5 days agoCleveland Browns wide receiver
Amari Cooper continued his holdout on Thursday for the final day of the team's mandatory minicamp while he seeks a long-term contract extension. Cooper is heading into the final year of his current deal in 2024 and is looking for more security on an extension after posting career-highs in receiving yards (1,250) and yards per catch (17.4) despite playing with four different quarterbacks in 2023. The 29-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2015 by the Raiders out of Alabama added 72 receptions and five touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. It's unknown if this holdout will extend into training camp next month, but if it does, Cooper's fantasy stock as a WR2 will dip further after the Browns added
Jerry Jeudy in a trade with the Broncos this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
5 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars and quarterback
Trevor Lawrence agreed on a five-year, $275 million contract extension on Thursday, which includes $200 million guaranteed ($142 million at signing), according to a source. The $55 million average salary in Lawrence's deal ties him with Cincinnati Bengals QB
Joe Burrow for the top mark in that category in the NFL. The 24-year-old former first overall pick in 2021 out of Clemson made his first Pro Bowl in his second season in 2022 and has had back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons, although Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled down the stretch last year as he battled through injuries. Overall, his 2023 campaign was a step back after he finished as the QB7 in fantasy the year prior. Lawrence lost
Calvin Ridley but gained rookie Brian Thomas and
Gabe Davis and has plenty of targets, but he's best drafted as a QB2 with upside in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
5 days agoThe New England Patriots signed second-round wide receiver
Ja'Lynn Polk to a $9.694 million rookie deal on Thursday that includes a $3.87 million signing bonus. Polk had been relatively quiet in organized team activities open to the media before Monday of this week, when he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback
Jacoby Brissett. He has come as advertised to the team's decision-makers and has embraced the steady installation of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's playbook, showing a good understanding of a larger menu of plays. Coaches in the building have been impressed with his high-end physical skills that have them believing he'll be more than just a role player in the receivers room in his first NFL campaign. The 22-year-old will have the opportunity to earn playing time on a team without a clear leader at the position, making him worth a late-round flier in deep redraft leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
5 days agoThe New Orleans Saints restructured tight end
Taysom Hill's contract on Thursday, converting his base salary for 2024 to free up some salary cap room. Hill's cap number went from $15.7 million to $6.8 million with the move. The 33-year-old continues to be listed as a tight end for fantasy purposes, but he's apparently being involved more as a running back/fullback in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's scheme during offseason workouts.
Juwan Johnson's foot injury will also open up more pass-catching opportunities for Hill in training camp this summer as a traditional tight end. Most of Hill's production in 2023 came as a quarterback in wild-cat formations for the Saints. His versatile skill set makes him intriguing as a TE2 in fantasy, but it has been nearly impossible to predict how the Saints will use him on a weekly basis.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
5 days agoNew Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara skipped the team's final mandatory minicamp practice this week due to contract-related reasons, according to his agent, Brad Cicala. Kamara was in attendance for minicamp but didn't take part in on-field workouts as he seeks a new contract. The 28-year-old veteran has two years left on his current deal, and not much progress has been made on a new contract. The former third-round selection in 2017 was a Pro Bowler in each of his first five seasons in the league and has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in all seven of his campaigns for the Saints. However, Kamara has never been a 1,000-yard rusher and had a career-low 694 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 13 games in 2023. Kamara is more attractive in PPR leagues for his pass-catching prowess. Keep in mind that he's averaged 4.0 yards per carry or less in the last three seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
5 days agoAfter a thorough review of the Philadelphia Eagles' signing of running back
Saquon Barkley, the NFL informed the team on Thursday that the investigation did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding that the anti-tampering policy was violated. The league reviewed phone logs, text messages and other documents related to Philadelphia's free-agency strategy and decision to sign Barkley. The NFL also interviewed several members of the organization, including Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni, as well as Barkley and Penn State head coach James Franklin. Unlike the Atlanta Falcons and their pursuit of quarterback
Kirk Cousins this offseason, the Eagles will not face any fines or loss of future draft picks for their signing of Barkley.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
5 days agoEven though Denver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton showed up for mandatory minicamp this week after being absent at voluntary organized team activities, he hinted that he could hold out of training camp next month as he seeks a long-term contract extension. He's entering the third year of a four-year, $60.8 million extension that he signed back in 2021. Sutton has a $13 million salary in 2024 with only $2 million guaranteed. The 28-year-old wants a bigger contract after scoring a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023. "You know we'll see, we'll see what happens," Sutton said when asked if he'll show up for training camp if his contract negotiations remain at a stalemate. Sutton will be the unquestioned WR1 in Denver now that
Jerry Jeudy is gone, but the QB situation isn't ideal, and he will be facing major regression in the TD department in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
5
days
agoLos
Angeles
Chargers
head
coach
Jim
Harbaugh
said
that
running
back
Gus
Edwards
(undisclosed)
"has
been
on
a
really
good
track"
and
is
"likely"
to
be
back
for
training
camp
at
the
end
of
July.
