June 16, 2025
The Athletic's Stephen Holder writes that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell had one of the most impressive performances at last week's mandatory minicamp. The 22-year-old second-round pick (52nd overall) in 2024 had an uneven and frustrating rookie campaign and finished with 23 catches on 55 targets for 312 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (seven starts). Mitchell also looked good in training camp last summer, so now it's a matter of him taking his practice reps into the regular season. "I think last offseason, same thing. Did some really good things. He's had a hell of an offseason so far through OTAs. [I] expect that to continue through training camp. But getting to those game situations, [it's] just continuing to get those game reps and really taking that next step," head coach Shane Steichen said. Mitchell has the talent to take the next step, but target volume could be an issue again.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
June 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee) said he is fully healed from the knee injuries that forced him to miss all of last season. He has been a disruptive force from the moment he return to the field for voluntary organized team activities, and that continued into mandatory minicamp, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. If he can stay healthy in 2025 alongside pass-rushers Chop Robinson and Jaelan Phillips, Chubb could have a nice bounce-back season. Chubb tore his ACL, meniscus and patellar tendon in Week 17 of the 2023 season, but it's promising to see that he's already looking back to his pre-injury form. The 28-year-old former fifth overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018 out of North Carolina State had a career-high 73 tackles (45 solo), 11 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 22 QB hits and a league-high six forced fumbles in 16 starts before his injury in 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
June 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Jonnu Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that contract talks were "still fluid." "Nothing has been resolved yet. It's still an ongoing situation." After a career year in 2024 in which Smith set franchise records for the tight end position, he's angling for an extension heading into the final year of his deal in 2025 and was a no-show at mandatory minicamp as a result. Miami would like to retain the 29-year-old, but if the two sides can't get something done before the start of the regular season this fall, it's possible that he'll be traded. Smith finished last year with 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, ironically with Miami's offense taking a step back overall. If he remains in South Beach this year, Smith should remain a big part of the offense, but fantasy managers should probably expect a step back as a midrange TE1.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Herald - C. Isaiah Smalls II
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (knee) looked "a lot stronger" in the ninth day of offseason workouts compared to the beginning. "They like the way he's throwing the ball," said Fowler. "They feel very comfortable with where he's at going into training camp." The 22-year-old suffered a meniscus tear last summer, preventing him from suiting up for his rookie campaign. Fortunately, it appears that the injury is behind him. With receivers
Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison at McCarthy's disposal, he should have some quality showings this season. Naturally, there could be some growing pains. Still, the young signal-caller definitely has a higher ceiling than most around his age, making him a perfect addition to any dynasty roster. His redraft outlook might also improve, assuming he continues to impress in the next few months.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Jeremy Fowler
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the New York Jets have made a contract offer to wide receiver
Garrett Wilson. Fowler added that both sides "have exchanged some numbers," so it's unknown how close the wideout actually is to agreeing to a new deal. The 24-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, catching 101 passes for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. It's a new era in New York, with the team hiring former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to serve as the head coach. The team also parted ways with quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, replacing him with
Justin Fields. It's safe to say the Jets will need Wilson happy and motivated if the club hopes to return to the playoff conversation. While there are some questions about Wilson's fantasy outlook with a new signal-caller and head coach, he should continue to be a consistent performer for fantasy managers.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Jeremy Fowler
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Travis Kelce will "debut a bit of a slimmer look" at training camp. The multi-time All-Pro wasn't happy with his conditioning last season, so he lost 25 pounds in an attempt to improve his productivity. He is coming off one of his worst years since entering the National Football League in 2013, finishing the 2024 campaign with 97 receptions while amassing career-lows in yards (823) and touchdowns (three). The Chiefs are stacked on the offensive side of the ball. However, there is no denying the chemistry between Kelce and quarterback
Patrick Mahomes. Only time will tell if the weight loss will help Kelce get back on track, although it appears his stock is starting to trend up heading toward training camp.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Jeremy Fowler
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson have resumed discussions surrounding a new contract. The 30-year-old has been a force on the defensive side of the ball, amassing 35 sacks in the last two seasons combined. As expected, he wants a new deal. Although things at least appeared promising when talks between both sides began, the situation went south quickly, with Hendrickson recently skipping mandatory minicamp. The Bengals have one of the best offenses in the National Football League. However, it's a different story as it pertains to the team's defense. Rookie Shemar Stewart has also been absent while awaiting a contract to his liking, which indirectly has increased the urgency to get a new deal done for Hendrickson. With that in mind, there is renewed hope that negotiations are heading in a positive direction. On the other hand, there is still plenty of time for that to change.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Jeremy Fowler
June 15, 2025
Houston Texans rookie second-round wide receiver
Jayden Higgins impressed during the team's mandatory minicamp, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. Higgins made one-handed catches with starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter in coverage and also connected with quarterback
C.J. Stroud on other plays. He will be pushing for a role in his first year in the NFL and could seal a starting spot by the second week of training camp this summer if he continues to play well. For being 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, the young pass-catcher and Iowa State product moves extremely well.
