2 days agoGreen Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (hamstring) said this week that he's made significant progress toward ending his hamstring issues for good. Tests this offseason showed a muscle imbalance in his legs, which likely contributed to his problems -- he has missed 11 games in his first two seasons, including eight in 2023, due to a pulled right hamstring. Packers coaches have raved about the progress Watson has made so far this year, and the 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of North Dakota State looked explosive as a full participant in organized team activities on Tuesday. Watson had a 20% difference in muscle mass between his right and left legs. Now, it's between 8% and 10%. It's interesting news, but most fantasy managers may still be hesitant to roster a player with the injury history he has early in his career. But when healthy, Watson has the most upside of any of Green Bay's current wideouts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
2 days agoIndianapolis Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor has been getting valuable repetitions during organized team activities this week with second-year quarterback
Anthony Richardson. Last year at this time, Taylor and Richardson didn't practice together in the offseason because Taylor was hurt and in a contract dispute. When he returned in Week 5, Taylor played with Richardson for two snaps before Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Taylor missed seven games in 2023 due to ankle and thumb injuries but ended the year with season-highs in carries (30) and rushing yards (188), including a 48-yard touchdown run. The 25-year-old should be a lock for 1,000 rushing yards in 2024 if he's healthy, and his ceiling will be pretty high if Richardson remains healthy all years as well, although the dynamic QB could vulture plenty of TDs at the goal line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
2 days agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder), who suffered a severe AC joint sprain in his right shoulder in Week 5 of last year that required season-ending surgery in October, is not limited at all during organized team activities and is throwing 60-yard bombs. The 22-year-old also dismissed any notion that he needs to change his dual-threat playing style to remain available. He described his injury last year as unlucky rather than unwise. Through the first two days of OTAs, head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson has "been pretty smooth." Richardson said some days his surgically repaired shoulder feels "a little achy," but he's not worried about the occasional soreness. He said he's also more comfortable in the offense in his second year in the NFL. Richardson is a bit of an injury risk, but he has clear high-end QB1 appeal, which will make him attractive in fantasy drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
2 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free agent running back
La'Mical Perine to a one-year deal, they announced on Thursday. Perine had been cut loose by the Kansas City Chiefs roughly one week earlier. A fourth-round pick in 2020, Perine has never been a major contributor out of the backfield. His best season came as a rookie with the New York Jets when he totaled 295 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. He has just 33 touches over seven games since then, though he did log one start with the Chiefs in 2023 (21 rushes, 76 rushing yards, three receptions, 33 receiving yards).
Najee Harris and
Jaylen Warren have the top two running back spots occupied in Pittsburgh, so Perine is presumably competing for the third-string role with versatile veteran
Cordarrelle Patterson, former Harvard standout
Aaron Shampklin, and undrafted rookie
Daijun Edwards. He remains off the fantasy radar.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Steelers
2 days agoThe Los Angeles Rams have asked running back
Blake Corum to evolve into a three-down back, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. Specifically, he's working to improve his route running, pass-catching, and pass-protection skills. This is an interesting note out of Los
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2 days agoBaltimore Ravens quarterback
Malik Cunningham has officially transitioned to wide receiver, according to his listing on the team's website. The Louisville product even hauled in some passes during Thursday's OTAs. This move has been roughly a year in the making for Cunningham, who
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2 days agoDenver Broncos running back
Javonte Williams "will face a challenging battle" to maintain his role heading into the 2024 season, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. He notes that the same is true for
Samaje Perine and
Jaleel McLaughlin. It appears as though all three holdover running backs in Denver have reduced job security after the team drafted
Audric Estime and signed
Blake Watson. There will be plenty of competition throughout the offseason as the Broncos work to determine which running backs are worthy of key volume in 2024. However, as of now, it appears there's at least some favor for Estime and Watson while the three returners may need to do a little extra to prove themselves. From a fantasy perspective, Williams and Estime seem like the most intriguing names, but Perine and Watson (and even McLaughlin) benefit from their pass-catching skills.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Nick Kosmider
2 days agoDenver Broncos running backs
Samaje Perine and
Jaleel McLaughlin "will face a challenging battle to maintain their roles this offseason," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. He notes that the same is true for
Javonte Williams. It appears as though all three holdover running backs in Denver have reduced job security after the team drafted
Audric Estime and signed
Blake Watson. There will be plenty of competition throughout the offseason as the Broncos work to determine which running backs are worthy of key volume in 2024. However, as of now, it appears there's at least some favor for Estime and Watson while the three returners may need to do a little extra to prove themselves. From a fantasy perspective, Williams and Estime seem like the most intriguing names, but Perine and Watson (and even McLaughlin) benefit from their pass-catching skills.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Nick Kosmider
