4 weeks agoCleveland Browns defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (pectoral) is eyeing at least 10 sacks in 2024 after recording 4.5 sacks and a career-high 12 tackles for loss in 14 games in his first season with the Browns last year before getting hurt. He joined the Browns on a three-year, $22 million maximum-value deal last year. Okoronkwo suffered a torn pectoral but didn't need surgery and said he's "100 percent ready to go." The 29-year-old won a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams and has 109 tackles (74 solo), 14 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, 32 QB hits, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 64 games (eight starts) in his five years in the NFL. The Rams took him in the fifth round in 2018 out of Oklahoma. He's been more productive the last two years with the Texans and Browns, combining for 9.5 sacks in 31 games (eight starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4 weeks agoLas Vegas Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer, who is heading into his second year in the NFL, is excited to work with rookie tight end
Brock Bowers, who the Raiders selected in the first round this year. Bowers fell to the Raiders at No. 13 overall. "He's fast. He's got great hands. He can block. He can do it all. I feel like we can both do it all," Mayer said. Mayer wasn't all that involved in the Raiders' offense in his rookie campaign, catching just 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Given Bowers' pedigree, Mayer figures to be the No. 2 TE in 2024, even in 12 personnel, which the Raiders ran just 14.2% of the time last year. Unless Bowers misses time due to an injury in his first year in the league, Mayer is going to have a hard time standing out for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Las Vegas Review-Journal - Vincent Bonsignore
4 weeks agoHouston Texans defensive end Dylan Horton posted a video of himself on Thursday ringing the bell, signaling his last radiation treatment after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. Horton took a leave of absence from the team on Nov. 22 of last year, citing a "personal matter." He learned on Dec. 1 that he had Stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. It put an end to Horton's rookie season in the NFL in 2023, but he issued a statement in March that he was in remission and was trending in a positive direction with hopes of eventually returning to play for Houston. Horton was a fourth-round pick last year out of TCU. In his 10 games played for the Texans last year before learning of his cancer diagnosis, Horton had 13 tackles (one for loss) and two QB hits.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
4 weeks agoHouston Texans wide receiver
Tank Dell (leg) has made a speedy recovery from a gunshot wound, and his trainer Delfonte Diamond posted videos of him running routes and performing drills at the University of Houston on Saturday. Dell suffered a flesh wound in a mass Florida shooting, with the bullet piercing the back of his leg and going through the front of his leg, according to sources. The 24-year-old looked explosive on Saturday and appears to be full go as the offseason continues on. Despite Dell looking good, Diamond said he thinks head coach DeMeco Ryans and team officials will hold Dell out for the most part this offseason until training camp at the end of July. After catching 47 passes (75 targets) for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games (eight starts) in his rookie season in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury, Dell's fantasy arrow is firmly pointing upward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4 weeks agoFree-agent wide receiver
Michael Thomas remains without a team. However, that could change, with Zachary Smith of the Steelers Afternoon Drive reporting that Pittsburgh has been in contact with the veteran. Thomas was once the NFL's top wideout. He's appeared in 83 regular season games, totaling 565 catches for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Thomas hasn't had a productive season in years. But there could still be gas left in the tank of the 31-year-old, and he might get plenty of work for the Steelers if he signs. With that said, there should be more updates, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation moving ahead.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Zachary Smith
4 weeks agoAccording to 33rd Team's Marcus Mosher, Washington Commanders running back
Brian Robinson Jr. is still viewed by some as the No. 1 option on the depth chart. Without question,
Austin Ekeler's presence has many believing Robinson's role will significantly reduce. However, Mosher indicated this might not be the case, especially with a change in the coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who helped
James Conner remain a viable fantasy threat during his time as the head coach in Arizona. Robinson has appeared in 27 games for the Commanders over the last two seasons. Although the 25-year-old wasn't always consistent, he still amassed 1,530 yards and seven touchdowns off 383 carries. He also scored five times on the receiving end. Surely, Ekeler will get his touches. Yet, fantasy managers shouldn't dismiss Robinson, with his ceiling rising even more if Ekeler goes down with an injury at some point in the year.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: David Harrison
4 weeks agoFree-agent running back
Cam Akers appears to be looking to return to the National Football League, with the 24-year-old posting a video on X of himself working out. Akers was once considered one of the NFL's most promising young players. His best season was in 2022, where he finished with 786 yards and seven touchdowns off 188 carries. Unfortunately, after struggling to remain healthy during his career, the Rams, the team he played on for four seasons, cut ties by trading him to Minnesota. Yet, he barely made a blip on the fantasy radar before the Vikings eventually declined to offer him a new contract. With that said, Akers could find himself on a new team for the 2024-25 campaign. However, while his talent has never been much of an issue, he won't do anything for fantasy managers if he can't stay on the field, no matter where he potentially signs.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Cam Akers
4 weeks agoHouston Texans wide receiver
