August 29, 2025
The New England Patriots have a "strong internal belief" that quarterback
Drake Maye will take a step forward in the second season of his career, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, took over the starting job in Week 6 as a rookie and went on to flash his sky-high potential over 13 games. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound dual threat completed 66.6% of passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He added another 421 yards and two scores on the ground, averaging a gaudy 7.8 yards per attempt on 54 rushes. While the 22-year-old will likely experience some growing pains, especially as he gets acclimated to a new system under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, he should benefit from a better supporting cast than he had in 2024. Maye is going into the season as RotoBaller's 14th-ranked QB, but his upside is significant.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jeff Howe - The Athletic
August 29, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles hosted former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Brenden Rice for a tryout on Friday, according to NFL.com. The son of Hall of Fame wideout Jerry Rice didn't make the Chargers' final 53-man roster out of training camp and was waived earlier this week. After clearing waivers, the 23-year-old former seventh-rounder (225th overall) in 2024 out of USC is free to sign with any team for the 2025 season. He appeared in all three of L.A.'s preseason games and caught three passes for 32 yards. Rice played in just three regular-season games for the Bolts last year and didn't see a single target while playing only three offensive snaps. If he latches on with the Eagles, he'll almost certainly be assigned to their practice squad as receiving depth to open the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com
August
29,
2025
Indianapolis
Colts
head
coach
Shane
Steichen
has
been
non-committal
on
whether
he
will
use
quarterback
Anthony
Richardson
Sr.
in
short-yardage
and
red-zone
packages
this
year
after
he
lost
out
on
starting
QB
duties
to
read more...
August
29,
2025
Dallas
Cowboys
running
back
Javonte
Williams
is
listed
as
the
team's
RB1
on
their
first
depth
chart
of
the
2025
season,
according
to
Adam
Schefter
of
ESPN.
Williams
is
followed
on
the
RB
depth
chart
by
read more...
August 29, 2025
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes the Miami Dolphins might have grabbed a hidden gem in rookie running back
Ollie Gordon II when they took him in the sixth round back in April's NFL draft. Gordon is an old-school RB1, Brooks writes, and ran for 43 yards on eight carries as the starter in the team's preseason finale. He has been praised by head coach Mike McDaniel for his rugged running style between the tackles, but the Oklahoma State product has also showcased soft hands on the perimeter this summer at training camp. The 21-year-old finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy race back in 2023 and could easily become a dominant force in the NFL. He's still young, but with both
De'Von Achane (calf) and
Jaylen Wright (leg) banged up at the start of the 2025 season, Gordon is worth a peek as a late-round RB flier in most fantasy formats this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Bucky Brooks
August
29,
2025
NFL.com's
Bucky
Brooks
thinks
that
Detroit
Lions
rookie
wide
receiver
Isaac
TeSlaa
will
be
"a
valuable
weapon
for
Jared
Goff
as
a
chain-mover
with
mismatch
potential
in
the
red
zone"
in
read more...
August 29, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles released wide receiver
Terrace Marshall Jr. and cornerback Eli Ricks from their practice squad on Friday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. In corresponding moves, the team added running back
Audric Estime and defensive back Ambry Thomas to the practice squad. Marshall, a former second-round pick (59th overall) by the Carolina Panthers in 2021 out of LSU, played in seven games (one start) with the Las Vegas Raiders last year and caught just three of six targets for 41 yards. The 25-year-old was limited by a knee issue during training camp with Philly this summer and caught even passes for 66 yards in the team's final two preseason games. He will now look to catch on elsewhere as receiver depth. Marshall has a total of 67 receptions for 808 yards and just one touchdown in his four NFL seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Dave Zangaro
August 29, 2025
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that newly-acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark won't need long to get up to speed with the new system and will play in the Week 1 regular-season opener next Thursday, Sept. 4, versus the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. "Quite honestly if Kenny Clark is not in this deal it may not have happened," Schottenheimer said. The Cowboys acquired Clark and two first-round picks from the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster trade on Thursday that sent All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay. The 29-year-old Clark, a former first-rounder in 2016, is a three-time Pro Bowler with 35 sacks in his nine NFL seasons. While he certainly isn't in the same conversation as Parsons as a pure pass-rusher, he should help fortify Dallas' defensive interior against the run.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
August
29,
2025
San
Francisco
49ers
head
coach
Kyle
Shanahan
thinks
All-Pro
running
back
Christian
McCaffrey
is
poised
for
a
bounce-back
season
in
2025
after
the
former
NFL
Offensive
Player
of
the
Year
was
limited
to
four
games
in
read more...
