Rapid React: Brady suspension upheld, Bell's reduced, Gurley good to go

• As the DeflateGate world turned, Tom Brady's four-game suspension was upheld by the NFL Tuesday, an outcome, based on the lengthy evidence presented and given Warden Goodell's general mindset, that shouldn't surprise a soul. The cell-phone destroyer's ADP (80.5) was already heavily discounted in early drafts. The ruling only cements his current Round 8 standing, though the QB's legal fight is long from over. If a federal court overturns the league's stance, it's possible he could receive a reduction or have the penalty wiped away completely. No matter what, this tired, almost ridiculous story will drag on ad nauseam. Joy to the friggin' world.

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Brady is obviously a fantastic target for those who follow a late-QB strategy. The perenniel top-10 performer is coming off a 2014 campaign in which he was the third-most valuable quarterback from Weeks 5-15, amassing 23.2 fantasy points per game during that stretch. The massive chip on his shoulder will only motivate the already highly stimulated QB more. It would be no surprise to see him contribute top-seven numbers, at a minimum, upon activation. Keep in mind the Pats have the ninth-easiest schedule for QBs in fantasy. And, barring a major injury or unfortunate partying mishap, he will have a healthy Rob Gronkowski to throw to. 

Again, assuming the status quo is unchanged, Jimmy Garoppolo becomes a player of immediate interest for Daily Fantasy purposes. As shown previously at Eastern Illinois and in the preseason last year, he's a confident, adept passer equipped with a quick release. His increased comfort level with the offense and improvement in reads and progressions this offseason paint an optimistic picture. So does the Pats' initial schedule. A road matchup at Buffalo Week 2 is daunting, but tilts against Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Dallas are very appealing. With the weapons around him and no LeGarrette Blount Week 1, it's conceivable he averages well north of 250 yards per game with 5-7 TDs to begin the regular season. He'll be a nice low-dollar option against the Steelers, giving gamers the luxury of spending big bucks at other positions. Watch his progress this exhibition season closely.

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• In warmer suspension-related news, Le'Veon Bell will be back in action Week 3 after the league reduced his forced hiatus from three to two games. Widely considered a mid-first round pick pre-resolution, the No. 2 RB in per game average from 2014 reenters the No. 1 overall conversation, particularly in PPR settings.

A slimmed down Bell was an indisputable fantasy monster, no matter the scoring type, last year. Exhibiting Barry Sanders-esque patience and vision, he gained nearly 52 percent of his yards after contact and ranked top-seven among RBs in elusive rating and yards per route run. His 2,215 combined yards and 11 touchdowns made him an indispensable pillar on playoff rosters.

Bell's 2015 schedule isn't all puppy dogs and ice cream. The Steelers own the ninth-toughest for fantasy RBs entering the season. Still, the offensive line, which ranked No. 9 in run-blocking according to Pro Football Focus last year, should again be one of the league's stingiest. Defensively, Pittsburgh has serious question marks which means the rusher may not net another 18.1 carries per game. However, because of his superior production in the pass game, he could come close to matching the 83 receptions he totaled last fall even in 14 games. The separation among him, Adrian Peterson, Eddie Lacy, Jamaal Charles and Marshawn Lynch is slim, but Tuesday's development has Bell back at the head table.

• Finally, Todd Gurley is officially a freak. Only 10 months removed from shredding his knee while at Georgia, the Rams' No. 1 pick has avoided the NFI list and will begin training camp on the active roster. Take a bow, modern sports medicine.

As detailed previously, Gurley is a violent, downhill beast cut from a similar cloth as Peterson and Lynch. Pre-setback last year, he gained 61.9 percent of his yards after contact. Also impressive in the pass game as a blocker/receiver, he is a consummate three-down back who is bound to flourish at the next level.

In all likelihood, Jeff Fisher and his staff will bring the dynamic rookie along slowly. With Tre Mason in the mix, Gurley may only tote the rock some 10-12 times initially. However, if he shows no ill-effects in August, it's entirely plausible the organization will rethink his workload. St. Louis' young, reconfigured offensive line, mediocre pass attack and brutal division are worries. Still, from roughly Week 3-5 on, it's probable the former Bulldog earns his Snausages. Melvin Gordon remains the safer of the two, but top-20 or even top-15 numbers are inevitable from Gurley over the regular season's second half. If you're buying, be prepared to reach a round or three. His slashed 47.5 ADP (RB24) will rise steadily.

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