Tag: Jeremy McNichols

Adrian Peterson reacts to first game, touchdown with Titans

“It felt good to get into the end zone,” Peterson said of his fourth quarter touchdown run against the Rams.

Fresh off their 34-31 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts last week, the Tennessee Titans scrambled to find a replacement for superstar running back Derrick Henry, who underwent foot surgery on Tuesday.

The Titans acted swiftly, bringing in veteran and free-agent running back Adrian Peterson on Monday, and he officially signed with the club the following day.

The 36-year-old practiced with his new team for the first time on Wednesday, with the intent of starting Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Sans Henry, most of the national media pegged the Rams to come away with the victory on “Sunday Night Football,” but it was the Titans who shocked the world, winning 28-16 in what never felt like a close game.

As for Peterson, he was named the starting running back going into the game and ran for three yards on his first carry. He ultimately finished with just 21 yards on 10 carries (2.1 yards per tote), but he did find the end zone to put the Rams away in the fourth quarter.

“It’s very exciting, it was an ideal situation for me,” Peterson said after the game. “I wanted to come into this week and put my best foot forward, come out today and contribute any way that I could. So, that’s pretty much what I did.”

Without Henry, it took a couple of series for the Titans to find their footing, but the defense made a couple of big plays back-to-back to get things going.

With the Rams backed up at their own 10-yard line, Jeffery Simmons got to Rams quarterback Matt Stafford in the end zone, forcing the latter to throw an errant pass right to David Long.

The Titans scored on the next play on a beautiful pass from Ryan Tannehill to Geoff Swaim. On the next series for Los Angeles, Titans safety Kevin Byard picked off Stafford on the first play, returning it for a touchdown.

Just like that, it was 14-3 in favor of the road team.

Coming into the organization halfway through the 2021 season, Peterson’s initial takeaway from the Titans as a group explained why the team has had so much success under head coach Mike Vrabel.

“A great group of guys that have each other’s back, a gritty team, a lot of heart, and just really passionate about what they do,” he said. “They’re really about the small things – offensively, defensively, special teams, well-coached. I see why they have had the success they’ve had over the years.”

Without Henry, the Titans’ offense struggled to move the ball consistently, and it certainly didn’t help that wide receiver A.J. Brown had a couple of drive-ending drops.

Holding onto a 21-9 lead, Tennessee stopped the Rams on fourth down at the Titans’ 40-yard line. From there, the Titans marched down the field, aided by two roughing the passer penalties, eventually setting the stage for Peterson’s first touchdown from the one-yard line.

“It felt good to get into the end zone,” the long-time Minnesota Viking added. “I had to make up for the previous play that I had, the wildcat. That one was kind of bothering me, so I guess that touchdown made up for it a little bit.”

As a group, the Titans struggled to run the ball, rushing for a combined 69 yards on 26 carries. It was actually D’Onta Foreman who was Tennessee’s best runner on Sunday night, not Peterson.

The veteran was running too high all night and there were several instances that he ran into his own offensive lineman before gaining minimal yardage.

Peterson is likely to remain with the Titans during Henry’s absence, and his form and ability to find holes between the tackles should come easier as the team gels, gets healthier upfront, and as he gets more acclimated.

“I felt like it was ok,” Peterson said of his overall debut. “I think we left a lot out there as a running back group. I know I did as well. As we continue to get practice and get reps in, we’ll continue to get chemistry with those guys up front.”

The Titans (7-2) made it the most difficult portion of their schedule with a perfect 4-0 record.

Now, they will head back home to face a 5-3 New Orleans Saints club that has Trevor Siemian starting in place of Jameis Winston, who tore his ACL, ending his season.

[lawrence-related id=77074,77047,77036]

[listicle id=77080]

9 sleepers in fantasy football for Week 9

9 sleepers to consider starting in fantasy football for Week 9.

Every week, finding sleepers that will outperform their current value in fantasy football is the ultimate goal.

But as fantasy managers know, it’s more often that those sleepers we hope has a boom week winds up either with a middling weekly finish or they just wind up flopping in your starting lineup.

