Tag: Jake Ferguson

Jake Ferguson injury opens door for out-the-box plan centered around under-the-radar UDFA

Hunter Luepke stands to gain the most in the absence of Cowboys starting TE Jake Ferguson. | From @ReidDHanson

Many feared the worst as tight end Jake Ferguson went down with an apparent knee injury in the third quarter on Sunday. Big things are expected of the third-year Cowboy, and the Dallas offense would have a tough time replacing the production planned from the young Pro Bowler.

Hunter Luekpe, a fullback by trade but Swiss army knife in application, has been named by Mike McCarthy as the man “at the front of the line.”

A bullet was seemingly dodged when Ian Rapoport reported it was not an ACL tear as originally feared but rather an MCL sprain that would likely require a more modest timetable.

Labeled “week to week,” speculation is Ferguson could be out anywhere from 2-6 weeks. One would assume by following next man up mentality Luke Schoonmaker would be the man tasked with picking up the slack. Schoonmaker was a second-round pick from 2023 who has considerable expectations in Year 2. Yet it’s actually an undrafted free agent from 2023 who the Cowboys appear to be turning to in the wake of the injury.

Luekpe was a key contributor in Sunday’s 33-17 win over the Browns and someone who can be deployed a variety of different ways.

Of Luepke’s 45 snaps in Week 1, only eight came out of the backfield acccording to PFF tracking. The bulk of his snaps on offense actually came as an inline TE.

His presence in the huddle offers the offense a decisive advantage over the defense. Since he can play both TE and FB, the Cowboys could be showing either 12 or 21 personnel any time he’s on the field. Where he lines up and where he motions will ultimately label his position, but he gives McCarthy the ability to move him wherever a mismatch can be found.

Luepke isn’t the player Ferguson is as a TE because he’s not really a TE, he’s something else entirely. As such the offense could change with him playing a more prominent role.

None of this means Brevyn Spann-Ford, John Stephens and Schoonmaker won’t get more opportunities because they probably will. It just appears the man to gain the most is the man listed as the FB on the Cowboys depth chart.

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Report: Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson considered week-to-week with MCL sprain

From @ToddBrock24f7: The starter was seen moving well after Sunday’s win. A Monday MRI confirmed a sprain that shouldn’t require a prolonged absence.

Most everything went right for the Cowboys in Cleveland on Sunday, with just one injury scare being the biggest negative after a convincing win in the season opener.

But the team now has good news on that front, too.

Per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, tests reveal that tight end Jake Ferguson suffered a sprain MCL in the third quarter of the team’s 33-17 Week 1 victory. The 25-year-old was brought down awkwardly on a short catch and run and exited the game. He finished the day with three receptions for 15 yards.

The diagnosis means Ferguson will likely miss some time, but not nearly as much as feared when he first went down grabbing his knee.

After the game, Ferguson was said to be moving around well in the locker room, with no crutches or braces visible. Quarterback Dak Prescott told reporters, “I think we dodged a big one. Talking to him, he gave me a lot of confidence that he’ll be okay.”

But an MRI scheduled upon the team’s return to Dallas would still be required to know for sure.

The former fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin seemed to confirm with a social media post Monday morning that he had avoided a long-term injury.

MCL injuries are considered relatively minor- especially when compared to the ACL. Ferguson should be able to return to action after just a few weeks, depending on the severity of the sprain, and he could be classified as “week-to-week” as he recovers.

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A grade 1 MCL sprain may take just three weeks or so to rehab; a more serious sprain may need a month to six weeks to fully heal.

The Cowboys have a bye scheduled for Week 7.

Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and John Stephens Jr. are the other tight ends on the roster. Princeton Fant is on the practice squad.

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Former Wisconsin tight end dodges severe injury in Week 1 win over Browns

Former Wisconsin tight end dodges injury bullet in Week 1 win over Browns

Former Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson appears to have avoided a serious injury in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Ferguson, a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, suffered a left leg injury with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter after attempting to hurdle Browns’ linebacker Jordan Hicks.

He landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed for his left knee area before being assisted off the field and onto the sidelines.

Dallas would ultimately secure the 33-17 victory over Cleveland in Ohio, but Ferguson was forced to head to the locker room before receiving an evaluation on the leg.

Fortunately, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Ferguson avoided an ACL tear based on initial tests. X-Rays were negative, and the former Badger will undergo an MRI on Monday.

