2 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles rookie running back
Will Shipley was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite the team already having
Saquon Barkley and
Kenneth Gainwell on the roster. The Eagles weren't pegged as a team that could take a running back before the last few rounds, but the Clemson product was clearly on the radar. According to Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks, the 21-year-old is flashing as a receiver and could take reps from Gainwell in 2024. Shipley caught 85 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons as a Tiger, so his success as a pass-catcher in practice is not much of a surprise. He could be a high-end fantasy football handcuff in a great offense, especially since Barkley has missed eight games over the last three seasons and is entering his age-27 season this year.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Eliot Shorr-Parks
2 days agoNew York Jets tight ends
Jeremy Ruckert and
Kenny Yeboah caught a combined 18 passes for 179 yards and no touchdowns last season, but Jets reporter Robby Sabo expects them both to be "heavily involved" in the offense behind starter
Tyler Conklin. "The reason they sent Uzomah packing and did not add to the TE room is due to the Jets' comfort with both players," Sabo wrote. While Conklin should be the clear target leader at the position, Ruckert or Yeboah could earn targets early in the season while
Mike Williams (knee) recovers from his early-season ACL tear and rookie
Malachi Corley gets comfortable in the offense. While neither player is worth drafting in most formats, they've been impressive at OTAs and should be monitored in deep tight-end premium setups.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Robby Sabo - JetsXFactor
2 days agoJacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. agreed to and signed his rookie deal on Friday, the team announced on X. The LSU product was selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after posting 68 receptions for 1,177 yards, and 17 receiving touchdowns (led nation) in his final collegiate season. With Jacksonville losing
Calvin Ridley this offseason, they're expecting the 21-year-old to eventually develop into a No. 1 wide receiver for
Trevor Lawrence. While wideout
Christian Kirk and tight end
Evan Engram are likely to be Lawrence's preferred targets early in the 2024 campaign, Thomas Jr. could become a solid weekly flex option later in the season. He should be able to fend off
Gabe Davis if he lives up to his status as a first-round pick.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jacksonville Jaguars
2 days agoMinnesota Vikings wide receiver
Jalen Nailor (illness) was absent from practice this week due to an illness, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. It's unfortunate timing since the 25-year-old impressed in OTAs earlier this offseason, but absences have been a common theme. The 2022 sixth-round pick was limited to just six games last season with lower-body injuries and a concussion. Through his first 21 NFL games, he has hauled in just 12 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown. It'd be a surprise if he's on the fantasy football radar this year, as he's firmly behind
Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison on the depth chart. He'll have to beat out
Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield to start in three-wide sets, and even if he does, he'll have limited upside in an offense led by rookie
J.J. McCarthy or veteran
Sam Darnold.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Alec Lewis - The Athletic
2
days
agoMinnesota
Vikings
tight
end
Robert
Tonyan
is
building
chemistry
with
rookie
quarterback
J.J.
McCarthy
at
OTAs,
according
to
Alec
Lewis
of
The
Athletic.
The
30-year-old
signed
a
one-year,
$1.23
million
deal
to
join
the
team
this
offseason,
and
read more...
2
days
agoWashington
Commanders
linebacker
Jamin
Davis
hasn't
had
the
impact
the
organization
hoped
for
when
he
was
selected
with
the
No.
19
pick
of
the
2021
NFL
draft
out
of
Kentucky.
He's
appeared
in
45
games
over
the
last
three
seasons,
collecting
269
tackles,
seven
sacks,
two
forced
fumbles,
read more...