We’re here to help with that endeavor and while we won’t always be right, it’s the process that matters when it comes to finding sleepers on a weekly basis.

In order to qualify as a sleeper, we will be using the expert consensus rankings (ECR) from FantasyPros. Only players ranked outside of the top-12 for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers along with those outside the top-six tight ends (adjusted for the barren landscape) are considered.

Here are eight sleepers for fantasy football for Week 9:

Titans to promote Adrian Peterson to active roster

Peterson is expected to be promoted to the Titans’ active roster on Friday.

After signing running back Adrian Peterson to the practice squad in the wake of Derrick Henry’s injury, the Tennessee Titans are reportedly set to promote the future Hall of Famer to their 53-man roster.

According to multiple reports, Peterson should be added to the active roster at some point on Friday, just days before the Week 9 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. Peterson has taken part in two practices thus far.

As things stand now, the Titans have two open spots on their roster after waiving backup center Daniel Munyer on Thursday. Waiving Munyer could indicate backup guard/center Aaron Brewer’s return is imminent, also.

The 36-year-old Peterson is expected to handle the lion’s share of the carries while Henry is out, and he’ll get a little help from Jeremy McNichols, who should see an uptick in carries on top of his normal third-down work.

The Titans will begin life without Henry on “Sunday Night Football” against the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Both Peterson and McNichols have gigantic shoes to fill.

[lawrence-related id=76856,76485,76411]

[vertical-gallery id=76500]

Titans not planning to change identity after Derrick Henry injury

I’d be doing this team a disservice if I jerked the wheel just because of an injury, as great as Derrick is,” Titans OC Todd Downing said.

With Derrick Henry sidelined for the next six to 10 weeks after undergoing foot surgery on Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans are left with fitting the pieces of the puzzle on the fly.

Henry was on pace to break the all-time single-season rushing record and had accounted for 37 percent of the team’s offensive production through the first eight weeks.

Looking ahead to Sunday, the Titans will face an offense unlike any other they have seen this season in the Los Angeles Rams. Sean McVay’s group has just one blemish on their record heading into Week 9, and they feature the fourth-best passing attack in the league.

The Titans’ offense runs through Henry, but without him, offensive coordinator Todd Downing indicated that the team plans to stick to their identity moving forward.

“I think you can place an emphasis on certain areas, but I’d be doing this team a disservice if I jerked the wheel just because of an injury, as great as Derrick [Henry] is,” Downing said on Thursday. “We are who we are, and we’re going to find ways to continue to maintain that identity. Of course, there are going to be some tweaks and quarter turns along the way and a different emphasis, but we are who we are.”

The Titans acted swiftly, signing 36-year-old Adrian Peterson to the practice squad on Monday. He will be elevated to the active roster before Sunday’s game, and the All-Pro running back could be in line for a heavy workload.

Of course, some of the pressure can be removed from the running game if the Titans can be effective through the air.

Wide receiver AJ Brown and quarterback Ryan Tannehill have re-strengthened their chemistry over the last three games, but the team is still looking for consistency among the receiver group.

Julio Jones was acquired during the offseason, but the 32-year-old has been in and out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. He missed last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he’s been a limited participant through the first two days of practice this week, putting him on track to play on Sunday.

With both Jones and Brown on the field, the Titans’ offense is not one to be taken lightly, even without the NFL’s leading rusher.

“I think any week, regardless of whether Derrick was in or not, we want as many of our top players out there as we can have,” Downing said on whether having Jones play was a must on Sunday. “Certainly, being able to have as many weapons out there after losing a guy like Derrick would be a beneficial thing, but it doesn’t mean that it’s going to turn into some different-looking offense.”

At the end of the day, the Titans’ offense will undoubtedly look different without No. 22 in the backfield. At times, Henry has been carrying the team on his back, and no one should expect his production to be replaced.

That said, Tennessee has plenty of capable backs eager to prove themselves over these next few weeks. Jeremy McNichols has primarily been limited to third downs during his time with the Titans, but he had over 300 carries in his final season at Boise State.

Peterson is in the twilight of his career, but he averaged nearly four yards per carry with the Detroit Lions last season. The Titans also brought back D’Onta Foreman, who was with the organization for the 2020 season, rushing for 95 yards on 22 attempts.

