2 weeks agoThe Las Vegas Raiders are signing veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew to a two-year deal, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 27-year-old was a sixth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 and has made 37 starts for three organizations. Between his time with the Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, and Indianapolis Colts, Minshew has thrown for 9,937 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. In Las Vegas, he might have a chance to compete for the starting job, or he might get to start at the beginning of the season while the team eases a potential 2024 rookie into action. Minshew is not on the single-QB radar in fantasy football, but he should be monitored by two-QB and Superflex league fantasy managers. UPDATE: Minshew's two-year deal with Vegas is worth up to $25 million with $15 million guaranteed.Source: Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals re-signed tight end Drew Sample to a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension on Monday, according to a source. Sample will receive $3.5 million in 2024. In his fifth year with the Bengals in 2023, Sample had 22 catches on 27 targets for 163 yards and a career-high two touchdowns in 17 games (10 starts). Tanner Hudson, Mitchell Wilcox and Irv Smith Jr. are all free agents, but one or more of them could be retained or the Bengals could add competition at the position through the NFL draft. The 27-year-old Sample has accumulated just 80 receptions (103 targets) for 621 yards and three touchdowns in his five years in the NFL with Cincy, so it would be unrealistic to expect the Bengals to utilize him as their unquestioned No. 1 pass-catching TE in 2024.Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 weeks agoThe New York Jets are re-signing veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein to a two-year, $8.4 million deal. The 36-year-old made 35 of his 38 field-goal attempts and 13 of his 14 extra-point tries in 2023. With quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) out of action, the Jets' offense sputtered, leading to a ton of stalled-out drives and field-goal attempts. If Rodgers is good to go for 2024 and is playing at a high level, more drives could be converted into touchdowns. That said, Zuerlein has a wide range of outcomes in fantasy football next season.Source: Tom Pelissero
2 weeks agoFree-agent edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is signing a four-year, $76 million deal that includes $42 million guaranteed with the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old broke out with the Houston Texans last season, posting career-highs in tackles (52), sacks (12.5), and run-stuffs (nine). The Vikings are expected to lose Danielle Hunter, so Greenard helps make up for the potential departure. The Vikings could be headed into rebuild mode after the loss of franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins.Source: Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoSeattle Seahawks free-agent tight end Colby Parkinson intends to sign a three-year, $22.5 million deal that includes $15.5 million guaranteed with the Los Angeles Rams, according to sources. Before playing at Stanford, Parkinson attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif., which is right down the road from the Rams' training complex. Parkinson, the former fourth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2020, will stay in the NFC West and will get a shot to serve as the team's top pass-catching tight end, at least to start the 2024 season. It's unlikely that Tyler Higbee (knee) will be ready to go for the start of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the playoffs. In Seattle, the 25-year-old Parkinson never had more than 322 receiving yards or two touchdowns in a single season, so fantasy managers shouldn't suddenly expect him to become a TE1 in LA with Higbee sidelined.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoFree-agent safety Geno Stone is expected to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The former Baltimore Raven is set to join a division rival after leading the AFC with seven interceptions in 2023. A 2020 seventh-round pick by the Ravens, Stone has totaled 127 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight interceptions, and 11 passes defended over the last three seasons. The 24-year-old will try to turn the Bengals defense around after it regressed mightily from 2022 to 2023.Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
2 weeks agoVeteran running back Gus Edwards is expected to join the Los Angeles Chargers on a two-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 28-year-old has rushed 699 times for 3,395 yards and 26 touchdowns since entering the league in 2018 with the Baltimore Ravens. Last year, he set career highs in attempts (198), rushing yards (810), and rushing touchdowns (13). He'll now be coached by another Harbaugh in Los Angeles, where Austin Ekeler is no longer on the roster as of Monday. The team could add another running back via free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft, but there's a chance Edwards will at least operate as the primary goal-line back in Justin Herbert's offense.Source: Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoThe Athletic's Dianna Russini writes that we should look for the Minnesota Vikings to go after free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold after former QB Kirk Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency on Monday. Darnold has other suitors on the open market, but perhaps none more desperate than the Vikings right now. The former first-round pick spent the 2023 season as the San Francisco 49ers' backup to Brock Purdy, and he ended up going 28-for-46 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 10 games played (one start). The 26-year-old looked much more comfortable with the Niners in limited action last year, but that doesn't mean he'll improve at all in a different organization if he's forced into a starting role for the Vikings in 2024. However, he would be in a strong situation with one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson.Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
