3 days agoNew York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said wide receiver
Xavier Gipson still has "first dibs" on the kick-return job this year, but that it's also an "open competition" involving former Pro Bowl return man
Tarik Cohen. Saleh said the soon-to-be-signed running back is an "explosive playmaker" and remembers it being "a nightmare" trying to defend with the Chicago Bears. Cohen could be intriguing with the league's new kickoff rules, starting in 2024, but the 28-year-old speedster is going to need to finally stay healthy to put himself in a position to make an impact for the Jets on special teams. Gipson, a former undrafted free agent out of Stephen F. Austin, returned 33 punts for 319 yards and a touchdown and 22 kickoffs for 511 yards in his rookie campaign in 2023 as the Jets' primary return specialist.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NJ Advance Media - Andy Vasquez
4 days agoThe Baltimore Ravens have officially moved former quarterback
Malik Cunningham to wide receiver this offseason after signing him off the New England Patriots' practice squad last December to reunite him with former college teammate
Lamar Jackson. Last year, the Ravens cross-trained Cunningham as a QB, receiver and special teams contributor, and he played in one game, taking four snaps at receiver in the Week 18 regular season finale. At organized team activities this spring, the Ravens are immersing the 25-year-old at the receiver position, and the Ravens think he has transitioned well to wideout. Cunningham has the athleticism, but he still faces an uphill battle to stick at the position. If anything, he'll likely continue to be a special teams option for Baltimore in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Kevin Patra
4
days
agoSan
Francisco
49ers
wide
receiver
Ricky
Pearsall
(undisclosed)
is
reportedly
working
through
an
injury
and
wearing
a
non-contact
jersey
at
OTAs.
However,
Matt
Barrows
of
The
Athletic
reports
that
his
injury
has
not
held
him
out
of
practice
or
slowed
him
down.
That
read more...
4 days agoLos Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua is coming off arguably the greatest rookie season ever for a wideout. He posted 105 receptions for 1,468 yards and six touchdowns, and he set a rookie record for receiving yards in a postseason game (181). It's difficult to project a better season of production in Year 2, but Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said he has improved this offseason. "You can definitely see he's made strides. He's moving better. I know he feels more comfortable," LaFleur said. "He's in year two and that's what you expect from all the players, but you know that you're going to get it from Puka because he's just made of the right stuff." Nacua is being drafted as a mid-to-late first-round pick in PPR leagues, and if
Cooper Kupp takes another step back, he could compete for an overall WR1 finish in fantasy football. Los Angeles did not add legitimate target competition in free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Rams Wire
4 days agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. (knee) did not participate in Thursday's OTA practice, but Joel A. Erickson of Indy Star said it was for precautionary reasons. Pittman banged knees with a defender last week and limped off the field, but he is expected to be "fine". The former second-round pick has posted at least 88 receptions, 925 yards, and four touchdowns over the last three seasons, but he'll face more target competition this year. The Colts selected
Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and 2023 third-rounder
Josh Downs is expected to have an expanded role. All that said, Pittman should remain the WR1 for
Anthony Richardson and post at least low-end WR2 numbers in his fifth NFL campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Joel A. Erickson
4 days agoBaltimore Ravens outside linebacker David Ojabo (knee) suffered a partially torn ACL in Week 3 of last season, but he is expected to be a full participant at some point in training camp later this summer. The 2022 second-round pick suffered a torn Achilles in the pre-draft process leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, or he likely would've been a first-rounder. Through two NFL seasons, he has accumulated seven total tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles in just five games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy in 2024 and show what he can do as at least a situational pass-rusher.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 days agoThe New York Giants waived running back
Gary Brightwell (undisclosed) with an injury designation on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The former 2021 sixth-round pick by the G-Men out of Arizona has remained on the roster over the last three seasons, but his time looks to be coming to an end. So far in his career, Brightwell has rushed 41 times for 164 yards and one touchdown and caught 11 passes for 92 yards in 37 games. He played 100 snaps on special teams last year. With Brightwell out of the building,
Devin Singletary,
Eric Gray, and
Tyrone Tracy Jr. now have less competition for touches.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 days agoDenver Broncos running back
