1 day agoThe Green Bay Packers feel that they have a better grasp of where wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) stands after he underwent a body scan at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this offseason with the hope of preventing future flare-ups. Watson has battled hamstring injuries in both of his two seasons in the NFL, with the 6-foot-4, 208-pounder missing eight games in 2023, playing just 446 offensive snaps. It hasn't just been hamstring injuries for the 24-year-old, and he's played in only 23 games in his first two seasons to quickly develop an injury-prone label. But when healthy, he's caught 69 of 119 targets for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding two rushing scores. There's intriguing upside given the nature of Green Bay's improving offense under quarterback Jordan Love, but Watson's durability makes him a risk/reward fantasy selection heading into his third year.Source: Packers.com - Wes Hodkiewicz
1 day agoThe Detroit Lions and star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have been discussing a contract extension that would likely make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league. St. Brown's agent and Detroit brass met last month at the NFL scouting combine to begin negotiations as it appears that both sides are motivated to get something worked out. St. Brown is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and will play at an absolute bargain price of $3.366 million in 2024. The team is making it a priority to get St. Brown and quarterback Jared Goff extended this offseason after they came just one win short of making it to the Super Bowl.Source: Detroit Free Press
1 day agoDetroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and the team have been discussing a contract extension this offseason. Goff's representatives and the Detroit brass have been having ongoing contract discussions this offseason as the team looks to keep him in town for the foreseeable future. A Goff extension could make him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league if and when it gets done. Goff has just one year left on the four-year extension that he signed while still a member of the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions are also looking to extend star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown as the team looks to keep their offensive core together moving forward.Source: Detroit Free Press
1 day agoFree-agent running back J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) has been cleared for football activities, according to Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Dobbins tore his Achilles tendon early in the 2023 season but reportedly looks "outstanding" as he continues his rehab efforts. The veteran running back is expected to be making visits to NFL teams soon as he looks to latch on with another team after the Baltimore Ravens let him leave as a free-agent. Dobbins' days as a lead back might be over but he could still form part of a backfield committee moving forward.Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
1 day agoThe Los Angeles Rams and free-agent cornerback Tre'Davious White intend to agree upon a one-year, $8.5 million contract, according to White's agents. White will join a revamped LA secondary that recently added Darious Williams. The veteran cornerback has struggled to stay on the field in recent seasons, having appeared in just 10 total games over the past two years. White's contract with the Rams has the potential to be worth up to $10 million with incentives as he looks to bolster the Los Angeles defense.Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
2 days agoCleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to begin load running in April, according to general manager Andrew Berry. The 28-year-old suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL in the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last season in what looked to be a potential career-ending injury. However, he is looking to bounce back and play again, but there is a lot of time before the start of next season. This will be an ongoing development worth following ahead of fantasy drafts for the 2024 campaign. Cleveland has Jerome Ford on the roster and recently signed veteran D'Onta Foreman, and if Chubb is limited upon his return, he could be utilized as a committee back moving forward.Source: Mary Kay Cabot
2 days agoNew Orleans Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) could miss the entire 2024 season due to lingering knee issues. The 29-year-old missed five games last year, and head coach Dennis Allen said his knee is not responding the way they had hoped. This is a cloudy situation for now, but there will be further updates as the 2024 campaign approaches. Ramczyk was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by New Orleans and has started 101 games for the organization. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro. Needless to say, his absence from the lineup could negatively affect Derek Carr and the team's running backs and wide receivers.Source: Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe Chicago Bears signing of former Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift was one of the first moves of free agency, and head coach Matt Eberflus suggested he will be a passing game weapon for the organization. "We just felt thatread more...
