8 hours agoAccording to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, free agent tight end Mercedes Lewis will visit with the Bears on Monday. If all goes according to plan, he will sign a new contract. The veteran has spent time with the Jaguars and Packers before spending 2023 with Chicago, where he amassed just four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. This will be season No. 19 for Lewis, assuming he signs. However, the Bears have
Cole Kmet and
Gerald Everett on the roster, so Lewis isn't expected to find a spot on many fantasy rosters during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jay Glazer
8 hours agoNew York Giants tight end
Darren Waller announced his retirement on Sunday. There was talk about this, so the news isn't surprising to many. The 2015 sixth-round pick spent his first two seasons in Baltimore before spending five seasons with Oakland/Las Vegas. It was with the Raiders where he made a name for himself, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and becoming widely known as one of the NFL's top tight ends. Unfortunately, Waller battled injuries over the years, and he finished his final season in the league with the Giants by amassing only 552 yards and a touchdown off 52 catches. But with Waller now out of the equation,
Daniel Bellinger and rookie
Theo Johnson are the favorites to fill the void at the position moving ahead, with both men likely battling throughout training camp for the right to sit atop the depth chart.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
12 hours agoHouston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud gave wide receiver
Nico Collins some high praise at this week's mandatory minicamp, comparing him to Hall of Famer and former Texan Andre Johnson. "[Collins is] a generational talent. He's like our age's Andre Johnson, in my opinion," Stroud said. "Just how fast he is, how he gets in and out of his braces, releases, how strong he is. I think last year was just a preview of what's to come for him." Collins had a career year in 2023, going for 1,297 receiving yards on 80 receptions (109 targets) and eight touchdowns in 15 regular season games (10 starts). The 1,297 yards rank eighth in the team's single-season record books, and his eight touchdowns are tied for fifth. The Texans rewarded Collins with a three-year, $72.5 million extension, but he could have a tough time replicating those numbers in 2024 with
Stefon Diggs now in town in Houston.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Coral Smith
12 hours agoCleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku said that he's looking to "just be better than last year" as an encore to his Pro Bowl season in 2023, and he's also excited about new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey's scheme. "It is juicy," Njoku said of Cleveland's offense. "I am not going to say anything else. Leave it at that. But I'm really excited for this year." The 27-year-old former 29th overall pick in 2017 out of Miami, Njoku set career-highs across the board last year and finished with a team-high 81 catches on 123 targets for 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 regular-season games, while playing with five different quarterbacks. Dorsey will be Njoku's fifth offensive coordinator in eight seasons in Cleveland. Most of Njoku's production last year came late with veteran
Joe Flacco, but still, he's firmly on the TE1 map in 2024 and has been extremely durable in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Akron Beacon Journal - Nate Ulrich
12 hours agoSpeaking to reporters on Saturday for the first time since his tumultuous offseason, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice said his focus is to "mature and continue to grow." The 24-year-old second-year wideout was arrested in April following a multiple-vehicle crash in Dallas, and he's also a suspect in a separate incident in an alleged assault at a Dallas nightclub in May. "I've learned so much from that," Rice said. "All I can do is mature and continue to grow from that. This is a step in a better direction for me." He has taken part in all offseason practices with the Chiefs but is likely to face a suspension from the league to begin the 2024 season, which is obviously a hit to his fantasy value. In his rookie campaign, Rice became one of quarterback
Patrick Mahomes' favorite targets, finishing with 79 receptions on 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
13 hours agoIndianapolis Colts running back
Evan Hull (knee) played in just one game and eight offensive snaps in his rookie season in 2023 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in which he tore his left MCL. "It was a root tear, so it was a little different than your typical tear in the body, which would be more of a six- to eight-week type of thing that we see typically," Hull said. The former third-rounder was cleared to resume all football activities a few weeks after offseason organized team activities begin, and he's been competing alongside
Trey Sermon and
Tyler Goodson as the Colts evaluate who will serve as the primary back to
Jonathan Taylor in 2024. Sermon is probably the favorite for the No. 2 backfield job, but Hull could see some third-down work in his second season in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
13 hours agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder) was held out completely from Thursday's organized team activities due to what he described as "a little soreness" in his surgically repaired right shoulder. "It's nothing to worry about," Richardson said. "I've dealt with this before. Normally, I just ice up and just go back at it again." The Colts aren't going to push the second-year signal-caller after he had season-ending AC joint surgery back in October, and Richardson dismissed any notion that he suffered a setback in his rehab. He said the Colts were actually "surprised" that Thursday was the first day he sat out due to soreness because it's been "smooth sailing" otherwise. Despite having played in only four games in the NFL, Richardson has enticing high-end QB1 upside in fantasy. Richardson should be a full-go in training camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
