4 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts are re-signing safety Julian Blackmon to a one-year deal, according to Jordan Schultz on Bleacher Report. The 2020 third-round pick out of Utah has spent his entire four-year career with the Colts and has played in 50 games. He has tallied 214 tackles (163 solo), one sack, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, 17 passes defended, and 14.5 run stuffs thus far. Blackmon earned a 68.3 PFF grade in 2023, the best of his career.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
4 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Chargers are signing former Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots fullback
Ben Mason, according to NFL insider Field Yates. The 24-year-old played for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan, and the signing could indicate the team's plans on offense in 2024. However, he has played in just one NFL game since entering the league in 2021, so there's no guarantee he makes the 53-man roster at the end of training camp. If the Chargers transition into a more run-happy offense,
Justin Herbert could see reduced fantasy value. It's still early in the process, but Harbaugh implemented a run-heavy attack in his time at Michigan and with the San Francisco 49ers.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Field Yates
4 weeks agoFormer Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean (leg) sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams last week informing them that he has been cleared to return to all football activities. The 21-year-old, who is viewed as a top cornerback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class, suffered a broken fibula last November, so this is good news for his draft stock later this month. DeJean is a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and was named a unanimous first-team All-American following his junior season. In his final two years at Iowa, he racked up 116 total tackles, five tackles for loss, seven interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, and 13 passes deflected. As things stand, he is expected to be a late-first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoFree-agent cornerback and special teams ace Justin Hardee is signing with the Cleveland Browns, as reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 30-year-old was originally undrafted out of Illinois in the 2017 class and has appeared in 100 games through his first seven professional seasons. Hardee spent the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints before a three-year stint with the New York Jets. He earned Pro Bowl honors for his work on special teams in 2022, which is likely where the Browns are primarily interested in utilizing him. Hardee has racked up 78 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception thus far in his career.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoThe Miami Dolphins are re-signing offensive tackle Kendall Lamm to a one-year deal, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. The nine-year NFL veteran played in all 17 games (eight starts) for Miami last season, but he is primarily a backup swing tackle. Originally undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2015, Lamm spent time with the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions before joining the Dolphins in 2022. He has 104 games on NFL experience, and he is ready to play if star left tackle Terron Armstead continues to battle injuries moving forward.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Dan Graziano
4 weeks agoThe Kansas City Chiefs are re-signing running back
Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a one-year deal, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Edwards-Helaire became a free agent this offseason, and the Chiefs hosted
J.K. Dobbins on a visit on Tuesday, but CEH is back with the team for the 2024 season. Since being selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Edwards-Helaire has rushed 441 times for 1,845 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also hauled in 89 passes for 765 yards and seven receiving scores. Ultimately, the LSU product has been a bust, but he's a fine backup running back to
Isiah Pacheco. Like last season, Edwards-Helaire should be viewed as nothing more than a handcuff RB in 2024 fantasy drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoFree-agent wide receiver
Laviska Shenault Jr. is signing with the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN reporter Brady Henderson. Shenault was originally a second-round pick in 2020 by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Colorado, but he has not found his footing over the first four seasons of his career. The 25-year-old posted at least 600 receiving yards in each of his two seasons with the Jagaurs but totaled just 332 yards in 21 games during his two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers. With
DK Metcalf,
Tyler Lockett, and
Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the roster, it'd be a big surprise if he's a fantasy-relevant player in 2024. Assuming he makes the 53-man roster, he'll likely be utilized as a depth player and a special teamer.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Brady Henderson -- ESPN
4 weeks agoThe Washington Commanders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent linebacker Mykal Walker to an undisclosed deal. Walker will head to D.C. in 2024 after playing in eight games (five starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year while picking up 33 tackles (21 solo) and an interception. The previous year with the Atlanta Falcons, he had a career-high 107 tackles (56 solo), his first career sack, a career-high two interceptions and six passes defended in 16 games (12 starts). The Falcons originally drafted Walker in the fourth round (119th overall) in 2020 out of Fresno State. In Washington, the 26-year-old will likely function as linebacker depth and won't be on the IDP fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Washington Commanders
4 weeks agoCleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Tuesday that the team might slow play things with quarterback
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip) as the offseason program opens on April 15. However, Berry said the signing of former Baltimore Ravens backup