Nico Collins is Houston's clear WR1, but Higgins has the potential and athleticism to surpass
Christian Kirk as the team's WR2 sooner than later in 2025. In his final season at Iowa State, Higgins had 87, catches, 1,183 yards and nine TDs. He's worth a late-round flier in deeper single-league fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
June 15, 2025
ESPN's Brady Henderson writes that Seattle Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has managed to make an impression on his new teammates and to set a tone with the younger ones despite the non-contact nature of spring practices. "We haven't been able to play next to each other or anything like that, but I think just the type of leadership and mindset that he brings to the team is just phenomenal," defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. "He's a dog. He speaks a lot, he plays hard. He's going into Year 12 and he's out there practicing harder than some of the rookies. So we're getting on the rookies saying, 'OK, this is an example. This guy's going into Year 12. He's got nothing to prove, but he's out there working his craft as hard as he can every day.'" The 33-year-old hasn't appeared limited at all this offseason after playing in just four games with Dallas in 2024 due to a foot ailment.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
June 15, 2025
Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons, the former eighth overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, was shuffled among linebacker, safety and nickel defensive back with the Cardinals and New York Giants and never excelled at any of those positions. Part of the reason he signed with the Packers was their willingness to let him play exclusively at linebacker. ESPN's Rob Demovsky writes that Simmons has had the chance to line up with the starters at linebacker during the offseason program, despite the fact that Green Bay is deep at the position. "Honestly I feel like this is the most comfortable in a system I've been since I've been in the league," Simmons said. It's a notable development for the former Clemson start, but it won't guarantee a career turnaround, especially if he's not playing regularly. The 26-year-old had a career-low 21 tackles in 17 games (one start) with the Giants in 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
June 15, 2025
SI.com's John Shipley guesses that Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Travis Etienne Jr. opens the year as the team's lead back. However, Shipley also writes that Etienne,
Tank Bigsby and rookies
Bhayshul Tuten and
LeQuint Allen will get some run at some point. Under a new coaching staff, many believed that Etienne's stock would continue to fall after another disappointing showing in 2024, when he had career-lows across the board in carries (150), rushing yards (558) and touchdowns (two) while catching 39 of 52 targets for 254 yards through the air in 15 starts. That could still be the case, especially since the former first-rounder now has to fight off a pair of rookies in addition to Bigsby. Etienne has fallen all the way to No. 35 in RotoBaller's preseason rankings for 2025, but he still has a chance to prove himself in a new offense as the RB1.
--Keith HernandezSource: SI.com - John Shipley
June 15, 2025
Despite Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder) having a setback with his surgically-repaired right shoulder that caused him to miss OTAs and minicamp this spring, SI.com's Jake Arthur writes that it will still be an open QB competition in training camp this summer between Richardson and
Daniel Jones. However, the Colts aren't going to rush Richardson back at the start of camp, which in theory gives Jones a leg up on the competition since he got all the reps at OTAs and minicamp. Arthur suggests Richardson would have to look outstanding in camp and the preseason, or Jones would have to lose control of the lead for Richardson to win the job outright heading into Week 1. With Jones having looked good, Arthur thinks it's hard to imagine how Jones isn't the current favorite. Richardson's injury issues are making it harder and harder for the Colts' staff to trust him.
--Keith HernandezSource: SI.com - Jake Arthur
June
14,
2025
Tampa
Bay
Buccaneers
rookie
wide
receiver
Emeka
Egbuka
has
been
"the
talk"
of
minicamp.
"Emeka
has
really
strong
hands,"
said
fellow
wideout
Mike
Evans.
"He
looks
like
a
running
back,
but
he
catches
read more...
June 14, 2025
Unsurprisingly, New York Giants quarterback
Russell Wilson is working as the starting QB in offseason workouts, but rookie first-rounder
Jaxson Dart has mostly worked as the QB2 ahead of veteran
Jameis Winston. Dart has displayed some strong throws but also held the ball forever at times and was forced to scramble. The G-Men traded up to the 25th overall pick in April to grab Dart, so they obviously like his chances of becoming their franchise signal-caller. However, Wilson is going to get the first shot in 2025 while Dart sits and learns on the sidelines. But if Wilson struggles like he did at the end of last year in Pittsburgh, the 22-year-old from Ole Miss could get a shot sooner than later as head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen try to save their jobs. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues can avoid Dart for now, but he's a solid dynasty/keeper stash.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
June 14, 2025
New York Jets former undrafted wide receiver
Xavier Gipson has been a non-contributor as a wide receiver on offense despite fighting his way onto the active roster in his first year in the NFL and then scoring a game-winning, punt-return touchdown in his first game in 2023. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt write that Gipson's roster spot is in jeopardy heading into training camp with undrafted rookie wideout
Jamaal Pritchett pushing him. The 24-year-old is currently the front-runner to be New York's punt returner, but it's not a lock. He caught 21 of 38 targets for 229 yards and no touchdowns on offense in 2023 but regressed last year and caught just six passes for 39 yards and a TD in 17 games (no starts). Gipson isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar heading into the 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
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