NFL News: Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford, Bill Belichick, Austin Ekeler

The NFL is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year business. Between training camp, the preseason, the NFL season itself from September through February, and then the madness that is the NFL offseason featuring the NFL Draft, free agency, minicamps and rumors, the news truly never stops. And while not all news is necessarily fantasy football news, everything affects fantasy football, even indirectly. In this series, we’ll share and summarize the latest NFL news and break down why that news is important to fantasy managers.

Note: player names will be linked to their respective FantasyPros player cards, where you can find the latest news, notes, rankings, articles, stats and more for that particular player.

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Rams Wanted to Redo Matthew Stafford’s Contract, Were Frustrated He Declined

Matthew Stafford declined to rework his contract, causing some frustration within the team. According to Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports, the Rams wanted Stafford to restructure his deal, which would have given the team more flexibility. However, Stafford’s refusal left the Rams in a bit of a bind. Despite rumors of a potential trade, the Rams were not actively shopping Stafford.

Instead, they were exploring their options during what they called a “reset year.” Stafford’s contract, which guaranteed him $62 million this spring, is seen as restrictive, especially with his cap hit spiking to $49.5 million in 2024 and 2026, and $50.5 million in 2025. The Rams have subsequently pushed back on this report, saying they never tried to trade the veteran QB even though other teams were interested.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Confident He Won’t Repeat Season with Double-Digit INTs

Dak Prescott is determined to put his interception-prone past behind him. Last season, Prescott led the NFL with a career-high 15 interceptions, adding two more in a Divisional Round loss to the 49ers. Despite this, he’s confident he won’t hit double-digit picks again in the upcoming season. Prescott attributes some of his past interceptions to drops and deflections off Dallas receivers. He also believes that increased communication under head coach Mike McCarthy will help reduce interceptions. Prescott’s optimism also hinges on finding a new safety blanket at tight end and quick chemistry with Brandin Cooks, following the departure of Dalton Schultz to Houston. If Prescott can manage his turnover woes, the Cowboys could be looking at a more positive spin next offseason.

From Week 7 onward – when Prescott returned from injury – Dak was tied for second in passing TDs (23).

The passing TDs are going to regress negatively after Dallas finished with the No. 1 red-zone offense last season.

Losing OC Kellen Moore is going to show up in the red zone

— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) July 10, 2023

Why Bill Belichick is Officially ‘On Watch’ This Season

Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots’ head coach, is under more pressure than ever. Despite being just 19 victories away from becoming the winningest head coach in NFL history, Belichick’s job security is being questioned. The Patriots haven’t won a playoff game since their sixth Super Bowl title four years ago and have been regressing to mediocrity since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020. Belichick’s decision to have Matt Patricia call offensive plays in 2022 and the team’s record spending spree in 2021 free agency have been criticized. If the Patriots continue to struggle in 2023, Belichick’s job could be in jeopardy, with promising assistant coach Jerod Mayo potentially next in line.

Austin Ekeler: Contract Request Created a ‘Lot of Baggage’

Austin Ekeler understands why his push for a trade this offseason in hopes of landing a new contract didn’t pan out. Ekeler noted that the Chargers’ high asking price and his desire for a restructured deal made his trade market less appealing. Despite this, Ekeler and the Chargers agreed to a revised contract in March that added $1.8 million in incentives to his contract, which expires after the 2023 season. Ekeler has become one of the most dynamic running backs in football over the last two seasons, compiling 3,195 total yards and 38 total touchdowns. However, the Chargers’ decision to keep things year-to-year reflects the overall dwindling running back market and Ekeler’s age (28).

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