“Luckily, with the guys that we added, Foreman got some experience in this system and Adrian [Peterson] is the consummate professional, so having him approach this week the way he has is encouraging for everybody,” Downing concluded.

Tennessee has preached the “next man up” mentality all year long, which has been important given how many injuries the team has sustained. Without their MVP, the Titans will need all hands on deck to help navigate these unchartered waters.

[lawrence-related id=76792,76485,76475]

[listicle id=76683]

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The week kicks off on a sad note after Ex-Raider Henry Ruggs was responsible for the death of a woman in Las Vegas early on Tuesday morning. The conditions surrounding the deadly crash are unimaginable and if this serves any purpose, let it be a warning about making bad decisions to others like him.

Then there was Aaron Rodgers getting COVID while immunized not vaccinated. He’s the highest-profile player that will miss a game while on the list. Rodgers vs. Mahomes sounded like must-watch TV.

We’ve reached the mid-point of the NFL season, and fantasy teams are starting to fall out of contention. If that’s the case for you, check out the Daily Fantasy site and play a team or two. Some are free and many can be very inexpensive. You already know so much, so give Daily Fantasy a try.

Heading into Week 9, here are six things I am thinking about.)

1.) TE George Kittle (SF) – Left for injured reserve in Week 5 and has returned to practice and is eligible to be activated. If he is active, it would add a lot to an offense that  simply lacks any notable receivers outside of the reliable Deebo Samuel.  Kittle played four games to start the season but never scored. But he was thrown up to ten targets and would be equal to Samuel when Jimmy Garoppolo looks downfield. He would energize a passing attack that is limited to just one player.

Robbie Gould is expected to play as well. Jeff Wilson returned to the practice field after missing the first eight games with a torn meniscus but is not expected to be activated this week.

2.) WR Tajae Sharpe (ATL) – Calvin Ridley “stepped away from football” last week to attend to his mental health. There’s no set date to return, but he hasn’t been removed from the active roster. He merely appears on the injury report as ‘Did Not Practice.” So he could be back at any time. In the interim, how does that affect the Falcons passing scheme? In Week 8, they opened with Olamide Zaccheaus as the only wideout and Hayden Hurst and Kyle Pitts as both starters. Zaccheaus only caught one pass for 12 yards.

It was a terrible day for the offense anyway, as the Panthers held the Falcons to only 228 yards and one score. But, Tajae Sharpe filled in and led the team with five catches for 58 yards. Cordarrelle Patterson remained one of the busier receivers (5-37, TD) as well. The Falcons meet the Saints this week for a tough matchup again but then play at the Cowboys in Week 10.

3.) QB Taysom Hill / Trevor Siemian  (NO) – The Saints haven’t named a starting quarterback in the wake of Jameis Winston’s season-ending ACL injury. But he and Taysom Hill had a quarterback competition this summer. Hill had a full practice on Thursday as an encouraging sign that he may be ready. Trevor Siemian completed 16-of-29 for 159 yards and one touchdown last week once Winston left the game in the second quarter.

There are a lot of unknowns. If Hill starts, does that mean Siemian is on the bench? With the Saints mix Hill and Siemian as they did with Winston before Hill was injured. Hill only threw three passes over four games but rushed in three touchdowns in his final two matchups. As a side note to Week 8, had Siemian also leave the game injured, the Saints were ready to use their emergency quarterback – Alvin Kamara.

4.) WR Odell Beckham Jr. (CLE) – Beckham is on the outs with the Browns and that they are trying to figure out the least painful way to part with him. There are reports that he may just be released today. For fantasy purposes, how will his spot be filled and will that net any opportunities? The rookie Anthony Schwartz (3.28) was drafted for his 4.26 40-time speed that could stretch the field for the rest of the receivers. He caught a 44-yard pass in Week 1 but only totals seven receptions for 102 yards and no scores on the season.