The talented tight end is fresh off a productive 2023 campaign with the Cowboys, a season in which he logged 71 catches, 761 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also snagged 10 catches for 93 yards and three scores in Dallas’ playoff loss to Green Bay.

He, alongside star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, have become the go-to options for the NFL’s highest paid QB Dak Prescott. Barring a catastrophic result from his MRI, Ferguson figures to be a valuable resource for America’s Team for the remainder of the season.

The grandson of former UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, Ferguson pocketed 145 total receptions, 1,618 receiving yards (an average of 404.5 per season) and 13 touchdowns as a Badger from 2018-21.

Is Jake Ferguson going to miss the next Cowboys game after leaving game vs Browns?

The Cowboys are hoping they dodged a major bullet with their starting tight end. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are hoping for some good news on the injury front Sunday night. That might be asking for a lot after their emphatic opening salvo of the 2024 season earlier in the day, but hope for it they will. The Cowboys traveled to Cleveland, OH to take on the AFC’s Browns in the season opener in a matchup of two playoff squads from 2023.

Dallas escaped the Dawg Pound with a 33-17 win that was nowhere near as close as the 16-point final margin would indicate; it was a thorough beatdown from all three phases of the team. But there was one huge question mark on every fans’ minds following the game. Would tight end Jake Ferguson be okay?

Ferguson, a 2023 Pro Bowler in his second season after hauling in 71 receptions, had just three catches for 15 yards in this contest. But fans know how integral he is in the passing offense so when he went down with a leg injury in the third quarter, Cowboys Nation collectively held their breath.

With just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Ferguson caught a short, first-down pass from QB Dak Prescott, when he was tackled awkwardly by linebacker Jordan Hicks who landed on his lower leg.

It seems though that the worst concern has been avoided, that his ACL is intact, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, via Twitter.

According to multiple sources, the ACL looks to be intact upon initial testing of TE Jake Ferguson. Again, he will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the injury and if he will miss time.

Ferguson isn’t out of the woods, but it does seem that he will be able to rejoin the club at some point during the season and there is a window where it’s sooner rather than later.

Archer’s confirmation comes on the heels of The Athletic’s Jon Machota sharing the words of quarterback Dak Prescott, who first indicated that serious injury was avoided.

Dak Prescott said he got good news from Jake Ferguson about his knee injury. Prescott: “I think we dodged a big one. Talking to him, he gave me a lot of confidence that he’ll be OK.”

Without Ferguson, 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker assumes the mantle as the team’s top tight end. UDFA rookie Brevyn Ford is the third string and the club also has second-year man John Stephens, Jr., though he was inactive with a hamstring injury on Sunday.

Second-year tight end Princeton Fant is on the club’s practice squad.

Fantasy football: Where to draft Dallas Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson

Analyzing Dallas Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson’s 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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Dallas Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson burst onto the scene in 2023 after being selected by the team in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Now 25, Ferguson has cemented himself as the starting TE for one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the NFL. Coming off his best season, Ferguson is expected to have another breakout year in Dallas. Below, we look at Jake Ferguson’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Entering 2024, Ferguson has the potential to take a big step and be a top-5 fantasy TE. Ideally, he will build upon a solid 2023 campaign. The 6-foot-5 TE is intriguing in terms of fantasy value.

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Jake Ferguson’s ADP: 81.02

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Ferguson has an ADP of 81.02 in redraft leagues, which puts him in the range of the 7th to 8th round, depending on the size of the league. His ADP is lower than that of teammate QB Dak Prescott (60.45), though.

Among tight ends, Ferguson’s ADP puts him 9th at the position, behind the likes of Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons, 65.90), Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills, 62.22) and George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, 60.06), and slightly ahead of Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders, 85.59), David Njoku (Cleveland Browns, 88.80) and Jared Wiley (Kansas City Chiefs, 105.92).

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Jake Ferguson’s 2023-24 stats

Games: 17

Receptions | targets: 71 | 102

Receiving yards: 761

Receiving touchdowns: 5

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Where should you draft Ferguson?

Ferguson’s fantasy value should get a boost this season from the departure of key receiving weapons in Dallas and the enhanced involvement he should have in the offense. The Cowboys lost RB Tony Pollard and WR Michael Gallup in the offseason, 2 key weapons who ranked 4th and 5th, respectively, in targets in 2023.