Tank Dell (leg) is making progress after suffering a gunshot wound as an innocent bystander roughly three weeks ago. The wideout, who also suffered a broken fibula at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, posted a video to the social media platform Instagram of him running routes. This is an excellent sign for Dell, and it appears he's moving in the right direction toward being ready to suit up for Week 1. Of course, fantasy managers will feel better once he's officially cleared. The 2023 third-round pick had 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns before his year abruptly ended. But besides the injuries, he'll battle with
Stefon Diggs and
Nico Collins, among others, for the attention of
C.J. Stroud in 2024-25, which isn't good news regarding his fantasy outlook.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Cody Stoots
4 weeks agoAtlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts called himself a "super rookie" as he enters the fourth year of his NFL career in 2024. "I'm not a rookie rookie. But we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. We're all in this fresh," Pitts said. The former first-round pick has a new head coach in Raheem Morris, a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson and a new quarterback in
Kirk Cousins this year. Pitts had 1,027 receiving yards in his rookie year in 2021 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Year 2, and he wasn't 100% in 2023 despite playing in all 17 games. The 23-year-old is fully healthy now and taking part in OTAs this offense as he works to learn the new offense and gain chemistry with Cousins. Pitts could easily have his best season to date in 2024 if both he and Cousins (coming off a torn Achilles) can stay healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
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4 weeks agoThe car of Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver
Xavier Worthy was stolen this week, according to a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department. The car was reported stolen around noon on Monday, according to Sgt. Phil DiMartino. Worthy was not with the vehicle when it was taken and he is unharmed. The Chiefs took Worthy in the first round (28th overall) of last month's NFL draft after trading up with the Buffalo Bills. The speedy pass-catcher set a record at this year's NFL scouting combine with a time of 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The 21-year-old could have a key role in KC's offense in his rookie year, especially if
Rashee Rice is handed down a suspension for his off-the-field situation this offseason. At just 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, there are questions about Worthy's durability, and he's also had issues with dropped passes, but his speed element alone in the Chiefs offense could make him worth a late-round flier in fantasy drafts this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Adam Teicher
4 weeks agoAtlanta Falcons quarterback
Kirk Cousins was recently asked about the status of the NFL's investigation into tampering allegations by the Falcons. "The league's still kind of going through that," Cousins said. "So, I'll let them do it. But there's not a whole lot there." However, Cousins admitted that he spoke to the team's head athletic trainer during the 52-hour negotiating window where direct communication between the team and impending free agent are strictly forbidden. The QB also said he spoke to director of player personnel Ryan Pace. Cousins said tight end
Kyle Pitts actively recruited Cousins for multiple weeks. Cousins also admitted that he personally called former Bears receiver
Darnell Mooney to close the deal that brought him to Atlanta during the 52-hour window. It's unclear how deep the league's investigation will be into this matter and whether the Falcons will actually get punished.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
4 weeks agoThe Kansas City Chiefs released running back
La'Mical Perine on Friday. Perine was taken by the New York Jets in the fourth round (120th overall) in 2020 out of Florida. He spent his first three years with the Jets and only played in 14 games (zero starts) over two years, racking up 263 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 72 rushing attempts, adding 11 receptions for 63 yards. The 26-year-old joined the Chiefs for the 2023 campaign and had 22 carries for 77 yards and added three catches for 33 yards in just three regular-season games (one start). He's now on the open market and will be looking to join another squad for training camp this summer. No matter where Perine latches on, he'll be well off the fantasy radar and will just be trying to make the team out of training camp and the preseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4 weeks agoCarolina Panthers wide receiver
Terrace Marshall Jr. was already on shaky ground heading into the offseason before the team selected receiver
Xavier Legette with the final pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft while also adding
Diontae Johnson via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's a reason the former second-round pick requested to be moved before last year's trade deadline. With the offseason additions, Marshall will likely be fighting to hang onto one of the final roster spots at the position in training camp this summer, especially if an undrafted free agent like
Jalen Coker or
Sam Pinckney sticks. Marshall, 23, had just 19 receptions for 139 yards and no touchdowns in Carolina's brutal offense a year ago and has just 64 catches for 767 yards and one touchdown in his three years in the NFL. He shouldn't be drafted in fantasy leagues this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
4 weeks agoCarolina Panthers offensive lineman Brady Christensen (biceps) started every game at left guard in 2022 before breaking his ankle in Week 17 after being taken in the third round in 2021. Christensen was back in the starting lineup to start last season before suffering a season-ending biceps injury in Week 1. Now that the team has added guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis this offseason, Christensen is set to move to a utility role on the offensive line, serving as a backup at both guard and tackle and even taking snaps at center during the recent voluntary minicamp. The 27-year-old offensive lineman is useful for his versatility, but the move to a backup role in 2024 isn't good news for him as he enters a contract year. Christensen has started 24 of the 34 games he's appeared in over his three seasons in Carolina.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
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