4 weeks agoThe Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that the connection between New York Jets quarterback
Aaron Rodgers and top wide receiver
Garrett Wilson is growing during voluntary organized team activities this offseason. Wilson ran such a good route in practice on Tuesday that he wound up wide open in the middle of the field for an easy touchdown, and he had another catch on a pass from Rodgers in which he was able to adjust his body in mid-air to catch a pass that was thrown a little behind him. Wilson is "as advertised," according to new receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. "This kid can be whatever he wants to be. He has that it ... the sky is the limit for this kid." If Rodgers can stay healthy all year, Wilson will also have high-end WR1 value for fantasy managers in 2024. The former 10th overall pick has topped 1,000 yards in both his NFL seasons despite subpar QB play.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (knee), who has been rehabbing a knee injury that kept him out of six games last year, said he got the most repetitions of the offseason in Tuesday's organized team activities. After posting a career-best 58.1 receiving yards per game last year, Palmer's role is set to increase even more in 2024 now that both
Mike Williams and
Keenan Allen are out of town. However, he'll still be competing for targets with former first-rounder
Quentin Johnston and second-round rookie
Ladd McConkey, not to mention
DJ Chark. The Bolts' offense is also transitioning to a run-first unit under head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, so Palmer is far from a lock to break out this year. However, the 24-year-old's big-play ability makes him enticing as WR depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
4 weeks agoNew England Patriots rookie quarterback
Drake Maye, the third overall pick of this year's NFL draft, has been impressing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt this offseason. "He's been impressive," Van Pelt said. Maye took snaps as the top backup in Tuesday's organized team activities after previously working as the No. 3 option. While Van Pelt has praised Maye early on, he's also preaching patience with the rookie. Maye has quickly adapted the footwork chances the coaches have taught him, allowing him to play more in rhythm. Van Pelt reiterated that veteran
Jacoby Brissett remains the starter and has had an "exceptional spring" by showing "great command of the offense." The Pats are hoping Maye is the starter of the future, but all indications are that he'll begin the year holding a clipboard for Brissett on the sideline. "There is no timetable" for Maye to be the starter, Van Pelt said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
4 weeks agoHouston Texans tight end
Brevin Jordan has been receiving praise from head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ryans told the media that Jordan is "playing fast and confidently and making some great catches." Jordan served as the backup tight end in Houston last season to
Dalton Schultz and finished the campaign with 219 yards and two touchdowns on 17 catches. While this is a great sign for the 23-year-old in the long term, he still should be expected to retain a similar second-string role to Schultz in 2024. However, the former fifth-round pick has flashed at times with an eye-catching 7.6 average yards after the catch, which places him in the top-95th percentile among all tight ends, and he had an impressive 76-yard score in the wild-card game last season. Jordan could emerge as a fantasy-viable tight end if Schultz were to miss time, but for now, he has a difficult path to consistent playing time.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Cody Stoots
4 weeks agoPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver
John Ross was getting first team reps on Wednesday in OTAs, according to Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks. The 28-year-old agreed to a one-year contract with the Eagles on May 23 and has already begun to have opportunities with the first team. The former Washington product was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals but has unfortunately been unable to perform in the NFL. He had a season-high of only 506 yards in 2019 and has yet to come close to that total over the past four seasons. He announced his retirement last summer but appears to be eyeing an NFL comeback. Currently, the Eagles wide receiver room is highlighted by
A.J. Brown and
DeVonta Smith but is lacking a consistent number three option. Ross could become a name to mention throughout training camp in July if he continues to earn opportunities with the starting staff.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Eliot Shorr-Parks
4 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder) was seen with trainers on Wednesday during OTAs. Colts writer James Boyd of the Athletic said that trainers were looking at Richardson's shoulder throughout the day, but nobody seemed worried. As a result,
Joe Flacco took the majority of first-team reps this afternoon. This should be seen as precautionary, as the former Florida Gator expressed last week on the Pat McAfee show that his shoulder was at "95 percent" as he has been recovering from a season-ending shoulder surgery he underwent last October. The 22-year-old will be a popular breakout pick in drafts later this summer, as he flashed elite upside in four games last season with 577 yards through the air and 136 yards on the ground with seven total scores. Richardson also has elite playmakers around him in
Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, and second-round pick
Adonai Mitchell which further boost his fantasy stock.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: James Boyd
4
weeks
agoWashington
Commanders
rookie
quarterback
Jayden
Daniels
has
begun
to
build
chemistry
with
the
revamped
offensive
line
in
the
nation's
capital,
especially
with
center
Tyler
Biadasz.
Biadasz
played
under
newly
named
Washington
Head
Coach
Dan
Quinn
in
Dallas
and
was
one
of
the
best
read more...
