Latest news with #vindication
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football: But what if you're right? — 3 players who could pay off if you're willing to draft them
There's no greater feeling than watching a movie with a vindication plot reach its resolution. The 'Us vs. the World' vibe sets in from the beginning. It almost feels personal. As if nobody believes you despite the 'clear' facts displayed on your screen. Will Smith has played the part well over his career. From Enemy of the State to I, Robot, we're almost rooting for something to happen, forcing more people to share our conviction. Some of our favorite draft picks require the same level of fortitude. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] We've been following the news all offseason. Everyone's seeing the same training camp clips. And yet, you're on an island. Your thoughts get dismissed. However, when it comes to these three players, you could make the case that if you're right, you've found the players that will help you win a fantasy football championship. Christian McCaffrey (Yahoo ADP: 8.8) Everybody knew what was coming as soon as Christian McCaffrey exited Week 13 in the second quarter. First, it was bilateral Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey rug-pulled fantasy managers by missing Week 1 despite insisting he'd have played just a few weeks prior. He then proceeded to burn a hole in fantasy rosters until his return in Week 10. And even in his three full games, McCaffrey didn't beat the 'still injured or too old' allegations. Forced Missed Tackle Rate: 4.7% (2024), 18.1% (2022 and 2023) Rushing Success Rate: 37.2%, 50.1% Yards after the Catch per Reception: 5.8, 7.2 No 100-yard games (unless you count all-purpose). No touchdowns. Another injury. And McCaffrey turned 29 over the summer. I can see why drafters with a mid-to-late first-round pick might hesitate. I've seen enough clues to keep me clicking his name at the 1.08. To be clear, my confidence doesn't come from him making a catch against a backup defender in camp. I mean, yes, it's cool. The beat the 49ers' social team tossed on it is dope, too. But it's the depth. Air Yards per Target: 4.1 (2024), 1.9 (2022 and 2023) Catch Rate: 81.3%, 80.4% Yards per Route Run: 1.55, 1.56 HC Kyle Shanahan has deployed McCaffrey like a WR to force defenses to account for another pass-catcher downfield. Coincidentally, McCaffrey's receiving aDOT was at its peak in '24. While still earning nearly 20.0% of the targets (18.2%), the 'old' RB was operating as a primary option for Brock Purdy. And, relative to his past time in San Francisco, he was playing up to his standard. Now, let's spin this into what's coming in 2025. Ricky Pearsall is the only healthy WR. RBs with fourth and fifth-round draft capital flank McCaffrey in the backfield. In other words, his path to opportunity as a rusher and receiver is clear. Plus, since San Francisco opted to wait until Day 3 to address their running game, I'm willing to bet on McCaffrey's health (and his potential to be a top-3 fantasy asset) versus letting him slip by in drafts. Zay Flowers (Yahoo ADP: 61.9) Let me guess. You're coming up on the 5/6 turn, and this glut of receivers is staring you in the face. DJ Moore, 58.5 (ADP) Courtland Sutton, 60.9 Zay Flowers, 61.8 Xavier Worthy, 62.8 George Pickens, 64.3 The mental gymnastics to push Flowers down are effortless (incorrect, but simple). Moore and Sutton are WR1s on their teams. Worthy and Pickens have the talent and situation to generate explosive plays. Meanwhile, Flowers is the third attraction of the Lamar Jackson show, featuring Derrick Henry. But then again, if I look at the Ravens' 'de facto' WR1, there are enough traits (and metrics) to justify his case for the role. Two key takeaways here are volume and variance. Not only did Jackson look to Flowers 112 times last season (the most of any Baltimore pass-catcher), but it was all over the field. The second-year receiver hit a career high in slot snaps (38.0%) while bumping his receiving aDOT up to an average of 10.7 yards. OC Todd Monken was (and still is) looking for creative ways to get the ball in Flowers' hands. However, we can't solely look at Flowers's opportunity relative to his teammates. We already know he's the top option. But when we compare his workload to those same four receivers drafted around him, the value starts to shine. Target Share: 25.4%, 2nd Targets per Route Run: 1st Yards per Route Run: 1st But I get it. You want explosive plays, too. Well, Sutton (21.9% explosive play rate) was the only WR out of that group with a higher rate of downfield catches (21.6%). We need receivers who have a genuine connection with their QB. Nobody earned more targets when their QB was under duress than Flowers. We've already acknowledged Jackson is one of the best passers in the league. Accordingly, we should be valuing his WR1 the same way. Trevor Lawrence (Yahoo ADP: 129.9) There's no other way to say it. After multiple letdowns each year, I wouldn't want to draft Trevor Lawrence either. The only thing missing from Ian's video is the music from 'Yakety Sax.' Lawrence has been the poster child for the 'It's Always Something With This Person' campaign. He had to survive Urban Meyer as a rookie. Doug Pederson brought stability to the offense, but Jacksonville's free-agent spending netted them Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley, both of which have significant roles in the above compilation. Then, a shoulder injury knocked Lawrence out of the 2024 season. If it's not Lawrence's play, then his receivers are at fault. If the pass game isn't clicking, it's the scheme. We'd be mad at Meyer or Pederson, but we can't draft them. Their names aren't on my roster in the QB slot next to just 9.4 points (Lawrence's Week 3 total). But after peeling back Lawrence's peripherals and projecting how he'll mesh with HC Liam Cohen, I'm looking at the Jaguars' QB1 as my late-round target. 