3 days agoNew England Patriots rookie first-round quarterback
Drake Maye continues to make strides at mandatory minicamp this week. Maye nearly matched veteran
Jacoby Brissett in repetitions for the second consecutive open practice on Monday, and there's more juice to the offensive operation when Maye is at the controls. His arm talent and athleticism allow him to, in flashes, elevate players around him. It's exactly what the Patriots want to hear of the No. 3 overall pick, who has the playmaker gene, but they understandably don't seem to be in a rush to start Maye as their QB1 to open the regular season, especially with the remaining pieces of the offense being a work in progress in a new offensive scheme. Maye's early impressiveness will make him an even more popular draft pick in dynasty/keeper leagues, but he's probably not going to be much of a redraft target.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
3 days agoWashington Commanders new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury appears to be using some two-running back sets during mandatory minicamp this week involving Brian Robinson and
Austin Ekeler. In what will be a vastly different offense under Kingsbury in 2024 with rookie first-round quarterback
Jayden Daniels at the helm, Washington figures to use Robinson as more of the between-the-tackles, early-down back, with Ekeler serving as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield. The 25-year-old Robinson had 43 targets in 2023, but he stands to lose a hefty amount of targets to Ekeler this year. With more competition from Ekeler, B-Rob is going to need to remain productive and hold onto the football to be a viable RB3/flex for fantasy managers in standard-scoring leagues. Ekeler should be more valuable as an RB3/flex in point-per-reception formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Sam Fortier
3 days agoLos Angeles Rams tight end
Colby Parkinson will add "real value" to the offense during the 2024 season, head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday (via Cameron DaSilva of The Rams Wire). Specifically, the Rams like Parkinson's size and catch radius, leading them to believe that he could be open the year as their No. 1 tight end if
Tyler Higbee (ACL, MCL) isn't good to go. In such a scenario, Parkinson would rank as a low-end TE2 even though he has just 57 catches, 618 yards, and four touchdowns over his previous four years.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Cameron DaSilva
3 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars have signed free-agent wide receiver
Austin Trammell, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The 25-year-old and product of Rice University spent his last two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, primarily operating as a returner on special teams. He returned 25 punts and six kickoffs last year, and he only added four catches for an extra 29 yards through the air. This move has no fantasy significance and should merely be viewed as part of the Jaguars' approach to building depth on offense and special teams.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Wilson
4
days
agoNew
York
Giants
wide
receiver
Wan'Dale
Robinson
said
he
has
hit
some
GPS
numbers
that
he
has
never
reached
before,
saying
it's
a
"night-and-day"
difference
between
now
and
where
he
was
at
this
point
last
year
while
rehabbing
an
ACL
that
he
read more...
4 days agoMinnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he'd call quarterback
Sam Darnold his No. 1 QB at the moment this offseason, even though the Vikings haven't had to put out a depth chart yet in 2024. It's not a surprise with the team slow-playing first-rounder
J.J. McCarthy's development during offseason workouts. On top of it, the 27-year-old Darnold has looked really good at mandatory minicamp and has taken all of the first-team repetitions to this point. All signs point to Darnold seeing most of the first-team reps in training camp this summer, too, before opening the regular season as the starter under center in Minnesota. While the Vikings offense could be the best that Darnold has ever worked with, he'll be a low-end QB2, at best, in superflex leagues in 2024. McCarthy, meanwhile, will have his chance to prove he's the starter in 2024 as well, but he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset for now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Ben Goessling
4 days agoSeattle Seahawks second-year wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (shoulder) left Wednesday's practice at mandatory minicamp with a shoulder issue, but head coach Mike MacDonald indicated it's not a serious injury. Receiver
Laviska Shenault Jr. (toe) also left practice early after injuring his toe. It's possible that Smith-Njigba is held out for the rest of minicamp as a precaution, but the 22-year-old should be ready to rock at the end of July for the start of training camp. Despite being behind both
DK Metcalf and
Tyler Lockett on the receiving depth chart in his rookie campaign in 2023, Smith-Njigba impressed with 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games played. The former first-rounder didn't see much downfield work, though, and will face a second straight season as the WR3 in Seattle. Consider him a WR4/flex in fantasy with upside for more in Year 2.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Seattle Times - Bob Condotta
4 days agoDenver Broncos tight end
