Hello, and welcome to the Dynasty Dude Podcast. I'm your host, Corey
Evans. Thanks for listening. This week, I'm talking about key rookie injuries
to monitor as we head into training camp and make sure the preseason. It's
never ideal for a prospect to enter the NFL or their offseason program injured.
You're against the odds of contributing as a day one type impact player. Of
course, there's still plenty of time to turn things around for the five names
it will discuss, but in terms of getting those valuable reps at rookie mini
camp OTAs even management mini caamp and missing out on that it doesn't help matters
for your rookie outlook for volume, targets, usage, etc. As we
all know, players are injured as soon as the season begins. At some
point in time, you're playing injured. But it's a matter of entering the
campaign healthy because nobody's going to be one hundred percent by the time week one,
week two rolls around. You're dealing with small ailments that limit you or
stop you from reaching full speed or feeling at your best. But the fact
that these five rookies are already at this point causes some concern, but I'll
break down a detail just how concerned I am in a matter of minutes.
Before I do that, quick shout out to Brandon, Tim and Jonathan for
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minutes, fifty dollars for one hour. Here we go. First up is
Jordan Addison. He's only twenty one, twenty third overall pick out USC back
in May, Vikings tech coach Kevin O'Connell so that Addison was not participating in
OTA's due to a minor injury. The exact quote was, we're being overly
cautious with him right now. Something that popped up toward the end of recommnicamp.
Nothing serious at all, kind of a day to day thing that we're
working through. End quote. At the time seemed like nothing brushed over the
idea that Addison b sideline for all that long. We recently learned though,
that in June Addison is still sideline, not at full capacity in mandatory mining
camp, which is slightly concerning because that's a full month now of him not
back on the field. He's missing important and irreplaceable time for a prospect.
It is encouraging that O'Connell said he expects Jordan to be a full participant by
the time training camp rolls around in July, which would be a welcome sign
for those invested in Dynasty, whether it was a first round pick and rookie
draft capital, or even a startup selection. In regards to Addison this offseason,
without Adam feeling around, there's a path to wide receiver two duties alongside
justin Jefferson in Minnesota, there is the presence of kJ Osbourne to account for.
He could have an initial leg up on Addison in the short term,
but training camp and the preseason can change that narrative fairly quickly. Reflecting back
twenty twenty two with USC, Addison delivered a fifty nine eight seventy five eight
receiving line fourteen point yarts pertecch. He's able to play inside the slot or
out wide with clean mechanics. He's six foot once seventy five at the combine.
He checked in sub six it was five eleven, but most major websites
have him at six feet, so we're splitting hairs at that point. Either
way. Size is not built to be a wider seper one more wid receiver
two. In real life, that couple with a lack of strength against opposing
defenders are somewhat troubling jumping from college to the pros, He's going to have
to rely on crisp rout running to overcome those weaknesses, which I think he
can do with ease. He's a complete finished product in terms of plane style.
There is some Keen Allen to his game, not as large of a
body frame, but if you watch the tape you'll see what I mean.
So Addison hopefully gets back on track on the field come training camp, and
at that point we can write off this small injury that is undisclosed what it
is. We are not sure. It sounds like it's a lower body and
or soft tissue issue based on what Kevin O'Connell has said with a mean minor,
but the fact that he's missed so much time already isn't the best start,
But there's time to turn around. Kendre Miller turned twenty one this month,
super young from a Dynasty Lens third rounder seventy one overall to TCU.
Miller tours meniscus back in January, so it makes sense for the Saints eason
back onto the field, Kendra did not participates in rookie minicamp. He was
president for Rota's in terms of soaking up the offense information the playbook no surprise
where the Miller was not actually on the field practicing same goals and applies for
mandatory mini camp. At this point, it's not clear if Kendrew will be
back in time for training camp, the preseason, or even the regular season,
when will require some patients. It's possible that a suspension announcement for album
Kamara could accelerate Miller's return. Then again, Jamal Williams stands the benefit most
if or when Kimara missus time in twenty twenty three. That being said,
it does sound like Kimara will face some sort of suspension. The rumors are
anywhere from four to six games. Perhaps the NFL is even more strict and
it's larger than that amount time will tell. Miller himself is a bet on
future dividends regardless and could have actually pushed for a prominent rookie role. When
Fillip recovered from his tour meniscus in twenty twenty two with TCU, he had
a breakout campaign A two twenty thirteen ninety nine seventeen rushing line six point two
yards carry sixteen catches one hundred and sixteen yards. The efficiency was off the
charts. Over two hundred rushing attempts, almost fourteen hundred yards on the ground
those seventeen touchdowns and six point two yards per clip that is exceptional. He
has the makeup of a starting NFL running back at five eleven two fifteen could
buy him with smooth change direction skills, cut back ability and his age job
between the tackles for that body size, pass protection and development as a pass
catcher. Our departments he needs to address in terms of fulfilling hopes of becoming
the air apparent to Commearra as RB one for the Saints. A stop gap
or bridge the position is Jamal Williams, but don't write off the idea of
Miller eventually returning in twenty twenty three and demanding an immediate role based on his
natural athletic ability and big play skill. Set Up next is Luke Schoonmaker twenty
five September so Older for a Prospect tech A round pick fifty eight overall from
Michigan. It was reported early on June that Schoolmaker is dealing with plantar fesciitis
and had a boot on an OTAs it sounds like he is on traffic training
camp, but plantar fesciitis can be a lingering or reoccur an injury, which
isn't ideal for a football player, let alone a tight end who needs to
block and then functions a pass cucture dual threat skill set. The Athletic reported
during the Cowboys mandatory mini camp that Jake Ferguson is expected to start four Dallas
at tight end. In case you forgot, Ferguson, fourth round picked last
year, turned in a nineteen one seventy two receiving log on twenty two targets.
