NFL News & Analysis

5 things you need to know for Saturday

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions make a catch in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Hello football fans! Here are the five things you need to know from Friday to start your day:

  1. Detroit Lions WR Marvin Jones started the 2016 season hot, grading out well in just about every metric through the first seven weeks of the season. He cooled off in a big way after that, struggling mightily down the stretch and finishing the season as only PFF’s 45th-graded receiver. In an effort to work on his route-running and consistency, Jones has been working out with Randy Moss this offseason, hoping to offer more in 2017.
  2. The New York Jets enter the season with Bilal Powell and Matt Forte as the team’s top two running backs, and most experts expect Powell to be the No. 1, but at least one reporter thinks it will be Forte holding on to the gig. Forte’s career PFF grades have had an inverse relationship with his number of snaps played — the more snaps, the lower the overall grade — so the presence of Powell could keep Forte in check whether he’s the starter or splitting time.
  3. LB Haason Reddick out of Temple was a first-rounder for the Cardinals in the 2017 draft, and Reddick is projected to be the team’s starter to open the season. Deone Bucannon and Karlos Dansby are the other two top candidates to fill the inside linebacker role for the team, but Bucannon is a candidate to start the season on the PUP list, leaving Reddick in place as the starter from Week 1.
  4. The co-owner of the New York Giants, John Mara, said in a radio interview Thursday that he believes QB Eli Manning can improve off of a seriously down 2016, and still has plenty of gas in the tank. Manning had his worst season grade (53.0) of the PFF era (since 2006) last year, continuing a fairly steady downward trend since his grades peaked at 90.9 in 2011.
  5. PFF Fantasy’s Tyler Buecher counted down the six least helpful offseason moves for fantasy purposes. A day after offering the most helpful moves, the least helpful moves include a white flag for the Jets, two offensive linemen leaving Cincinnati, and the Jaguars lowering the ceiling for one-time star WR Allen Robinson.
Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit