Tag: D.J. Chark

Overlooked free agent WR suggested as fit for Bengals

Should the Bengals go after this free agent?

The Cincinnati Bengals have a rather pressing need at wide receiver when taking into account the loss of Tyler Boyd and the long-term question mark around Tee Higgins.

As such, it’s becoming increasingly popular to see the Bengals taking a wide receiver in a mock draft or even adding a free agent.

One such example of this is Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder suggesting that veteran D.J. Chark Jr. is a fit for the Bengals:

To be honest, the Bengals have a pretty good roster where there isn’t much room for an outsider to come in and start right away. So, adding Chark would be a move to see if he can potentially replace Tee Higgins next season. The 2019 Pro Bowler isn’t the same player he used to be, but he is coming off back-to-back 500-yard campaigns.

Chark, yet another LSU wideout, spent last season in Carolina and over 15 games caught 35 passes for 525 yards and five scores. He’s been unable to reach the heights of his 2019 campaign (73 catches, 1,008 yards and eight scores) and had problems staying healthy.

Still, Chark is the type of veteran the Bengals might look to add over the spring. Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones aren’t locks to contribute full time and the team would like more speed from the slot than what Boyd offered.

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6 Wide receivers Minnesota Vikings could target in free agency

With both K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell set to hit free agency, will the Vikings look to replace them? Here’s six free agent possibilities.

Last week we took a look at some quarterbacks and running backs the Minnesota Vikings could pursue in free agency. Now it’s time to look outside at the wide receivers. Wide receiver is a position the Vikings don’t necessarily need to prioritize in the NFL’s free agency period.

They have an All-Pro-caliber number one receiver in Justin Jefferson, who is under contract for another year. Minnesota will likely attempt to move Heaven and Earth to get Jefferson under contract long-term, too.

On the other side of Jefferson, they have Jordan Addison, who proved during his rookie campaign last year that he’s more than capable of blossoming into a formidable receiver in his own right. The 1-2 punch of Jefferson and Addison can be a real force to be reckoned with in the league if the Vikings get their quarterback situation squared away.

Whether that means Kirk Cousins, a free agent, or taking someone in the NFL draft remains to be seen.

Further down the depth chart is where things start to get interesting. For the last four years they’ve had K.J. Osborn, who has been a solid option in the passing game and has shown glimpses of being able to provide more than he’s been asked to.

He’s almost an afterthought in the Vikings offense with the WRs above ahead of him, along with tight end T.J. Hockenson. Brandon Powell rounds out the position, and brings some solid play as a WR4.

Both Osborn and Powell are scheduled to hit the open market in free agency. Should the Vikings sign one — or both — or should they look to upgrade at the position with someone who’s available? Let’s take a look at six options the Vikings could look at at wide receiver.

Bryce Young’s unreal throw from Panthers training camp sets social media on fire

Social Media reacts to big-time Bryce Young throw at Panthers Training Camp

Former Alabama Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Bryce Young, is turning heads in his first NFL training camp with the Carolina Panthers. He has been the buzz of the Panthers’ practices.

After years of inconsistent QB play, fans in Carolina are ecstatic to have a guy that many consider to be a generational talent.

Young first went viral after a wholesome interaction with a fan, but it was a throw to DJ Chark that caught the eyes of NFL fans around the world. His mental acumen has been well documented, but people forget how accurate Young is with the ball in his hands.

The Panthers have a real chance to compete for a playoff spot in the NFC South this year and I think there is a good shot Young can be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Giants interested in Mecole Hardman, D.J. Chark?

The New York Giants have reportedly expressed an interest in wide receivers Mecole Hardman and D.J. Chark.

The New York Giants will look to continue bolstering their offense in free agency after adding star tight end Darren Waller via trade on the second day of the legal tampering period.

According to a report by Art Stapleton of The Record Sports, New York may be interested in speedy Kansas City Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman and Detroit Lions pass catcher D.J. Chark as potential free agent additions.

Hardman would be a natural fit given his background working with offensive coordinator Mike Kafka in Kansas City, and his speed-centric skillset could be a boon for the Giants as they look to add big-time playmakers who can score on every play. He likely wouldn’t come cheap, but Hardman could prove to be a vital piece of New York’s offense if he chooses to sign with the Giants.

Chark is more of an enigma in free agency but could prove to be a valuable asset for New York at the right price.

After putting up a 1,000-yard season in 2019, Chark has struggled to stay healthy in recent years but is a proven stud when he dresses for games. He has yet to play a full season at the NFL level, though, so Chark should be considered a boom-or-bust player that the Giants should only pursue if the price is right.

