2 hours agoSeattle Seahawks second-year wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an obvious breakout candidate in his sophomore season despite being in a receiving corps that still has
DK Metcalf and
Tyler Lockett and in an offense that figures to lean more on the running game than new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb did at the University of Washington. In his first year in the league in 2023, Smith-Njigba had 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. No player stood out more than JSN during spring workouts and minicamp, although Metcalf and Lockett weren't always on the field with him. He was downright dominant at times, though, and head coach Mike Macdonald said "we're expecting big things out of him." The 22-year-old has his fantasy ceiling capped as long as Metcalf and Lockett are healthy, but fantasy managers still shouldn't mind rostering him as a WR4/flex.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
2 hours agoBuffaloBills.com's Chris Brown lists Buffalo Bills second-year tight end
Dalton Kincaid as a breakout candidate in 2024 after finishing eighth among tight ends in his rookie season in receptions with 73. With receiver
Stefon Diggs now gone -- Diggs was the only player in the passing game that had more targets than Kincaid in 2023 -- the opportunity is ripe for Kincaid to lead the team in that category this year. If he stays healthy, the former 25th overall pick could be a top-five fantasy tight end in just his second year in the league. In addition to his 73 receptions (on 91 targets), Kincaid had 673 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (11 starts) in 2023. Kincaid's combination of talent at a shallow position and the opportunity in Buffalo in 2024 will make him pretty attractive in all fantasy setups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: BuffaloBills.com - Chris Brown
2 hours agoBuffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam just turned 23 years old and has gotten a ton of repetitions this spring with veteran Rasul Douglas missing the voluntary organized team activities. Elam will be in line to challenge for a starting outside cornerback role in training camp and the preseason. He was taken with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Florida, but he hasn't really panned out yet for the Bills secondary early in his career. It comes after Tre'Davious White left to play for the Los Angeles Rams. Elam will be competing with Douglas and Christian Benford for more snaps on the outside at cornerback as he heads into his third NFL season. At worst, Elam will be a key backup for the Bills defense this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: BuffaloBills.com - Chris Brown
2 hours agoThe Detroit Lions signed big-footed UFL kicker
Jake Bates to an undisclosed two-year deal this week, according to his agent, Marty Magid. The 24-year-old ranked second in the UFL this year with 17 field goals for the Michigan Panthers, which included a 64-yard game-winning kick in the season opener against the St. Louis Battlehawks. The former soccer player didn't turn to football until his senior year in high school and was a kickoff specialist in college at Texas State and Arkansas. Bates will now look to impress the Lions coaching staff in training camp and the preseason. Detroit also has kickers
Michael Badgley and
James Turner on the roster, so Bates is far from a guarantee to make the final 53-man roster heading into the regular season. If Bates wins the starting job in 2024, he might be worth a look in 12-team leagues in Detroit's strong offense while kicking half his games indoors.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 hours agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins signed his franchise tender on Saturday, according to a source. By signing his tender, Higgins is now expected to be at training camp next month. A long-term deal for Higgins is considered a long shot at this point, especially since with WR1
Ja'Marr Chase has only two years remaining on his current deal. The 25-year-old Higgins will make $21.8 million in the franchise tag in 2024 before becoming a free agent next March. The former second-rounder (33rd overall) in 2020 out of Clemson struggled with injuries in his fourth NFL season in 2023, playing in only 12 games and catching 42 passes for a career-low 656 yards and five touchdowns. With better health for himself and quarterback
Joe Burrow (wrist), Higgins should be able to bounce back in a contract year and would be a fine target as a high-end WR3/low-end WR2.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
18 hours agoThe New Orleans Saints signed free-agent tight end
Jesper Horsted to an undisclosed deal on Friday and waived wide receiver
Kyle Sheets in a corresponding move, according to executive vice president/general manager Horsted didn't play at all in 2024 while with the Las Vegas Raiders due to a hamstring issue, but he's presumably healed from that injury and now ready to compete for a roster spot with the Saints in training camp and the preseason. The 27-year-old entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019 out of Princeton with the Chicago Bears and played in two seasons in the Windy City before joining the Raiders in 2022. In his four years in the league, he's amassed just 14 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns, so he's obviously nowhere near the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NewOrleansSaints.com
18 hours agoThe Los Angeles Chargers announced on Friday that they signed free-agent defensive back Tony Jefferson to an undisclosed deal. Jefferson is coming out of retirement after spending the last year working as a scout for the Baltimore Ravens. In his last season of NFL action in 2022 with the New York Giants, he played in only nine games (one start) and had 23 tackles (16 solo) and one pass breakup. The 32-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals to begin his career before joining the Ravens for three full seasons from 2017-19. He played for the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Jefferson will merely be competing for a roster spot in LA in training camp and the preseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
23 hours agoThe Denver Broncos' quarterback competition between
Jarrett Stidham, rookie first-rounder
Bo Nix and former first-rounder
Zach Wilson is going to heat up in training camp this summer, but a starter might not officially be announced until late in the preseason. Head coach Sean Payton indicated the week before the team's season opener is the "end date" to have named a starter at the position, but he doesn't have a set date in mind to make his decision. "Every day we're rolling them different with the ones, twos and threes," Payton said. "We're kind of doing the same thing with a lot of the other position groups. I just feel like this is the time of the year to do that." Stidham may have the slight advantage right now because of his experience in Payton's offense last year, but Nix could close the gap quickly by outperforming him in camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Broncos Wire - Jon Heath
