Tag: Laviska Shenault

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.

Five bold predictions for the 2023 NFL season

Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey makes five bold predictions for the 2023 NFL season.

It’s easy to just go along with the status quo. But, as is proven year after year, the NFL sees your status quo and chokeslams it through a table.

Yes, it’s a rarity where all of the chalk predictions and odds-on favorited outcomes are what end up taking place. The consensus on the AFC West last season was that every team would be competitive, and some even predicted all four teams in the division to make the playoffs. Instead, Nathaniel Hackett didn’t even last a full season in Denver, and the Raiders were their usual tire fire selves.

With that said, predictions were made to be bold, so let’s put on our big boy pants and get risky with five bold predictions for the NFL season.

Drafting a WR2 high has mixed results

When you have a top wide receiver and draft a WR2 to pair with him, how does it work out? @MixsonS_NFL took a deep dive into it.

When the Minnesota Vikings decided to draft Jordan Addison with the 23rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, I immediately pointed to all the positives. He was one of the more pro-ready receivers in a draft that “lacked talent.” He’s a perfect complement to what Jefferson does best with his ability to get open underneath coverages. Addison flourished off pre-snap motions and flares in Lincoln Riley’s offense, adding another avenue for production in O’Connell’s offense. He fits like a glove.

Not to mention, a second wide receiver was a necessity. Minnesota lost hometown favorite Adam Thielen this off-season to the Carolina Panthers. With an extension for Justin Jefferson looming around, you have to surround him with as much help as possible to accentuate what he does best.
But it also got me thinking about the value of drafting a WR2 this high. How has it worked for other teams? Would it work here? Is this a gamble worth taking in this stage of rebuilding the roster?

So, I did some research from drafts past and found a few situations where WR2s got drafted in the top 50 picks in the NFL draft. I took the data from the 2018-2020 drafts. That way, there are, at minimum, three years of production and situational differences to analyze. And within those situations, three separate scenarios continued to arise that we are going to discuss.

Studs and duds from Panthers’ Week 10 win over Falcons

D’Onta Foreman wasn’t the only Panthers running back that make an impact in the team’s Week 10 win.

Two weeks after the Carolina Panthers lost an overtime thriller to the Atlanta Falcons, they defeated their NFC South foes on Thursday night. The win, which came despite harsh weather conditions, powered the Panthers to a tie in the season series and a 3-7 mark on the campaign.

So, let’s run down the studs and duds from Week 10 that got them there.

Tunnel Vision of Week 3

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Lamar Jackson 218-107 5
 Josh Allen 400-47 2
 Jalen Hurts 340-20 3
 Trevor Lawrence 262-6 3
 Joe Burrow 275-5 3
Running Backs Rush-Catch TD
Khalil Herbert 157-12 2
Jamaal Williams 87-20 2
C. Patterson 141-12 1
Derrick Henry 85-58 1
James Robinson 100-16 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
DeVonta Smith 8-169 1
Mack Hollins 8-158 1
Tyler Boyd 4-105 1
Amari Cooper 7-101 1
Russell Gage 12-87 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Mark Andrews 8-89 2
David Njoku 9-89 1
Travis Kelce 4-58 1
Jelani Woods 2-13 2
Will Dissly 3-34 1
Placekickers XP FG
Greg Zuerlein 0 4
Matt Prater 0 4
Cairo Santos 2 3
Younghoe Koo 3 2
Riley Patterson 3 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Eagles 8-1 0
Bengals 4-4 0
Panthers 1-3 1
Ravens 3-4 0
Broncos 4-3 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Josh Allen (BUF) – Hand
QB Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) – Back
QB Mac Jones (NE) – Ankle
RB David Montgomery (CHI) – Knee
RB Dalvin Cook (MIN) – Shoulder
RB Travis Homer (SEA) – Ribs
WR Byron Pringle (CHI) – Calf
WR Garrett Wilson (NYJ) – Ribs
WR Michael Thomas (NO) – Toe
WR Jarvis Landry (NO) – Ankle
WR A.J. Green (ARI) – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB Josh Allen (BUF) – Allen hit his hand on a helmet and underwent an X-ray after the game. Allen later said his hand was fine and there was no cause for concern.

QB Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) – Appeared to slam his head on the turf, then wobbled and almost fell down running to the sideline. But he was examined by doctors that said it was related to his back and that he could return to the game.

