3 days agoWashington Commanders second-round defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton (foot) had successful surgery on his Jones fracture on Tuesday in New York City, according to sources. The surgery was done by Dr. O'Malley, and Washington is optimistic that Newton will make a full recovery before his rookie season this fall. Newton has now had surgery on both of his feet for Jones fractures. It's not a great start in his first NFL offseason, but the 21-year-old defensive tackle will have a chance to make an impact in his first year in the league as long as he can stay on the field this fall. If not for his foot injury, Newton may have been a first-round consideration, but he ultimately fell to the Commanders at pick No. 36. If he puts his foot injuries behind him, Newton could be a steal in the trenches of Washington's D-line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
3 days agoVeteran free-agent wide receiver
Martavis Bryant is scheduled to work out for the Washington Commanders on Wednesday, according to a source. Bryant was released last week by the Dallas Cowboys, whose former defensive coordinator is now the head coach for the Commanders. The former fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 out of Clemson has had his NFL career ruined by off-the-field issues that have led to suspensions, and he hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2018 with the Raiders. The 32-year-old would merely serve as receiver depth heading into training camp and the postseason in Washington behind the likes of
Terry McLaurin,
Jahan Dotson, rookie
Luke McCaffrey,
Dyami Brown and others if he were to sign with the Commanders. In four NFL seasons, Bryant has caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in 44 games (18 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
3 days agoDetroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said this week on The Rich Eisen Show that second-year running back
Jahmyr Gibbs could have an even bigger role in 2024. "I definitely would expect him to see more of a load, but
David Montgomery will still be here too," Holmes said. "Dan and I love that 1-2 punch of him and David." The former first-round pick in 2023 was third among running backs with 5.2 yards per carry in his rookie campaign, so fantasy managers that were already fond of Gibbs' stock in a rising Lions offense will be pleased that he could be even more valuable as an RB1 in 2024. Not only should the 22-year-old former Alabama back see more carries, but he should also be more involved in the passing attack, where he can really excel with yards after the catch in open space. Only seven RBs saw more targets than Gibbs' 71 in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rich Eisen Show
3 days agoGreen Bay Packers running back
MarShawn Lloyd signed his rookie deal, the organization announced on Tuesday. Lloyd, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to see a role in Year 1 behind
Josh Jacobs in the emerging Packers' offense. Although the 23-year-old didn't have the most productive career at South Carolina and Southern California, he flashed explosiveness in 2023 with 7.1 yards per carry and 17.8 yards per reception. His 4.46 forty-yard-dash time at 220 pounds likely cemented himself as a Day 2 draft choice, and running backs taken before Round 4 are usually given a fair shot at competing for touches. He should beat out
AJ Dillon at some point in 2024, making him a high-end handcuff RB for redraft leagues.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Rob Demovksy
3 days agoThe Minnesota Vikings released veteran cornerback Joejuan Williams on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The former Vanderbilt Commodore was a second-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2019 but has not found his footing in the NFL. Across 42 games with the Patriots, Vikings, and Bears, Williams has collected 46 tackles (32 solo), 10 pass deflections, and no interceptions. The 26-year-old signed a reserve/future contract on January 8 with the Vikings, but he is being let go after the team selected Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
3 days agoThe Cincinnati Bengals signed rookie third-round wide receiver
Jermaine Burton and rookie fourth-round tight end
Erick All to their rookie deals on Tuesday. With
Joe Burrow at quarterback and
Tee Higgins potentially playing his last season with the Bengals in 2024, both first-year pass-catchers are on the fantasy football radar in redraft and dynasty leagues. In Burton's final two collegiate seasons at Alabama, he caught 79 passes for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns. With 4.45 speed, he could act as a field stretcher and start in three-wide sets right away in Zac Taylor's offense. All, who caught 21 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in Iowa's lifeless offense last year, will look to push
Mike Gesicki for the TE1 job in his rookie campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoAtlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) is not practicing on Tuesday, according to head coach Raheem Morris. The two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro suffered a torn ACL in the Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans last year, so he'll likely be eased into action this offseason and beyond. Jarrett has compiled three seasons of at least six sacks, but he only charted 1.5 sacks in eight games last season. Atlanta's pass rush has been an issue over the last few years, and the organization opted to draft quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick instead of a defender, so Jarrett's early-season availability and effectiveness will be key as the Falcons look to contend for a Super Bowl with
Kirk Cousins under center.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoThe Washington Commanders released quarterback
Jake Fromm on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The former Georgia Bulldog was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and spent the last two seasons with Washington after a brief stint with the New York Giants. Despite being in the league for four seasons, he has thrown just 60 passes, completing 27 of them for 210 yards and one touchdown to go along with three interceptions. The Commanders signed