4 weeks agoBuffalo Bills wide receiver
Chase Claypool has been the most consistent receiver through OTAs so far in Buffalo, according to Bills beat writer Matt Parrino. Claypool signed a one-year contract with the Bills earlier this month and is expected to have a depth role in the offense in 2024. However, the 25-year-old has performed well through the early part of OTAs and is making a strong case to not only make the 53-man roster but have a steady role in this offense. Currently, the Buffalo wide receiver room consists of
Khalil Shakir, veterans
Curtis Samuel and
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Florida State rookie
Keon Coleman, who was drafted with the 33rd overall pick this spring. This is a story to monitor over the course of the offseason, as Claypool could be an enticing late-round pick in deeper leagues if he earns a starting role in this offense.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Matt Parrino
4 weeks agoSan Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) said his goal is to be available in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season after suffering a torn ACL in the Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2021 fifth-round pick and 2022 Pro Bowl selection hopes he can return at some point in training camp later this summer to ramp up for regular-season action. August 19 will mark nine months since his right ACL tear, so there's a chance he will achieve his goal. That said, it's early in the offseason, so there will be plenty of updates on his status. Hufanga should start alongside second-year safety Ji'Ayir Brown as soon as he's fully cleared for action. The 24-year-old USC product has tallied 181 tackles, two sacks, seven interceptions, and 14 pass deflections through his first 42 games. In IDP leagues, he scored the fourth-most fantasy points among safeties in 2022.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Nick Wagoner
4 weeks agoMinnesota Vikings wide receiver
N'Keal Harry is reportedly up to 240 pounds in preparation for his attempted move to tight end. The 2019 first-round pick by the New England Patriots out of Arizona State has not found success at receiver through his first five NFL campaigns, and there have been a few success stories of players moving to tight end. Harry said heard "whispers" during his career about moving to tight end, but the Vikings were the first team to broach it with him with the idea. With
T.J. Hockenson (knee) likely out of action to begin 2024 after a late-season ACL tear last year, it will be interesting to see if Harry can carve out a role in the new-look Vikings offense led by
Sam Darnold or
J.J. McCarthy. He's not on the fantasy radar in regular leagues, but deep-league dynasty fantasy managers could take a flyer on him.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Kevin Seifert - ESPN
4 weeks agoNew Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave (shoulder) is wearing a non-contact jersey at summer practices due to a shoulder injury he suffered in the weight room a few weeks ago. However, head coach Dennis Allen said the former first-round pick has been going through full practices anyway, so this minor ailment shouldn't cause much concern. The 23-year-old has been fantastic through his first two NFL seasons, securing 159 of his 257 targets for 2,165 yards and nine touchdowns in 31 games. While
Derek Carr isn't viewed as a high-level quarterback, he's been good enough to support fantasy WR1s throughout his career. New Orleans failed to add significant target competition this offseason, meaning Olave remains a WR1 candidate in his third NFL campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoVeteran center Corey Linsley, who is expected to announce his retirement this offseason, was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday. The two-time All-Pro selection spent the last three seasons with L.A. after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Linsley played just three games in 2023 due to a heart-related health issue, and the 32-year-old looks to be headed toward life after football. Overall, the former fifth-round pick started in 132 games and was viewed as one of the game's best centers over the last decade.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy has agreed to terms to sign his rookie contract, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 21-year-old out of Texas saw his fantasy football stock skyrocket after posting an NFL-record 4.21 forty-yard dash and being drafted by Kansas City with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The speedster has intriguing upside playing with
Patrick Mahomes, but injury risk could be present since he is under 170 pounds. Worthy already suffered a minor hamstring injury this offseason, which is concerning given the numerous wideouts that have missed games with lingering hamstring issues over the last few seasons. Nonetheless, he's a clear first-round pick in rookie drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
4
weeks
agoLos
Angeles
Rams
quarterback
Matthew
Stafford
is
still
seeking
more
guaranteed
money
in
the
final
two
years
of
his
current
deal,
but
despite
that,
he
is
expected
to
attend
mandatory
minicamp
next
week.
Stafford
has
also
been
in
attendance
for
voluntary
workouts
all
read more...
4 weeks agoChicago Bears wide receiver
Keenan Allen said that he's "going to play as long as I can" and is fully open to discussing a contract extension with the Bears. Chicago acquired Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason and then drafted former Washington Huskies wideout
Rome Odunze in the first round in April.
DJ Moore could be an extension candidate as well, so the Bears haven't really engaged Allen in extension talks since he joined the team. Despite playing in only 13 games in his final season with the Bolts in 2023, the 32-year-old had 108 receptions (150 targets) for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging a career-high 95.6 yards per game. Fantasy managers should expect a big volume dip for Allen in his first year in the Windy City, though, while working with rookie first-rounder
Caleb Williams.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley
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