2022: 7.4 (air yards per attempt), +1.4% (completion percentage over expected) 2023: 8.2, +0.9% 2024: 9.3, -1.0% Completion percentage over expected (CPOE) is like grading passes on a curve. The farther downfield or toward the sideline, the higher the degree of difficulty. CPOE awards the passer for completing harder throws. But for Lawrence, his penchant for throwing intermediate or deep was (part of) his undoing. As his aDOT went up, his completion percentage dropped. However, if we look at Cohen's last QB, it's fair to project a shift in Lawrence's style. While accruing the fourth-most dropbacks of any starter last year (651), Mayfield placed 66.7% of his passes in the short and intermediate area of the field. And this wasn't an accident. Mayfield had a 9.0 passing aDOT the year prior. It was by design. If left untouched, only Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Kyler Murray averaged fewer air yards per attempt. So, let's assume Lawrence relies on his receivers to do the heavy lifting. Luckily, both of his receivers have top-24 potential. Travis Hunter averaged 4.3 yards after the catch per reception in his final year at Colorado, which ranked third in his class. Brian Thomas Jr. posted top-six marks amongst veterans as a rookie. And the Jaguars face the Panthers in Week 1. At worst, you have a viable streamer for the season opener. But, if I'm right, you've got a top-12 QB on your squad at a discount price.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Fox News anchor's rape accuser ‘feels vindicated' after assault charge is dropped
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart has said that she 'feels vindicated' after an assault charge against her was dropped. The podcaster, who recently settled a sexual assault lawsuit against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry, was booked by Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office last month on suspicion of battery during an incident allegedly involving her ex-boyfriend. The 34-year-old was accused of being 'combative' toward her ex, Thomas Beasley, after he tried to end the relationship, according to an arrest warrant. Eckhart denied the version of events in the police report. Now the Palm Beach County State Attorney has dropped the case against her due to 'insufficient evidence' and 'an uncooperative victim,' according to legal documents obtained by The Independent. Eckhart said that the ordeal had been 'highly distressing.' 'I feel vindicated that this matter has been resolved in my favor, with the state declining to file any charges,' Eckhart told The Independent, alleging that she 'acted in self defense' but not elaborating further. Eckhart is the host of the REINVITED podcast and runs a non-profit called The Reinvited Project, which aims to support trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy. 'My mission has always been to turn pain into purpose — through my platform, I will continue standing alongside survivors of assault, abuse, and domestic violence, reminding them they are not alone and that strength and healing are possible,' Eckhart added. Beasley did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. 'Ms. Eckhart is innocent and was purely acting in self defense,' Eckhart's attorney, Michelle Suskauer, said. 'We are pleased that the state did the right thing and did not pursue this matter any further.' On June 15, Eckhart settled her 2020 lawsuit against ex-Fox News anchor Ed Henry, in which she accused him of rape. Henry, who was fired from Fox News in July 2020, denied the allegations. He now works for another right-wing news network, NewsMax. In the lawsuit, Eckhart alleged that the former Fox News anchor 'groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced' her into a sexual relationship while referring to her as his personal 'sex slave.' Eventually, after she 'would not comply voluntarily' with his sexual demands, she claimed he violently raped her in 2017. 'This has been an exhaustive, retraumatizing, five-year legal battle with incredible challenges that at times I almost felt was unable to bear,' Eckhart told PEOPLE after her settlement. 'With this settlement in place, a weight has now been lifted from my shoulders and my passion to support fellow trauma survivors has been renewed.' Fox News was initially a defendant in Eckhart's lawsuit, as she claimed the network downplayed the severity of the risk Henry posed to female employees and retaliated against her by firing her in June 2020 after she complained about a hostile work environment. Prior to the settlement, Fox News was dismissed as a defendant from the case. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said there was 'no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.' Additionally, Abrams agreed with Fox's legal team that 'no reasonable jury' would find the network liable for preventing 'Henry from harming Eckhart.' 'This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives,' Henry's attorney said in a statement when the settlement was reached. Additional reporting by Justin Baragona
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The Independent
19 hours ago
- The Independent
Ex-Fox News anchor's rape accuser ‘feels vindicated' after assault charge is dropped