Donovan Peoples-Jones is the most likely to benefit from Beckham’s absence. He caught five passes for 70 yards in Week 5 and then posted 101 yards and two scores on four catches in Week 2 versus the Cardinals. He injured his groin in the pregame warmups in Week 7 and has been out. Peoples-Jones is expected to return this week and had limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He is on track to return to face the Browns this week. Rashard Higgins is also an option but has done little this year. Peoples-Jones has the best shot at becoming a fantasy option.

 5.) Raiders receivers – The sudden release of Henry Ruggs removes the No. 1 receiver, and the Raiders have to fill that void. Their official depth chart places Zay Jones as the new starter despite only catching  seven passes on the season and just one game with as many as two catches. Bryan Edwards is already the starting flanker and Hunter Renfrow is the slot receiver.  Jones may be the starter for the rest of the season, but he’s not going to assume Ruggs’ workload.

There is speculation that the Raiders might have interest in DeSean Jackson. Barring adding a new player, the expectation is that Darren Waller gets a boost in his targets, something that has declined while Ruggs was breaking out this year. Waller hasn’t fielded more than eight targets in any game since Week 1. More than half of his games in 2020 totaled more than eight targets. Ruggs increased production was the biggest improvement in the passing game this year.

 6.) RB Adrian Peterson / Jeremy McNichols (TEN) – There are few, if any, non-quarterbacks that are more central to his offense than Derrick Henry. His impact cannot be completely replaced, and the backfield now shifts to some combination of Adrian Peterson and Jeremy McNichols. While Peterson is in practice and is expected to be active for the Week 9 tilt at the Rams. That doesn’t mean he gets 30 carries. It’s no lock that he gets three. Peterson is new to the offense and hasn’t played a down this year.

Assuming that he is as spry as he was last year, Peterson would do well enough to match his full-time role with the Lions when he totaled 156 carries over 16 games. Peterson is a future Hall-of-Famer, but he is also 36 years old. He rarely offered more than a dozen carries per game in 2020.  McNichols totals 56 carries over his four-year career. Henry had 57 carries in just his last two games. McNichols has operated as the third-down back this season with 21 catches against seven carries. He’ll maintain that role which could see more passes.

The Titans signed D’Onta Foreman to their practice squad and could call him up. But the fourth-year back only totaled 107 career runs and isn’t likely to matter. Whatever happens, will rely on some combination of Peterson and McNichols. Notable too is that they play at the Rams this week and host the Saints in Week 10. Those will be tough opponents to remake the rushing offense, but the Texans show up in Week 11 to make it all look good again.

The Titan – Rams game should be watched. Losing Derrick Henry  is one of the rare “this changes everything” sort of events. The expectation that there will be more passing is reasonable, but Henry’s presence heavily influenced the defense, including the pass defense. The Titans offensive line is still one of the best and that cannot be undervalued. The offense may not be worse, it will not be better, and the only certain thing is that it will be different.

Fantasy start or sit Week 9: Adrian Peterson, Jeremy McNichols

Is it safe to start either Adrian Peterson or Jeremy McNichols in fantasy football in Week 9?

The Tennessee Titans will begin life without Derrick Henry in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams after the superstar rusher broke a bone in his foot that required surgery, sidelining him anywhere from six to 10 weeks.

The loss of Henry, who has been the best back both in fantasy and real life, is devastating for both the Titans and fantasy managers alike, but life goes on we all must push ahead.

Taking the reins in the Titans’ backfield is 36-year-old future Hall of Famer, Adrian Peterson, who was signed to Tennessee’s practice squad this week. He’ll be joined by Jeremy McNichols, who will help carry the load.

While there is plenty of work to be gobbled up by the Titans’ backs, is it safe to start either McNichols or Peterson in Week 9? Let’s find out right now by taking a look at some start or sit advice for both.

Titans’ Jeremy McNichols ready for ‘whatever it’s going to take to win’

“I’m going to be here, step up, and just handle my business,” McNichols said.

To this point, Jeremy McNichols has carved out a nice role for himself with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 as a third-down running back.

Derrick Henry dominated carries out of the backfield, but the team will be without him for approximately six to 10 weeks following successful surgery on his foot.

The Titans’ “next man up” mentality will be tested at arguably their most important position.

