4 days agoTo make room on the roster for the signing of safety Dee Delaney on an undisclosed one-year contract, the Buffalo Bills released wide receiver
Quintez Cephus on Thursday. The Bills added Cephus in free agency in April, but he's now back on the open market after missing all of last year due to a suspension for violating the league's policy on gambling. The 26-year-old was originally a fifth-round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL draft out of Wisconsin. All three of his NFL seasons have come with the Lions, and Cephus has recorded just 37 catches on 60 targets for 568 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 22 total games (six starts). If Cephus ends up being picked up by another team, he'll merely be attempting to make the active roster out of training camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Buffalo Bills PR
4 days agoFree-agent safety Micah Hyde said he will either re-sign with the Buffalo Bills or choose retirement. Hyde has played in just 16 total games the last two years in Buffalo due to injuries, although he managed to play in 14 regular-season games in 2023 and recorded 54 tackles (37 solo), two interceptions and seven passes defended. The 33-year-old has been with the Bills since 2017 after spending the first four years of his career with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers took him in the fifth round in 2013 out of Iowa. Hyde's lone Pro Bowl season came in his first year in Buffalo, when he recorded a career-high 82 tackles (65 solo), a career-high-tying five interceptions, and a career-high 13 passes defended in 16 starts. If he returns to Buffalo and plays one more season, he'll bring a veteran presence to the Bills' secondary.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WGR550 - Sal Capaccio
4 days agoThe Los Angeles Chargers passed on drafting a wide receiver with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, which puts second-year wideout and former first-rounder
Quentin Johnston in a spot to be the team's No. 1 entering the 2024 campaign.
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4 days agoThe Green Bay Packers signed rookie third-round running back
MarShawn Lloyd to a four-year, $5.688 million rookie deal on Thursday. The contract includes a $959,284 signing bonus and a $50,000 workout bonus annually from 2025 to 2027. Even though
Josh Jacobs is the Packers' unquestioned lead back and
AJ Dillon re-signed for a complementary role, the Packers have plans to incorporate Lloyd right away in his rookie season in 2024. The 23-year-old is explosive and versatile out of the backfield, but he's going to need to hang onto the football tighter at the next level if he wants to see consistent touches as a handcuff for fantasy managers that draft Jacobs early this fall. In addition to being worth a late-round flier in deeper redraft leagues in 2024, Lloyd is an attractive dynasty/keeper stash.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4 days agoFormer Green Bay Packers tight end
Robert Tonyan signed an undisclosed deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Tonyan will stay in the NFC North after playing in all 17 regular-season games with the Chicago Bears in 2203, catching just 11 of 17 targets for 107 receiving yards and no touchdowns. The 30-year-old's addition in Minnesota will give the Vikings a little more depth at the position with
T.J. Hockenson (knee) trying to return this fall from a serious knee injury. If Hockenson isn't ready to go for Week 1, Tonyan,
Josh Oliver and
Johnny Mundt would be competing for playing time. Even if Hockenson is delayed to start the 2024 campaign, Tonyan probably won't be anything more than a touchdown-dependent TE2 option in fantasy for a short period of time. He has a total of 148 catches (193 targets) for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns (11 in 2020) in his six years in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
4 days agoFormer Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers announced on Instagram on Tuesday that he is retiring from professional football after 11 seasons in the league. He was the heart and soul of the Rams defense for nine years before playing the final two years of his career with the Detroit Lions in 2021 and 2022. The Rams, then in St. Louis, took Brockers with the 14th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft out of LSU. Brockers was cut in February of 2023 by Detroit and did not play last season. In his 11 seasons in the NFL, he recorded 451 total tackles (274 solo), 29 sacks, 52 tackles for loss, 64 QB hits, 10 passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 160 games (157 starts). In his nine seasons with the Rams, Brockers was as consistent as they come, only missing six total games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rams Wire - Cameron DaSilva
4 days agoPittsburgh Steelers six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Heyward hasn't attended the team's voluntary offseason workouts and doesn't plan to attend organized team activities as he seeks a contract extension, according to sources. Heyward is a long-time team captain who has never missed an offseason program. The 35-year-old former 31st overall pick by the Steelers in 2011 out of Ohio State is entering the final year of his four-year, $65 million deal. The 35-year-old has obviously been one of the faces of the franchises for a long time now, but he played in only 11 games due to a core injury in 2023 and finished with just 33 tackles (25 solo), two sacks, six tackles for loss and a pass defended. Contract issues aside, Heyward is expected to be a full-go for the start of training camp and the 2024 regular season. He has 80.5 career sacks and could be streamer in IDP leagues in good matchups if he's healthy in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver
Jermaine Burton has left a positive impression on the coaching staff despite being drafted less than two weeks ago. According to SI's Albert Breer, Burton has already shown the Bengals that he is a "competitive kid who has good ball skills and the explosiveness to separate from coverage in the NFL." Breer noted that Burton has worked through some off-the-field issues but has the talent needed to make an impact at the pro level. He's currently competing for the No. 3 receiver role behind
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins. Such a position on the depth chart was most recently occupied by
Tyler Boyd. The Bengals would love to get production out of Burton in his first pro season, and as Breer points out, he could benefit from Chase and Higgins drawing away coverage.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Albert Breer
4 days agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder) has demonstrated more knowledge and maturity this offseason, quarterbacks coach Cam Turner told the media. "He's the same athletic Anthony that we know, but in the meeting room, he's taking that step as far as the knowledge
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4 days agoThe Washington Commanders have signed free agent wide receiver
Damiere Byrd following a workout, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The veteran is entering his ninth season in the league, but he's never finished higher than the WR67 in fantasy football. He spent the last two years with the Atlanta Falcons but registered just two targets during one game in 2023. Byrd represents a low-risk signing for the Commanders, and he'll be tasked with competing for a roster spot while leaving his veteran impact on some of his younger teammates in Washington.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins continues to grow frustrated as his trade request from last month has gone unanswered. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Higgins is "pissed" about the lack of a shared vision between himself and the team. Higgins was once said to be seeking a deal similar to
Michael Pittman Jr.'s three-year, $70 million pact, but Cincinnati reportedly never came close to that price tag. This prompted the talented receiver to request a trade, but the Bengals made it clear (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN) that they have "no plans" to trade him. Therefore, the stalemate continues between Cincinnati and Higgins. One has to wonder if too many bridges have been burned and a holdout might be in the cards.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
5 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars signed undrafted free-agent wide receiver
Wayne Ruby on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. Ruby played his college football at the University of Mount Union of Division III, and his final three seasons put him on the NFL radar. From 2021 to 2023, Ruby caught 285 passes for 4,382 yards and a whopping 58 touchdowns, according to the school's website. He'll have a shot at competing for a roster spot this offseason. Although he's unlikely to see meaningful playing time in 2024, he could beat out end-of-the-bench wideouts like
Tim Jones,
Seth Williams, and
Elijah Cooks to earn a special teams role as a rookie.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
5 days agoChicago Bears quarterback and No. 1 overall pick
Caleb Williams will begin his career at home against the Tennessee Titans, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The former USC star will have no shortage of weapons to work with to begin his career, so he could get out to a hot start with
Keenan Allen,
DJ Moore, and Rome Oduzne out wide. Tennessee was a middle-of-the-pack team against the pass last season, but the organization signed former Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson as their defensive coordinator and added cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie to the back end of the defense. Overall, it should be a great first test for one of the highest-regarded quarterback prospects of the 21st century.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
5 days agoVeteran free-agent punter Trenton Gill is signing with the Denver Broncos, according to NFL.com. The 25-year-old was released after two seasons with the Chicago Bears following the organization selecting Iowa punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Gill has punted 133 times for an average of 46.1 yards per punt and pinned 38 kicks inside the 20-yard line in 34 career games. If he beats out Riley Dixon for the starting punting duties, he'll get to kick in Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, which gives kickers and punters extra distance thanks to its high elevation.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
5 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs will square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Houston Texans will host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day during the 2024 NFL season. For different reasons, all four teams will be interesting to monitor this year. Kansas City is aiming to be the first franchise to win three straight Super Bowls, Pittsburgh will be led by
Russell Wilson or
Justin Fields, Baltimore looks to get over the hump in search of a Lombardi Trophy, and Houston was one of last year's big surprise teams to contend in the playoffs. With no shortage of disappointing primetime matchups over the last few years, games featuring stars like
Patrick Mahomes,
Lamar Jackson,
C.J. Stroud, T.J. Watt, and more on Christmas should be exciting. These two Christmas Day games will be streamed exclusively on Netflix.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
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