NFL

If he plays should you trust him?

Published

3 years ago

October 3, 2021

darragh

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One of the worst things about fantasy football is the amount of luck that factors into weekly matchups. Injuries are always going to be a part of the game, but they seem fairly random. Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook missed Week 3 due to injury and has popped up on the fantasy injury report for Week 4 as well. We likely won’t know for sure if he’s playing until late Sunday morning. Until then, fantasy managers will need to look at all options in case Cook is held out.

Update (10/03/21): Dalvin Cook is active for the Vikings’ Week 4 game against the Browns.

Should you start Dalvin Cook this week?

Dalvin Cook has had a long history of injuries in his time in the NFL, but it’s hard to call him injury prone. Let’s look deeper and see if there’s a pattern, though.

Dalvin Cook’s injury history

For starters, Cook hasn’t played an entire season in his five-year career. He missed five games in 2018, two each in 2019 and 2020, and has already missed one this year. That being said, his injuries usually aren’t related and are often to different parts of his body.

In 2018, Cook missed five games with a pulled hamstring, and a shoulder injury sidelined him in 2019. Then, in 2020, it was a groin injury, and now it’s an ankle injury. None of these seem directly related at all. Instead, it indicates that Cook plays football at the highest level and takes a lot of abuse doing so.

Cook has looked good through two games

Though he’s only played in two games this season, Cook is the RB20 overall in PPR scoring (RB6 – points per game). He has 252 total yards, 8 catches, and 1 touchdown. As expected, when he’s been on the field, Cook’s been dominant. Fantasy managers drafted Cook at the top of their drafts, and at least early on, it has paid dividends.

During the Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, Cook ran for 131 yards on 22 carries. However, he was tackled low by J.J. Watt and briefly left the game in the fourth quarter. Despite missing a few snaps, Cook returned. After the game, it was announced that he had a mild ankle sprain.

Cook was listed as questionable heading into Week 3 despite missing practice. He was then declared inactive Sunday morning, giving Alexander Mattison a chance to start. With Cook’s injury history and the extra game this year, it’s entirely possible that this was precautionary more than anything else. Nonetheless, Mattison did pretty well in Cook’s absence.

Mattison dominated when given the opportunity in Week 3

Mattison and the Vikings entered Week 3 against the Seahawks with an 0-2 record. Needing a victory to help improve their postseason chances, the team turned to Mattison to get the job done. He delivered.

Mattison finished with 112 yards on 26 carries, adding 6 catches on 8 targets for another 59 yards through the air. Mattison put the team on his back, and he helped lead the Vikings to a convincing 30-17 victory. He was every bit as good as Cook probably would have been, making the decision to bench Cook look like the right one.

Based on this performance, and the status of Cook’s ankle, Mattison might get the chance to do it again in Week 4. If that’s the case, and there’s only one RB to worry about, Mattison is definitely worth a start. But what should we do if Cook suits up? Should you start both or one or the other?

Dalvin Cook is worth starting if he plays in Week 4

Cook practiced in a limited fashion ahead of Sunday’s game, which makes me think he’s playing. He practiced Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — although not fully each day. This led to him telling the media that he expects to play in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns.

However, the question as to whether you should start Cook this week is a little misleading. If Cook plays on Sunday, I’m probably playing him. If he doesn’t, the easy choice is to start Mattison.

The real question I have is more about Mattison. Is he worth starting if both running backs play this week?

Should you start Alexander Mattison no matter what?

Mattison’s 2021 Offensive Value Metric (OVM) for the year is 19.09 — the fourth-best among RBs. For clarity, this is better than Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, or Aaron Jones so far this year. Yet, much of this is likely skewed by his tremendous Week 3 performance with Cook out of the lineup.

Mattison has scored a total of 28.5 PPR fantasy points this year, but 23.1 of them came last week. While that’s over 80% of his production, it still shows how talented Mattison is when given the chance.

When Cook plays, Mattison goes back to his change-of-pace role, getting a handful of carries when Cook needs a breather. Between the injury and the lengthened season, I could definitely see the Vikings splitting the carries this week. It may look more like a timeshare than before Cook got hurt.

If you have both, I prefer starting Cook over Mattison. Still, I don’t mind playing both, depending on the other options available. Injuries are piling up, and you may be looking at a decision between Mattison and Ronald Jones, for example, or something similar. In those cases, it might be worth it to roll the dice on Mattison and see if he can carve out a role of his own this week.

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NFL

Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

Legend 😂 pic.twitter.com/hk27JTAXZ9

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

“If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X.

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said.

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted.

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

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Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.

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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw appeared to suffer an injury while running on the field.

pic.twitter.com/zx0l1NjTew

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) is now officially out for the game.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

He can’t sit in the back? pic.twitter.com/9jpz0rdoF1

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 12, 2024

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

And now, the end is near.

And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain. pic.twitter.com/YgIEGOAMb1

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 11, 2024

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.