Henry had accounted for 37 percent of the team’s offensive production through the first eight weeks of the season. Now, the Titans need to move forward without him while aiming to maintain the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

McNichols is a guy that will certainly see an increased workload. According to the 25-year-old, he’s perfectly fine with that and ready for whatever is asked of him.

“Whatever it’s going to take to win — running the ball, catching the ball, blocking, whatever it’s going to be — I’m going to be here, step up, and just handle my business,” McNichols said before practice on Wednesday.

I prepare every week like I’m going to have to step in or do whatever it takes to help win,” he added. “Not just on third [down], but I’m studying all downs, all the distances, whatever we need, whatever the team may need in all situations.”

McNichols has just seven carries for 38 yards this season. Last year, he totaled 204 rushing yards on 47 attempts.

The Titans signed running back Adrian Peterson on Tuesday. Peterson spent last season with the Detroit Lions, rushing for just over 600 yards on 156 carries with seven touchdowns.

On Wednesday, the 36-year-old, who brings a wealth of experience to the team’s running back group, participated in practice for the first time with his new team, and he’s already had an impact on the young McNichols.

“Very helpful,” McNichols said of his first impression of Peterson. “He’s an older guy and just wants to help the younger guys out, help me out. He told me that whatever I need from him, he’s there if I got any questions for him, he’ll be happy to help.”

What Peterson’s workload will look like remains unknown for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, so McNichols might be expected to handle more carries through the tackles, something he hasn’t had to do much of through his first four-plus seasons in the NFL.

But McNichols was a workhorse during his time at Boise State, rushing for 1,709 yards on 314 carries, to go along with 23 touchdowns on the ground in his junior season. That same year, he also hauled in 37 receptions for 474 yards.

The Long Beach, California native indicated that he feels comfortable running through the tackles at this level when he’s called upon.

“I feel like I could do it, I’ve done it before,” he said. “The preseason reps, the reps that I get done here and last year, whatever is asked of me, I’ll be able to do.”

The Titans will face the Rams on “Sunday Night Football,” with kickoff set for 7:20 pm CT.

[lawrence-related id=76427,76406,76401]

[listicle id=76432]

Titans unsure how much Adrian Peterson will play in Week 9

Titans RBs coach Tony Dews wasn’t ready to say how much Adrian Peterson will see the field in Week 9.

The Tennessee Titans have signed running back Adrian Peterson to their practice squad in the wake of the injury to Derrick Henry, but it still isn’t clear how much he will play in Week 9 versus the Los Angeles Rams.

The expectation is for Peterson to be the primary ball-carrier at some point, with Jeremy McNichols mixing in and dominating passing-down work like he has done all season. The team also added D’Onta Foreman to its practice squad, and has Dontrell Hilliard on it as well.

Titans running backs coach Tony Dews wasn’t ready to say how much Peterson will play on Sunday night, even going as far as to say he’s not sure Peterson will play at all.

While Dews is taking the safe approach here, it’s hard to fathom Peterson not seeing at least some work against the Rams. We fully expect him to be out there and getting carries.

As far as the distribution of touches and carries at the position are concerned, Dews isn’t sure how that will pan out, either, but he does believe McNichols is ready for an expanded role.

Tennessee and Los Angeles will meet at SoFi Stadium in Week 9 on “Sunday Night Football,” with kickoff set for 7:20 p.m. CT.

[lawrence-related id=76358,76336,76315]

[listicle id=76339]

Titans’ Mike Vrabel on losing Derrick Henry: ‘We’re going to have to be creative’

It will take a group effort to even come close to filling the void left by Derrick Henry’s injury.

The Tennessee Titans have more or less come out of the toughest part of their schedule with three straight wins over formidable opponents, but the victories came with a heavy price in losing running back Derrick Henry.

The NFL’s reigning rushing leader in back-to-back seasons broke a bone in his foot during Sunday’s 34-31 overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts, and he will reportedly miss anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Titans (6-2) signed Adrian Peterson to the practice squad on Monday, and he is expected to be elevated to the active roster. Peterson, 36, played in all 16 games for the Detroit Lions last year, rushing for 604 yards on 156 carries.