23 hours agoDuring offseason practices, Denver Broncos quarterback
Zach Wilson has ceded most of the repetitions to
Jarrett Stidham and rookie first-rounder
Bo Nix. Wilson had a total of three practices with the first-team offense this spring compared to five for Stidham and four for Nix. There will officially be an open QB competition between Wilson, Stidham and Nix this summer at training camp, but it would be a pretty big surprise if Wilson came out the winner heading into the Week 1 regular season opener this fall. The 24-year-old former first-rounder fizzled out in impressive fashion with the New York Jets, and the Broncos predictably declined his fifth-year option after trading for him this offseason. Wilson has a strong arm but showed questionable decision-making in his time with the Jets. He's off the fantasy radar, even in dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Broncos Wire - Jon Heath
24 hours agoDenver Broncos quarterback
Jarrett Stidham has an obvious advantage in the quarterback competition with rookie first-rounder
Bo Nix and former first-rounder
Zach Wilson as he enters his second year in head coach Sean Payton's offense. "He's doing well," Payton said of Stidham. "Clearly, within the framework within what we're doing, he is much further along than in Year 1 in the transition. I'd say he's looked really sharp during this offseason program. [He is] real decisive. I think the leadership he is able to provide there, and there's good competition." Stidham may be ahead now, but Nix could quickly and easily close the gap if he looks good in training camp this summer. And it's not like Stidham has much experience in the NFL to begin with. Fantasy managers in single-year formats would be wise to avoid Denver's QB situation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Broncos Wire - Jon Heath
24 hours agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Tim Patrick (Achilles) was one of the standout performers at minicamp practice earlier this week and is recovered from last summer's torn Achilles, the second straight season he suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. "[He brings] those intangibles," head coach Sean Payton said of Patrick. Patrick is 30 years old and hasn't played in the NFL since 2021, so he won't be drafted in most single-year leagues. Also not going in his favor is the uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Broncos entering training camp. However, with
Jerry Jeudy now in Cleveland, Patrick has an opportunity to step into the No. 2 role behind
Courtland Sutton if he can stay healthy. In his last season in 2021, Patrick was serviceable in fantasy with a career-high 53 catches, 734 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 16 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Broncos Wire - Jon Heath
24 hours agoDenver Broncos tight end
Adam Trautman (core) was held out of mandatory minicamp practices this week as a precaution due to a core-muscle injury. "Just being smart with his reps," head coach Sean Payton said. "He had core-muscle symptoms, which is basically a sprain. He didn't need surgery, so that's the good news. Nothing significant though." It sounds like it's an injury that won't keep Trautman sidelined for the start of training camp at the end of July. The 27-year-old re-signed with Denver in the offseason after catching 22 passes for 204 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 17 games in his first year in Denver in 2023. Third-year tight end
Greg Dulcich (foot) has had trouble staying on the field in his first two years in the NFL, but if he's healthy, he'll be the better bet for fantasy production in 2024 than Trautman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Broncos Wire - Jon Heath
24 hours agoThe Washington Commanders and second overall pick
Jayden Daniels agreed to terms on a four-year, $37.75 million fully guaranteed deal on Friday that includes a $24.3 million signing bonus, according to his agent. The young quarterback out of LSU is the highest pick of this year's NFL draft to sign their rookie deal to this point. While Daniels is technically competing for the starting gig in his rookie season in 2024 with veteran
Marcus Mariota, most people are projecting Daniels to win the competition and start right away in Week 1 in D.C. The 23-year-old dual-threat signal-caller has all the physical skills to have success at the next level in an offense without much proven talent at the receiver position beyond
Terry McLaurin. Aside from durability concerns, Daniels has the makeup to have a seamless transition to the NFL, immediately making him relevant in two-QB, superflex leagues in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
1 day agoSix-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell signed an undisclosed deal with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, according to sources. Campbell will turn 38 years old in September but he's still playing at a high level as he enters his 17th season in the NFL. The 37-year-old is looking to finish out his career in Miami after playing his college ball with the Hurricanes. The veteran pass-rusher doesn't play as many snaps as he did earlier in his career, which puts him off the fantasy radar in most IDP leagues, but he could still be productive when he's on the field for an already strong Dolphins defense. In 17 starts for the Atlanta Falcons last year, Campbell had 56 tackles (32 solo), 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 17 QB hits. Campbell hasn't had double-digit sacks in a season since 2018 and hasn't made a Pro Bowl since 2020.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
1 day agoNew Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (neck), who had offseason neck surgery, received a positive report from renowned specialist Dr. Robert Watkins during a checkup this week, according to a source. Young will have more tests on his neck in around six weeks, but he plans to take part in training camp this summer. The former second overall pick by the Washington Commanders in 2020 out of Ohio State won Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season in the league, but then injuries struck. He was able to play in 16 games with Washington and the San Francisco 49ers last year, though, and finished with 7.5 sacks, the same amount he had in 2020. If the 25-year-old can just say on the field, the Saints could have a real steal on their hands on their D-line. Because of the injury risk, Young can be left to the waiver wire in IDP leagues to start the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
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