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson is in stable condition after suffering cardiac arrest during Thursday's practice. The 25-year-old was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Thursday morning. He was unconscious for an extended period, but Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters on Friday that he is now alert, awake, and recovering well. It's a scary development, but it sounds like his condition is improving and he will be okay. The 2023 fifth-round pick appeared in one game for Kansas City last season, racking up two tackles in the late-season win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
2 days agoThe Athletic's Alec Lewis points out that Minnesota Vikings running back
Ty Chandler is turning heads at mandatory minicamp this week, and that fans should keep an eye on him heading into the 2024 season. "I see us as having a one-two punch at running back (alongside
Aaron Jones)," defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said, "almost like they have in Detroit. I don't know if that's what's happening on the offensive side, but I know that we have two true No. 1 running backs. I'd buy stock in Ty Chandler if I could." Aaron Jones is the starter in Minnesota's backfield, but the 26-year-old Chandler should have an increased role off the bench after he started the last four games in 2023 and was very productive. Jones' history with injuries makes Chandler a very enticing handcuff pick in fantasy drafts this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
2 days agoMinnesota Vikings quarterback
Sam Darnold has looked calm, confident and prepared at the team's mandatory minicamp this week for what is likely to be another starting opportunity for him in the NFL to start the 2024 season. Darnold's consistency has stood out all week, and he's shown good chemistry with top receivers
Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison. He also took every first-team repetition over rookie first-rounder
J.J. McCarthy, who is being eased in while learning new concepts. "This is the best team he's been on. This is the best system for him. He's hopefully going to find the ceiling of his play this season for us," defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. The 27-year-old former first-rounder is going to need to play well to hold off McCarthy in 2024, but if he's the starter, Darnold will have QB2 appeal in superflex leagues given the talent that he's working with on offense.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
2 days agoThe Minnesota Vikings are taking it slow with rookie first-round quarterback
J.J. McCarthy in offseason workouts to help him develop confidence. The Vikings want to allow him to try throws, make mistakes and learn. Head coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff think that's the best path to long-term success. Unsurprisingly, McCarthy was inconsistent in organized team activities this week, although Thursday's session was easily his best. The young signal-caller is practicing new concepts, throwing to new receivers and is using new footwork, so growing pains are to be expected. Veteran QB
Sam Darnold has taken all of the first-team repetitions at OTAs and has shown good chemistry with receivers
Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison. All signs are pointing to Darnold starting the year under center, making McCarthy more of a dynasty/keeper league asset in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
2 days agoNew York Giants head coach Brian Daboll praised new running back
Devin Singletary regarding his knowledge of the offense heading into his first year with the team. "Devin's been a productive back when he was with me at Buffalo. He knows our system inside and out," Daboll said. Singletary signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal with the G-Men in free agency and is the clear lead back in New York now that
Saquon Barkley is no longer around. The 26-year-old is familiar with Daboll's offensive concepts from their time together in Buffalo, but Singletary has never really operated as a true workhorse back, so fantasy managers should expect him to get plenty of help from
Eric Gray and rookie
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Behind an offensive line that was atrocious in 2023 and with a quarterback coming off an ACL tear, Singletary is no sure thing, making him more of an RB3/flex target in drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Coachspeak Index
2 days agoNew York Giants rookie fifth-round running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. will compete with 2023 fifth-rounder
Eric Gray this year for the No. 2 role behind reliable veteran
Devin Singletary. Tracy will likely rotate in relief of Singletary, at least initially, but there is more opportunity in New York's backfield now that
Saquon Barkley isn't in town. His biggest contributions in his first year in the NFL could come as a returner. The 24-year-old was a two-year starter at Purdue and has clear pass-catching abilities after spending four seasons as a receiver at Iowa. Tracy is going to need to improve as a pure runner, though, if he's going to see enough volume in the NFL to matter to fantasy managers. For now, he's just one to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues as a multi-dimensional threat as a rusher, receiver, and special-teamer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
2 days agoIf New York Giants tight end
Darren Waller retires, as he's expected to do this offseason, rookie fourth-round tight end
Theo Johnson will have a major opportunity for playing time. The G-Men have veterans who will log snaps in blocking roles, but Johnson should rival
Daniel Bellinger for the most targets at the position in 2024. However, Johnson needs significant development for his production to match his athletic profile, and his production will most likely be inconsistent. "I don't think he's a dynamic athlete, but he's a good height/weight/speed prospect," an unnamed executive said. "He's just solid. Probably a solid No. 2 in the NFL, and they got him in the fourth round."
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
2 days agoNew York Giants rookie wide receiver
Malik Nabers, the sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft, has a chance to be very special right away in his first year in the league in 2024. "He's got a chance to be that elite No. 1. A true 'X' receiver with run-after-the-catch ability," an unnamed executive said. However, the same executive said he also needs to "develop into a more nuanced route-runner." And his extreme competitiveness could lead to "some level of frustration exhibited in an obvious manner" if the Giants aren't winning. A Giants offensive assistant drew a parallel between Nabers and former wideout
Odell Beckham Jr. "Nabers could be like Odell early. Throw him a hitch or a slant and he's gone. He's got that type of talent." It's unclear if Nabers can top OBJ's 91-1,305-12 line in 12 games as a rookie, but he's the team's unquestioned No. 1 wideout in his rookie campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
2 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback
Jalen Hurts said that "95 percent" of the offense being installed for the 2024 season is new under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore after the team's 1-6 finish last year. Head coach Nick Sirianni said Moore had previously described the offense as a hybrid scheme that incorporates concepts from Sirianni's and Moore's previous systems. The players are still adjusting to the new details, as the timing between Hurts and his playmakers has been hit or miss during offseason workouts. One noticeable change is the jump in motion plays after the Eagles were last in pre-snap motion in 2023. It's possible Hurts and the Eagles offense is still adjusting to Moore's play-calling early on in 2024, but it will be interesting to see how much everything changes. Regardless of the new offense, Hurts is a top-flight QB1 in fantasy in a loaded offense.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
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