All in all, both receivers could play a role in New York’s offense next season and have skillsets that would be conducive to success in Kafka’s system. Whether they have been in negotiations with either player is unknown at this juncture, but should they come to an agreement with one of the talented wideouts, their offense would stand to benefit a great deal from their presence.

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Insider: 5 wide receivers on the Browns’ radar, through trade or free agency

The Browns have a handful of receivers on their radar.

The Cleveland Browns will be looking to make a splash in their wide receiver room this offseason, whether that be via the 2023 NFL Draft or through free agency and trade. However, Cleveland dot com’s Mary Kay Cabot has reported there are at least five veterans on the radar for the Browns as the new league year is now just two days away. The big names on the list included recently cut Adam Thielen, who has a history with head coach Kevin Stefanski, and current New York Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore (who would be a trade target).

Who are the other players?

12 wide receivers the Vikings can sign after releasing Adam Thielen

The Minnesota Vikings have officially released Adam Thielen. @TheKevinFielder and @TheRealForno identified 11 possible free agent WR targets

The Adam Thielen era is over in Minnesota.

On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they released Thielen, ending a nine-year relationship.

During that time, Thielen blossomed into one of the better wide receivers in the league. In 2017 and 2018, he was a Pro Bowler, reaching over 1,000 yards in both seasons.

The move saves the Vikings $6.417 million against the cap but does incur a hefty dead-cap penalty. Regardless, Thielen’s release helps the Vikings become cap compliant and opens up more possibilities to upgrade the team in free agency.

While replacing Thielen’s status off-the-field won’t be easy, here are 11 players the Vikings can sign to help replace his production on it.

8 moves the Vikings need to make in free agency

Going into free agency, the Vikings would be best served to make these moves to improve their football team

We are just one week away from the beginning of the new NFL league year on March 15th. The more important date is Monday, March 13th where at 11 am, teams can start communicating with the agents of players and agree to terms on a contract.

Currently, the Minnesota Vikings are approximately $15 million over the salary cap and they will need to get under that mark by 3 pm central. Not only do they need to get under the salary cap, they also need to create room to bring in new players.

With free agency fast approaching, here are eight moves that the Vikings need to make to keep them competitive in 2023.

Texans’ free agency moves will signal where they go at No. 12 overall

The Houston Texans’ approach to the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft will be slightly revealed by their moves in free agency.

When a Houston Texans fan takes a look at most mock drafts, they see their favorite AFC South club using the No. 12 overall pick to take a receiver.

Whether the wideout is TCU’s Quentin Johnston or USC’s Jordan Addison, the Texans use the extra Round 1 selection obtained via 2022 offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns to get their young quarterback a young receiver to grow with.

There is a question from the back of the classroom no one is answering: what if the Texans address receiver in free agency?

According to Aaron Schatz from Football Outsiders in collaboration with ESPN, the Texans should target Detroit Lions receiver D.J. Chark, who has a similar skill set to Brandin Cooks in Schatz’s view.

Chark can run both intermediate and deep routes, and he’s more of a field-stretcher than Meyers. Last season, he ranked 10th in receiving DVOA (value per play) among receivers with at least 50 targets.

If the Texans were to go this route, one would figure the Texans found a way to part ways with Cooks. Otherwise the receiving corps would be overloaded. When the Texans got to No. 12 overall, adding another wideout would also crowd the room as they would have Chark, Nico Collins, and John Metchie.

The same could be said for defensive end or cornerback. If the Texans are spending considerable salary cap dollars at one of those positions, presumably it takes them out of the running for that position in Round 1 of April’s draft.

Just like the draft, coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio have to work together to identify which players have traits the Texans want.

“It’s been a very smooth transition, a smooth process,” Ryans said on March 1 at the NFL combine. “Communication has been awesome working with Nick. We see the game the same way, which is great. We see the game the same way and see players the same. It will be really nice to continue to work with him.”

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Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 17 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver wire targets in Week 17 of fantasy football.

Championship week is finally here for fantasy football managers, and this will be a big week to use the waiver wire.

Navigating the waiver wire this week will be vital as managers try to capture a title over their leaguemates. Even though most of us are out of contention, it’s still important to at least pay attention to waiver wire additions at this time of the season because it could help when preparing for the 2023 campaign.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in ESPN leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter (@KevinHickey11). Your questions, comments, and roasts are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 15

Check out these starts and sits for Week 15 of fantasy football.

For most fantasy football managers, the playoffs begin in Week 15 and officially commenced with the Thursday night game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

While there are fantasy managers on the outside looking in, we still can use these start/sits as a way to find an edge in DFS or prop betting during the final month of the season.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

You also can check out our start and sit bench list for Week 15: