4 days agoArizona Cardinals running back
James Conner "is the bell cow in that room," offensive coordinator Drew Petzing told the media on Tuesday. In simpler terms, Conner remains the primary option in Arizona's backfield. After all, there's no reason to reduce his workload given that he excelled in 2023. Last year, despite being 28 years old, he delivered 1,040 rushing yards, 165 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Now, entering his age-29 campaign, he remains a solid RB2 option for fantasy purposes. Petzing's comments come amidst speculation that rookie
Trey Benson may eat into Conner's workload. While Arizona surely hopes Benson is their future franchise running back and could need him to carry the backfield at a moment's notice, the bell cow role still belongs to Conner for now.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Bo Brack
4 days agoHouston Texans running back
Joe Mixon (quadriceps) is fully healthy, according to KPRC's Aaron Wilson. Mixon reportedly dealt with an undisclosed issue throughout the preseason, which we now know was a quadricep injury. He didn't suit up for any of the Texans' preseason games, but that may have been a result of his veteran status rather than any real injury concerns. Regardless, we now know that Mixon is fully healthy and should not have any limitations when he makes his Texans debut against the Colts on Sunday. The veteran appeared in all 17 games for the Bengals last season, registering 1,034 rushing yards, 376 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns. If he can continue to produce at this pace, he'll be a low-end RB1 in fantasy football this year.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Wilson
4 days agoMinnesota Vikings running back
Ty Chandler is expected to return kicks following the latest depth chart update. Chandler is listed as the team's primary kick returner while
Brandon Powell handles punt return duties. This development comes in the wake of Minnesota's decision to release talented returner
Kene Nwangwu. Chandler has big shoes to fill but is likely up for the challenge after getting a taste of the job last year. He returned four kicks for 97 yards in 2023. Fantasy managers should keep in mind that just because he is returning kicks doesn't mean he won't see snaps out of the backfield. Minnesota is expected to rely on Chandler to take some of the workload off veteran
Aaron Jones. Chandler might not see quite enough snaps to warrant any fantasy consideration immediately, but he's an intriguing insurance policy at the very least.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Mark Craig
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown is listed as the team's primary kick returner heading into the 2024 season. This update coincides with the news that Brown ranks second on the running back depth chart behind
Zack Moss. As it stands, Brown may have a slightly smaller role than many managers anticipated; we may see the two of them receive more of a defined starter and backup workload rather than a true 50/50 split. This means that Brown will still get involved out of the backfield, but he's likely headed for fewer opportunities than Moss while also playing a role on special teams. As a result, Brown is difficult to trust in fantasy lineups for Week 1 against the Patriots. He ranks outside the top 36 running backs while Moss is a low-end RB2.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Paul Dehner Jr.
4 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Devin White (ankle) was able to get through a limited practice session on Tuesday. White is currently battling an ankle injury that could sideline him for the Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The former first-round pick is heading into his first season in Philly. He collected 566 tackles, 23 sacks, and six fumbles forced during his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence would certainly be a hit to this Eagles defense. Nakobe Dean would likely be in line to start at inside linebacker if White is unable to play. That would be a downgrade for this defense, but nothing is official yet.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
4 days agoJacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. was named one of the starters ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Unsurprisingly, Thomas has been named as a starter after the Jaguars selected him in the first round of this year's draft. Thomas had a breakout season during final year at LSU where he recorded 1,177 receiving yards with 17 touchdowns. There was little doubt that Thomas wouldn't be a starter given
Parker Washington and
Devin Duvernay were his main competition. Now, Thomas will have to fight for targets with
Christian Kirk and newcomer
Gabe Davis. The expectation is that Thomas is going to see a solid volume of targets making him worth snagging in just about every fantasy format. The rookie wideout could end up being the best receiving option on the team before the season is done.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: jaguars.com
4 days agoLos Angeles Chargers running back
J.K. Dobbins will look to rejuvenate his career with his new team in 2024. The former second-round pick has been held to 24 total games since being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. The talent is there as Dobbins has averaged 5.8 yards per carry since joining the league. Sadly, Dobbins hasn't been able to stay on the field due to injuries. Despite that, Ben Solak of ESPN believes Dobbins can be the X-factor on this Chargers roster. He's probably not wrong as Dobbins does have all the talent and big-play ability to be a legitimate option in the league. The Chargers figure to be a run-heavy offense under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Fantasy managers shouldn't spent a high pick on Dobbins, but he could be worth a look as a late-round option in deep leagues. If healthy, Dobbins could be a difference maker on this offense that doesn't have a true No. 1 back heading into Week 1.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Chargers.com
4
days
agoCleveland
Browns
tight
end
David
Njoku
has
been
banged
up
during
the
preseason,
but
appears
ready
to
go
for
the
season
opener.
