41 mins agoThe Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye projects Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Adam Thielen to remain as the team's slot receiver in 2024 despite the addition of
Diontae Johnson and rookie
Xavier Legette. The 33-year-old Thielen managed to stay fantasy relevant in his first year in Carolina in 2023 despite rookie quarterback
Bryce Young and the offense being one of the worst in the league. Thielen caught 103 of his 137 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 17 starts. He should continue to be a safety blanket for Young this year, but the additions of both Johnson and Legette will inevitably take valuable targets away. Fantasy managers certainly shouldn't expect another 1,000-yard campaign for Thielen in 2024. You should be targeting Thielen as merely a late-round flier for receiver depth in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
1 hour agoLos Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still might have been the most surprising player in the team's secondary during offseason workouts after the team's pass defense was their Achilles heel last year. Still was the team's fifth-round pick this year at 137th overall out of Maryland. He had an interception and had multiple pass deflections throughout minicamp. Safety Derwin James Jr. pointed to Still as a player who impressed him, while defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said he has appreciated how much Still has improved since the start of the offseason program. "He made a bunch of really nice plays out there," Minter said. The 22-year-old defensive back thrives in man-to-man coverage due to his aggressive and physical style of play. Still could immediately compete for a starting job with Deane Leonard this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
1 hour agoThe Denver Broncos signed linebacker Cody Barton in free agency this offseason thinking that he would be a prime contributor on special teams and could carve out a niche on defense if things went well. However, Barton has put himself squarely in the battle for the starting middle linebacker job to replace the departed Josey Jewell. He will be competing with Jonas Griffith, who missed last year due to a torn ACL he suffered in training camp. Barton got plenty of work with the defensive starters this offseason in organized team activities and minicamp, so he will arrive to training camp this summer to compete for a starting job. The former third-round selection by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 out of Utah has had 100-plus combined tackles in each of the last two years with the Seahawks and Washington Commanders, so there's a chance Barton jumps onto the IDP radar if he seizes a starting job and runs with it.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
1 hour agoTennessee Titans undrafted free-agent cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally took full advantage of available repetitions during organized team activities and minicamp this offseason due to veterans Chidobe Awuzie and L'Jarius Sneed having limited participation. Jeudy-Lally said his length and comfort in press coverage gave him confidence to play in defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's aggressive scheme. "If I get up there and give myself the opportunity to win by getting my hands on guys and being in good position, it allows me to use my length to my ability, and everything falls into play from there," Jeudy-Lally said. He held his own in coverage against both receivers
Treylon Burks and
DeAndre Hopkins, so he could be a defensive back to watch in training camp this summer for the Titans.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
1 hour agoIndianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on The GM Shuffle podcast that second-year quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder) will be "full-go" for the start of training camp at the end of July despite dealing with some shoulder fatigue during offseason activities. The shoulder soreness was something expected after Richardson had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder during his rookie season in 2023. Despite the fact that the 22-year-old former fourth overall pick played in just four games last year, his elite rushing abilities make him an attractive midrange QB1 going into his sophomore season. The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder also has above-average arm strength and has an incredibly high ceiling for fantasy managers if he can remain healthy. Once the elite names at the QB position come off the board in fantasy drafts, Richardson will be hard to pass up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The GM Shuffle Podcast
16 hours agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Nikko Remigio impressed while running with the first-team offense and is pushing to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. An undrafted free agent back in 2023, Remigio earned more reps this summer with
Xavier Worthy (hamstring) sidelined. Remigio may struggle to pass the likes of Worthy,
Marquise Brown,
Rashee Rice,
Justin Watson,
Skyy Moore, and
Kadarius Toney in the pecking order, but his strong summer and talent as a kickoff returner could be enough to secure a roster spot and earn a few extra looks on offense. He's off the fantasy radar but is a rising name to watch as the 2024 campaign draws closer.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Teicher
16 hours agoDallas Cowboys wide receivers
Jalen Tolbert and
Jalen Brooks are both candidates to open 2024 in the third slot on the depth chart behind
CeeDee Lamb and
Brandin Cooks, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Both players have showcased their talent during OTAs and are pushing to make the WR3 competition interesting this summer. In terms of the players' specific skill sets, Archer wrote, "Brooks was able to work through traffic well, especially on tight throws on slants. Tolbert worked all three receiver spots and was able to make plays at all different levels." There's clearly a path for both receivers to get involved this season, and Dallas has shown that its WR3 can have bursts of fantasy relevance in the past. Perhaps Tolbert or Brooks could be a late-round sleeper in redraft leagues this year.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Todd Archer
23
hours
agoNew
Orleans
Saints
tight
end
Dallin
Holker
was
a
priority
undrafted
free-agent
signing
by
the
team
following
the
2024
NFL
Draft,
and
with
Juwan
Johnson
(foot)
potentially
missing
the
rest
of
the
offseason
due
to
foot
read more...