Greg Dulcich (hamstring, foot) is doing "really well" physically, according to head coach Sean Payton, and he could get back on the field this week during mandatory minicamp. It sounds like Dulcich is improving and should be ready for training camp, the preseason, and the start of the 2024 regular season as he looks to bounce back from hamstring and foot ailments that limited him to just two games in 2023 in his second NFL season. The former third-rounder in 2022 out of UCLA also dealt with injuries in his rookie campaign and caught 33 of 55 targets for 411 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games. At this point, Dulcich is just trying to stay healthy while now competing with
Adam Trautman and
Lucas Krull for primary pass-catching duties at tight end in 2024. With the QB situation unsettled, though, Dulcich, given his injury history, will be off the fantasy radar in standard 12-team leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
4 days agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton (ankle) said he had ankle surgery this offseason in Florida. On another topic, Sutton said his representatives and the team are discussing a contract extension, but they are in a "stalemate." This explains why the 28-year-old pass-catcher hasn't been present for organized team activities this offseason. Sutton is feeling good, though, and should be ready for training camp next month and the start of the 2024 regular season. Contract-wise, he still has two years left on his deal, but only $2 million in guarantees. Sutton tore his ACL in 2020 and hasn't been able to come close to his 2019 Pro Bowl form, when he produced a career-high 1,112 receiving yards. He did have a career-high 10 touchdowns in 16 games for the Broncos last year, but fantasy managers should expect a lot of regression with quarterback
Russell Wilson no longer in town.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
4
days
agoGreen
Bay
Packers
running
back
Josh
Jacobs
(hamstring)
has
been
doing
everything
during
practice
this
week
after
missing
the
first
week
of
organized
team
activities
due
to
a
minor
hamstring
injury
before
being
limited
in
what
he
could
do
the
second
week
of
read more...
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Burrow (wrist) said it is "tough to say" what percentage health-wise he is at right now but reiterated "I'll be ready to go by the season." Burrow didn't look right early on in 2023 after injuring his calf during training camp last summer, and then he suffered a season-ending right-wrist injury in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. The former first overall pick in 2020 out of LSU has bookended his four seasons in the NFL so far with serious injuries, but he's been a solid QB1 option for fantasy managers otherwise. The 27-year-old should be full-go for training camp next month and should be ready for the Week 1 season opener this fall, barring any setbacks with his wrist in training camp and the preseason. With one of the better one-two punches at wideout in the league, Burrow should be a fine midrange QB1 target in fantasy drafts after the big names at the position come off the board.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC 5 Cincinnati - Charlie Clifford
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase wasn't fully participating in practice at mandatory minicamp for the second straight day on Wednesday and was in tennis shoes with no helmet on, but he did take part in the install portion on both days. Chase didn't take part in 7-on-7 drills on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is seeking a long-term extension from the club, and while he is in attendance so he won't get fined, it appears he's not doing much on the field. Barring a surprise development, the Bengals and Chase should be able to eventually work something out to keep him in Cincinnati for the long haul. The former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons in the NFL and has gone over 1,000 receiving yards in all three years as well with a combined 29 touchdowns in 45 regular-season starts. Chase is an easy top-five fantasy wideout.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
4
days
agoNew
Orleans
Saints
tight
end
Juwan
Johnson
(leg)
suffered
a
lower-leg
injury
and
is
expected
to
miss
a
good
amount
of
time,
according
to
sources.
While
it's
unclear
if
Johnson
is
now
a
candidate
to
miss
the
start
of
the
2024
regular
season,
read more...
4
days
agoKansas
City
Chiefs
wide
receiver
Marquise
Brown
signed
a
one-year
deal
with
the
organization
this
offseason,
and
he
has
been
heavily
involved
in
the
passing
attack
during
OTAs
and
minicamp.
The
2019
first-round
pick
has
a
path
to
the
No.
1
wide
receiver
read more...
4 days agoGreen Bay Packers wide receiver
Romeo Doubs has had an "outstanding" offseason, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. The 2022 fourth-round pick hauled in 59 passes for 674 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and he delivered a six-catch, 151-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Wild Card win over the Dallas Cowboys. The 24-year-old should remain one of
Jordan Love's favorite targets in 2024, though the team's pass-catching group is crowded with
Christian Watson,
Jayden Reed,
Dontayvion Wicks,
Luke Musgrave, and
Tucker Kraft. Given the uncertainty of the target pecking order, all of the Green Bay receivers and tight ends have an ADP outside the top 70 picks, and Doubs presents a potential value pick at his 138.4 ADP in classic FFPC drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Andy Herman -- Packer Report
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