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Most Valuable Intel (7/15/20): Eagles TEs, Indians Rotation, and MORE!
Hot topics include a ranking of all 32 TE units, a watchlist for MLB prospects, and more!
USA TODAY Sports
Today’s must-read sports content provides key insights and takeaways about the most popular discussions happening in sports right now, such as a ranking of the NFL’s Tight End units and the best rotations in baseball heading into 2020. Here’s the Most Valuable Intel to know from the top articles in sports.
FULL ARTICLE: NFL Tight End rankings: All 32 Units Entering the 2020 NFL Season by Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus
HOT: NFL Tight End Unit Rankings for All 32 Teams by @PFF_Steve
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— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) July 14, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: PHI Dallas Goedert is a legitimate top-15 TE despite being PHI’s No.2 TE
With the NFL rapidly transforming into a league that prioritizes dynamism and speed, TEs are evolving into freakishly athletic receivers who can also block well in the run game. The 2020 Tight End class only has a handful of elite, proven players that fill this role at a high level. Steve Palazzolo of PFF ranks all 32 TE units as the upcoming regular season steadily approaches.
It is not a coincidence that the top two teams in the ranking were also the last two teams standing in the 2019-20 season. Following the obvious No. 1 and 2 committees employed in San Francisco and Kansas City, the Philadelphia Eagles slide in at No. 3 with the dangerous duo of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Ertz, who has been a top-five TE (both in the NFL and fantasy leagues) for several seasons now, had the highest open-target rate among TEs in 2019 (73.1%) thanks to his crisp route-running. Combining Ertz’s elusiveness and receiving prowess with Goedert’s downfield speed and run blocking talent (78.9 grade, second-highest by a TE last year) will create one of the best TE tandems in the nation, as they are both top-15 fantasy TE candidates heading into 2020.
FULL ARTICLE: Here are the 10 Best Rotations in Baseball by Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com
HOT: 10 Best Rotations in Baseball Entering 2020 by @castrovince
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) July 14, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Indians still have a top-5 rotation without SPs Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer
Over the last decade, baseball fans have been witnessing the relief-pitching revolution; no longer will SPs be throwing complete games and 110+ pitches per outing. However, MLB bullpens broke down in 2019 by collectively creating the 11th highest league-wide (4.43) ERA in history. With the shortened 60-game season on the July docket, MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince ranks the 10 best SP rotations as depth will play a major factor due to the special circumstances.
There is not a single SP trio that can match up with Washington’s Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin, but there is one team that has both firepower and youth to surprise the baseball world this summer: the Cleveland Indians. Even though the franchise traded away its previous No. 1 and 2 starters (Kluber -> Rangers & Bauer –> Reds), the Indians will still display an elite SP committee headlined by Cy Young candidate Shane Bieber.
Rounding out the rotation will be Mike Clevinger (5th-lowest ERA since 2017-18), Carlos Carrasco (10.8 Ks/9IPs in 2018, 9th-highest), and rising studs in Adam Plutko, Zach Plesac, and sixth-man Aaron Civale. Cleveland will continue to showcase their strong farm system that features one of the best pitching factories in the game.
FULL ARTICLE: MLB Prospect Watch: One Young Player For Each Team who Could Make an Impact in 60-Game Season by R.J. Anderson, CBS Sports
HOT: Top Prospect on Every MLB Team That Could Make an Impact in 2020 by @r_j_anderson ⬇️ https://t.co/QtsGS3Mt2E
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) July 14, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: P Christian Javier may find a role in the Astros bullpen during the 2020 homestretch
The shortened MLB season absolutely levels the playing field between the heavy playoff favorites and the fringe contenders. Since one player’s hot streak can be the deciding factor that pushes a franchise into the postseason, R.J. Anderson at CBS.com provides one prospect for each team with the potential to breakout in 2020.
The Houston Astros benefitted heavily from Yordan Alvarez’ rookie emergence last year, but the departure of SP Gerritt Cole in free agency raises questions regarding pitching depth. Tearing up the minor leagues (A through AAA) is P Christian Javier, who has a spectacular 2.22 ERA with 512 strikeouts over 377 professional innings pitched. Javier’s ability to fill in as either a spot-starter or a reliever could give Houston another x-factor in the warzone that is the American League.
FULL ARTICLE: NFL Veterans on the Bubble for All 32 Teams: Who Could Be Cut During 2020 Training Camp? by NFL Nation, ESPN
HOT: NFL Veterans Who Could Be Cut By Each NFL Team by @espn ⬇️ https://t.co/PQj3jpem5W
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) July 14, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: GB Jamaal Williams has lost his backup RB role to 2020 second-rounder AJ Dillon
NFL experts are still trying to rationalize whether the altered offseason will be beneficial or detrimental for veterans who are seeking a starting role. For the Green Bay Packers, RB Jamaal Williams is one vet who could receive the ax before the 2020 season even kickoff. Williams has been a decent complimentary piece (career 3.9 Y/A) to RB1 Aaron Jones (career 5.0 Y/A) since their 2017 debuts, but Green Bay may opt to drop the former’s $2.1M contract after drafting his replacement, AJ Dillon in the second round of this year’s draft. NFL Nation both identifies and evaluates one seasoned player on each franchise that might not make the regular-season roster in 2020.
FULL ARTICLE: Fantasy Football Takeaways From PFF’s Offensive Line Rankings: Cam Newton, Baker Mayfield, Todd Gurley and More by Jesse Reeves, Pro Football Focus
HOT: Fantasy Football Takeaways From O-Line Rankings by @JesseReevesFF
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) July 14, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: OROY candidate Jonathon Taylor has both a high floor and ceiling behind the Colts O-Line
Building off Steve Palazzolo’s offensive line rankings for all 32 teams, PFF’s Jesse Reeves presents the players that will be most affected by their team’s O-Line as fantasy football assets in 2020. The Colts own the rare fortune of having an intense battle for the lead role of the franchise’s RB committee. Marlon Mack has become an above-average rusher behind one of the league’s best O-Lines, but 2020 second-round pick Jonathon Taylor has the brighter future in Indianapolis after dominating Big-10 football defenses. If Mack falls out of the starting lineup, Taylor instantly becomes a prime breakout candidate in the upcoming campaign. Reeves also breaks down how a few other renowned stars can resurrect their careers this winter.
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