The
28-year-old
will
get
back
on
the
practice
field
this
week
as
he
prepares
for
the
season
opener
against
the
Dallas
read more...
4 days agoThe Atlanta Falcons have signed quarterback
Nathan Peterman to their practice squad on Tuesday. The veteran signal-caller was recently released by the Las Vegas Raiders. Peterman played in the preseason with Las Vegas, but failed to snag a backup spot on the roster. The 30-year-old played two games with the Chicago Bears in 2023. He has mainly been a backup throughout his career, which is what he'll do in Atlanta. Peterman will remain on the practice squad and serve as emergency depth for the organization.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov
4 days agoThe Houston Texans reached injury settlements with rookie running back
Jawhar Jordan (oblique) and defensive tackle Pheldarius Payne (hamstring) on Tuesday, waiving them from Injured Reserve. Jordan was taken in the sixth round this past April out of Louisville by the Texans, but he won't make his NFL debut in Houston. The 25-year-old will need to prove his healthy before potentially joining another organization, most likely on the practice squad. Jordan lacks size and physicality, but he could eventually develop into a third-down back somewhere if he can stay healthy because of his vision on the field and his blocking skills in pass protection. Payne, 24, is expected to join the team's practice squad after reaching an injury settlement. He suffered his hamstring injury in the team's preseason finale.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4 days agoThe New Orleans Saints have listed quarterbacks
Spencer Rattler and
Jake Haener as co-backups on their first official depth chart for the 2024 season behind starter
Derek Carr. The Saints apparently couldn't decide on either Rattler or Haener as the primary backup behind Carr after they competed all throughout training camp and the preseason. Neither signal-caller stood out over the other during preseason games, so it's anyone's guess who will be active behind Carr this Sunday for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Rattler was a fifth-rounder back in April, and the Saints want to develop him for a potential starting role down the line. Haener, 25, was a fourth-round selection back in 2021 but has yet to make his NFL debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
4 days agoBaltimore Ravens rookie running back
Rasheen Ali (neck) stayed limited in practice for the second straight day on Tuesday as the team prepares for their Week 1 regular-season opener on Thursday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs. Ali suffered a stinger in the team's preseason opener and is still recovering, but the good news is that the 23-year-old has avoided a concussion and should have a good shot to make his regular-season NFL debut on Thursday night. However, the fifth-round selection didn't look impressive at all in training camp and will be the RB3 if active this week behind starter
Derrick Henry and backup
Justice Hill. For now, Ali is only worth stashing in dynasty/keeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 105.7 The Fan - Cordell Woodland
4 days agoThe New York Jets restructured the contracts of linebacker Quincy Williams and tight end
Tyler Conklin on Tuesday to create $8 million in salary cap space for the upcoming 2024 season. Details of Williams' contract restructure weren't immediately available, but the moves will give the Jets some more roster flexibility this year. Williams was a first-time All-Pro selection in his third year with Gang Green in 2023, totaling a career-high 139 tackles (95 solo), two sacks, 15 tackles for loss, an interception, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 17 games. The 28-year-old former third-rounder by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 out of Murray State has suddenly become a weekly lineup option in IDP leagues after drastically improving in coverage at the linebacker position last year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
4 days agoThe New York Jets restructured the contracts of tight end
Tyler Conklin and linebacker Quincy Williams on Tuesday to create $8 million in salary cap space for the upcoming 2024 campaign. The specifics of the restructure of Conklin's contract weren't available, but these moves will give the Jets a little more roster flexibility this year. Conklin was a little bit better in his second year with the Jets in 2023, catching 61 of his 87 targets for a career-high 621 yards, although he failed to find the end zone for the first time since 2019, his second year in the league. The 29-year-old should operate as the team's top pass-catching tight end again in 2024, and if quarterback
Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy all year, Conklin could surprise some folks as a TE2 in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
4 days agoThe Baltimore Ravens restructured the contracts of defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and linebacker Roquan Smith on Tuesday, in addition to All-Pro kicker
Justin Tucker, to create $9.3 million in salary cap space for the 2024 season. The Ravens will have some extra roster flexibility as they look to finally get over the hump in the AFC and get back to the Super Bowl. Madubuike just signed a huge four-year, $98 million deal in early March after the Ravens initially placed the franchise tag on him. The 26-year-old had the best season of his career in 2023 with 56 tackles, 13 sacks and two forced fumbles. He may not be worth starting in IDP leagues in Week 1 against the Chiefs, but he's at least worth a bench spot. Smith, 27, finished sixth in the NFL with 158 total tackles last year and is a top-five, must-start IDP linebacker in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
RADIO
