Fantasy Football Cheatsheets & Rankings

The Facts: The 5-10, 216-pound Clement would like to become a bigger part of the Eagles’ first- and second-down ground game this year. Reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer

Diehards Line: We'll have to see how that plays out, LeGarrette Blount is gone, but Ajayi returns for at least one more year. The Eagles have brought back 35-year-old Darren Sproles, who missed 13 games last year with a torn ACL. They also have Wendell Smallwood, 2017 fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey, veteran Matt Jones and undrafted rookie Josh Adams. Remember, Clement had just 10 receptions in the regular season. But he matched that total in the Eagles’ three playoff wins, catching 10 passes for 139 yards, including a critical 22-yard third-quarter touchdown pass against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Clement had five third-down receptions in the postseason for 91 yards and four first downs. His 22-yard TD catch from Nick Foles was one of those third-down receptions. The only Eagle with more third-down receptions and more third-down receiving yards in the playoffs than Clement was Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, who had 10 for 106 yards.

The Facts: Flacco didn’t have anything to say about the Ravens drafting Lamar Jackson in the first round of this year’s draft immediately after the pick was made, but he shared some of his thoughts about the new arrival to the quarterback room during a media session on Thursday. Flacco said it was “unfortunate” if people think he’s holding a grudge about the team’s decision to draft Jackson and that all has been well with the rookie since they started working together. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Flacco said he’s welcomed Jackson with “open arms” and “we’re all helping each other all the time” because everyone’s focus is on putting the best team on the field come the regular season. ... As PFT notes, there’s been talk of a package of plays for Jackson that would get him on the field while Flacco remains the starter. The veteran said on Thursday that he’s OK with that if it helps the team win while adding that he thinks the best way to do that involves having him under center. Flacco also fielded questions about what the future holds for him and acknowledged the obvious by saying that drafting Jackson represents part of the team’s plans. He said he didn’t know what that plan entails, but that he’s worried about “right now” because nothing can be promised beyond that.

The Facts: Meredith is ahead of schedule in his return from a knee injury that kept him off the field for the entire 2017 season, HC Sean Payton said Thursday. Reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Diehards Line: The 6-3, 207-pound receiver who the Saints signed as a free agent this offseason did not participate in team drills during Thursday's OTA practice but Payton said his participation was encouraging. "Just watching him move around and, you guys saw him, he's way ahead of schedule," Payton said to reporters. "And certainly where our doctor our doctors had hoped and even better. So, he's going to factor in this year. He's a player that we've got a real clear vision for." The Saints landed the 25-year-old receiver as a restricted free agent after the Chicago Bears declined to match New Orleans' offer. He sustained a knee injury in the 2017 preseason but was coming off of a 2016 campaign that saw him catch 66 passes for 888 yards and four touchdowns. Meredith said soon after the Saints acquired him he expected to be ready for the start of the season.

The Facts: After Williams‘ Lamborghini was found crashed by the side of the road, police quickly found him and arrested him for public intoxication. But Williams was not arrested for the crash itself — which he blamed on Vikings receiver Kendall Wright. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Williams and Wright were teammates at Baylor from 2008 to 2011. Williams has played his entire NFL career for the Cowboys, while Wright signed with the Vikings this year after previously playing for the Titans and Bears. In the police body cam footage, Williams seemed to acknowledge he was in no condition to drive, and he insisted that he wasn’t the one who crashed the Lamborghini. Williams claimed that Wright called him and told him his Lamborghini was crashed, but when police asked Williams where his phone was, Williams said that it was in the car. When police asked Williams how his phone could be in the car when he had just said that Wright was in the car and called Williams to tell him about the crash, Williams said, “I’m not trying to lie to you. I swear to God I would not try to lie to you.” What Williams told police contradicts the statement he released after he was arrested. Williams said nothing about Wright in his statement, and instead indicated that he had been driving before suggesting another driver cut him off. For the record, Williams' attorney confirmed today that Wright was not driving the car.

The Facts: Lewis posted a photo of him signing a contract with the Packers. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: The former Jaguars tight end will complement Jimmy Graham with his blocking, giving Green Bay a formidable 1-2 punch at the position. The Jaguars released Lewis in March after they added free agent tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Niles Paul. It ended a 12-year run in Jacksonville for Lewis, a first-round pick in 2006. Lewis, 34, caught 24 passes for 318 yards and five touchdowns in starting every game last season. For his career, Lewis has appeared in 170 games with 157 starts and made 375 catches for 4,502 yards and 33 touchdowns.

