarterback saw the return of top wide receiver Nico Collins, but running back Joe Mixon did most of the offensive damage by scoring three touchdowns. Stroud completed passes to eight receivers in the game, but has now thrown just two touchdown passes in his past five games. The Houston signal-caller will look for a better performance in a solid matchup in Week 12 when the Texans take on the floundering Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Texans saw top wide receiver Nico Collins haul in four passes for 54 yards on seven targets during a 34-10 victory at Dallas. The star wideout's return to the field after a hamstring ailment landed him on injured reserve was a bit underwhelming, as he finished with exactly the same stat line as fellow wide receiver Tank Dell. However, it was running back Joe Mixon who stole the show, scoring all three of the Texans' offensive touchdowns in the convincing win. Collins and the Texans' passing game will have a great chance to break out against a reeling Tennessee team in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz set a season-high with five catches for 33 yards in the Texans' 34-10 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. The big tight end drew seven targets, which tied for the team lead, but did most of his work within short yardage. The former Cowboy still has not scored this season, but Houston has only two passing touchdowns in its past five games as a team, so receiving touchdowns have been few and far between. Schultz and the Texans will look for better against the struggling Tennessee Titans in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
For the fifth consecutive week, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon surpassed 100 rushing yards and found the end zone on Monday at Dallas, finishing with 153 total yards and three scores in the 34-10 win. The veteran running back kept up his hot streak with 109 yards on 20 carries, to which he added two catches for 44 yards. Mixon broke a 45-yard touchdown run on Houston's first drive, scored from a yard away later in the first quarter, and capped off the win with another one-yard touchdown. Five straight games of 100-plus rushing yards and a touchdown ties a Super-Bowl-era record. Houston's RB1 will look to keep the momentum going in Week 12 against Tennessee.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Texans D/ST compiled five sacks, forced two turnovers, and clinched a 34-10 victory Monday at Dallas with a wild defensive play in which they ended up in the end zone. Houston defensive end Derek Barnett stripped Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush, Cowboys guard Tyler Guyton recovered, and Houston safety Jalen Pitre blasted Guyton, jarring the ball free again. Barnett then scooped and scored from 28 yards to go up 27-10, sealing Houston's win. It was another great performance from the Texans, who will face another struggling offense in Week 12 when they take on the Tennessee Titans.
From RotoBaller