16 hours agoThe Arizona Cardinals have chosen not to pick up defensive end Zaven Collins' fifth-year option, according to general manager Monti Ossenfort. With the move, Collins will be in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 and will become a free agent next March. It's a surprising move after the 24-year-old former 16th overall pick has recorded 166 tackles (103 solo), 5.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 12 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 50 games (39 starts) in his three years in the NFL. Collins isn't exactly on the IDP fantasy radar as a defensive lineman because of his lack of sacks, but he should continue to be a starting edge defender for Arizona in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
16 hours agoThe Arizona Cardinals took running back
Trey Benson in the third round of this year's NFL draft, and it's unlikely that he will take over lead-back duties from
James Conner this year, even though Conner hasn't shown that he's up to bell-cow duties in the NFL. Mainly because of injuries, Conner has posted between 200 and 250 touches in each of the last four seasons with the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, never playing in more than 15 games. Conner has been a pretty big injury risk for fantasy managers, but when he's been on the field, he's been impressive. The 28-year-old had 5.1 yards per touch in 2023. However, with Benson now in the fold, Arizona's backfield could easily evolve into a platoon situation that turns both Conner and Benson into solid RB2 candidates.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - KC Joyner
16 hours agoThe Green Bay Packers selected former USC running back
MarShawn Lloyd with the 88th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, and The Athletic's Matt Schneidman writes that he could compete for the backup to new feature back
Josh Jacobs in 2024. The Packers re-signed
AJ Dillon this offseason, but he might not be a lock to make the final roster. The Athletic's Dane Brugler doesn't think Lloyd has the profile of a high-volume back, but he has the ability to spark an offense with his mix of patience, burst and promise as a pass-catcher. Green Bay may want to take some of the load off Jacobs -- in five seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs ranked second in the NFL in carries and rushing yards since 2019. Lloyd will at least compete with 2023 undrafted RB
Emanuel Wilson for the No. 3 job.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
16 hours agoDenver Broncos running back
Javonte Williams will be the team's unquestioned lead back in 2024 if he's healthy, and the team is hopeful he'll more closely resemble the RB who rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season. However, rookie
Audric Estime, who was taken in the fifth round of this year's draft out of Notre Dame, could quickly put himself in the mix in 2024. He had limited wear and tear in college and could be the goal-line answer in the backfield that the Broncos missed in 2023. The 20-year-old stands at 5-foot-11, 221 pounds and is a powerful and physical runner. He had 1,341 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish in 2023 on 210 carries. At best, Estime might be a touchdown-dependent, goal-line guy, but he's a long shot to carve out much fantasy value as long as both
Samaje Perine and
Jaleel McLaughlin stay healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
16 hours agoThe Denver Broncos surprisingly took quarterback
Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, adding to a QB room that already included
Jarrett Stidham and former first-rounder
Zach Wilson. The Broncos were in no rush to name Nix the starter last week after drafting him, and he hasn't even thrown his first pass in rookie minicamp. Neither Stidham nor Wilson have had much experience or success at the NFL level, but it's clear that Denver won't rush Nix if he's not ready. With that said, the former Oregon signal-caller has every chance to win the job in his rookie season in 2024. The best bet going into Week 1 this fall is that either Stidham or Wilson will open the year as the team's starter under center, giving Nix time to develop and learn. Nix won't be a realistic option in 2024 redraft fantasy leagues, nor will Stidham/Wilson, outside of superflex leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
17 hours agoFormer Philadelphia Eagles running back
Boston Scott reached an agreement on an undisclosed one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday, according to sources. The Rams backfield now boasts
Kyren Williams, rookie third-rounder
Blake Corum, Scott and others. In addition to those three, LA also has
Ronnie Rivers and
Zach Evans as backfield depth. The 29-year-old Scott was mostly a complementary third-down, pass-catching back in his six years with the Eagles but was never a big part of the offense. The former sixth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2018 out of Louisiana Tech has never gone over 374 rushing yards in a single season, and his seven-touchdown campaign in 2021 was an outlier. Barring injuries, Williams and Corum figure to see most of the Rams' backfield touches in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
20 hours agoThe Buffalo Bills signed undrafted free-agent running back
Frank Gore Jr., according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. The son of a five-time Pro Bowler and potential Hall of Famer, Gore Jr. spent four seasons at Southern Miss and compiled 4,022 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns, 692 receiving yards, and four receiving scores in 47 career games. He was projected to be a late-round pick by many analysts, but he was not one of the 15 ball carriers selected on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. With
James Cook and fourth-round rookie
Ray Davis all but guaranteed roster spots, Gore Jr. will likely need to beat out
Ty Johnson and
Darrynton Evans to have a chance at making the 53-man roster.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Cameron Wolfe
20 hours agoUndrafted free-agent running back