There's also Peyton Hendershott, who could be in the mix for volume at
tight end or reps the position despite being a UDFA last year. Stati contributed
an eleven one h three two line on sixteen targets last season. Schoolmaker is
therefore shaping up as a taxi squad candidate for Down's purposes or end of bench
stash until he returns, and he needs to practice asap to gain any traction
back to having a year one role. I say it before, and I'll
say it again, it's worth repeating myself that Dallas choosing Schoolmaker in the second
round seeming like one of the biggest reaches or stretches of the entire draft at
all positions. After all, Schoolmaker's best college output came last season with a
thirty four eighteen three receiving line eleven points per catch in a complimentary role for
Mission's offense. He's a better run blocker than natural pass catcher is a prospect.
The biggest red flag that I saw on tape was making a test it
catches or receptions and traffic across the middle of the field, which we've seen
it time and time again with Dold Schultz. That's where he lived and thrived
and where Dak is going to target tight ends, especially now without Kellen Moore
calling plays in Dallas. So Schoomaker is someone I'm avoiding that cost, especially
in tight up premium formats where he's hovering around that second late, if not
early third borderline. I'd rather have other tight ends in my rankings over on
Patreon in that value range. And the fact that Dallas is foreshadowing Ferguson being
the starter and Hendershot being the backup or change of pace option to Ferguson means
that this could be someone of a red shirt year for Schoolmaker. The plant
affectualitis isn't helping matters. If that weren't the case, perhaps to be pushing
for that week one role, but the writings on the wall that he's not
going to rely on heavily, especially with so many other playmakers on offense right
with Ceedee Lamb obviously, Tony Pollard, Brandon coachs, Michael Gallup. You
get the picture. Schoolmaker has an uphill battle to become relevant in Dallas at
least year one time for a quick break, and then I'll meet back to
discuss two more rookie injuries to monitor as we head into training camp and of
actually the preseason. That next name is Josh Downs. He was a third
round pick this year, seventy nine overall out of North Carolina. In May,
prior to OTA's Colts, new head coach Shane Styke ins that Downs was
dealing with a knee injury. Quote, Josh has a little knee issue,
nothing major, though I'll leave it at that end. Quote. There haven't
been many updates about Down since then, so hopefully it is a full go
and recovered in order to compete for the Colts wide receiver three years slot roll
with Isa McKenzie in short time. Based on pure talent, I thought downs
was a steel for Indianapolis since a lot of draft experts protecting him to be
a late first round pick or sure fire second round selection. So the third
round is, as I mentioned, a possible steal or robbery for an organization
that needs to improve on offense in terms of pass captures in order to develop
and allow Anthony Rickerson to blossom as what should be a year one starter.
Josh himself lit up the college scene with North Caroline over the past two years
with annual receiving logs of one oh one thirteen thirty five eight thirteen point two
yards pertecch. That was in twenty twenty one and then last year in twenty
twenty two a ninety four ten twenty nine eleven receiving line ten point nine yards
pertectch. So not a major downfield threat. He's your prototypical slot weapon.
There's a lot of damage underneath to the sidelines or comeback routes. Short area
quickness benefits him as well as after catch ability and He's going to be a
possession weapon in the pros allah. What he did at the college level,
it's going to be difficult for Downs to pass up. In my mind,
Michael Pittman or even out Pierce on the Colts. Why would you redepth chart
to start twenty twenty three and each of them bring different skills set to the
table. Downs does not have the size of Pittman or Pierce or the red
zone presence to dominate in those areas of the field. It's more of that
possession outlet for Anthony Rickerson to build around or in the short term. Gardner
Minshew in summary, Josh Downs looks the part on tape to become an immediate
weapon on the slot as professional thanks to his tough plane style, a bit
of Jovis Landry to him in terms of physicality, reliable hands, and fluid
running. He displayed an adaptability to create separation at the college level as well.
