4 weeks agoDespite having
Javonte Williams,
Samaje Perine, and
Jaleel McLaughlin on the roster, the Denver Broncos selected former Notre Dame running back
Audric Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The 221-pound bruiser likely saw his stock fall after posting a 4.71 forty-yard dash time at the NFL combine, but Sean Payton and company stopped the fall. In a media availability after the draft, Payton called Estime a " first and second-down runner" with experience in a pro-style offense. With Williams posting just 3.6 yards per carry last season and Perine having a limited role, Estime could be in play for early-down work right away as a rookie. His fantasy upside will be limited, but any role as a fifth-round rookie would mean exceeding expectations.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Mason - DenverSports.com
4 weeks agoThe New England Patriots released offensive tackle Conor McDermott on Monday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. The 31-year-old started five games at left tackle last season for New England, but after the team drafted Penn State offensive tackle Caedan Wallace in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McDermott is being let go. He has 17 career starts in 55 games on his resume, so there could be interest from another organization for veteran depth purposes.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Mike Reiss -- ESPN
4 weeks agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars announced on X that they have picked up the fifth-year options on 2021 first-round picks
Trevor Lawrence and
Travis Etienne. This move keeps the former Clemson duo under contract through the 2025 NFL season. Lawrence, the former No. 1 overall pick, has played well in spurts and led the team to a playoff win. He seemingly regressed from 2022 to 2023, but he's shown enough to warrant the team rolling with him for at least another two years. After missing his entire rookie season with a lisfranc injury, Etienne has rushed 478 times for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 93 passes for 792 yards and one score as a receiver in 34 games.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jaguars On X
4 weeks agoThe Miami Dolphins have picked up the fifth-year option on star wideout and former No. 6 overall pick
Jaylen Waddle, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This is a no-brainer for the organization after he racked up 251 receptions for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns during the first three seasons of his career. Even with
Tyreek Hill in town, Waddle has remained a 1000-yard receiver and is one of the best No. 2 options in any passing game around the NFL. Although Waddle set career lows in receptions, yards, and touchdowns last year, he should be primed for a bounce-back campaign if he can stay healthy. He missed three contests in 2023. He's now under contract through the 2025 NFL season.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoThe Minnesota Vikings have exercised the fifth-year option on standout offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft has earned a Pro Football Focus grade of at least 82.4 over the last two seasons and is widely viewed as at least an above-average player at the position. With rookie quarterback
J.J. McCarthy slated to take over the franchise at some point in the 2024 season, locking up key offensive linemen should be a priority. With this move, Darrisaw will be under contract with the Vikings through the 2025 campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoFollowing this year's NFL draft in which the Minnesota Vikings didn't take a single receiver,
Brandon Powell,
Jalen Nailor and
Trent Sherfield are all candidates to fill the No. 3 receiver role heading
read more...
4 weeks agoThe Buffalo Bills will exercise the fifth-year option on 2020 first-round pick Gregory Rousseau, according to a league source. The defensive end will now be under contract for 2025 at $13.387 million guaranteed, both in actual base salary and against the salary cap. He has one year remaining on his current deal that will count $3.693 million against the 2024 salary cap. The 30th overall pick out of Miami in 2020, Rousseau has totaled 17 sacks in his three seasons in the NFL, with five coming in 2023 and eight coming in 2022. The 24-year-old pass-rusher will now stick around in Buffalo for at least the next two seasons and could sign an extension with the team down the road. He played a career-high 585 defensive snaps last year and will remain a key piece of Buffalo's defensive line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WGR550 - Sal Capaccio
4 weeks agoThe Kansas City Chiefs and All-Pro tight end
Travis Kelce agreed to terms on Monday on an undisclosed two-year contract extension to make him the league's highest-paid tight end, according to sources. The deal was completed by his long-time agent, Mike Simon. Still one of the best tight ends in football at age 34, the former third-round pick in 2013 out of Cincinnati has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last nine seasons and finished the 2023 regular season with 93 catches (121 targets) for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 15 starts. The four-time All-Pro selection is still a high-end TE1 for fantasy purposes coming off back-to-back Super Bowl championships, but he's also much more of an injury risk than he's ever been.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoSince the Indianapolis Colts didn't address the departure of
Zack Moss by taking a running back in this year's NFL draft, the team seems content with
Trey Sermon,
Evan Hull and
read more...