QB Mac Jones (NE) – The early diagnosis is that Jones suffered a high ankle sprain and an MRI will confirm it and indicate how much time he will miss. The initial expectation is that this will not end his season but could keep him out for several weeks. Brian Hoyer is next in line, and he’s been with the team for the last three years but hasn’t played much since 2017. The Pats receivers will be downgraded for however long Jones is out.

RB David Montgomery (CHI) – Left in the first quarter of the win over the Texans with knee and ankle injuries. But the prognosis is good according to HC Matt Eberflus, who said the star running back will be day-to-day so he may not miss any time. He’ll be evaluated on Monday for a more comprehensive diagnosis but it doesn’t initially appear to be serious.

RB Dalvin Cook (MIN) – Left during the third quarter with yet another shoulder injury but early word is that he will not miss this weeks’ game in London. But he will be evaluated during the week and may use a brace. Alexander Mattison becomes the starter if Cook ends up missing Week 4, but that won’t be known until later in the week.

WR Garrett Wilson (NYJ) – The  rookie suffered a brutal hit while catching a pass over the middle and went down for a time. He later walked off and it was described as a rib injury. Wilson later returned to the game, so there’s nothing expected to come from the injury. It initially looked bad but he bounced back.

WR Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry (NO) – Thomas injured his toe late in the loss to the Panthers and did not return to the game.  He already missed much of the last two years with a foot injury, so anything is concerning. Landry left with an ankle injury, and while they initially said he would be probable to return, he never did.  There was no information about the injuries after the game, so we’ll know more by midweek when they report injuries and practices.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Christian McCaffrey (CAR) – Only caught two passes for seven yards. He has just ten catches for 57 yards over his first three games. McCaffrey ran for more than 100 yards for the last two weeks, but his most dangerous aspect is his receiving. Why is he having problems with Baker Mayfield throwing to him? It’s not like Robbie Anderson or D.J. Moore are consuming any passes.

WR Laviska Shenault (CAR) – Led the team with two catches for 90 yards thanks to a 67-yard reception for a score when the Saints missed a tackle. He’ll get picked up in some fantasy leagues based on the performance, but the Panthers’ passing offense is not where you should be investing free agent dollars or picks.

RB Dameon Pierce (HOU) – Ran for 80 yards and a score on 20 carries and added two catches for 21 yards. Looked great in a road game to Chicago and he’s turning into the workhorse back that drafters wanted when they overpaid for him. At least it seemed like you overpaid at the time…

Chicago Bears – Once is meaningless, twice is a coincidence, and three in a row is more than just a trend. The Bears’ passing offense looks worse than last year, and among the worst in the last decade. They are 2-1, but it has nothing to do with their passing. Cole Kmet (2-40) and Darnell Mooney (2-23) not only turned in disappointing stats, they both actually led the team and provided their season-high performances. Justin Fields QB rating was 27.7. Winning covers a lot, but it won’t continue without the ability to pass.

RB Khalil Herbert (CHI) – Though the passing effort in Chicago is anemic, the rushing offense is outstanding with either David Montgomery or Khalil Herbert. When Montgomery left in the first quarter of the win over the Texans, Herbert stepped up to a dominating performance with 20 rushes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 12 yards. Unfortunately for Herbert, Montgomery initially seems likely to return as the primary this week. But both backs ding each other when they play and Herbert just showed what can happen when they settle on just one back.

TE Jelani Woods (IND) – The third-round pick by the Colts was the second tight end selected in the NFL draft after his senior year at Virginia resulted in 44 catches for 598 yards and eight touchdowns over 11 games. Oh yes, he is 6-7 and runs a 4.6 40-time, which is very fast given that frame. He made his first two NFL catches on Sunday which were both touchdowns. That’s very promising for the future, less so for next week versus Tennessee. He should develop into a potential fantasy factor in the future.

The Lions backfield – D’Andre Swift is already nicked up, and he was held to 46 total yards with three receptions against the Vikings. But Jamaal Williams rang up 87 yards and two scores on 20 runs, and caught two passes for 20 more yards. That gives the Lions the current No. 4 (Swift) and No. 7 (Williams) fantasy running backs after three weeks. Never underestimate the value of an elite offensive line.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) – The Patriots’ backfield is not meant for rational people to understand, much less predict. But the summer was full of accolades for Stevenson, and they seemed untrue after two weeks of the season. Damien Harris was the primary back. Against the Ravens, Stevenson was the clearly better back with 12 rushes for 73 yards and a score and four catches for 28 yards. Harris ended with just 51 total yards, one catch and no score. But it will remain a committee.

