July 15, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Junior Colson is a "name to watch" in the competition to start next to Daiyan Henley at linebacker in 2025, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. A third-round pick in 2024, Colson played 11 games and made just one start as a rookie last season. Pro Football Focus graded Colson 180th out of 189 qualified linebackers in 2024. However, he missed time in training camp last summer after undergoing an appendectomy and then landed on Injured Reserve for a portion of the regular season due to an ankle injury. Popper notes that the Chargers re-signed veterans Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye over the offseason, and that those two figure to be Colson's main competition in camp.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
July 15, 2025
The Baltimore Ravens "figure to make a push to extend" tight end
Isaiah Likely, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Zrebiec also writes that the team believes Likely to have "star potential." A fourth-round draft pick back in 2022, Likely is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He's played a complementary role to star Ravens tight end
Mark Andrews to this point in his career, but that sounds as if it could be changing. Likely set career-highs in catches (42), receiving yards (477), and touchdowns (6) in 2024. While he probably still needs Andrews to miss time to be a must-start fantasy tight end this season, the workload split between the two will be one to monitor throughout training camp and the preseason.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
July 15, 2025
There have been no rumors indicating that an extension for Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts is on the team's radar, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The former number four overall pick in the 2021 draft, Pitts has been a disappointment relative to the hype he received as a prospect. Last season, Pitts logged 47 catches for 602 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. The four touchdowns were actually a career-high for the 24-year-old, who has 10 receiving touchdowns in 61 career games played. Pitts enters 2025 on the last year of his rookie contract. He's still the presumptive starter for Atlanta heading into training camp, but the news that he's not in the team's long-term plans could mean his role in the offense will continue to be de-emphasized.
--Will BradySource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 15, 2025
The Cleveland Browns are seeking clarity around rookie running back
Quinshon Judkins' domestic violence incident and are in "no rush to sign (him) to his rookie contract or get him to camp," according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Judkins was arrested on domestic battery charges on Saturday night in Florida. The Browns used a second-round selection on him in this year's draft but have not yet signed him to his rookie contract. Judkins is due to report to training camp on Friday alongside the quarterbacks and the rest of the rookies. However, Cabot writes that the Browns have stressed to Judkins that he must "make his domestic incident the high priority over football." If Judkins misses time in camp or during the season due to potential suspension, more playing time would open in the Browns backfield for both incumbent back
Jerome Ford and fourth-round rookie
Dylan Sampson.
--Will BradySource: Cleveland.com - Mary Kay Cabot
July 15, 2025
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle JC Latham struggled in his first year in the NFL in 2024 after being taken seventh overall out of Alabama. Although he played right tackle for the Crimson Tide in college, Tennessee was intent on using him at left tackle in his first year in the league, but that backfired, so they have moved him back to the right side heading into 2025. The Athletic's Joe Rexrode writes that the 22-year-old tackle has lost 30 pounds, and if he's more comfortable on the right side this year, he could be one of the team's most improved players. Latham started all 17 games last year and played 1,095 offensive snaps, and while he wasn't amazing, he also didn't completely fall on his face despite playing in what was a bad offense. It was clear that Latham would be switching sides on the O-line after the Titans signed Dan Moore to a four-year deal.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joe Rexrode
July 15, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year cornerback Tykee Smith, who also has experience at safety, could become an every-down player for the team in 2025, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. Smith's production as a nickel corner in his rookie season -- 54 tackles (38 solo), two interceptions, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 13 games (six starts) -- led head coach Todd Bowles to consider playing him more. The 24-year-old could be a safety-nickel combination player this year, writes Pompei, and playing next to a healthy Antoine Winfield Jr. could elevate his game. Bowles has also said that he's considering moving the former third-rounder out of Georgia to full-time safety after 589 of his 672 defensive snaps in 2024 came as a slot corner. Tampa has an opening at safety after releasing Jordan Whitehead.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Pompei
July 15, 2025
Seattle Seahawks third-year outside linebacker Derick Hall has a high ceiling going into 2025 after recording 37 tackles (20 solo), eight sacks, six tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 17 games (14 starts) in 2024. The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar writes that Hall's combination of strength and athleticism makes him one to watch this year. The 24-year-old mostly wins with power by bull-rushing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. While learning from veteran DeMarcus Lawrence, Hall could improve even further in 2025 and make Seattle's pass-rushing fourseam a feared unit between him, Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafa. Hall isn't really a viable fantasy target in IDP formats as a linebacker that hasn't racked up many tackles, but he's one to keep an eye on.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that rookie third-round running back
Kaleb Johnson is an ideal scheme fit for Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith's offense after Iowa alum excelled on wide-zone runs with the Hawkeyes. Although the Steelers weren't very efficient, only three teams ran the football more in 2024. The 21-year-old Johnson has plenty of competition in Pittsburgh's backfield in his rookie campaign with
Jaylen Warren and
Kenneth Gainwell in the fold, but he profiles as the team's back of the future and should get more chances out of the backfield as the season plays out. Johnson has a physical, bruising style and is also patient, which is reminiscent of former RB
Najee Harris, but he should produce more big plays after racking up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries in his final season at Iowa. He'll be more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy formats as an RB3/flex candidate.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
July 15, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles didn't make any external moves this offseason to replace cornerback Darius Slay, which shows the confidence they have in Kelee Ringo, according to The Athletic's Brooks Kubena. Despite his struggles in his second year in 2024, Kubena adds that Ringo has the physical tools to become a starter for the Eagles this year. The 23-year-old is younger that five of the rookies that Philly took in 2024, and the Eagles think they can unlock his potential after developmental years. The former fourth-rounder (105th overall) in 2023 out of Georgia had just 36 tackles (29 solo), one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 34 games (five starts) in his first two NFL seasons. Heading into training camp, it appears that Adoree' Jackson will be Ringo's primary competition in the secondary.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
July 15, 2025
New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is in line to start in his second year in the NFL now that both Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo are out of town, according to Larry Holder of The Athletic. The former second-rounder (41st overall) out of Alabama became a starter for the Saints midway through his rookie season when Lattimore was traded and Adebo was injured. The 22-year-old defensive back held his own with opposing passer ratings below 78.0 in five of his final seven games, per Pro Football Reference. QBs only combined for a 30 percent completion rate when targeting McKinstry in the final three contests. McKinstry finished his first year with 42 tackles (32 solo) and six pass breakups in 15 games (nine starts). He will have many more opportunities to make an impact for New Orleans' secondary in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Larry Holder
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Jim Ayello writes that a double-digit sack season for Miami Dolphins second-year linebacker Chop Robinson is well within reach in 2025. Robinsons, who was taken 21st overall in 2024 by the Dolphins, finished fifth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after producing 26 tackles (16 solo), six sacks, eight tackles for loss, 14 QB hits and four pass breakups in 17 games (one start). The 22-year-old pass-rusher also ranked fourth in pressure rate (17.2 percent) among players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Only Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons and Alex Highsmith ranked ahead of Robinson in that statistic. It's pretty good company to be in and gives you an idea of how high Robinson's ceiling is. With Jalean Phillips and Bradley Chubb returning to health this year, Robinson could put the Dolphins over the top with a ferocious pass rush.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jim Ayello
July 15, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. burst onto the NFL scene last year after being taken with the No. 23 overall pick out of LSU. Even on a bad team with spotty quarterback play, Thomas managed to catch 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts). The Athletic's Jeff Howe thinks that if the
Trevor Lawrence-Liam Coen pairing works out the way it's envisioned, Thomas could be even better. Rookie first-round wideout
Travis Hunter will be on the other side of the field drawing attention away from Thomas, too. It's not a stretch to think that Thomas could become a household name in his sophomore season in 2025, which is why RotoBaller has him ranked as a top-10 fantasy pass-catcher. The 22-year-old had si straight games with at least 10 targets and 76 yards a year ago.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jeff Howe
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts second-year defensive end Laiatu Latu is primed to take a step forward this year after starting defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo left in free agency to join the Chicago Bears. The Colts took Latu 15th overall last year, and he finished his first year in the NFL with 32 tackles (16 solo), four sacks, five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 17 games (just one start). In addition to having a bigger role naturally in his second season, the 24-year-old pass-rusher should benefit from the addition of new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who is known for varying schemes that are designed to bring a lot more pressure than former D coordinator Gus Bradley did. While an every-down role might not immediately put Latu on the IDP fantasy radar, he's certainly one to watch this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
July 15, 2025
The Detroit Lions coaches think that cornerback Terrion Arnold is set up to take a big jump forward in his second year in the league in 2025, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Because the team thought he could handle it, they threw a lot at Arnold in his rookie campaign -- he played the most man-coverage snaps of any cornerback in the NFL. The 22-year-old fell to 24th overall in last year's draft, and the Lions pounced and traded up for him. Arnold definitely wasn't perfect in his first year in the league while playing meaningful snaps, but Detroit believes that exposure will serve him well moving forward. The Alabama product finished 2024 with 60 tackles (47 solo), 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season games (15 starts). It's possible Arnold will be the team's top corner in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that if Los Angeles Angeles Chargers running back
Najee Harris (eye) misses time in training camp with an eye injury that he suffered during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July, the possibility of rookie first-rounder
Omarion Hampton beating out Harris for a lead-back role becomes even more likely. Harris' injury is deemed minor, and he should be fully ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, but he could miss some practice time to begin training camp later this week. That could open the door for Hampton, who has tremendous upside and will have a chance to be an immediate difference-maker in the team's run-first offense. The 22-year-old has the explosiveness to score every time he touches the football, and he could see the majority of the first-team work early in camp. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the RB21 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
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