3 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts signed former Green Bay Packers cornerback Corey Ballentine to an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, according to the Indianapolis Star's Joel A. Erickson. The move to add Ballentine comes after the Colts spent big bucks early in free agency earlier this week to add to their secondary when they brought in free safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. Ballentine, 28, has mostly been a core special-teamer in his career since being drafted in the sixth round (180th overall) by the New York Giants in 2019 out of Washburn College. He played more the last two seasons with the Packers, seeing action in 29 games, but only seven of those were starts. Ballentine put up 49 tackles (34 solo) the last two years with one interception and a forced fumble. The Colts will likely be looking to use Ballentine to upgrade their special teams first.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Indianapolis Star - Joel A. Erickson
3 weeks agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent cornerback Brandin Echols to an undisclosed two-year deal on Friday, according to Steelers.com's Teresa Varley. Echols spent the first four years of his NFL career with the New York Jets after they selected him in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft out of Kentucky. The 27-year-old defensive back racked up a total of 122 tackles (92 solo), five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 16 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 57 games (19 starts). He was mostly a rotational player over those four seasons, including last year when he had 40 tackles (29 solo) and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season games (four starts). Echols should be expected to serve in a reserve role in his first year in Pittsburgh in 2025 while also seeing action on special teams.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Steelers.com - Teresa Varley
3 weeks agoFormer New York Jets tight end
Kenny Yeboah signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Friday, according to the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett. Yeboah heads to the NFC after spending the first four years of his career with the Jets, where he posted only nine receptions on 15 targets for 111 yards and one touchdown in 33 games played (two starts). The 26-year-old originally went undrafted out of Mississippi before joining the Jets for his rookie year in 2021. As things currently stand early in the offseason, Yeboah is third on the Lions' tight end depth chart behind
Sam LaPorta and
Brock Wright. Yeboah's best season did come last year in which he caught five of eight targets for 47 yards and his first career touchdown, but he will most likely continue to work as a special-teamer in 2025 in his new home in Detroit.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
3 weeks agoFormer Atlanta Falcons running back/return man
Avery Williams signed an undisclosed deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, according to his agency, the Aura Sports Group. Williams, who was drafted by the Falcons in the fifth round (183rd overall) in 2021 out of Boise State, has not put up any numbers as an offensive threat since the 2022 campaign. However, the 26-year-old special-teamer did have 408 kickoff-return yards and 185 punt-return yards in 2024 over 17 games. He will now be an option to return both kickoffs and punts for the reigning Super Bowl champions in 2025 while also providing backfield depth behind
Saquon Barkley,
AJ Dillon and
Will Shipley. Williams will be well off the fantasy radar in all formats this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
3 weeks agoThe New York Jets re-signed running back/kick returner
Kene Nwangwu (hand) to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million on Friday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nwangwu will return for his second season with the Jets and is currently the No. 4 RB on their depth chart behind
Breece Hall,
Braelon Allen and
Isaiah Davis, so he's once again unlikely to make much of an impact in 2025. Last year, he was only active for two games and didn't see any involvement on offense, although he did have a 99-yard kickoff return in Week 13 on special teams. The former fourth-rounder (119th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 out of Iowa State spent his first three years in Minnesota and had 27 carries for 88 yards and no touchdowns, adding six catches for 30 yards. Nwangwu ended the year on Injured Reserve with a hand injury in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
3 weeks agoThe Arizona Cardinals have reached an agreement with free-agent wide receiver
Simi Fehoko on Friday. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal for an undisclosed amount of money. Fehoko is a former fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys who spent each of the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Last season, Fehoko hauled in six receptions for 106 yards in eight games, which was a career-high for him. This move is mainly to add depth at wideout and give the Cardinals another option on special teams. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore Fehoko on draft day.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Wilson
3 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Eagles have signed free-agent tight end
Kylen Granson on Friday. The two sides have agreed on a one-year deal for an undisclosed amount of money. Granson is a former fourth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts. He has spent each of the last four seasons in Indy, but was never able to become a full-time starter. Last season, Granson hauled in 14 receptions for 182 yards and zero touchdowns across 17 games (six starts) with the Colts. The expectation is that Granson will land behind
Dallas Goedert and
Grant Calcaterra on the depth chart. Fantasy managers are safe to avoid Granson in fantasy leagues while Goedert is healthy.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 weeks agoTampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Sterling Shepard has reached a new contract with the organization. The veteran wideout will stick around in Tampa Bay for at least one more season, but his salary is undisclosed. Shepard hauled in 32 receptions for 334 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (five starts) with the Bucs. The 32-year-old did a nice job filling in when the Bucs were without
Chris Godwin and