23 hours agoCarolina Panthers tight end Ian Thomas has been far from a mega-producer since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2018, but it can take many years for players to break out at the position, and he's reportedly flashed this offseason. "Much was made about the upgrade at tight end when the Panthers selected Texas'
Ja'Tavion Sanders in the fourth round, but it has been 2018 fourth-rounder [Ian] Thomas who has stolen the spotlight at a position that is featured in Dave Canales' passing game," Panthers reporter David Newton wrote. Thomas caught just five passes last season and hasn't matched his 333-yard rookie campaign over the last five seasons, but if
Bryce Young takes a step forward, he could have at least some value in deep tight-end premium leagues. Sanders is a fun rookie prospect, but he's far from a sure thing, and it's rare for rookie tight ends to flourish.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
23 hours agoNew York Giants tight end
Lawrence Cager has hauled in just 19 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns through the first 20 games of his NFL career, but after the retirement of
Darren Waller, he could earn legitimate playing time in 2024. According to Giants reporter Jordan Raanan, Cager has capitalized on his opportunities this offseason. "It looked this spring like Cager and fourth-round pick
Theo Johnson will be asked to fill that pass-catching role," Raanan wrote. "Both received some first-team reps and made plays in what primarily serves as a passing camp. Coach Brian Daboll even mentioned that Cager was 'probably one of the most improved players throughout the offseason,' which could open the door for him to make a significant contribution this season." Expectations should be tempered for the 26-year-old, but there are unexpected tight-end breakouts every year, so his performance at training camp later this summer should be monitored.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
23
hours
agoHouston
Texans
wide
receiver
John
Metchie
III
has
had
a
slow
start
to
his
NFL
career,
but
there
have
been
plenty
of
factors
to
cause
the
quiet
start.
The
Alabama
product
missed
his
entire
2022
rookie
season
coming
off
an
ACL
tear
read more...
23 hours agoAtlanta Falcons wide receiver
Ray-Ray McCloud signed with the team this offseason, but he largely went unnoticed since the Falcons had a busy offseason of new acquisitions. However, ESPN Falcons reporter Marc Raimondi said McCloud could be more involved in the offense than expected. "Most figured McCloud, a veteran going into his seventh year, would make his mark primarily as a return man," Raimondi said. "But he also got reps with Atlanta's first team this spring and performed well, catching passes from Cousins for big plays. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson figures to use many wide receivers. McCloud will be in that mix." The 27-year-old has just 768 receiving yards and one touchdown through his first 77 games, so it's tough to get too excited about him. However, this report should at least put him on the fantasy radar in deep leagues.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Marc Raimondi - ESPN
1
day
agoWith
no
clear
replacement
for
Zack
Moss
after
he
left
in
free
agency
this
offseason,
the
likeliest
option
to
ascend
to
the
No.
2
running
back
spot
behind
starter
Jonathan
Taylor
appears
to
be
Indianapolis
Colts
RB
read more...
1 day agoCincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill entered the offseason in a precarious spot. The first-rounder in 2022 was the starting free safety last year in an experiment that didn't go well. As a result, Hill was moved to outside cornerback, where he appears to be taking charge in a position battle with
DJ Turner, a second-rounder from 2023 who started 12 games his rookie season. Hill has taken the position change in stride and was disruptive in 7-on-7 drills during mandatory minicamp earlier this month. He is shaping up to remain a useful player for the Bengals' secondary as they enter training camp this summer. The 23-year-old had 110 tackles (72 solo), 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, five QB hits, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 17 starts last year, but he may be less productive in IDP fantasy formats with the move to corner.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
1 day agoNew England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned defensive lineman/edge rusher Keion White when asked if there was a player this offseason that has surprised him so far. "Keion has kind of taken that step forward as far as being a leader -- not as much vocally, but you see him actually leading the groups and working well," Mayo said of the 2023 second-rounder. White played 45.8 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie last year and looks primed to increase that number in his sophomore campaign in 2024. In 16 games played (four starts) in his rookie season in 2023, White compiled 26 tackles (12 solo), one sack, three tackles for loss, five QB hits and three pass breakups for the Patriots secondary. Look for him to have a bigger role this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
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