August 29, 2025
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane (calf) should be ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, versus the Indianapolis Colts, barring any setbacks, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. General manager Chris Grier said on Wednesday that he expects Achane to be ready next weekend, although Furones doesn't sound as confident here. The 23-year-old lead back has not practiced with the team in over a week as he deals with a nagging calf injury that has put his availability ahead of the Week 1 opener in question. Fantasy managers should have a much better idea of Achane's status for Week 1 when Miami begins official practices next week. Achane's status is of even more importance with
Jaylen Wright (leg) expected to miss a couple weeks after having leg surgery. Their injuries have made rookie
Ollie Gordon II an intriguing late-round flier in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
August 29, 2025
Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard says that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (calf) is looking for more than $20 million annually on a contract extension, and the team "appears unwilling to meet those demands." "If you ask me what the dollars are, I would tell you, just from my opinion, is that it's not close. It's not even close," Kawakami added. Jennings does hold some leverage due to the team's injury-depleted receiving group with
Brandon Aiyuk (knee) set to miss at least the first four games of the year. However, his leverage is diminishing with each passing day, and the possibility of him missing regular-season games further complicates matters. Jennings has been out for most of training camp with a calf injury, but his contract dispute may be influencing his lack of practice participation. General manager John Lynch confirmed that Jennings has requested a trade, but the Niners have no intentions of moving him.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Francisco Standard - Tim Kawakami
August 29, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to rookie running back
Kaleb Johnson as the primary change-of-pace option behind
Jaylen Warren. With the ground game sputtering this preseason, Johnson has an opportunity to carve out a bigger role if he continues to showcase his strengths. At 6'0" with an athletic frame, Johnson brings patience, vision, and balance to his runs, piling up explosive carries by trusting his blocks and shedding tacklers. To become a true every-down back, however, Johnson must improve his pass protection.
--Shaun AlbinSource: NFL.com
August 29, 2025
The New England Patriots released veteran safety Jabrill Peppers on Friday in a surprising roster move. Peppers had been projected to start alongside Jaylinn Hawkins, but the decision signals a shift toward youth in the secondary. Fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson is expected to step into the starting strong safety role, though his inexperience could lead to early growing pains for the defense. Peppers, meanwhile, remains a productive veteran and a respected leader who should draw interest from safety-needy teams. For New England, this marks a changing of the guard as they lean on younger talent to anchor the back end.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Ari Meirov
August 29, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver
Jalen Royals (knee) is unlikely to suit up for Week 1 as he works his way back from injury. The fourth-round pick from Utah State entered camp competing with
Marquise Brown and others for a role in one of the league's deepest receiver groups. Royals' strengths lie in his route savvy, body control, and ability to fight through contact, making him a tough cover when healthy. While his short-term redraft outlook is limited, he remains an intriguing dynasty stash given Kansas City's long-term need for young playmakers to emerge around
Patrick Mahomes.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Sam McDowell
August 29, 2025
Baltimore Ravens rookie kicker
Tyler Loop has a tall task of replacing seven-time Pro Bowler
Justin Tucker, but NFL.com's Bucky Brooks writes that Loop "appears to be well on his way to becoming a household name as a long-distance scorer with unlimited range." Loop made 81.8 percent of his field-goal attempts during the regular season and also made a 61-yarder. He made all eight of his extra-point attempts and heads into his first NFL as a "model of consistency," which is what head coach John Harbaugh expects at the position. The 24-year-old sixth-rounder definitely has the leg to succeed at this level, and in one of the best offenses in the league, he could be on the fantasy radar in 12-team leagues before long, too. Right now, though, RotoBaller has Loop ranked as the No. 19 fantasy kicker with Week 1 just a week away.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Bucky Brooks
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