Mike Evans for a few games. Shepard figures to serve as depth behind Godwin, Evans, and Jalen McMillian in the Tampa Bay offense. That being said, Shepard probably won't be on the fantasy radar to begin the season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jason Licht
3 weeks agoCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson might not be headed out of town quite yet. The four-time All-Pro requested a trade after the two sides failed to come to terms on an extension. Hendrickson seemed ready to leave Cincinnati, but there has been communication between the two sides in recent days. The Bengals also need to worry about locking up
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins, but they believe they can free up enough money to keep Hendrickson happy. Last season, Hendrickson recorded 46 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks across 17 games with the Bengals. His departure would certainly be a significant blow to the Bengals defense.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Taylor Bisciotti
3 weeks agoThe Seattle Seahawks have agreed on a deal with free-agent wide receiver
Cooper Kupp on Friday. The two sides have reportedly agreed on a three-year, $45 million deal. The veteran wideout will receive $15 million per year, which seems reasonable, assuming Kupp can actually stay healthy. The 32-year-old hasn't played a full season since 2021, but should be an immediate impact player in Seattle. The organization has given new quarterback
Sam Darnold some solid weapons with Kupp and
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Fantasy managers have seen Kupp's stats drop over the last few seasons, but he has only been injured in each of the last three seasons. The Seahawks are lacking legitimate playmakers, so Kupp should see plenty of targets in Seattle.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 weeks agoFree-agent veteran pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. is reuniting with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Fowler will return to Dallas after playing for the Cowboys in 2022 and 2023. The 30-year-old veteran linebacker spent last year with the division-rival Washington Commanders, where he excelled with 39 tackles (25 solo), 10.5 sacks (the second-most in his career), 14 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, his first career interception (returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles in 17 regular-season games (seven starts). He will return to Dallas in 2025 as the Cowboys hope that he can pick up some of the pass-rushing slack opposite of All-Pro Micah Parsons after DeMarcus Lawrence left in free agency. In his two seasons with Dallas, Fowler had a combined 10 sacks. He's been a boom/bust pass-rusher in IDP fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
3 weeks agoBuffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said that both defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and defensive end Michael Hoecht will face six-game suspensions to begin the 2025 season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. Beane said the Bills knew about Hoecht when they signed him as a free agent, but they were unaware of Ogunjobi's pending suspension when they signed him this week. Buffalo inked Ogunjobi to a one-year, $8.3 million deal and signed Hoecht to a three-year deal in free agency. In addition to Ogunjobi and Hoecht, the Bills also added Pro Bowl pass-rusher Joey Bosa in free agency after he was cut by the Los Angeles Chargers to help replace Von Miller, who the Bills cut right before the start of the new league year. The team will be hoping Bosa, Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver and others can step up early in the year with Ogunjobi and Hoecht facing lengthy suspensions.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: BuffaloBills.com - Maddy Glab
3 weeks agoAccording to Ian Rapoport of the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have made "significant progress on massive contract extensions" regarding wide receivers
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins. Per Rapoport, both players could have new contracts over the coming days. Quarterback
Joe Burrow has advocated not splitting up the star wideouts, and he could get his wish granted in short order. Cincinnati has already franchise-tagged Higgins twice, so their only option is to pay, trade, or let him walk. More so, they've put off signing Chase to the bank-breaking deal he's deservedly owed as the price tag continues to rise after his stellar triple-crown winning 2024. It'd be an excellent move for the Bengals. However, the trick lies in not financially handicapping themselves for years to come. Rapoport notes there is still work to be done, but the ramifications of this situation only stand to benefit the team for the time being.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ian Rapoport
3 weeks agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to re-sign wide receiver
Ben Skowronek to an undisclosed deal. The NFL's Ian Rapoport reported the news. The wideout found his way onto Pittsburgh's roster in mid-September after failing to become a member of the Texans' 53-man squad, but an early-season shoulder injury forced him to injured reserve, and he missed six games. Upon his return in Week 10, Skowronek surpassed 20 snaps in a single contest on just one occasion, totaling five catches and 69 yards in ten appearances. The Notre Dame product will serve as roster padding in the Steelers' WR corps, though he's likely to play a role on special teams. Additionally, Skowronek has experience as a fullback from his time spent with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, providing a versatile roster piece for Pittsburgh.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ian Rapoport
3 weeks agoThe Minnesota Vikings have agreed with former Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson on a new contract. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. Wilson is heading back to Minnesota, where he started his career as an undrafted free agent in 2017. The 30-year-old had a breakout season in 2020, recording 121 tackles and three sacks over 15 games in his last stint with the team. However, he's yet to eclipse 63 takedowns in any other season (2024). In addition to his work on the defensive side of the ball, the Cincinnati product has played 1,942 snaps on special teams over his eight-year career. He figures to serve as depth in Minnesota's linebacker room. The Vikings have made a slew of acquisitions across their offensive and defensive fronts in 2025 and look to be competitive again in a tough NFC North.
--Alex CiullaSource: Minnesota Vikings
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