2 weeks agoFree-agent cornerback Jeff Okudah is signing a one-year deal worth up to $6 million with the Houston Texans, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The former No. 3 overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL Draft spent the 2023 season in Atlanta and posted 44 total tackles and three passes defended with the Falcons. He has yet to break out in the NFL, but he'll add veteran depth to a young defense under DeMeco Ryans in Houston. He has two total interceptions in 38 career games.Source: Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoThe New England Patriots informed wide receiver DeVante Parker that they are releasing him on Wednesday at the start of the new league year, and he has now been given permission to talk to other teams, according to his agent, Jimmy Gould. The Patriots still have JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas as their starting wideouts, but expect them to look to add receiving help in free agency and the draft. Parker, 31, had a 1,000-yard campaign (his only in the NFL) and a career-high nine touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins in 2019, but has disappointed since and caught 64 of his 102 targets for 933 yards and only three touchdowns in his two years in New England. The nine-year veteran can still offer a big-bodied downfield threat, but he's unlikely to become an interesting fantasy wideout, even though he's likely to land in a better situation in free agency.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoFree-agent running back Devin Singletary is expected to sign a three-year, $16.5 million deal to join the New York Giants, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. This report comes just after the news of Saquon Barkley signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, so Singletary will presumably have a chance to carry a hefty workload for the G-Men in 2024. In his only season with the Houston Texans, Singletary set career-highs in carries (216) and rushing yards (898). Before his stint in Houston, he spent time with Giants head coach Brian Daboll in Buffalo, so there is a previous connection. As long as the Giants don't use high draft capital on a running back, the job should belong to Singletary, giving him fringe RB2 upside in fantasy football.Source: Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoFree-agent defensive lineman Denico Autry is expected to sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Houston Texans. This comes after he enjoyed a career year with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, setting career-highs in tackles (50), sacks (11.5), forced fumbles (two), and run-stuffs (7.5). The 33-year-old has enjoyed a ton of success later in his career, so he still has plenty of ability to help boost the Houston front seven. Houston just lost standout edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Minnesota Vikings, so Autry's versatility on the defensive line helps make up for the big departure.Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
2 weeks agoFree-agent safety Xavier McKinney is signing a four-year, $68 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. McKinney spent four seasons with the New York Giants after being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. New York reportedly wanted to bring him back, but the two sides could not agree on terms. The 24-year-old has racked up 279 tackles, 1.5 sacks, nine interceptions, and 29 passes defended in his first 49 games. He will replace Darnell Savage in Green Bay, who is expected to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
2 weeks agoThe Green Bay Packers are releasing running back Aaron Jones after signing free agent running back Josh Jacobs to a contract on Monday. Jones had $12 million in non-guaranteed compensation for 2024, but with the Packers adding Jacobs to the roster, Green Bay decided to move on from the veteran back. Jones rushed for 656 yards and two touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 233 yards and a score over 11 games in 2023. The 29-year-old finished the season and playoffs strong, logging five consecutive 100-yard games and three touchdowns during that five-game span. After seven seasons with the Packers, Jones will be a free agent and look to latch onto a team in search of a starting back. Jones should be a free agent for only a short time, and after a strong finish last season, the former Packer should be a solid fantasy option in 2024, regardless of where he lands.Source: Adam Schefter of ESPN
2 weeks agoFree agent running back Antonio Gibson and the New England Patriots have agreed to a three-year, $11.25 million contract on Monday. The deal includes $5.3 million guaranteed, with a maximum value of $17.25 million. Gibson rushed for 265 yards and a touchdown while catching 48 of 59 targets for 389 yards and two touchdowns over 16 games for the Commanders in 2023. With Ezekiel Elliott set to become a free agent, Gibson will join Rhamondre Stevenson and is set to be an integral part of New England's backfield. The 25-year-old will handle passing situations and third-down duties while spelling Stevenson on early-downs. With the move to New England, Gibson's fantasy value improves slightly, but he is a better fantasy option in PPR formats, making him a borderline RB4 heading into fantasy drafts in 2024.Source: Mike Reiss of ESPN