WR DeVante Parker (NE) – The Miami transplant only caught one pass over the first two weeks, but the Pats were short of receivers on Sunday. Jakobi Meyers was out and Parker took over with five catches for 156 yards. It was good enough that it should buy more playing time even when Meyers returns, but he’ll also have to adjust to a different quarterback if Mac Jones misses time as expected.

TE Tyler Conklin (NYJ) – While Garrett Wilson rightfully  grabs the limelight and Elijah Mitchell is still waiting to regain his 2021 form, Conklin is providing a valuable outlet in the passing effort with six catches for 40 yards in Week 2, and then eight receptions for 84 yards on Sunday. Conklin ranks No. 2 in  catches (18) and No. 7 in yards (140) among all NFL tight ends. He’s not proving to be a decent bye-week filler, he’s become an every-week fantasy starter.

WR Mack Hollins (LVR) – He’s been overshadowed by  Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, but he turned in a career-best eight catches for 158 yards and one score against the Titans while replacing Renfrow who was out with a concussion.  A great performance to be sure, but it will be hard to replicate against the Broncos this week if Renfrow remains out, and impossible if Renfrow plays.

TE Kyle Pitts (ATL) – He finally was used for more than two catches for 19 yards. Pitts ended with five catches for 87 yards in the win over the Seahawks and his eight targets were second only to Drake London (9). Seattle is the worst defense that they’ve yet faced, and Pitts has to continue to shine while facing  the Browns, Buccaneers, and 49ers in the next three weeks.

WR Tyler Lockett (SEA) – The concern over losing Russell Wilson and relying on Gino Smith was that it would negatively impact DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. That’s been half right. Metcalf totals just 16 catches for 135 yards, while Lockett has 21 receptions for 213 yards. That includes nine catches in each of the last two games.

WR Romeo Doubs (GB) – He led the Packer receivers with eight catches for 73 yards and one score and that includes catching every target that Aaron Rodgers threw to him. It’s still a committee of almost indistinguishable receivers, but Doubs stepped up against an above-average secondary. That won’t be lost on Rodgers.

WR Russell Gage (TB) – The Bucs were without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Julio Jones when they faced the Packers. The Bucs lost with an offense that mostly disappeared and sputtered. But Gage more than doubled the production of any other receiver when he snared twelve passes for 87 yards and the one touchdown. Evans will return, but Godwin and Jones could miss more time. That favors Gage to help lead the receivers.

 

Huddle player of the week

RB Khalil Herbert  (CHI) –  The Bears No. 2 back generated excitement and hype this summer with reports that he was a better fit for the new offense than David Montgomery. That wasn’t evident in the first two weeks when Montgomery dominated the backfield touches. But once he left in the first quarter of the Texans matchup, Herbert got his chance. And he became the week’s No. 1 fantasy running back with 20 rushes for 157 yards and two scores, plus two catches for 12 yards.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Trevor Lawrence 268 3 QB Matt Stafford 252 0
RB Khalil Herbert 169 2 RB Austin Ekeler 53 0
RB Samaje Perine 61 1 RB Joe Mixon 37 0
WR Mack Hollins 158 1 WR Justin Jefferson 14 0
WR DeVante Parker 156 0 WR D.J. Moore 15 0
WR Tyler Boyd 105 1 WR Brandin Cooks 22 0
TE Jelani Woods 13 2 TE Darren Waller 22 0
PK Greg Zuerlein   4 FG PK Will Lutz  2  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 148 Huddle Fantasy Points = 28

Now get back to work…

Studs and duds from Panthers’ 22-14 win over Saints

Once again, Panthers LB Frankie Luvu made his presence felt. And this time, it came in a win.

The Carolina Panthers finally secured their first win of 2022—topping their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints, 22-14. And that victory wouldn’t come without some notable performances—both good and bad.

Here are our studs and duds from Sunday’s game.

Panthers WR Laviska Shenault Jr.: ‘I’ma get down and dirty’

New Panthers WR Laviska Shenault Jr. is probably going to win over quite a few fans in 2022.

We’re not quite sure if the Carolina Panthers have themselves a wide receiver, a running back or a wide receiver/running back in Laviska Shenault Jr. But we do know that they have themselves another dog.

On Wednesday, Shenault spoke with team reporters for the first time since being traded to Carolina by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the week. When asked to describe what kind of player and person he is to fans who aren’t yet familiar, the 23-year-old let ’em know.

“I’m a hungry player,” Shenault said. “I’m a dog. I’ma get down and dirty. And, just, I’m a tough person. And I love this game. And I love to score touchdowns.”