Marcus Mariota this offseason and added rookies
Jayden Daniels and
Sam Hartman to their quarterback room, so Fromm became expendable. The 25-year-old is unlikely to earn playing time anytime soon barring a slew of injuries around the NFL.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoDespite requesting a trade this offseason, Cincinnati Bengals star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson confirmed his desire to play for the team in 2024 after Tuesday's offseason workout. "That's a no-brainer," Hendrickson said. "I mean, I love this team. I'm in great shape. It's good to see the guys." The three-time Pro Bowler rejoined the team this week for the voluntary offseason workout program. The 29-year-old was second in the NFL in sacks in 2023 with 17.5 and initially asked to be traded when the Bengals didn't reward him with a long-term contract extension. Contract issues aside, Hendrickson has been one of the league's best edge rushers since he was signed by Cincy in 2021 on a four-year deal worth $60 million. He has 40.5 total sacks in that time, the fifth-highest total in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
3 days agoThe back-to-back Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs will begin their attempt for the first-ever three-peat in 2024 when they host the Baltimore Ravens in the league's annual prime-time season opener, which will be played on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will be a rematch of last year's AFC Championship, which the Chiefs won 17-10 before beating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs will then face the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead in Week 2. The Week 1 matchup against Baltimore features two of the game's top QBs in
Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl MVP the last two years, and
Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP. Mahomes has gone 4-1 in the matchup against Jackson, including in the playoffs. KC has opened as a 2.5-point favorite and are 2-1 in the NFL kickoff game since it was introduced in 2002.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Adam Teicher
3 days agoThe New York Jets and quarterback
Aaron Rodgers will travel to face the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9 on ESPN's Monday Night Football in Week 1 of the 2024 season this fall. It's the second straight season Rodgers and the Jets will play a prime-time game in Week 1. Rodgers' Jets debut on Sept. 11 of last year ended with the four-time MVP tearing his left Achilles on just the fourth offensive snap, causing him to miss the rest of the season. Rodgers will square off against QB
Brock Purdy, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant (last pick in the draft) who has turned into an amazing success story. The Jets are coming off a disappointing 7-10 season, but Rodgers has a 6-3 career mark against the 49ers. The Jets have plenty of weapons for Rodgers to bounce back in 2024 from his injury, but the San Fran defense will present a tough challenge right away.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
3 days agoThe San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (biceps) to a one-year, $1.375 million deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Hubbard will give the Niners some veteran depth along their offensive line in 2024. The 33-year-old's season ended in Week 11 last year due to a biceps injury while playing for the Tennessee Titans. Hubbard originally entered the league in 2014 as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama-Birmingham. He played the first four years of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending the next five years with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Titans in 2023. Now that he's past his biceps injury from a year ago, Hubbard figures to operate as a swing tackle in San Francisco.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
3 days agoAtlanta Falcons running backs
Bijan Robinson (ankle) and
Jase McClellan (foot) were not at practice on Tuesday at organized team activities. It's notable, but shouldn't affect Robinson's 2024 fantasy draft stock. The 22-year-old former first-rounder is expected to be back on the field for the team's mandatory minicamp. As long as Robinson's ankle isn't bothering him once he returns to practice, it should be a non-factor by the time the 2024 regular season begins. Now that quarterback
Kirk Cousins is in town, Robinson will be even more attractive as a high-end RB1 in fantasy. The former eighth overall pick in 2023 out of Texas is a do-it-all back that had 976 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 214 rushing attempts in his rookie season, adding 58 receptions for 487 yards and another four TDs in 17 games (16 starts) in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
3 days agoThe Buffalo Bills signed veteran wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. MVS is no stranger to playing with elite quarterbacks between his time with
Aaron Rodgersread more...
4 days agoThe Denver Broncos signed free-agent wide receiver
Phillip Dorsett and cornerback Quinton Newsome to undisclosed deals on Monday, according to the team. In corresponding moves, the Broncos waived punter Nik Constantinou and receiver
Lincoln Victor. Dorsett was released by Denver last Friday after initially signing with the team's practice squad before the 2023 season. The 31-year-old former 29th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 out of Miami was elevated just twice during the regular season last year and was unable to reel in any of his three targets. In his eight NFL seasons, Dorsett has a total of 151 catches for 2,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in 94 games (20 starts). He'll serve as receiver depth for the Broncos this summer behind
Courtland Sutton,
Josh Reynolds,
Marvin Mims Jr., rookie
Troy Franklin and
Tim Patrick.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
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