Nobody will be able to replace Henry on the field or in the locker room. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel knows the team has to find a way to keep on chugging along without its star back, though.

“We’re going to have to be creative and we’re going to have to figure out answers and a way to move the football, and continue to run our offense,” coach Mike Vrabel said.

For now, Peterson is expected to be the feature back. Behind him lies Jeremy McNichols, and Dontrell Hilliard and Mekhi Sargent are both on the practice squad.

McNichols has just seven carries for 38 yards on the season, but he has been a valuable asset in the passing game, hauling in 21 receptions for 203 yards and a score. His receiving yards are third-most on the team.

Last season, the Boise State standout had 47 carries for 204 yards (4.3 yards per attempt). He’ll likely see an uptick in his workload on the ground.

“Jeremy, since he’s been here, has always done whatever the team needed him to do – special teams, running the football, [and] protect,” Vrabel said on Monday. “He’s got a certain level of toughness that we respect. He’s done a nice job in protection, he’s done a nice job in the screen game.”

Hilliard was added to the Titans’ practice squad last week after spending time with the Browns and Texans in seven games last year. With the Browns in 2019, the Tulane product rushed for 49 yards on 13 attempts and crossed the goal line twice.

Sargent was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Iowa after the 2021 NFL Draft and was a standout during the preseason. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry in college, but he lacks experience in the NFL, with only two carries for four yards this year.

“Dontrell [Hilliard] probably spent more time in our building for a new player last week as much as anyone that I can remember,” Vrabel added. “I would see him late in the special teams’ office with Auk [Chris Aukerman]. He came in ready to go, you could see that he clearly wanted to come in a try to play. Sarg [Mekhi Sargent] has shown a toughness and willingness to be available and be with us through training camp.”

The Titans may not be done adding to their backfield before Sunday. The team worked out Dont’a Foreman last week. He spent the 2020 season with Tennessee, so there is some familiarity with the player and the system.

Regardless, it’s likely to be a running back by committee until Henry returns. No one should expect his yardage to be replaced, but the Titans have enough weapons and a comfortable division lead that they can survive without him until he makes a potential late-season return.

In the passing game, getting a healthy Julio Jones to complement a red-hot A.J. Brown would go a long way toward a balanced offense that will try to keep pace with the NFL’s second-best passing attack in the Rams’.

[lawrence-related id=76322,75750,75585]

[listicle id=75975]

Who is Derrick Henry’s handcuff in fantasy football?

For now, Jeremy McNichols is the Titans running back to own in the wake of Derrick Henry’s injury.

The Tennessee Titans and fantasy owners alike both lost a huge piece of their teams for the foreseeable future, as superstar running back Derrick Henry has reportedly suffered a foot injury that could end his season.

While we’ve seen varying takes on how long Henry will be out (some as long as the entire season, some as short as eight weeks), The King’s injury leaves a gaping hole that will likely last the rest of the fantasy football season.

So, this begs the question: who is the back fantasy managers should be targeting in the wake of his injury?

For right now, that’s Jeremy McNichols, who has been the Titans’ No. 2 back when healthy this season. McNichols has served predominantly as a passing-game back behind Henry, where he has thrived, reeling in 21 passes for 203 yards and one score. In fact, he’s third on the team in receiving yards.

He hasn’t been used much in the ground game, though, amassing just seven carries for 38 yards, but that figures to change now that Henry is out.

However, don’t get too worked up and blow your FAAB budget or top waiver spot on McNichols.

That’s because he is unlikely to gobble up all of the work Henry has taken on. Not only is he human, but McNichols is smaller in stature and is better suited to be a part-time back in a committee.

Adding to that, the Titans are already exploring their options outside the team, as Tennessee is reportedly set to work out Adrian Peterson, and we expect multiple backs to be brought in, and at least two to be added.

While you’ll have to wait for waivers in order to grab McNichols, who will be a better option in PPR formats, Peterson should be available right now.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to try and get a jump on him, although know the risk that he might not even sign, and even if he does he could be embroiled in a committee. DO NOT give up a player with any semblance of value for him.

[listicle id=75468]