21 hours agoJacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley will be a full participant in practice when training camp rolls around, but for now, head coach Doug Pederson said the team is being careful with the former Atlanta Falcon. Ridley hasn't seen game action since Week 7 of the 2021 season, so he'll be slowly eased back into action. However, Pederson said he has seen no sign of rust. Ridley posted 1,374 receiving yards on 90 receptions in 2020 before stepping away from the team in early 2021. The 28-year-old will look to be Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 WR and recapture his former upside in his first season in Duval County.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Michael DiRocco -- ESPN

22 hours agoIt remains to be seen if the Baltimore Ravens will consider signing free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec thinks it's a "no-brainer, contract demands and team chemistry questions be damned." Hopkins would no doubt help Baltimore in their quest to develop a more dynamic passing game under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, but will they be able to afford him? He'll turn 31 next week, but he's a five-time All-Pro and still has some of the best hands in the game. The Ravens did their due diligence on Hopkins earlier this offseason, but it doesn't appear that the team was ever really close to a deal with the Cardinals. Baltimore can get Hopkins cheaper now, but they've also invested a lot of offseason capital on adding receivers Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec

24 hours agoUnsurprisingly, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram is not present at voluntary organized team activities this week. This was expected with Engram still trying to secure a long-term contract extension from the team after his breakout 2022 campaign. The Jags put the franchise tag on Engram, but there is optimism that the two sides can work out something long term before the 2023 season. In his first year in Jacksonville in 2022, the 28-year-old set career-highs in catches (73) and receiving yards (766) while adding four touchdowns on 98 targets in 17 regular season games (14 starts). Fantasy managers probably shouldn't overspend for Engram, but at the very least he should be considered a solid low-end TE1 target.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Jaguars.com - Demetrius Harvey

24 hours agoNew York Giants running back Saquon Barkley proved in 2022 that he still had explosive abilities despite dealing with the injury bug in previous years. Barkley racked up 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 295 carries, posting the third-best per-carry average (4.4) of his career and his best mark since 2019. Despite lengthy a lengthy lower-body injury history, he finished with the second-most gains of 10-plus yards over expected (17) and six runs of 20-plus mph last year. There's a chance the 26-year-old could hold out this summer as he seeks a long-term contract extension, but as long as he plays for the G-Men this year, he should be considered a top-five fantasy RB with some injury risk.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Nick Shook

24 hours agoTennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry didn't start very strong last year and didn't break 100 rushing yards in a game until Week 4. However, from Weeks 4 through 9, he had 100-plus rushing yards in each game. Henry finished second in rushing yards gained after contact (1,252 of his 1,538), logged 11 gains of 10-plus yards over expected and had 57 runs of 15-plus mph. He will turn 30 years old before the end of the 2023 season and has slipped slightly in the overall running back rankings, but King Henry can still produce big plays on the ground with the best of them. Tennessee will still likely lean heavily on Henry this year, but he's become more of a midrange RB1 than a high-end one heading into the 2023 campaign.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Nick Shook

1 day agoBuffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen ranks ninth on NFL.com's Nick Shook's list of most explosive runners from a season ago. He was among the premier big-play producers in 2022, managing to gain 10-plus yards over expected 10 times last year. Allen also had 44 runs of 15-plus mph and 26 runs that gained 10-plus yards. The 27-year-old signal-caller had the highest expected points added per carry of any qualifying rusher in the NFL at plus-0.44. The Bills offense would probably be better off not relying on Allen so much as a runner, but it doesn't change the fact that he's very explosive when he takes off. It's why he'll once again be a top-three QB1 target for fantasy managers this fall.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Nick Shook

1 day agoMinnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook ranks 10th on NFL.com's Nick Shook's list of the most explosive runners in 2022. He broke 20 mph on three of his carries and logged one of the best top speeds of any qualifying RB at 21.68 mph. Cook continues to run like a wrecking ball, as evidenced by his 57 runs of 15-plus mph. However, he didn't rack up enough runs of 10-plus yards to land higher on this list. The 27-year-old's fantasy value is down heading into 2023. He produced his fourth straight 1,000-yard rushing season a year ago, but he's also coming off shoulder surgery in February and is expected to be traded by the Vikings this offseason. Cook remains explosive at his position, but he's becoming more of a high-end RB2 target in fantasy instead of a surefire RB1.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Nick Shook

1 day agoDetroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (Achilles) was at the team's organized team activities last week, albeit in a limited fashion after tearing his Achilles in Week 3 of last year against the Minnesota Vikings. Getting Walker back will be a big boost to the Lions defense in 2023 after he was Detroit's leading tackler in 2021 with 108 tackles. He also had six passes defensed and an interception that year. The 28-year-old is seven months removed from surgery and said he'll be ready to return in a full capacity when training camp starts this summer as long as he gets clearance from his surgeon. When healthy, Walker will start alongside C.J. Gardner-Johnson, with both Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch also pitching in.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DetroitLions.com - Tim Twentyman