Tyler Huntley on March 17 was independent of Thompson-Robinson's injury. Before his season-ending injury in 2023, Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA, went 1-2 in his first three NFL starts, throwing for 440 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. The Browns were happy with DTR's contributions as he was forced to step into a starting role in his rookie season. However, with
Jameis Winston also in town, he's likely to begin training camp as the team's No. 4 QB.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
4 weeks agoAtlanta Falcons quarterback
Taylor Heinicke took a pay cut recently from an expected $5 million base salary in 2024 to $1.21 million, according to Roster Management System. His $1.32 million roster bonus, which was due just after the league year began last month, was instead classified as a signing bonus. His $40,000 per game active roster bonus was also removed from his contract. The reduction in his deal lowers Heinicke's salary cap number from $8.96 million to $4.53 million, including a cash value of $2.53 million. If Atlanta were to release him, he would cost $3.32 million in dead money with only a cap savings of $1.21 million. The 31-year-old got a chance to start in 2023 when
Desmond Ridder was benched, but Heinicke did nothing to separate himself and also got hurt. He'll enter 2024 as the backup to starter
Kirk Cousins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Michael Rothstein
4 weeks agoCleveland Browns quarterback
Deshaun Watson (shoulder) said on his QB Unplugged podcast that he's making good progress this offseason after suffering a fracture in his right shoulder last year that cut his season short. "The situation is good," Watson said. "We're in a great spot, right where we need to be. We have plenty of time to ramp up the throwing sessions and things like that, but everything is going pretty smooth." As of right now, the Browns don't have any reason to believe that Watson won't be ready for the start of the 2024 season this fall. However, the 28-year-old signal-caller isn't fully cleared yet. We'll continue to provide updates on Watson's progress this offseason. As long as he's ready to go for Week 1, he'll be in the QB1 conversation despite playing in just 12 games the last three years due to injury and suspension.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Nick Shook
4 weeks agoWith running back
Derrick Henry joining the Baltimore Ravens offense this offseason, they will have a new look in 2024. Quarterback
Lamar Jackson won his second MVP award in 2023 with career-highs in passing yards (3,678) and completion percentage (67.2%). He also led all QBs with 821 rushing yards, and his ability to stress opposing defenses with his rushing ability is something the Ravens don't want to go away. With five 1,000-yard rushing seasons and almost 10,000 career yards, Henry is the most accomplished RB Jackson has played with. "I don't see us going towards like [a] specific offense that runs those more than anybody else. RPOs will be a part of what we're doing, for sure, but they're not going to be the main part of what we're doing," head coach John Harbaugh said. Although Henry is on the backside of his career, he'll continue to have RB1 appeal in fantasy in Baltimore's offense, but his presence could mean fewer designed runs for Jackson.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: BaltimoreRavens.com - Clifton Brown
4 weeks agoThanks to dashcam video of the incident involving Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice and a car accident on Saturday in which a Lamborghini was racing a Corvette, there is more evidence of the incident. After the accident, the video shows one man emerging from the back seat of the Lamborghini on the passenger side and two men emerging from the front seat on the passenger side. Based on photos posted by TMZ.com on Monday, including the image of Rice with family members before the incident, it looks like Rice is the second person out of the front seat on the passenger side, which would suggest he was the driver. An NFL spokesman said on Tuesday that the league is monitoring the situation, but if Rice was indeed driving, he could be facing severe charges for leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries, and it could even lead to a suspension from the NFL in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
4 weeks agoFree-agent running back
J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) is visiting with the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The former Baltimore Raven met with the Los Angeles Chargers last week, but he left L.A. without a contract. Dobbins was recently cleared for football activities following an Achilles tear that he suffered in Week 1 of the 2023 campaign. The 25-year-old has been great when healthy, averaging 5.8 yards per carry in his career. That ranks second all-time among running backs with at least 200 carries. However, it's tough to ignore the injury woes, as he has played in just 23 of his 67 possible games since being drafted by Baltimore in 2020. If he ends up signing with Kansas City, he's likely to be a part-time breather back behind
Isiah Pacheco. If his recovery from a torn Achilles goes better than expected, he could have a smidge of fantasy football value in 2024.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoFree-agent quarterback
Carson Wentz signed an undisclosed deal one-year with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, according to sources. Wentz, the former second overall pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016 out of North Dakota State will head to the Super Bowl-champion Chiefs after spending the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Rams, where he played in two games (one start) while going 17-for-24 for 163 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The 31-year-old figures to be
Patrick Mahomes' primary backup heading into training camp this summer, with
Chris Oladokun and
Ian Book also in KC's QB room. Wentz made his lone Pro Bowl in 2017 and was looking like Philly's QB of the future until injuries flipped the script. He never was able to recover after
Nick Foles and the Eagles won a Super Bowl without him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
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