Cody Schrader signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to take part in their rookie minicamp, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The 24-year-old began his collegiate career at the Division II level at Truman State in 2018 but saw limited action until his 2021 campaign. During that season, he rushed 300 times for 2,074 yards and 25 touchdowns. He then transferred to Missouri as a walk-on and vastly exceeded expectations. In two seasons in Columbia, he racked up 2,372 rushing yards, 328 receiving yards, and 23 total touchdowns. Although he's likely a longshot to make the Niners' 53-man roster, the 2023 unanimous All-American has experience with being overlooked and counted out, so it will be interesting to see if he can make an impact in the NFL for one of the 32 franchises.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
20 hours agoThe Cleveland Browns signed veteran center Brian Allen, according to his agency. The 28-year-old was selected with the No. 111 overall pick (fourth round) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFL Draft and played in 50 games (32 starts) for the organization. However, his role in L.A. faded over the last two seasons, as he started just seven games in 2022 due to injuries and did not log a start in 2023 after losing the position battle to Coleman Shelton. He'll likely compete with third-year center Dawson Deaton for the backup center job behind Ethan Pocic in Cleveland this year.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
20 hours agoLong-time NFL defensive back Chris Harris Jr. is retiring after 12 seasons. The 34-year-old was originally undrafted out of Kansas in the class of 2011 and played nine years with the Denver Broncos, two years with the Los Angeles Chargers, and one year with the New Orleans Saints. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection compiled 621 tackles, six sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 22 interceptions, and 101 pass deflections in 172 career games. He started opposite Aqib Talib for the legendary 2015 Broncos' defense that won Super Bowl 50 in Peyton Manning's final year in the NFL. Harris is not a Hall of Fame candidate on paper, but he enjoyed a spectacular career, especially considering he went undrafted.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
20 hours agoThe Baltimore Ravens have picked up the fifth-year option on linebacker Odafe Oweh, the team announced on X. The No. 31 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is now under contract with Baltimore through the 2025 season. Though Oweh's first 45 NFL games, he has racked up 99 tackles (73 solo), 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one pass deflection, and 14.5 run stuffs. The former Penn State Nittany Lion hasn't been a star since entering the league, but he's a productive rotational pass rusher on a strong defense. He might see more action this year after the departure of Jadeveon Clowney.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Ravens
22 hours agoWith San Francisco 49ers wide receivers
Brandon Aiyuk,
Deebo Samuel and
Jauan Jennings on the roster, The Athletic's Matt Barrows and David Lombardi write that it's hard to envision rookie first-rounder
read more...
22 hours agoMiami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said that head coach Mike McDaniel had been bugging him to draft Virginia wide receiver
Malik Washington for multiple rounds. "Your rookie year can be very productive if you're a pro, which I know you can be immediately because you're going to have the opportunity," McDaniel told Washington. The Dolphins ultimately took the wideout in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft at 184th overall. Washington caught 111 passes for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns in his only season with Virginia in 2023. He could have an immediate role for Miami in his rookie year, and his after-the-catch ability make him intriguing in the Dolphins' explosive offense. However, with
Tyreek Hill and
Jaylen Waddle commanding most of the looks from quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa, it's hard to envision Washington making a big rookie-year impact in fantasy in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: King Of Phinland
22 hours agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars released kicker
Joey Slye on Tuesday. The Jaguars signed Slye in free agency in March, but he's now a free agent after the team selected kicker
Cam Little in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft. Little and
Riley Patterson figure to compete for the starting kicking duties in Jacksonville this summer in training camp. The 28-year-old Slye will now look for work elsewhere after making 79.2 percent of his 24 field-goal attempts over 17 games with the Washington Commanders in 2023. He also made 32 of his 35 extra-point attempts. For his career, Slye has made 82.3 percent of his field-goal attempts while making 88.5 percent of his extra points in five NFL seasons with the Commanders, Panthers, Texans and 49ers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
22 hours agoLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay sees similarities between rookie running back
Blake Corum and
Kyren Williams, which is part of the reason why the Rams took Corum in the third round of this year's NFL draft. McVay also said that Williams will be a "great mentor" for Corum as he enters the NFL. The 23-year-old Corum was a big reason why Michigan won the national championship this past season, and he finished his time for the Wolverines with 3,736 rushing yards on 675 carries for 58 total touchdowns. The 5-foot-8, 205-pounder is more of a pounder than a straight speed guy, but he should complement Williams well. Williams will remain the team's primary pass-catching back in 2024, but the addition of Corum to LA's backfield is ultimately bad news for his fantasy upside this fall after he broke out for managers in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: TheRams.com - Stu Jackson
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