2 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers are signing running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Patterson enjoyed the best season of his career under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta, so the move gives the veteran a smidge of fantasy relevance in 2024. In 2021, Patterson rushed 153 times for 618 yards and six touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 548 yards and five scores. He finished that campaign as the RB9 in PPR leagues. However, he posted just 219 yards of offense last season and turned 33 years old on March 17. In all likelihood, he will primarily be used on special teams and as a gadget player in the new-look Pittsburgh offense. Patterson holds the NFL record for kick return touchdowns (nine), and this move was made on the same day the league approved a revised kickoff.Source: Adam Schefter
2 days agoThe Seattle Seahawks traded for former Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell on March 14. Although the franchise has already declared Geno Smith as the starter in 2024, general manager John Schneider said he "absolutely" believes Howell can be a full-time starter again in the future. Howell started 17 games for Washington last season, throwing for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. He flashed upside and mobility, but the turnover woes proved to mark the end of his short tenure with the Commanders. With Smith turning 34 next season, Seattle will likely have to eye his replacement in the near future. It's not necessarily going to be Howell, but it sounds like the Seahawks are keeping the light on for him moving forward. The North Carolina product doesn't have immediate fantasy value, but he might be worth stashing in Superflex and two-QB dynasty leagues.Source: Brady Henderson
2 days agoNew Tennessee Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed agreed to terms on a new four-year, $76.4 million deal on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal includes $55 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus to make him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. The new contract comes after the Titans acquired the 27-year-old defensive back from the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. Sneed was a big reason why the Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl ring this past season and will now operate as Tennessee's top cornerback for the foreseeable future. The former fourth-round pick by KC in 2020 out of Louisiana Tech had 78 tackles (60 solo), five tackles for loss, two interceptions, 14 passes defended and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season starts in 2023.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have a mutual understanding of his contract situation, according to sources, with no offers from Dallas despite Prescott being in a contract year. "We are where we are, locked and loaded for this year," owner Jerry Jones said. With no indication of a new deal coming, it looks like the 30-year-old signal-caller will play out the 2024 season on the final year of his contract. The three-time Pro Bowler threw for 4,516 yards and a league-high 36 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in one of his best showings, but the Cowboys fell flat in the playoffs yet again. There's still time for the two sides to work something out to help ease the burden of Prescott's $55.46 million salary cap hit this year. Fantasy-wise, Prescott will be a QB1 consolation prize after the elite names at the position come off the board.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe NFL announced that this year's Hall of Fame game, the first preseason contest of 2024, on Aug. 1 will feature the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans. The game will feature the upstart Texans, who won a playoff game in 2023 under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud against a Bears team that is expected to take USC QB Caleb Williams first overall in the upcoming draft. The league will also hold two games on Christmas Day this year, which falls on a Wednesday. Last year's Christmas Day tripleheader drew historic ratings, with all three games ranking among the top-five Christmas Day NFL games on record, dating back to 1988.Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
2 days agoNFL owners on Tuesday agreed to move the trade deadline to Tuesday after Week 9 of the 2024 season. In addition to moving the trade deadline back, three penalty categories -- intentional grounding, roughing the passer and hits out of bounds -- were added to the list of plays that replay assist can advise officials on. Teams can also use a practice-squad player as their emergency No. 3 quarterback on game days after requiring that player to be an existing member of the 53-man roster in 2023. Replay officials will be authorized to suggest a real-time reversal of a penalty on "specific, objective aspects of play when clear and obvious video evidence is present." It's a step toward creating the NFL's own version of a "sky judge," but one that gives the on-field referee the final word.Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
2 days agoNFL owners approved a new hybrid kickoff rule on Monday, according to a source. After years of tweaked turned one of the game's most exciting moments into a "dead, ceremonial play," the league hopes the change will lead to fewer injuries and more returns. The format originated in the XFL. In 2024, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the receiving team's 40-yard line. At least nine members of the return team will line up in a "setup zone" between the 35- and 30-yard lines. Up to two returners can line up in a "landing zone" between the goal line and the 20-yard line. No one other than the kicker and returner(s) can move until the ball hits the ground or hits a player inside the landing zone. No fair catches will be allowed. The rule change on kickoffs should mean more kicks returned in 2024 and better starting spots for offenses.Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero