Can the Pats and Giants get right on offense? Which QBs could get traded before the deadline? Our experts have rumors, upset picks and fantasy intel.
Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now.
He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels. You can follow Dan on Twitter via @DanGrazianoESPN.is here, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are breaking down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz of the week. Plus, they picked out which teams are onWhat's going on with the Patriots' and Giants' lackluster offenses? Could we see any quarterbacks get traded before the Oct. 31 deadline? And what doesgoing forward? It's all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their notebooks with everything they've heard heading into Week 6.was showing improvement in some key areas over the first three weeks of the season, but the past two games have been complete catastrophes, leaving them to wonder whether Jones really can evolve into the team's franchise quarterback. Coach Bill Belichickthey make a change this week. But I also don't think his leash is going to be very long. And if this season continues the way it's going, I definitely see the Patriots being in the quarterback market next offseason. Our regrades for 12 deals from the 2022 NFL trade deadline: What we got right ... and what we got wrongIn the meantime, the issues are all over the offense. The line hasn't been healthy. The Pats don't have dynamic playmakers at the wide receiver position. They went into Sunday's game against New Orleans intending to lean on tight end, but Henry was targeted twice and did not catch a single pass, and those backs combined for 45 rushing yards on 16 carries.Yeah, Dan, the revolving door at offensive line has been a major concern. The Patriots were missing bodies in training camp, and since the season began, they've been out key players each week. Leading into Week 6, guards, was a converted defensive lineman at UCLA and is sort of learning on the fly. So Jones has little chance based on the continuity in front of him. Couple that with Jones' pressing and the lack of speed on the outside, and 34-0 happens.It's clear that whatever plan the Patriots are making for their offense during the week isn't carrying over into game day. If there's a name to watch on the offense that could theoretically spark something, it's sixth-round rookie receiver. But they've struggled to get him the ball, and he left Sunday's game with a head injury .I spoke to two defensive coaches who have played against New England, and they both pointed to the Pats' need for a run-pass balance -- getting the ball out fast with maximum protection up front and downfield shots off play-action. Well, when the Patriots can't run the ball and fall behind early, defenses get after them. They simply aren't built to sling the ball around 40 times per game. You mentioned Douglas, and he's very high on opponents' scouting reports right now, along withto fix, and I'm not sure they have the time or personnel to fix it. The Pats aren't afraid of making an in-season trade. They. But the problem is there isn't one spot they could add to and suddenly make things all better. It's ugly up there.When I was checking in on teams before the season started, there were two that seemed a little more worried about how the offense might work than I expected. One was the Bears, and the other was the Giants. I think New York believed things were still unsettled at the wide receiver position but hopeful it could lean on. If there's a light at the end of the tunnel for the Giants, it's that Barkley and line reinforcements will be back at some point, and the offense will look better. What you worry about is the damage already done to the team's confidence in the meantime.Eric Karabell breaks down why fantasy managers might want to temper expectations for the Giants' Daniel Jones in Week 6.The Giants are trying to keep morale up, to your point. Their schedule has been brutal, and they've been without two of their best players in Barkley andfor much of the season. But the Giants miscalculated an offensive line that's clearly overmatched right now. There's no easy fix.has big-play ability, and while he's considered raw, it might be time to showcase him more. And the defense just looks slow and uninspired right now. Maybe that's what Miami, the. If the Titans lose a few more games before the deadline, perhaps Tannehill makes sense as a bridge starter for a team whose starter goes down. The Jets could be on the radar here, thoughhas settled into his role over the past two weeks. And Dalton played well in his Week 3 spot-start for Carolina. Otherwise, most teams appear set at quarterback.That's the thing, right? You don't often see starting quarterbacks traded in-season. Like, I actually think it's more likely the Titans tradeare the two established veterans whose teams might, theoretically, have reason to deal. They aren't signed past this season, and for various reasons it's possible their teams move on to other options for 2024 and beyond. But in Cousins' case in particular, it's important to remember his deal includes a no-trade clause, and all indications are that he and his family are happy in