2 days agoThe Las Vegas Raiders and star defensive end Maxx Crosby have agreed to a restructured contract that pays him an extra $6 million in 2024, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The team also moved an additional $1.2 million into 2025. As Schefter notes, the Raiders wanted to reward Crosby for being a standout player and leader. This move accomplishes those goals while not altering the total length of his contract. He still has three more years left on his deal, tying him to Vegas through the 2026 season. That's bad news for AFC West quarterbacks, of course. Crosby tallied 90 tackles (23 for loss), 14.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles through 17 starts last year.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 days agoSeattle Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (wrist) didn't take part in organized team activities on Wednesday. Baker injured his right wrist in the Week 18 regular-season finale last year while playing for the Miami Marlins and required offseason surgery. The 27-year-old is still recovering from his surgery, and it remains to be seen what his availability will be like for mandatory minicamp next month and training camp this summer. When healthy, Baker should help make up for the offseason losses of both Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner at the linebacker position in Seattle. The former third-round pick of the Dolphins in 2018 out of Ohio State has 22.5 sacks, 382 solo tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 46 QB hits, five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 21 passes defended and six forced fumbles in his six years in the league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
3 days agoSeattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (pectoral) said last month that he "absolutely" plans to be ready for training camp this summer after having surgery last October to fix a torn pectoral. Nwosu was seen at organized team activities on Wednesday working in a positional drill and he later took part in team periods and didn't look to be at all limited. OTAs are non-contact practices, but it's still good progress for the 27-year-old former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 out of USC. He tore his pectoral muscle back in Week 7 in 2023 and missed the rest of the season, but barring a setback, Nwosu should be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season this fall. The Seahawks signed Nwosu to a three-year, $45 million extension after he had a career-best 9.5 sacks in 2022.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has decided to hand over the direction of the offense to new offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher this year. "I'll take a step back this spring," Taylor said, "And let [Pitcher] take ownership in the direction of the offense." Tight end
Drew Sample said that Pitcher has "added new wrinkles." The Cincinnati Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith wrote that the Bengals' playbook has changed more this offseason than it has in any offseason since quarterback
Joe Burrow's rookie year. The Bengals are more interested in lining up under center this year, using the play-action passing game more and marrying their run game, their screens and their drop-back passing. It remains to be seen if Taylor will turn the play-calling over to Pitcher, too, but in general, it should be good news for Burrow and the rest of the offense in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SB Nation - Dadio Makdook
3 days agoFree-agent running back
Dalvin Cook said he's "ready to roll" and would like to find a new team before training camp this summer to avoid the struggles he went through in 2023. Cook, the former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl RB, signed with the New York Jets in mid-August last year and never got off the ground. He had just 67 carries for 214 yards in 15 games with the Jets before ultimately landing on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad before taking part in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. The 28-year-old was coming off surgery last year and looked sluggish, averaging a career-worst 3.2 yards per carry. "I feel great, man," Cook said. He should be able to latch on with a team for some veteran depth at the position in the next month or two, but at this point in his career, he's facing an uphill battle to regain any kind of fantasy relevance.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Kevin Patra
3 days agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton is not present for voluntary organized team activities this week as he seeks a new contract. "There isn't any concern. Here's why," head coach Sean Payton said. "That will sort itself out." General manager George Paton previously said the team wasn't worried about Sutton's absence from voluntary workouts. The 28-year-old has two years and around $27.6 million remaining on his current deal, with just $2 million guaranteed. The former second-rounder in 2018 out of SMU will be the clear No. 1 wideout in Denver in 2024 after catching 59 passes for 772 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in 16 games in 2023. The competition for targets won't be a problem, especially with
Jerry Jeudy now gone, but Denver's QB situation and Sutton's likely touchdown regression are what fantasy managers will be worried about.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 9 News - Mike Klis
3 days agoDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that rookie quarterback
Bo Nix is "farther along than most" rookies during organized team activities. "We're talking about a player who has played 61 games. He's extremely smart. He's picked it up very quickly." Nix was the QB working with the first-team offense on Thursday, but Payton said that
Jarrett Stidham was the No. 1 QB on Tuesday and
Zach Wilson was the No. 1 QB for the second day of OTAs on Wednesday. The Broncos are rotating all three of their signal-callers so far during voluntary offseason workouts, but it could be telling that Nix is already getting some work with the top offense. Nix will have his opportunities to win the starting job in training camp and the preseason, but it won't be given to him. And if he wins the job, the 24-year-old will still probably be no better than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 9 News - Mike Klis
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