The Facts: HC Sean Payton said Ingram plans to attend mandatory minicamp from June 12-14 after skipping the rest of the offseason program with hopes of getting a new contract. Reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Diehards Line: Ingram, who is coming off a career year in 2017, has skipped the offseason workout program that began April 16 and did not participate in the first three practices of organized team activities this week. The workouts and OTAs are optional, but skipping minicamp would result in a fine for Ingram. Payton has made clear he doesn't agree with Ingram's decision to stay away from the team this offseason, relaying that message to Ingram as well as the media, but the coach said he respects and understands what Ingram is doing. As for Ingram's four-game suspension, Payton said he's sure Ingram will stay in shape while away from the team, and because Ingram already has seven years of experience in the Saints system, he'll have no program catching up with what he missed. In 2017, Ingram was among the best running backs in the NFL, ranking the top five in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per carry and runs of 20-plus yards. He had career highs with 230 carries, 1,124 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 58 receptions and 416 receiving yards.

The Facts: Bell is the only player on the 90-man roster absent from Steelers' organized team activities. They are voluntary for any player, but particularly so for Bell who is not under contract because he has not signed the franchise-tag tender presented to him early this spring. Antonio Brown stays in touch with his teammate and friend, Bell -- even if the latter is not training with him at team headquarters this month. "I tell him how his (rap) tape is not that good," Brown said, smiling. "(And) how he should come out here (to Pittsburgh) and (practice) with me." Reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Diehards Line: Although the circumstances were different, Brown recently went through a protracted period of disagreement with the Steelers over contract terms. He, however, did not have any extended absences from offseason or training camp practices. Brown remains supportive of his teammate, saying of Bell: "He's an individual, he's a professional, he's got to do what is professional for him and his family." Brown said he understands and empathizes that Bell is approaching his business, well, like a business. Bell made $12.1 million last season under the franchise tag after his four-year rookie contract had expired. Under the collective bargaining agreement when the Steelers tagged him again for 2018, the required 20 percent raise equates to $14.52 million. Barring a long-term deal, expect Bell to stay away from the team through training camp.

The Facts: Tannehill looked good Wednesday, the second day of this week’s three-day organized team activities. He appeared agile and confident. Tannehill didn’t wear a brace Tuesday or Wednesday on his left knee, the one that’s been injured twice and kept him sidelined since December 2016. But he said he’ll wear it during the regular season. “I’ll wear a brace,” he said. “It does nothing structurally. It’s purely to prevent what started that whole train wreck with my injury.” Reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Diehards Line: Tannehill said he had a checkup with his surgeon last week and he’s been fully cleared for all football activities. “I’m clear to play football, so whatever that entails I can do it,” he said. “Honestly, at this point it’s just, ‘Let it rip.’” According to Sun-Sentinel staffer Chris Perkins, Tannehill seemed to have good command of the offense and his throws Wednesday. Those are two of the qualities HC Adam Gase liked when he last saw Tannehill on the field as the Dolphins were marching toward the playoffs in 2016, and Gase is seeing it again this week. ... Tannehill has missed the last 20 games due to a left knee injury originally sustained Dec. 11, 2016, and then the injury on Aug. 3, 2017, during training camp while escaping a pass rush. Tannehill said he’s not worried about taking a hit on his left knee. “The knee has been tested to the ninth degree of pushing it as far as it can go,” he said. ... We'll continue to watch for more.

The Facts: The Bears declined to exercise their fifth-year option on White's contract this offseason in a move that couldn’t have taken anyone by surprise. In a series of short answers to questions from reporters on Wednesday, White shrugged off the decision. “I’m motivated every single day, with or without the option. ... Don’t know [if the Bears believe in me],” White said. “Really doesn’t bother me at all. I believe in myself.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Injuries have limited White to five games since being drafted seventh overall in the 2015 draft and the option is guaranteed in the case of injury, which makes for too much risk for a player who hasn’t shown he can actually help the team on the field. White added that he’s “built Ford tough” in response to a question about what he’s learned about himself over the last three years and that “anything I want” is possible during the 2018 season. According to an observer at OTAs, White does look better — as in faster and more explosive — than he did during OTAs last year. As he said, returning from a broken shoulder blade is significantly different than coming back from a second major surgery on your lower left leg. But White is in his fourth season. It’s time for him to play with the same edge and attitude he showed the media after practice.

The Facts: Bills’ HC Sean McDermott announced Jones underwent knee surgery and will miss the remainder of the offseason program. Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: And an eventful offseason continues for Jones. Following the season, Jones revealed he played part of the year with a torn labrum and had surgery to repair the injury in January. Then it got a little weird. Jones was arrested for vandalism after fighting with his brother while naked and putting his bare foot through a window. Los Angeles authorities opted not to pursue charges as a result of the incident and McDermott said the team is focused on the future with Jones. The makeup of the Bills receiving corps points to plenty of opportunities for Jones to improve on those numbers in the year to come -- assuming he's healthy enough to do so. We'll be following up.