Minnesota. Another team might need to find a way to make it worth his while if it wanted to acquire him before the Oct. 31 deadline. We'll see whether some contenders' quarterback situations change as a result of injuries here over the next couple of weeks, which is always possible. But right now, the best answers to this question are guys like Keenum or Washington'sWell, it tells us that nobody should be getting their hopes up. Taylor's deal accomplished the tricky task of repairing his relationship with the Colts to the point where he's playing for them again. But other than that, and in terms of the market, it really doesn't do much of anything. AtTaylor got a $10.25 million signing bonus, a $1.74 million salary this year and $8.314 million in guaranteed salary and bonus money for 2024. Of his $11.98 million salary for 2025, $7.15 million is guaranteed for injury only and converts to a full guarantee in March 2024. The Colts could technically cut Taylor healthy in the 2025 offseason having paid him $27.454 million for two seasons of work. But let's say they don't cut him and he plays through 2025, earning all of his per-game roster bonuses for that season. From 2023-25 on this deal, Taylor will earn $33.306 million. If he had done nothing, and the Colts had franchise-tagged him in 2024 and 2025, he would have earned ... checks notes ... about $33.3 million. I'm glad he's back and I'm glad he's happy, but this deal isn't any kind of market-mover.Yeah, Taylor's deal isn't a tectonic shift for running backs, but it definitely helps a market that had been all but deserted the past two years. Three star running backs were resigned to their franchise-tag fate this summer. Putting any deal of significance on the board is a win, especially at an average of $14 million per year on a shorter term .Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down why Jonathan Taylor has low-level RB2 or flex play value in Week 6. Your point about the cash flow equaling the franchise tags is valid, but I'm not sure Taylor could have done much better. He had to play the villain for months to get this far, and my sense is that if Barkley orwere offered this same deal back in July, they would have taken it. Taylor knew the Colts were likely to tag him in 2024, so if he were to get hurt again over the next two years, he wouldn't have the same security that he has now. He was coming off an injury-riddled 2022 that affected his place in the running back pantheon, so all of these things considered, this actually feels pretty solid.has proven deft in big moments, and the Commanders still have one of the best defensive fronts in football. If they can contain Atlanta running back. Yeah, that's right. It's bold as hell to pick a Patriots team that has scored three total points the past two weeks and is going on the road to face a team coached by a former Belichick assistant. I just don't think very much of the Raiders, who are somehow 2-3 despite failing to exceed 18 points in any game so far this season. At some point,on the Patriots has to step forward and say enough is enough. Even if that's the defense this week, I think Jones & Co. will find ways to score against the Vegas D. The past two weeks have to be rock bottom for the Patriots, which would mean there's nowhere to go but up.to the moon! The Broncos' defense has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs by far, along with a league-worst 821 yards to RBs. The Broncos have allowed 12 total touchdowns to running backs -- eight on the ground and four through the air. Only three teams have allowed more running back receptions than the Broncos' 30. And only two have allowed running backs to gain more receiving yards.and a wide receiver group still searching for clarity and definition, expect the Chiefs to lean on the hard-running Pacheco against the league's softest defense.. He can step into Jefferson's 'X' receiver role, and he's comfortable in Kevin O'Connell's system after catching 60 passes last season as a complementary target to Jefferson.will likely be the feature pass-catchers in this offense for the next month, but with the Vikings' uneven running game, expect Osborn to get chances., per source."He hates missing games," a source close to him said. Kelce practicing Tuesday was a good sign, and it appears he was moving well. His durability has been impressive, playing at least 15 games in each season since 2014. He's dedicated to staying on the field, utilizing team trainers and a personal performance trainer/physical therapist to get ready each week. So while the Chiefs will determine whether he can handle the short turnaround, Kelce is putting himself in position. And he clearly knows how to play hurt, catching a touchdown. Sitting at 1-4 with their best player out, what will the Vikings do next? Minnesota's well-known competitive rebuild will be tested as the trade deadline approaches. There's talent on the roster that would be attractive to teams, and I've had multiple teams point out to me in the past thatwith Minnesota features $10 million in base salary, reasonable for interested teams to absorb at a prorated rate given his immense talent, should the Vikings engage. Hunter has started fast with six sacks in five games. These are the calculations the Vikings can make with valuable players if they choose. It's hard to expect the Jets to give up heavy capital for Cousins if Wilson's play continues to improve, after they already sent a. But there's a lot of time before the Oct. 31 deadline. And then there's the Jefferson element; if Minnesota is, say, 2-7 when Jefferson is eligible to return, does he sit longer? The best player at his position has a looming contract that needs to be worked out in the offseason. There are a lot of layers for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell to sort through.., including a potential trade. Hardman has 4.3-second speed in the 40-yard dash, which usually brings value. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal with upside to $5.5 million this offseason but has played just 22 snaps through five games, so he would welcome a move. The Raiders, Lions, Vikings and Browns were among teams that had some interest during free agency, and perhaps a reunion with Kansas City wouldn't be out of the question.Damien Woody says he was impressed by the playcalling and Justin Fields' confidence in the Bears' big win over the Commanders.has seen the field maybe better than he ever has over the past two games. And they believe when Fields' footwork is clean, that guides his eyes, and good things happen in the pocket. Fields also said after Thursday night'sthe ball as much as possible. After 15 targets for Moore through Weeks 1-3, he has 19 over the past two weeks -- with Fields' play exploding during that span, throwing for 617 yards and eight touchdown passes.• Since we're talking trade deadline, it feels pretty obvious from talking to teams around the league that the 1-4 Broncos are open for business. They fielded a lot of calls on their wide receivers in the offseason and stood pat, in part because injuries thinned them out at the position. But teams I talk to believe the Broncos will listen to offers for, as they see him as a building block, and nobody's trading for Wilson's contract. But the Broncos in Sean Payton's first season don't look very good and could use some more picks to kickstart a rebuild. Expect to hear some prominent names in trade speculation out of Denver over the coming weeks. • What about teams potentially adding at the trade deadline? The Panthers have been looking for receivers, and I expect Buffalo to poke around for defensive help given all of the injuries the team has suffered to prominent players on that side of the ball. The Eagles could stand to add some help in the secondary, and GM Howie Roseman is never shy about trades. Don't rule out the possibility of the 49ers, as tremendous as they already look, adding a player if they think it can make a difference. The Niners have the biggest of goals for this season, and they were aggressive last year when running backat the deadline a couple of years ago? If an opportunity for an impact guy like that comes along -- at the right cost -- don't sleep on the idea of the rich getting richer in San Francisco. • The Jefferson injury reminded some folks around the league that Jefferson never signed the contract extension he was expected to get this past offseason. In fact, the wide receiver extension market never materialized, perhaps because it was waiting to see where Jefferson set the top of it.-- all of whom were expected to get extensions this offseason -- are still waiting. Lamb and Jefferson are first-round picks whose teams have fifth-year options on them for 2024, so they aren't going anywhere and are likely still to get extended at some point.in San Francisco fits that description, as well, assuming the Niners aren't too capped out at other positions to extend him.among the receivers who will be extension-eligible for the first time next offseason, there's a backlog right now that could result in the top of the receiver market getting very high, very soon. As in, well into the $30-plus million per year range. And that's especially true if Higgins and Pittman actually hit free agency and have multiple teams bidding for their services.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Packers-Raiders: NFL betting odds, picks, tips - ESPNOur betting analysts answer some of the most pressing questions surrounding Monday night's game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers.
Read more »
NFL Week 6 Power Rankings 2023: How all 32 teams stack up - ESPNAnother week down, another edition of Power Rankings. Who tops the list this week, and which players have been pleasant (or not so pleasant) fantasy surprises?
Read more »
Updated 2022 NFL trade grades: McCaffrey, Claypool, Chubb - ESPNOur skepticism about the 49ers trading for Christian McCaffrey was unfounded. How do our initial reactions from 2022's trades hold up a year later?
Read more »
Inside the NFL turf debate: Injuries, safety measures, problems - ESPNThe NFLPA wants teams to play on grass. The league argues it's not so easy. And what does the 2026 World Cup have to do with the controversy?
Read more »
NFL field surface intel: Grass vs. turf, owners, problems - ESPNWhich stadiums have grass? Which host college games and concerts? We look at all 30 NFL stadiums and answer the biggest questions.
Read more »