Audric Estime (knee) underwent a precautionary knee scope for an injury he suffered last week, according to NFL.com. Although it's not ideal for the rookie Notre Dame product to get banged up early in his career, the injury is not serious, and he is expected to be ready for training camp later this summer. Following Estime's final season in college which included 1,483 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns, some viewed him as a top running back in the 2024 class. However, his 4.71 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine likely led to him falling to Day 3. Either way, he could carve out a role in Sean Payton's offense right away as a short-yardage and goal-line back behind
Javonte Williams.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 days agoHouston Texans quarterback
Tim Boyle (finger) was back on the practice field at organized team activities on Thursday after missing time last week after getting stitches for a finger cut while taking a snap. Boyle will be competing for a roster spot this offseason and in training camp this summer. He's currently listed as the No. 4 QB on the Texans' depth chart behind
C.J. Stroud,
Davis Mills and veteran
Case Keenum. It will be an uphill battle for the 29-year-old former undrafted free agent. Boyle has already served as a backup option for five different teams since entering the NFL with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. In his five years in the league, Boyle has completed only 62.3% of his 183 pass attempts for 934 yards, four touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 20 games (five starts). He's not anywhere near the fantasy radar in any format.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4
days
agoNew
York
Giants
running
back
Eric
Gray
saw
a
lot
of
run
with
the
first-team
offense
during
organized
team
activities
on
Thursday,
leading
the
New
York
Daily
News'
Pat
Leonard
to
put
Gray
as
the
team's
RB2
behind
starter
read more...
4
days
agoThe
Denver
Broncos
are
expecting
to
see
growth
from
wide
receiver
Marvin
Mims
Jr.
as
he
heads
into
his
second
year
in
the
league.
"You're
going
to
see
a
lot
of
growth
from
Year
1
to
Year
2,"
head
coach
Sean
Payton
read more...
4 days agoPittsburgh Steelers second-year tight end
Darnell Washington got put into a box as a blocking tight end as a rookie in 2023 and rarely had opportunities to showcase his potential as a pass-catching mismatch, catching just seven of 10 targets for 61 yards. But 6-foot-7, 265-pound monster of a tight end said there's a "strong possibility" he'll become more of a receiving threat in new offensive coordinator's tight end-friendly system. The 22-year-old is an intriguing mismatch if sent out on routes, but as long as
Pat Freiermuth remains healthy as the team's top pass-catching TE, it's going to be hard for Washington to stand out in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
4 days agoDallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy reiterated on Thursday at organized team activities that he's "definitely" seen significant progress from backup quarterback
Trey Lance. "Now starting to get the timing with the routes. He's close to being a master of the system. He has a really high understanding. He just needs as many reps as he can," McCarthy said. Despite the Cowboys unsurprisingly declining Lance's fifth-year option this offseason, they have liked what they've seen from the former first-round pick (third overall) heading into his second season with the team. The 24-year-old signal-caller has lost most of his dynasty/keeper appeal at this point after not playing a single snap for Dallas in 2023 while sitting behind
Dak Prescott. Unless Prescott misses time with an injury that forces Lance into the fold in 2024, he'll be off the redraft radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Michael Gehlken
4 days agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Josh Reynolds could find himself in a substantial role in the Broncos' offense in his first year with the team after signing a two-year, $9 million deal in March. Reynolds comes from Detroit, where head coach Dan Campbell previously worked under current Broncos head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans. Payton is seeking more production all across the offense in 2024 and is embracing the idea that it could come from anywhere. "He's long; he has strong hands. Another veteran receiver," Payton said of Reynolds.
Courtland Sutton is the unquestioned top wideout in Denver, but Reynolds will be competing for a starting role with the rehabbing
Tim Patrick,
Marvin Mims Jr. and rookie fourth-rounder
Troy Franklin. With questions at QB, though, Reynolds will most likely go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
4 days agoNew York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton was back at organized team activities on Thursday after saying that the team added incentives to his contract to appease him. Slayton was staying away from voluntary OTAs this offseason as he angled for a new contract extension from the team, but the 27-year-old former fifth-round pick in 2019 out of Auburn is now back with the team. Despite the addition of rookie pass-catcher
Malik Nabers in the first round of this year's NFL draft, Slayton still figures to be in line for a starting role in New York's offense in 2024 after recording a career-high 770 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 50 receptions in 17 games (13 starts) a year ago. However, Slayton's fantasy ceiling and floor will be volatile, especially since both
Jalin Hyatt and
Wan'Dale Robinson figure to be asked to take on more in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Charlotte Carroll
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