Edwards
worked
off
to
the
side
with
trainers
read more...
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers running back
Najee Harris, who had his fifth-year option declined by the team last month, attended mandatory minicamp this week but didn't participate at all. Harris also declined every interview request and hasn't done interviews since January. He said he'd talk to the media next month at training camp. Harris isn't believed to be dealing with an injury this offseason, and head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the fact that the RB didn't take part in minicamp workouts this week. In a contract year now, the 26-year-old has slimmed down as he looks to show out before hitting the free-agent market next March. The former first-rounder will probably never be as productive as he was in his rookie campaign in 2021, but he's been durable and reliable in Pittsburgh's backfield.
Jaylen Warren's emergence has capped Harris' fantasy upside, although the Steelers should remain heavily committed to the run in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
5 days agoBaltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and quarterbacks coach Tee Martin have made it clear this offseason that they plan to give quarterback
Lamar Jackson more responsibility in the team's pre-snap operation this year. During practice on Wednesday, Jackson was challenged by an aggressive defense to change routes, run schemes and protections at the line of scrimmage, and Martin liked what he saw as the offense had one of its sharper practices of the offseason. Last year's NFL MVP will be given more freedom before the snap in 2024 to get the offense into ideal looks. The 27-year-old also showed up this year a little bit lighter as he looks for an encore performance. As long as Jackson is able to stay healthy again, the dual-threat signal-caller should be a top-five fantasy quarterback.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
5 days agoWashington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota has been splitting first-team reps with first-round rookie
Jayden Daniels this offseason, according to head coach Dan Quinn. The former No. 2 overall pick in 2015 by the Tennessee Titans signed a one-year deal with Washington at the start of free agency, and he could be the short-term starter if the team wants Daniels to sit for the first few weeks of the 2024 campaign. Although Mariota has struggled to keep a starting job, he has underrated fantasy football upside thanks to his rushing skill set. In 13 games for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, Mariota averaged a respectable 15.8 fantasy points per game behind 2,219 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions, 438 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns. He's a must-stash option in Superflex leagues, and fantasy managers might get one or two QB1 weeks out of him if he's the starter to begin the Dan Quinn era in Washington.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: John Keim
5
days
agoLas
Vegas
Raiders
running
back
Dylan
Laube
has
been
impressing
the
organization
this
offseason,
meaning
the
sixth-round
pick
has
a
realistic
shot
to
make
the
53-man
roster
for
the
2024
campaign.
"He's
wise
beyond
his
years.
He
shows
up
like
a
vet.
read more...
5 days agoBaltimore Ravens wide receiver
Rashod Bateman has struggled to begin his NFL career, racking up just 93 receptions, 1,167 yards, and four touchdowns in his first 35 games. According to Ravens reporter Jonas Shaffer, the former first-round pick has remained underwhelming this offseason. "Bateman has had a quiet start to minicamp. He had a short catch early in Tuesday's practice, but his snaps seemed to dwindle later in the session," Shaffer wrote. "On Wednesday, Jackson targeted him just once, when Bateman was well covered by Mullen on a shot play and his deep pass fell incomplete." Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he expects a great year from Bateman, but the early reports from minicamp are less than ideal. Unfortunately, Bateman is likely capped as the No. 3 option in a low-volume passing attack, which limits his upside. The 24-year-old is a fine best-ball flier, but it would be a surprise if he's a weekly contributor in traditional fantasy football leagues.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jonas Shaffer
5 days agoNew Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson (foot) is scheduled to undergo foot surgery next week, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson suffered the injury during Wednesday's minicamp practice and is expected to miss a significant chunk of time. However, the team is hopeful he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. In Johnson's first year with
Derek Carr, he caught 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He's been a fantasy football sleeper for the last few years and will remain one in 2024, so long as he can recover and get back to action. In his absence,
Foster Moreau will likely handle TE1 duties, though
Taysom Hill could see more work at that spot for the remainder of the offseason.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
5 days agoThe Chicago Bears are signing wide receiver
DeAndre Carter, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The 2015 undrafted free agent has spent time with nine NFL organizations, including the Bears in 2020. Overall, the 31-year-old has tallied 108 receptions for 1,259 yards and six touchdowns. However, he has returned 132 punts and 118 kickoffs in 94 career games, so that's likely why Chicago was interested in bringing him in. Carter is likely to compete with third-year wideout
Velus Jones Jr. for return-man duties, a role that could be more important following the updated kickoff rules in 2024. With
DJ Moore,
Keenan Allen, and
Rome Odunze on the roster, it'd be a surprise if Carter makes an impact as a receiver.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
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