Ryan at 35: Falcons QB still performing at high level
By NFL standards, Matt Ryan is a senior citizenSEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
TODD GURLEY II
NFL
Falcons
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Broncos
DEN
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Falcons make final cuts to set 53-man roster for opener
The Atlanta Falcons cut former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell and two quarterbacks as they got down to the 53-man roster limit for the regular seasonSEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saints bracing for new NFC South challenge from Brady's Bucs
The New Orleans Saints have won three straight NFC South titles with quarterback Drew BreesSEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Impresses in scrimmage Coach Dan Quinn praised Gurley's performance during last Friday's scrimmage, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact "The speed was the thing," Quinn said. "[Gurley] out-ran the leverage on one play. On another one, he got to the edge and made a big play. I felt his speed for certain." As an effort to manage his chronic left knee injury, the 25-year-old has regularly received one rest day for every four days of practice throughout training camp. "We think we've got a good plan in place of how we'd do the right thing by him to make sure that he's at his best on Game Days," Quinn said of Gurley's load management.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Jaguars Release Fournette
The Jaguars made a huge splash on Monday by waiving their leading rusher and No. 4 pick from 2017, Leonard Fournette.AUGUST 31, 2020
49ers have tough task to repeat in improved NFC West
As remarkable as the one-year turnaround from four wins to a Super Bowl appearance might have been for the San Francisco 49ers, repeating the feat could be even harderAUGUST 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NFL 2020: Who really knows what to expect on field and off?
Never has the NFL doubted it would open its season on timeAUGUST 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Continuity could help Falcons rebound in pandemic season
The Atlanta Falcons decided to stick with the guy who led them to the Super BowlAUGUST 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LA Rams opening empty stadium in a Hard Knock season
The Los Angeles Rams are opening a lavish new stadium with no fans in it next monthAUGUST 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rams must be resourceful after offseason personnel losses
The Los Angeles Rams are moving into new SoFi Stadium this season with a team in transitionAUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
FANTASY PLAYS: Good wide receivers available deep in drafts
Fantasy Football managers are so used to drafting running backs early and often that there are true quality wide receivers available in even in the fifth and sixth roundsAUGUST 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
FANTASY PLAYS: Workhorse runners best resource in fantasy
The key is to prioritize big-time wide receivers over running backs with questionable fantasy valueAUGUST 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
To get at least 15 touches per game Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wants Gurley to receive at least 15 touches per game during the 2020 season, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Notably, Koetter said "a healthy" Gurley will have such a workload, but his touch count could rise to as high as 25 touches per game. The latter seems like a stretch after Gurley averaged just shy of 17 touches per game in his fifth and final campaign with the Rams in 2019. That's a far cry from the 21.2 touches per game he took on over the first four years of his career, and Gurley barely eked out 1,000 yards from scrimmage (1,064, to be exact) last season. With his new squad, the Falcons also have two high-volume wide receivers to feed in Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, so Gurley could be hard-pressed to match last season's output, even if he somehow avoids the injury bug.
AUGUST 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rams RB Darrell Henderson sidelined by hamstring injury
Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson has a hamstring injury that could hamper his chances to contend for the starting jobAUGUST 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Spring in step during practice Gurley was active during Wednesday's practice and looked explosive when working against the Falcons defense, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.
Impact Gurley got past the defense for a long run during 11-on-11 drills, an encouraging sight after he took Tuesday's practice off for "load management". Coach Dan Quinn hinted in July that Gurley's workload would be tempered during the lead up to the regular season, a maneuver intended to increase the running back's durability once game action commences in mid-September. Though Gurley has only missed four of a possible 48 regular-season outings the past three years, his 2019 yards-per-carry average of 3.8 causes speculation about the status of his surgically-repaired left ACL. If Gurley can continue to demonstrate explosiveness during training camp, such a display may alleviate injury concerns that some fantasy GMs point out as a deal-breaker.
AUGUST 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Cowboys' Elliott camping from start after COVID-19 recovery
Ezekiel Elliott is back in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys after missing all of the preseason last year holding out for a new contractAUGUST 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gurley, Mack sit out Falcons' first practice in full pads
Running back Todd Gurley and center Alex Mack did not participate in the Atlanta Falcons’ first practice in full pads of training campAUGUST 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Off day from practice Gurley and Alex Mack did not participate during Tuesday's practice session because of "load management," Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact The two-time All-Pro back figures to have his practice repetitions managed throughout training camp, which coach Dan Quinn eluded to as a possibility in late July. Though Gurley passed his physical with no issue upon his arrival to Flowery Branch, there still appears to be caution coming from the Falcons' coaching staff regarding his surgically reconstructed left ACL. With Ito Smith, Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison behind Gurley on the depth chart, there is an argument that he will receive a workhorse-like offensive role with his new team. On the other hand, if Gurley's practice and even game reps are limited throughout the season, Smith or Hill may become relevant fantasy options in deeper leagues.
AUGUST 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Walking with limp? Gurley appears to be walking with a limp, but he looks fast and explosive while going through drills, according to ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure reports.
Impact It's possible Gurley is dealing with soreness that bothers him when he walks but not when he runs. Whatever the case, the Falcons have essentially acknowledged that the running back's problematic left knee requires management, with coach Dan Quinn suggesting Gurley will have his reps limited throughout training camp. The 26-year-old is working on a one-year, $5.5 million contract, and while it remains to be seen if he can stay healthy and productive, there's no question the Atlanta offense provides a nice opportunity to pile up snaps and touches. The backfield depth chart behind Gurley contains Ito Smith, Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison, a trio with 243 combined NFL carries and 52 receptions.
AUGUST 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Potentially limited at camp Coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday that Gurley could have some limitations during training camp, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Quinn also mentioned centerAlex Mack and safety Keanu Neal as players who could be limited, with the former being 34 years old and the latter coming back from an Achilles tear. Gurley falls in the maintenance category, as he missed just one game last season and then passed a physical for the Falcons in June. Signed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract, Gurley will now try to prove that his disappointing 2019 campaign was mostly caused by bad Rams blocking rather than deteriorating skills. Of course, the potential for practice limitations is a pretty clear sign the Falcons have some level of concern about Gurley's oft-discussed left knee.
AUGUST 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Once Jags' centerpiece, Fournette now at career crossroads
Leonard Fournette used to be considered a building block in JacksonvilleAUGUST 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Steady WR duo Woods, Kupp adapt to change in Rams' offense
Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp prepared for the Los Angeles Rams' upcoming season by working out at various high schools around their training complexAUGUST 10, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
CB Jalen Ramsey confident in contract, new role with Rams
Jalen Ramsey remains confident he will sign a new contract with the Los Angeles Rams as he heads into the final season of his rookie dealAUGUST 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gurley celebrates 26th birthday as Falcons' new lead back
Running back Todd Gurley is celebrating his 26th birthday with his new teamAUGUST 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Training camp workload TBD Coach Dan Quinn has not yet made a decision on what Gurley's workload will look like during training camp, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Gurley passed his physical upon arriving in Flowery Branch in early June, and according to statements from his head coach and quarterback appears to be in excellent shape. The two-time All-Pro missed just four games over his final three seasons with the Rams, but diminished performance during the 2018-2019 playoff run had many wondering about the status of his surgically repaired left ACL. He was held to just 3.2 yards per carry during the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl and eventually yielded the lion's share of the workload to C.J. Anderson. With Gurley seemingly back near 100 percent and primed to rebound after an inconsistent 2019, Quinn wants to balance getting his new star back up to speed without subjecting him to an excessive early-season workload.
JULY 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