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart has said that she 'feels vindicated' after an assault charge against her was dropped. The podcaster, who recently settled a sexual assault lawsuit against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry, was booked by Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office last month on suspicion of battery during an incident allegedly involving her ex-boyfriend. The 34-year-old was accused of being 'combative' toward her ex, Thomas Beasley, after he tried to end the relationship, according to an arrest warrant. Eckhart denied the version of events in the police report. Now the Palm Beach County State Attorney has dropped the case against her due to 'insufficient evidence' and 'an uncooperative victim,' according to legal documents obtained by The Independent. Eckhart said that the ordeal had been 'highly distressing.' 'I feel vindicated that this matter has been resolved in my favor, with the state declining to file any charges,' Eckhart told The Independent, alleging that she 'acted in self defense' but not elaborating further. Eckhart is the host of the REINVITED podcast and runs a non-profit called The Reinvited Project, which aims to support trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy. 'My mission has always been to turn pain into purpose — through my platform, I will continue standing alongside survivors of assault, abuse, and domestic violence, reminding them they are not alone and that strength and healing are possible,' Eckhart added. Beasley did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. 'Ms. Eckhart is innocent and was purely acting in self defense,' Eckhart's attorney, Michelle Suskauer, said. 'We are pleased that the state did the right thing and did not pursue this matter any further.' On June 15, Eckhart settled her 2020 lawsuit against ex-Fox News anchor Ed Henry, in which she accused him of rape. Henry, who was fired from Fox News in July 2020, denied the allegations. He now works for another right-wing news network, NewsMax. In the lawsuit, Eckhart alleged that the former Fox News anchor 'groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced' her into a sexual relationship while referring to her as his personal 'sex slave.' Eventually, after she 'would not comply voluntarily' with his sexual demands, she claimed he violently raped her in 2017. 'This has been an exhaustive, retraumatizing, five-year legal battle with incredible challenges that at times I almost felt was unable to bear,' Eckhart told PEOPLE after her settlement. 'With this settlement in place, a weight has now been lifted from my shoulders and my passion to support fellow trauma survivors has been renewed.' Fox News was initially a defendant in Eckhart's lawsuit, as she claimed the network downplayed the severity of the risk Henry posed to female employees and retaliated against her by firing her in June 2020 after she complained about a hostile work environment. Prior to the settlement, Fox News was dismissed as a defendant from the case. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said there was 'no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.' Additionally, Abrams agreed with Fox's legal team that 'no reasonable jury' would find the network liable for preventing 'Henry from harming Eckhart.' 'This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives,' Henry's attorney said in a statement when the settlement was reached.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Fox News anchor's rape accuser ‘feels vindicated' after assault charge is dropped
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart has said that she 'feels vindicated' after an assault charge against her was dropped. The podcaster, who recently settled a sexual assault lawsuit against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry, was booked by Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office last month on suspicion of battery during an incident allegedly involving her ex-boyfriend. The 34-year-old was accused of being 'combative' toward her ex, Thomas Beasley, after he tried to end the relationship, according to an arrest warrant. Eckhart denied the version of events in the police report. Now the Palm Beach County State Attorney has dropped the case against her due to 'insufficient evidence' and 'an uncooperative victim,' according to legal documents obtained by The Independent. Eckhart said that the ordeal had been 'highly distressing.' 'I feel vindicated that this matter has been resolved in my favor, with the state declining to file any charges,' Eckhart told The Independent, alleging that she 'acted in self defense' but not elaborating further. Eckhart is the host of the REINVITED podcast and runs a non-profit called The Reinvited Project, which aims to support trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy. 'My mission has always been to turn pain into purpose — through my platform, I will continue standing alongside survivors of assault, abuse, and domestic violence, reminding them they are not alone and that strength and healing are possible,' Eckhart added. Beasley did not immediately respond to a reuest for comment from The Independent. 'Ms. Eckhart is innocent and was purely acting in self defense,' Eckhart's attorney, Michelle Suskauer, said. 'We are pleased that the state did the right thing and did not pursue this matter any further.' On June 15, Eckhart settled her 2020 lawsuit against ex-Fox News anchor Ed Henry, in which she accused him of rape. Henry, who was fired from Fox News in July 2020, denied the allegations. He now works for another right-wing news network, NewsMax. In the lawsuit, Eckhart alleged that the former Fox News anchor 'groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced' her into a sexual relationship while referring to her as his personal 'sex slave.' Eventually, after she 'would not comply voluntarily' with his sexual demands, she claimed he violently raped her in 2017. 