4 weeks agoFormer Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants wide receiver
John Ross, whose 4.22-second 40-yard dash was the NFL scouting combine record until
Xavier Worthy broke it earlier this year, will take part in the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie camp this week on a tryout basis, according to sources. Ross had retired last year but is now attempting to make a comeback. The 28-year-old speedster ended up being a bust after the Bengals took him with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Washington. Ross last played for the G-Men in 2021 and had 11 catches for 224 yards and one touchdown in 10 games (one start). In his five years in the NFL, he caught 62 of 143 targets for 957 yards and 11 scores in 37 games (21 starts). Ross will be a long shot to make the Eagles' active roster in 2024, let alone be fantasy relevant.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
4 weeks agoFormer Detroit Lions wide receiver
Quintez Cephus, who was reinstated last week after being suspended for all of last season for violating the NFL's gambling policies, reached an undisclosed agreement with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, according to his agents. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick (166th overall) by the Lions in 2020 out of Wisconsin has a total of 37 receptions on 60 targets for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games (six starts) in his three seasons in the league. The Bills are notably lacking receiver depth after trading
Stefon Diggs to the Texans and losing
Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, so Cephus will have a chance to carve out a spot as receiving depth in Buffalo this summer in training camp. His best season came in his rookie year in 2020, when he caught 20 of 35 targets for 349 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games (two starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoJacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said on Saturday that the team is picking up the fifth-year option for quarterback
Trevor Lawrence and running back
Travis Etienne Jr. It's no surprise that the Jags will pick up
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4 weeks agoThe New Orleans Saints selected South Carolina quarterback
Spencer Rattler with the No. 150 pick in the fifth round on Saturday of the 2024 NFL Draft. The drought is over as a new quarterback record of 138 picks between selections of
Bo Nix (12th overall) and Rattler. The 23-year-old slipped further in drafts than anticipated and ended up in New Orleans. He had a 99.1 passing rating, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt with a 19:8 TD: INT ratio for South Carolina in 2023. Some of Rattler's strengths are that he has a solid pocket presence and excellent footwork. Rattler will compete for a chance to back up starter
Derek Carr, but the rookie QB is mainly an option in dynasty leagues heading into 2024 fantasy drafts.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network
4 weeks agoThe Seattle Seahawks selected Michigan tight end
AJ Barner with the No. 121 overall pick in the fourth round on Saturday in the 2024 NFL draft. Barner is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, but his lack of production in four seasons at Indiana and Michigan (64 catches, 610 yards, five touchdowns) leaves a lot to be desired as he moves to the next level. The 21-year-old also isn't extremely athletic, but he'll have some opportunity in Seattle to make a name for himself as he starts out behind
Noah Fant and
Pharaoh Brown on the tight end depth chart in his rookie season in 2024. Fantasy managers should only consider Barner as a developmental prospect in deep rookie-only drafts this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Miami Dolphins selected Tennessee running back
Jaylen Wright to help beef up their RB room in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday at pick No. 120. Wright, who ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, adds even more blazing speed to Miami's backfield alongside
Raheem Mostert and
De'Von Achane. The 21-year-old isn't going to have much of a role in 2024 as long as both Mostert and Achane stay healthy, but it's a good long-term fit for those in dynasty/keeper leagues. Wright will see touches in his rookie season as the Dolphins look to manage the workloads of both Mostert and Achane, but it's not going to be enough to warrant attention in single-season leagues. He stands at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals selected Iowa tight end
Erick All with the No. 115 overall selection in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. All will join a tight end corps in Cincinnati that already includes newcomer
Mike Gesicki and
Drew Sample. All led Iowa in receiving yards (299) and touchdowns (three) last year despite missing half of the year due to a torn ACL. He also had spinal surgery in 2022, so there is a real injury concern with All at the next level. When he's healthy, though, he's an intriguing tight end prospect for a Bengals team that lacks any real big-name player at the position. Even if All is healthy in his rookie year in 2024, it's hard to envision him becoming a major player in an offense that already has plenty of mouths to feed.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Baltimore Ravens selected North Carolina wide receiver
Devontez Walker with the No. 113 overall pick on Saturday in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Walker was highly productive at Kent State before eventually transferring to play for the Tar Heels and with quarterback
Drake Maye, who went third overall to the Patriots in the first round on Thursday. The 22-year-old ended up playing in only eight games in 2023, but he still led the team in touchdowns. His 4.36-second 40-yard dash speed will make him a threat deep down the field at the NFL level, although he's unlikely to make a big impact right away for a run-first Ravens team that already has receivers
Zay Flowers and
Rashod Bateman as their top two options, not to mention tight end
Mark Andrews.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe New England Patriots continue to try and beef up their receiving corps for new franchise quarterback