Unfortunately for Shenault, he wasn’t able to do what he loves last season—particularly in the end zone. After a rookie campaign that saw the 2020 second-rounder rack up five touchdowns, he’d go scoreless throughout a relatively quiet 2021.

That may change in Carolina, where head coach Matt Rhule and his staff could look to use Shenault in a hybrid role—something, perhaps, reminiscent of how the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers use Cordarrelle Patterson and Deebo Samuel.

Either way, as a pass catcher or an all-around offensive weapon, Shenault is looking forward to inspiring just more than touchdowns with the Panthers.

“I love to, ya know, get the fans lit,” he’d add. “I think that’s one of the biggest things. And also, the little ones watching—I get to go out and be somebody’s role model. So I’m working towards being everybody’s role model.”

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Falcons, Packers also had interest in new Panthers WR Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Panthers had some competition for WR Laviska Shenault before acquiring him on Monday.

The Carolina Panthers see something in Laviska Shenault Jr. Oh, and so do a few other teams.

On Monday evening, the Panthers completed a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the third-year wideout. The deal has Carolina taking in the 2020 second-round selection from Duval in exchange for a pair of draft picks—a 2023 seventh-rounder and a 2024 sixth-rounder.

Luckily for them, they got the swap done before another interested party or two could swoop in. And among those possible parties, as reported by ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano, were the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers.

Shenault wasn’t a total disappointment in Jacksonville. He reeled in a decent enough 121 balls for 1,219 yards and five touchdowns between 2020 and 2021.

But the 6-foot-1, 227-pound pass catcher didn’t hone in his eye-opening physical traits he so often displayed during his standout collegiate career at the University of Colorado. Apparently, however, the Panthers—as well as the Falcons and Packers—believe Shenault still has a chance at being the player the Jaguars drafted him to be two years ago.

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Panthers WR Laviska Shenault gets new uniform number

New Panthers WR Laviska Shenault won’t be causing P Johnny Hekker to change his uniform number for a second time this summer.

Carolina Panthers punter Johnny Hekker has already changed uniform numbers for a new, incoming teammate this summer—going from No. 6 to No. 10 for quarterback Baker Mayfield. So will he be doing the same for Laviska Shenault, who wore No. 10 with the Jacksonville Jaguars?

Nope. There will be no third number for Hekker, which may have been some sort of record for a player that hadn’t even recorded a snap with his team yet.

Instead, Shenault will be taking up the No. 15.

Shenault’s new digits are, perhaps, a callback to his high school career. The DeSoto, Texas native attended DeSoto High School, where he donned No. 2 and No. 15 for the Eagles.

As far as who has worn No. 15 for the Panthers, the list of past occupants isn’t exactly a prodigious one:

  • WR Joe Adams (2012)
  • WR Marvin McNutt (2013)
  • WR Chris Hogan (2019)
  • TE/QB Tommy Stevens (2020)
  • WR Seth Roberts (2020)
  • CB CJ Henderson (2021)

Henderson, by the way, has since switched to a chef’s kiss of an aesthetic  with No. 24.

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Packers were among teams interested in trade for WR Laviska Shenault

Brian “In Every Conversation” Gutekunst had the Packers talking about a deal for WR Laviska Shenault, who was eventually traded to the Panthers.

The Green Bay Packers were among the teams interested in a trade before the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to deal wide receiver Laviska Shenault to the Carolina Panthers on Monday, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.

Shenault was a second-round pick of the Jaguars in 2020 who has 121 career catches in two seasons.

The real question here: Was this the Packers just “being in every conversation,” as general manager Brian Gutekunst likes to say, or was the interest in adding Shenault truly genuine?

The Packers, already with a lot of moving parts at wide receiver, may have viewed Shenault as a position-less player who could handle gadget touches in Matt LaFleur’s diverse offensive scheme and also contribute on special teams, although second-year player Amari Rodgers is cut from the same cloth.

It’s certainly possible Shenault was a player Gutekunst liked but wasn’t in a position to draft back in 2020, prompting the conversation with the Jaguars. Per Graziano, the Falcons were also interested in Shenault before the deal with the Panthers was made. Atlanta is coached by Arthur Smith, who runs a similar offense as LaFleur.

Last season, Shenault caught 63 passes for 619 yards and zero touchdowns. He also rushed 11 times for 41 yards.

For his career, Shenault has caught 67.6 percent of his targets and averaged 6.8 yards per target.

The Packers try to leave no stone unturned when it comes to player acquisition. The process leads to perceived interest, even when the moves usually don’t happen.