'Cautious optimism' for Deebo for the NFCCG 🫣

Normally I would have rather had the Bills in the AFC championship, but another week of angry running from Isiah Pacheco is not something I’m unhappy to watch this weekend. 🤷‍♂️

What’s in store:

• Deebo Samuel has a shot to play this weekend. The 49ers say they’re ‘cautiously optimistic’ about his shoulder injury.

• The Lions signed Zach Ertz to the practice squad. In other news: the Cowboys signed Martavis Bryant to the practice squad. This is a joke.

• Finding landing spots for Ben Johnson and Bill Belichick. Two opposite ends of the age spectrum highlight Faraz’s coaching carousel predictions.

• Khalil Shakir capitalized on his opportunity. The soon-to-be third-year receiver made the most of his time on the field this season.

• 49ers WR Deebo Samuel spends most of the day in divisional round on sideline with shoulder injury, status in doubt for NFCCG

  • Deebo reeled in just two catches for 24 yards on the night against the Packers this weekend in what was an injury-shortened contest from the beginning. He spent time in and out of the blue medical tent and jogged a few times into and out of the locker room before being officially ruled out, leaving Jauan Jennings to pick up the slack in his absence (which he did an admirable job of doing). They’re calling it a shoulder injury officially, and the word is currently that there’s ‘guarded optimism’ for Samuel to play this weekend in the championship game against the Lions. With five days still standing between now and the game, Samuel’s status is liable to fluctuate throughout the week – but the fact that he’s at least got a fighting chance to suit up will be music to 49ers fans’ ears and anyone else who planned to make the dynamic wideout a part of their championship weekend DFS squad.

• Free agent TE Zach Ertz signs with Lions ahead of NFCCG following injury to Brock Wright in the divisional round

  • No reason to read too far into this signing for the Lions as Ertz is likely to serve as a depth/rotational piece at best as long as Sam LaPorta is able to stay healthy. That being said, LaPorta has been playing through injury the past two weeks, as well, and the door could open for Ertz to see some action if anything would happen to the record-breaking rookie tight end. Banking on an injury to LaPorta and the immediate elevation of Zach Ertz, though, hardly qualifies as an advisable strategy, so fantasy managers should leave Ertz out of their DFS lineups as of today and moving forward barring any kind of injury to LaPorta. Ertz’s last action came in a Cardinals uniform this season, where he served as a solid TE option before going down with an injury and ultimately ceding the starting role to Trey McBride.

• Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield more likely than not to remain in Tampa Bay for at least the 2024 season, per Ian Rapaport

  • Turning our eyes ahead to 2024, it looks like Baker Mayfield has a really good chance of running it back with the Buccaneers next season after the team took a flier on him as a bridge starter for 2023. All Mayfield did was deliver Tampa Bay to two playoff games, including a win against the Eagles, while also throwing for over 4K yards and 28 touchdowns. With things working out better than either party could have imagined going into this past season, it’s unlikely that there will be too much tension between the sides as they work to get Mayfield back with the Buccaneers, which is reportedly the course of action both sides prefer. NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport mentioned that the franchise tag is on the table should extension talks stall, but barring a massive falling out between the two parties, fantasy manager can expect Mayfield to be back in the pewter and red next season.

Ben Johnson, OC – DET

• Ben Johnson is the new hot offensive coordinator likely turning head coach very soon. He could’ve became a head coach last off-season but he decided to stay with the Lions, and it led to some serious success - His offense was top-5 in yards both years as the OC for the Lions, top-5 in points both years, this year the Lions were Top-5 in both rushing yards and passing yards, Top-5 in both rushing TDs and passing TDs, he put in his dues - he’s been a coach or assistant in the NFL since 2012… and it was amazing for fantasy obviously, and this is off a tweet from Kyle Borgognoni from the Fantasy Footballers - the only team since 2000 to have a Top-10 fantasy QB, 2 Top-12 fantasy RBs, a Top-5 fantasy WR, and a Top-5 fantasy TE.

  • My guess is that he ends up with the Commanders. I don’t think he wants part of that ownership in Carolina, although I do think they’ll throw a huge bag his way - he turned them down last year, he did interview with them this year, but him going to the Commanders makes sense to me, they can grab a franchise QB at 2, worse case scenario they stick with Howell for now, and even if they do that, Howell will likely put up video game numbers with Ben Johnson as OC and the weapons they currently have. But I’d imagine Ben Johnson would like his hand at one of these QBs in this draft class.

Bill Belichick, HC – Formerly of NE

• When it comes to Belichick, going to the Falcons make sense because it has stable ownership, but they will have to address the QB position. The question for me is - does Belichick want to groom a young QB or does he want to a situation where the QB position is already stable - the Commanders who will likely have an answer at QB, whether that’s Howell or a QB picked at 2, that’s a better situation than Atlanta might be in next year, the Chargers job, who I think will end up being where Jim Harbaugh decides to return to the NFL - Harbaugh already interviewed with the Chargers, Belichick already interviewed with the Falcons.

A few weeks ago before the start of the NFL playoffs, we talked on the Upper Hand Fantasy podcast about the opportunity that was staring Bills WR Khalil Shakir in the face. Gabe Davis had gone down ahead of Buffalo’s first playoff game against the Steelers, and with Davis also slated to hit free agency after this season, Shakir had a prime opportunity to establish a role for himself in high-profile matchups. Needless to say, Shakir seized that opportunity.

In two playoff games, Shakir was able to reel in 10 of the 12 targets he earned for 75 yards and two touchdowns, including a glorious scramble drill touchdown in the Bill’s divisional round loss to give them their final lead of the day – which was ultimately relinquished to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs a drive later. That touchdown was scored against none other than L’Jarius Sneed, who hadn’t allowed a touchdown all season up to that point.

What makes Shakir’s situation heading into 2024 interesting is the cracked foundation beneath the two wide receivers ahead of him on the depth chart. Davis has struggled with staying healthy throughout his career and hasn’t proven himself capable of consistent production. He’s a free agent in March, while Stefon Diggs is dealing with his own drama as a result of a decline in performance down the stretch. By no means should the expectation be that Shakir ascends to the WR1 position in the Bills offense, and it’s likely that Buffalo seeks to bolster its WR room this free agency cycle and during the draft – but it’s undeniable that Shakir is playing great football, and he’s proven that he’s deserving of more opportunity in 2024 after a strong finish to the 2023 season.