1 day agoFormer Miami Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard sent a male teenager a sexually explicit photograph of the teen's mother because she refused to get an abortion, a new court filing alleges. The allegation was made on Thursday in a lawsuit filed last year by a woman who is not the teenager's mother. The woman is accusing Howard of secretly recording them having sex and sharing the recordings with others. She said Howard also shared, without her consent, sex tapes she had agreed to make. Howard, 30, was released by Miami this offseason in a money-saving move and he remains a free agent. He is denying the claims, according to his attorney, Ted Craig. It remains to be seen if Howard will face any kind of suspension from the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
2 days agoThe Detroit Lions have lost one day of organized team activities after breaking rules related to on-field contact during practice the week of May 27. "We take very seriously the rules set forth within the NFL's Offseason Program and have worked to conduct our practices accordingly," the Lions said in a statement Friday night. "We will continue to be vigilant with our practices moving forward." The Lions initially had organized team activities planned for Monday, the final session before training camp at the end of July, but it has been forfeited. The Lions had a three-day mandatory minicamp earlier this week and will now break until the end of July.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
2 days agoThe Cleveland Browns announced on Friday that they signed free-agent offensive guard Wyatt Davis (ankle) and waived defensive tackle Jayden Peevy in a corresponding move. Davis is apparently healthy this offseason after spending all of last year on Injured Reserve with the New York Giants due to an ankle injury. The 25-year-old former third-round pick (86th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 draft out of Ohio State played in six games in his rookie season in Minnesota and then played in three games with the Giants, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints in 2022. As long as Davis remains healthy for training camp and the preseason this summer, he'll compete for a depth role on Cleveland's offensive line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cleveland Browns
2 days agoHouston Texans center Juice Scruggs "is looking great" at organized team activities this offseason, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans. Scruggs has worked diligently this offseason to prepare for the 2024 campaign and looks visibly bigger, stronger and more mobile. He's a natural center and is a projected starter for the defending AFC South champions. The 24-year-old former second-rounder last year out of Penn State overcame a slow-healing hamstring injury and started to establish his presence at the line of scrimmage in seven games (six starts). Since an injury to Tytus Howard last year, Scruggs became a starter, including playoff games against the Browns and Ravens, and was a reliable presence on the left side of the line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs safety Nazeeh Johnson (knee) is taking part in offseason organized team activities and recorded a red-zone pass breakup during 11-on-11 drills on Friday. In addition, cornerback Joshua Williams picked a pass off in the red zone. Johnson missed all of last year due to a torn ACL but appears to be on track to be ready for training camp, the preseason and the start of the 2024 regular season this fall. The 25-year-old defensive back was a seventh-round selection by the Chiefs in 2022 out of Marshall. In his rookie campaign, he played in 11 games (no starts) and recorded just eight tackles (five solo). As long as he doesn't suffer a setback with his surgically repaired knee, Johnson will be competing for a depth role in KC's secondary this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
2 days agoTampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Bucky Irving recently received praise from the team's offensive coordinator Liam Coen. The organization seems excited about Irving's speed and his ability to make people miss in space. The fourth-round pick should work his way into the mix early given the Bucs lack of depth at the position. Irving could be an interesting change-of-pace option for the Bucs this season.
Rachaad White remains the lead back, but having someone like Irving on the roster should help ease White's workload.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Coachspeak Index
2 days agoLas Vegas Raiders running back
Dylan Laube has been receiving high praise from the team's general manager Tom Telesco. The 24-year-old joined the Raiders this offseason after playing his college career at New Hampshire. Laube has a strong ability to catch passes, but has impressed the organization on special teams as well. The Raiders don't have a ton of depth with
Zamir White and
Alexander Mattison as the only two legitimate options in front of him. Laube could work his way into the mix, but fantasy managers shouldn't get too eager on draft day.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Las Vegas Sun
2 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers haven't done much to add to their wide receiver group this offseason. If anything, the Steelers have made more notably subtractions than additions to their wideouts this summer. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic believes that the Steelers still need to add another legitimate No. 2 option. Right now, veteran wideout
Van Jefferson and third-round rookie
Roman Wilson are set to compete for the No. 2 spot. While bringing in another receiver would hurt the fantasy value of those players. However, Kaboly isn't wrong, the Steelers are in need of more depth at the position, but we'll see if the team actually makes a move.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mark Kaboly
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