2 days agoSan Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is looking forward to the season ahead. The 26-year-old spent his entire career in Carolina before he was traded to the Niners last season. He played well under head coach Kyle Shanahan, amassing 746 rushing yards, 464 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in 11 games. However, McCaffrey is confident he may be even more potent this season. "I'm definitely excited," said the former Panther during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. "It's nice being able to have an offseason under my belt where I can get comfortable with the details." McCaffrey was once a top fantasy option, but injuries slowed him down considerably. But if he can stay healthy, he has an excellent chance of finishing the year as the most productive fantasy back.--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Charean Williams

2 days agoThe New Orleans Saints have brought in former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden to help quarterback Derek Carr and the offensive coaching staff install their new offense under head coach Dennis Allen. Since being drafted in the second round in 2014, Carr had spent his entire career with the Raiders. Carr and Gruden ran the West Coast offense from 2018 through 2021, which is similar to the one the Saints employ. The Saints signed Carr this offseason primarily because of his familiarity with the offensive scheme, so it should allow him to hit the ground running sooner than later in 2023. The 32-year-old QB made his fourth Pro Bowl in 2022 but completed just 60.8% of his passes for 3,522 yards, 24 TDs and 14 interceptions in 15 starts. In his first year in the Big Easy, he should be viewed as a midrange QB2 in fantasy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The New Orleans Times-Picayune - Jeff Duncan

2 days agoNew York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has enjoyed getting to know new tight end Darren Waller at organized team activities this spring. "But he's like a true 6-foot-6. He's a true 250, 260 (pounds) and can fly and can run, can run all the routes. He's just an impressive athlete. And, yeah, he's just been locked in. You can tell it's important to him. He's put a lot of effort into learning stuff and getting caught up and it has been fun working with him," Jones said. Waller became one of the best tight ends in the league in his time with the Raiders, but since his best year in 2020, he has slowed down a bit. Meanwhile, Jones threw for a career-high 3,205 yards with a 67.2% completion rate in 2022. Waller is still a very solid midrange TE1 target in fantasy, but fantasy managers shouldn't reach for him heading into his first year in the Big Apple.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Brenna White

2 days agoThe Cleveland Browns aren't expected to reunite quarterback Deshaun Watson with free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins after the two spent three years together with the Houston Texans at the start of Watson's career. In those three years, the two combined for 264 completions for 3,343 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Browns already traded for Elijah Moore, signed Marquise Goodwin in free agency and took Cedric Tillman in the third round of the draft this offseason. Hopkins is a free agent now after being released by the Arizona Cardinals, and there will surely be plenty of suitors, but his cost will be an issue. The 30-year-old former All-Pro is no longer at the peak of his career, but he can still do plenty of damage in fantasy if he lands in the right situation.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Akron Beacon Journal - George M. Thomas

3 days agoTampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is reportedly feeling his explosiveness coming back. The speedy wideout tore his ACL in 2021, but still ended up playing in 14 games last season. Godwin mentioned that he feels completely different during his second offseason post-surgery. Fantasy managers still received 104 receptions, 1,023 yards, and three touchdowns from Godwin last season. He looked the same on the field, but his 9.8 yards per reception was the worst of his career. Also, the three touchdowns were his lowest since his rookie campaign. The Bucs are hopeful to see more from Godwin next season, but that also depends on the reliability of the quarterback under center.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com

3 days agoDetroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (Achilles) is expected to return in full for training camp. The 28-year-old tore his Achilles in Week 3 and missed the rest of the season because of it. He has been able to participate on a limited basis during recent OTAs. It sounds like the team is going to ease Walker back into things coming off a serious injury. His return to the field would be a huge boost to the Lions defense. Walker is a former third round pick who has two 100-tackle seasons under his belt. The Lions could have a scary secondary with C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Walker back there.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Lions

3 days agoDallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup is reportedly feeling good again at recently team workouts. The 27-year-old is now 18 months removed from a torn ACL that he suffered in the later part of the 2021 season. Gallup was healthy for a majority of last season, but didn't contribute as much as many thought he would. He finished with 39 receptions, 424 yards, and three touchdowns in 14 games. It sounds like Gallup is feeling better now and could be in for a bounce back campaign. However, he'll have to compete with Brandin Cooks and CeeDee Lamb for targets in Dallas. The expectation is that Gallup will be the starting slot receiver to begin the season. He could have some late-round value, assuming he's truly back to full health.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com