Ferguson should be a top option for Prescott, who threw for over 4,500 passing yards last season. WR CeeDee Lamb, who is among the best fantasy options in the NFL, will see safety help or double coverage options, and that should allow for Ferguson to get more opportunities.

Going from 19 receptions for 174 yards in 2022 to 71 receptions for 761 in 2023 is a huge increase in production, and he should be able to do that again. Having just 5 touchdowns last season and 7 in his career, the large target needs to utilize his ability better in the endzone, and those opportunities should come. He’s likely going to be 2nd on the team in targets, and that should again provide 100-plus looks his way.

Draft Ferguson in the 6th round in PPR formats and then in the 7th in standard leagues. He should have a leg up in PPR formats given the style of play Dallas has. Expect a season where Ferguson could top 1,000 receiving yards and 80 receptions. He should end the season as a top-7 TE.

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Several Badgers crack PFF’s 2024 Fantasy Football Top 400 PPR Rankings

Several Badgers crack PFF’s 2024 Fantasy Football Top 400 PPR Rankings

A total of five former Wisconsin Badgers cracked ProFootballFocus’ 2024 Fantasy Football Top 400 PPR Rankings on Wednesday.

The list includes Indianapolis Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor (No. 11), Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Jake Ferguson (No. 73), New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (No. 170), Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Russell Wilson (No. 190) and Houston Texans’ running back Dare Ogunbowale (No. 395).

While most prototypical fantasy football leagues solely feature offensive playmakers, other outlets offer the option to include defensive players in users’ rotations. If that was the universal case, former Wisconsin game-breakers such as T.J. Watt, T.J. Edwards and Leo Chenal would likely crack the list.

Taylor, who boasts the highest projection, enters the 2024 slate as PFF’s No. 4 fantasy football running back behind only the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson and New York Jets’ Breece Hall.

The decorated college running back did rush for over 1,800 yards in 2021. If he remains on the turf, he could leapfrog both Robinson and Hall in production this season. McCaffrey, a unicorn at the position, may be the only untouchable running back in terms of usage and value to any team across the league.

Ferguson enters his third season with the Cowboys fresh off his Pro Bowl output in 2023. PFF ranks him as tight end No. 8, and he should serve as Dallas’ second pass-catching option this year.

The most intriguing player on the list, however, is Allen. Wisconsin fans witnessed flashes of greatness during his collegiate tenure, and he boasts the build of a bruiser near the end zone. He will play second fiddle to Hall, but his tenacity could pave the way for more than just TD opportunities as the season progresses.

Jake Ferguson continuing to ascend in Cowboys’ offense

Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is having a strong training camp and is continuing his ascension in the team’s offense. | From @BenGrimaldi

Training camp is often a time where observations tend to be geared towards rookies, position battles, and pet cats. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t notice when a player continues to grow into a better version of himself.

That looks like it’s happening with Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.  Despite all the eyes on some of the relatively unknown players who are making an impression, the third-year man is going about his business of improving and becoming an even bigger part of the offense. After a breakout season in 2023, the Cowboys are intent on ensuring that happens.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was asked about Ferguson’s progression in Year 3 and he spoke very highly of the young TE.

“If you watch this guy and his leadership, and he’s found his voice in that room, he’s so well respected. He’s a tone setter. How does he do it again, don’t change…The thing with Jake is he doesn’t want to get bored with the little things. It’s those little fundamentals that he’s training each day with LW (tight ends coach Lunda Wells) that’s going to make him a great player. And again, we’re moving him around. We’re doing some different things with him. You’ll see him playing some fullback and doing things that are new for him just because we want to be versatile this year with all of our pieces.”

That sounds like a player who is becoming a leader, as well as continuing to ascend in the offense. Much has been made about who will step up as the third receiver in the passing game, but Ferguson is already cemented in his role as a top option for quarterback Dak Prescott. Ferguson was second in targets and catches last season, and he should be able to expand on his numbers heading into his second year as the starting TE. After taking over for former TE Dalton Schultz, Ferguson caught 71 passes, for 761 yards and five scores, proving the offense was in good hands at the position.

In camp, Ferguson has continued to show his progress. Prescott connected with Ferguson on a Mojo Moment for a touchdown, and the combination is clicking early in camp.

The Cowboys have a deep TE room and Ferguson couldn’t rest on his laurels, so he needed to prove he wasn’t a one-year wonder. After selecting TE Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 draft, Ferguson has to play well to keep his grasp on the starting job. So far in camp, mission accomplished.

Training camp can be mundane, and the focus can sometimes get shifted to the lesser known players or the fun stories that develop along the way. While that’s been happening, don’t forget the steady play and continuing improvement from some of the other guys who are expected to play big roles for the Cowboys in 2024.

Jake Ferguson falls into that category and his ascension into a centerpiece of the offense is something to watch in training camp.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

Fantasy Football Top-10 Repeatability: Tight Ends

Take a step back and see how the Top-10 tight ends change from year to year.

Elite tight ends are notoriously thin in the fantasy world, so it is no big surprise to see a high amount of volatile players from year to year. It is a position that really only offers about three or four players with any real difference-making statistics.

Also see: Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver 

Chance of repeating Top-10 = 60%

The reality with tight ends is that the Top-5 tend to dominate the fantasy scoring for the position, and the rest make minimal difference, if any. But the position is improving each year in terms of increasing their roles on their respective teams.

Had Mark Andrews remained healthy, he would have pushed the tight ends up even higher. The exciting development is that four of the Top-10 came from a sub-No. 40 finish in 2022. Sam LaPorta was an exception for the ages as a break out rookie, but Trey McBride and Jake Ferguson both showed up in the Top-10 in just their second season, after a little-used rookie year.

The general rule with tight ends is that if they’ve had back-to-back Top-10 seasons, that they offer reliable value. The position is expanding in use by NFL teams and are starting to remake how receivers contribute.

Former Wisconsin TE on PFF’s fantasy football ‘must-draft list for 2024 season’

Draft Jake Ferguson in your fantasy drafts

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was included in PFF’s latest list of ‘must-draft’ players for the 2024 fantasy football season.

Ferguson was also recently listed as a tier-three tight end by the service. It is his fantasy draft profile, paired with his steady production that makes him an attractive option in fantasy drafts for the upcoming season.

Related: Big Ten football 2024 Las Vegas win totals, picks: Record predictions for the entire 18-team conference

The talented tight end is coming off a productive 2023 season with the Cowboys that included 71 catches, 761 yards and 5 touchdowns — plus 10 catches for 93 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Cowboys’ lone playoff game.

He has emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott’s top passing options behind star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. That should only trend more in Ferguson’s direction as he improves his game and rapport with Prescott.

Ferguson is listed by PFF as the No. 9 tight end on most fantasy football draft boards with an average draft position of the seventh round.

Here’s some of what the service said about the former Wisconsin star:

Among all tight ends, Ferguson tied for the third-most red zone targets (24) while tying for the second-most end zone targets (nine). Though touchdowns are a largely volatile stat on a year-to-year basis, Ferguson is set to play what is effectively a WR2 role in an offense that ranked sixth in the league with 50 offensive touchdowns while leading the league in both red zone plays (247) and goal-line plays (68). Expect this high-powered offense to continue to funnel through Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and their “WR2” Ferguson after neglecting the run game this offseason.

Ferguson was a four-year starter for the Badgers and one of the program’s best players during the four-year stretch from 2018-2021. His college career concluded with 145 total receptions, 1,618 receiving yards (an average of 404.5 per season) and 13 touchdowns.

The grandson of Wisconsin legend Barry Alvarez is only getting better now entering his third NFL season.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

PFF: Former Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson a tier-three fantasy tight end entering 2024 NFL season

PFF: Former Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson a tier-three tight end entering 2024 NFL season

Former Wisconsin and current Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is only a tier-three fantasy football tight end entering the 2024 NFL season according to ProFootballFocus.

Ferguson, Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert, Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers and Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson make up PFF’s third tier — players the website believes can be ‘top-10 contenders.’

Related: Big Ten Football Power Index Rankings for 2024: Which teams are underrated, overrated?

The former Badger tight end is ranked firmly behind first-tier tight ends Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta, plus second-tier players Mark Andrews, Evan Engram, Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle and David Njoku.

Ferguson is entering his third NFL season after the Cowboys selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft. The former Badger is looking to build on what was a breakout 2023 campaign that saw him record 71 catches, 761 yards and 5 touchdowns (plus 10 catches for 93 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers).

He is entrenched as a top option in the Dallas passing game alongside star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. A tier-three ranking is somewhat surprising given Ferguson’s upward trajectory, recent production and fantastic situation catching passes from Dak Prescott.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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