Drake Maye, taking Central Florida wide receiver
Javon Baker with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. The Pats also added wideout
Ja'Lynn Polk with the 34th overall pick early in the second round on Friday. Before starring at Central Florida, the 22-year-old spent two years trying to make a name for himself at Alabama before eventually transferring. He showed his big-play abilities when he finally got playing time at Central Florida, catching 108 passes for 1,936 yards and 12 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Baker will have to overcome his mediocre speed at the NFL level and will merely be a receiver project for a team looking for players to step up at the position.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe New York Giants selected Penn State tight end
Theo Johnson with the No. 107 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. This pick makes a lot of sense with the Giants still unsure if
Darren Waller will hang up his cleats. The 23-year-old Johnson is extremely athletic with plenty of speed to spare despite standing at a monstrous 6-foot-6 and 259 pounds. In his final year with the Nittany Lions in 2023, he had seven touchdowns, although it came on just 34 receptions and 341 yards. Even if Waller decides to retire, Johnson may have an uphill battle to climb to reach any kind of fantasy relevance in single-year leagues with
Daniel Bellinger still around. At best, he'll probably be a red-zone weapon for quarterback
Daniel Jones.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Carolina Panthers selected Texas tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders with the 101st overall pick to start the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. This appears to be a pretty good value pick as tight ends begin to come off the board in the fourth round. The 21-year-old Sanders was considered one of this year's best prospects at the position and will now join
Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas at the tight end position in Carolina to give second-year quarterback
Bryce Young some more help. Tremble and Thomas are more of the blocking variety, so Sanders could have an impact on offense in his rookie year in 2024 after posting the fourth-most receiving yards after the catch in college last year. Still, in an offense that looked awful in 2023, we'd be surprised if Sanders is on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Chargers exercised the 2025 fifth-year option on left tackle Rashawn Slater on Saturday, according to a source. Slater and Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, will now bookend the team's offensive line for quarterback
Justin Herbert going forward. This one comes as no surprise as new head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman look to shore up the team's offensive line with a new emphasis on the ground game in 2024 and beyond. Slater graded out as Pro Football Focus' fourth-best pass-blocking offensive lineman on Herbert's blind side. The addition of Alt to the right side should only strengthen Herbert's protection while also being good news for LA's ground game.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
4 weeks agoThe Denver Broncos traded up to the No. 102 spot with the Seattle Seahawks to select Oregon wide receiver
Troy Franklin in the fourth round of this year's draft. Franklin now reunites with his former quarterback,
Bo Nix, who the Broncos selected on Thursday evening with the 12th overall pick. Franklin has elite speed and can easily create separation from the defense. The 21-year-old has excellent YAC ability and should be considered an explosive playmaker. Franklin totaled 1,383 receiving yards and 14 scores on 81 catches last year. Franklin joins a wide receiver room in Denver that finished towards the bottom in total receiving yards last season, which could open the door for him to contribute immediately in fantasy. He should slot behind veteran
Courtland Sutton at the start of the season but could easily carve out a role, making him viable in redraft formats. Franklin should be a popular second-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoAfter plenty of trade rumors swirling around wide receivers
Deebo Samuel and
Brandon Aiyuk leading up to this year's draft, the San Francisco 49ers have not dealt either of them through the first three rounds. "We didn't entertain any of that today. We're happy with our wide receiver group. Actually, more than happy. We're thrilled with it. And thrilled to add Ricky to it to make it stronger," general manager John Lynch said. The Niners have definitely been listening to trade offers for both wideouts, but apparently they just haven't been able to work anything out. Aiyuk is looking for a new long-term deal as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal, while Samuel is set to count over $20 million against the salary cap next year. Something's got to give. Now that we're onto Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft, it's more likely than not that both Aiyuk and Samuel will stick around for the 2024 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Jose Mercury News - Cam Inman
4 weeks agoThe Washington Commanders have selected Rice University wide receiver
Luke McCaffrey with the 100th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The pick marked the end of Round 3 and Day 2 of the draft. McCaffrey is a converted quarterback who transferred from Nebraska to Rice during the middle of his collegiate career. He truly broke out during his final season with the Owls, catching 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for an additional 117 yards on the ground. The brother of 49ers star
Christian McCaffrey and son of three-time Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey, Luke demonstrated extreme leadership, football IQ, physicality, athleticism, and route running skills at Rice. He excelled in contested catch scenarios and should be a very reliable weapon for the Commanders and new quarterback
Jayden Daniels. He figures to enter training camp as Washington's No. 3 wide receiver behind
Terry McLaurin and
Jahan Dotson.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
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