'This has been an exhaustive, retraumatizing, five-year legal battle with incredible challenges that at times I almost felt was unable to bear,' Eckhart told PEOPLE after her settlement. 'With this settlement in place, a weight has now been lifted from my shoulders and my passion to support fellow trauma survivors has been renewed.' Fox News was initially a defendant in Eckhart's lawsuit, as she claimed the network downplayed the severity of the risk Henry posed to female employees and retaliated against her by firing her in June 2020 after she complained about a hostile work environment. Prior to the settlement, Fox News was dismissed as a defendant from the case. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said there was 'no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.' Additionally, Abrams agreed with Fox's legal team that 'no reasonable jury' would find the network liable for preventing 'Henry from harming Eckhart.' 'This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives,' Henry's attorney said in a statement when the settlement was reached. Additional reporting by Justin Baragona
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Cuomo aide Brittany Commisso settles sexual harassment lawsuit for $450,000
NEW YORK — New York state on Friday agreed to pay $450,000 to Brittany Commisso, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo who accused him of groping and subjecting her to persistent sexual harassment on the job at the governor's office. Lawyers for Commisso called the settlement by Gov. Kathy Hochul's office 'a complete vindication' of her claims against Cuomo, leveled in a November 2023 suit filed under the Adult Survivors Act. '[Just] as the repeated findings made by the Attorney General, the State Assembly and the US Department of Justice were. Those three independent investigations all found that Cuomo subjected Ms. Commisso to unwanted sexual harassment and groping when she worked for him as an assistant,' Mariann Wang and Kevin Mintzer said in a joint statement. 'Ms. Commisso is proud to have reported the truth and vindicated her rights in court, and likewise glad to be able to move forward with her life.' Lawyers for the former Democratic governor, now running as an independent in the race for New York City mayor, said they would challenge the settlement to keep the case active so they would have the opportunity to dispute the allegations in court., They said the settlement was 'not a vindication,' but rather a 'capitulation to avoid the truth.' It does not require Cuomo to admit to any wrongdoing, and Cuomo has repeatedly denied the accusations against him, including Commiso's. The state settled a suit brought by former Cuomo aide Charlotte Bennett for the same amount in April in a case alleging similar claims. Commisso's suit, which was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany, claimed that after rebuffing Cuomo's advances and reporting his conduct in March 2021, she was demoted and reassigned to answering phones for then-Lt. Gov. Hochul. Friday's settlement also resolves Commisso's retaliation claim against Hochul and includes a promise she will not apply to work at the governor's office again until after December 2030. Hochul spokesman Anthony Hogrebe, in a statement, said, 'The State of New York is pleased to have settled this matter in a way that allows us to minimize further costs to taxpayers.' Commisso, 36, was one of the 11 women whose sexual harassment claims against Cuomo led to his resignation in August 2021. She accused the former governor of relentlessly sexually harassing her after she started working with him in close quarters as an assistant in 2019. The suit alleged Cuomo was prone to 'hugging and kissing her, pressing his body up against hers, and rubbing her backside with his hands.' In one alleged December 2020 incident at the governor's mansion outlined in the lawsuit, Commisso claimed Cuomo put his arms around her, stuck his hand in her blouse and groped her breast. An investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James's office in 2021 substantiated Commisso's claims and those of 10 other women who accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct. Cuomo, who has called the report politically motivated, did not face criminal charges in any of the alleged incidents. In statements to The News trading barbs with Commisso's legal team, lawyers for Cuomo criticized the settlement as rushed. They accused Commisso of settling to avoid a deposition and withholding text messages from the AG's probe. 'This nuisance settlement, which expressly does not include any admission of liability, is intended to end Ms. Commisso's failed efforts to leverage a meritless lawsuit into a multimillion dollar payday while hiding the truth from the public,' Rita Glavin and Theresa Trzaskoma said. Commisso's attorneys pushed back on the claims, saying she settled to move on from the years-old litigation. 'Contrary to the rantings of Cuomo's lawyers, we are confident that Ms. Commisso would prevail at trial. However, because the state offered her a very appealing settlement, Ms. Commisso, like NYC voters, decided to turn the page on Cuomo. He should learn how to take no for an answer.' Cuomo's attorneys responded, 'Ms. Commisso's counsel knows full well that a $225k payment in a high-profile case is not 'appealing' if you're actually confident of prevailing at trial.' The full $450,000 settlement will be divided between Commisso and her lawyers. Cuomo this week announced plans to mount an independent bid in November's general election despite his loss to state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic mayoral primary. _____