4 weeks agoAfter the addition of rookie wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell in the second round of this year's NFL draft, Indianapolis Colts wideout
Alec Pierce will compete with Mitchell on the outside for the No. 3 role this season. Michael Pittman Jr, who signed a three-year, $70 million contract extension this offseason, will continue to see the lion's share of the targets, with
Josh Downs manning the slot as the No. 2 option. The 23-year-old Pierce only had 32 catches for 514 yards and two touchdowns last year and will now be battling a much more dynamic pass-catcher for a role in the Colts' offense in 2024. Not only is Mitchell a superior athlete, but his production (55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023) speaks for itself.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
4 weeks agoStandout defensive tackle Christian Barmore and the New England Patriots reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension with a maximum value of $92 million on Monday. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by agent Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports. The deal contains $41.8 million in guarantees in the largest deal that the Patriots have given out since
Tom Brady. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2021 out of Alabama earned the big extension by recording 133 tackles (74 solo), 12.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 32 QB hits, nine passes defended and one forced fumble in 44 games (11 starts) in his first three years in the NFL. He had a career-high 8.5 sacks in 17 games (six starts) last year and will stick around in New England as a key piece on the interior of their defensive line for years to come.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoFive-time Pro Bowl wide receiver
Jarvis Landry is expected to take part in the Jacksonville Jaguars' upcoming rookie camp, according to his agents. Landry sat out of the 2023 season and is fully healthy and ready to return at age 31 in 2024. The Jaguars added rookie Brian Thomas in the first round of this year's NFL draft and also signed
Gabe Davis in free agency to help them account for the loss of
Calvin Ridley. Jacksonville also has
Christian Kirk returning from injury and
Zay Jones, so even if Landry were to sign with the team, he'd be fighting an uphill battle for significant playing time in 2024. In nine games with the New Orleans Saints in 2022, Landry caught 25 of his 39 targets for 272 yards and one touchdown. If anything, he'd serve as receiver depth in the slot for Jacksonville.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
4 weeks agoThe Dallas Cowboys are bringing back former Pro Bowl running back
Ezekiel Elliott, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. This has been a developing story in recent weeks, and after Dallas did not pick a running back in the 2024 NFL Draft, their former first-round pick is back with America's Team. In seven seasons with Dallas, Elliott rushed 1,881 times for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns. The team let him walk last offseason and elevated
Tony Pollard to the RB1 role, but Pollard was underwhelming and left for the Tennessee Titans during free agency this year. Although Zeke averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry last season, he could have RB2 value back in Dallas in one of the best offenses in the NFL. Assuming the Cowboys don't add more legitimate competition to the backfield, he should start, and
Rico Dowdle should be viewed as a high-end fantasy handcuff in 2024.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
4 weeks agoThe Washington Commanders have signed undrafted running back
MIchael Wiley. The Arizona product has put together a fairly strong college career. He has nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns during his time at Arizona. He's not exactly a workhorse back with only one season with 100-plus rushing attempts. Despite that, Wiley can still make an impact at the pro level. He'll have an uphill battle during camp, but the Commanders don't have many of reliable backs.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Ben Standig
4 weeks agoThe Tennessee Titans have reportedly signed undrafted running back
Jabari Small. The young back is a bit undersized but has made some noise with his legs. Small rushed for over 700 yards in 2021 but hasn't really been the same since then. He was a solid option as the No. 2 back to
Jaylen Wright this past season. He'll likely compete for snaps alongside
Tyjae Spears with
Tony Pollard as the new lead back in Tennessee.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Wilson
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