Despite being five ten one seventy five, so Downs being featured outside in
the NFL is unlikely. He's gonna have to thrive and live on the slot,
which in PPR is what we want. We want that high volume double
legit catch or double legit target threat each and every week, and I have
actually think that is what Josh Downs will bring to us come the regular season,
assuming whatever this knee issue is is fully recovered at that time stamp of
the season. And last, but not least, Taje. Spears, he
turned twenty two this month, third round or eighty one overall to Tulane.
Spears isn't technically injured, but he does make this episode due to his knee
concerns. It was revealed during the NFL combine that Spears has quote a full
thickness card league loss and no HL in his kneed addition to arthritis end quotes.
I'm aut a medical experts, but that does not sound encouraging for running
back. Shelfall in the NFL one question about his knee direct responded saying he's
healthy. Did everything feels fine after participating rookie mini caamp. So he's dismissing
it, not really acknowledging that medical evaluations were done and they found that on
one of his knees. Titans the coordinator Tim Kelly say that the Tennessee is
going to give Spears quote as much as he can handle end quotes, and
Titans dot Com. Jim Wyatt, one of the best reporters linked to the
team, said that Spears was one of the most active players for Tennessee during
the offseason program, meaning they're involving him a lot in off facets of the
offense. It already sounds like Spears has leap frog to Soun Haskins his RB
two for the Titans, behind Derrick Henry, who was entering his age twenty
nine season with a ton of recruite mileage on his NFL resume, let alone
dating back to high school. Feeling at those stats are Derick Henry, they
are out of this world. And even at the college level with Alabama Derrick
Henry, the wheels are going to fall off the bus. It's a matter
of time. I don't know the exact cash out strategy in terms of peak
value, it's probably a year or two ago. If you could still get
in early mid first for Henry, I would do so. In Dynasty,
I'm not saying that Tajay Spears is going to un seat Henry, but I
could cern about the durability of Henry himself, and that is what creates so
much skepticism about him. When it comes to dynasty redraft, different story,
Fire him up as an RB one until he shows any signs of significant slowing
down or a loss of effectiveness. Spears exciting talent, excellent field vision,
cutback, ability to stop and starting a dime. It's unreal when you watch
the film. He thrived at two lane with the two twenty nine fifteen eighty
one nineteen Russian effort in twenty twenty two six point nine yards per clip.
That's amazing when it comes to efficiency and ample volume. Mind you, he
added a twenty two two six two receiving line and showcase versatility. But let's
be honest, tans Jay Spears could become a league winner of Henry were forced
to miss time in twenty twenty three. From a long term perspective, however,
it's difficult to support spending a second round rookie draft pick on Spears,
or even more after the fact, based on the medical report from the combine
and then size we need to talk about. It needs to be addressed.
Five ten two A one that usually translates to a change of pace roll in
the NFL and not featured back duties or even a lion share of rushing attempts
on a team former NFL running backs. We've seen what similarly the issues to
Spears consist of Todd, Gurley and Ji and we know how abruptly both of
their pro careers came to an end. So that's where I'm at. It's
a cross world to Taj Spears. Is he injured right now? Technically the
answer is no, But in the back of our minds we know that he
has that full thickness card league loss, no h CL one of his knees
and arthritis. Are we really going to spend a premium on him because Tennessee
is praising him with no pads on. We know the skill set will transfer.
He is dynamic in the open field between the tackles, home run hitter
in terms of speed and downfield explosion. All the concerns stem around that knee,
and I simply can't spend more than a third round pick on him,
or in terms of player for player of value, someone in that similar price
range, we'll say top seventy five to one hundred, if not outside the
one hundred by a small range, assuming one quarterback and superflex push that back
another round or two because there's a legitimate chance that you're investing in Spear and
he's only going to last for the duration of Riki contracting FFL come contract number
two. It could be a girly or Jhi situation where he's out of the
league. That is what is so alarming when it comes to evaluating him,
not only in the short term, but long term as well. Thank you
all for listening. A quick recap of key rookie injuries to monitor. I
discussed Jordan Addison, Kendre Miller, Luke Schoolmaker, Josh Downs and Taj Spears.
Any questions you know where to go. That is Patreon dot com link
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want to get on my calendar, get it scheduled thirty minute or one hour
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hit me up on social media, or send me that email Dynasty Pod at
gmail dot com. We'll get it locked in and scheduled so you're ready to
roll up for the regular season, which, before we know it is going
to be here. It's almost July. This summer is flying by. Thank
you all again for listening. Until next time. This is the dynas you're
checking out. Talk to you all next week. See you M M.