3 days agoThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cody Thompson on Wednesday to help replace Deven Thompkins (hamstring), who was placed on Injured Reserve this week. Thompson will be competing for a roster spot at training camp this summer and during the preseason after catching his only target for 10 yards in seven games played for the Seahawks in his second season in the NFL. The 28-year-old pass-catcher joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo in 2021 and was active for five games, but he didn't see a single target. Even if Thompson makes the roster heading into the 2024 regular season, he'll be buried on the receiver depth chart and is completely off the fantasy radar.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
3
days
agoCleveland
Browns
running
back
Pierre
Strong
Jr.
(back)
was
participating
in
organized
team
activities
on
Wednesday.
Strong
appears
to
be
recovered
from
a
back
injury
that
kept
him
out
of
the
team's
wild-card
loss
to
the
Houston
Texans
in
the
postseason.read more...
3 days agoSNY's Connor Hughes writes that the New York Jets seem to really like rookie fifth-round running back Isaiah Davis, who has gotten a ton of work with the first-team offense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers during organized team activities this week. Unfortunately for Davis, rookie fourth-rounder Braelon Allen has been one of the biggest standouts during OTAs because of his emergence as a pass-catcher despite his reputation as a bruising power back in college. Davis and Allen have gotten more reps thanks to a minor lower-body injury that has kept starter Breece Hall on the sidelines this offseason. As of right now, both Davis and Allen have pushed 2023 fifth-rounder Israel Abanikanda down the depth chart. Davis' dynasty stock is up, and he could eventually develop into a short-yardage option for the Jets.Source: SNY - Connor Hughes
3 days agoNew York Jets rookie third-round wide receiver Malachi Corley (lower body) was a full participant at practice at organized team activities on Tuesday after leaving practice early last week with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Corley made an impressive contested catch in team drills on a pass from veteran backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The 22-year-old's injury from last week obviously wasn't too serious, and Corley is now back in the fold at OTAs gaining valuable repetitions as he learns the Jets offense heading into his first NFL season. If Mike Williams (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL, is healthy, Corley will be the No. 3 option, at best, in New York's offense this year. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has taken a liking to Corley, though, which is a good first step for the youngster.Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
3
days
agoNew
York
Jets
rookie
running
back
Braelon
Allen
has
been
one
of
the
biggest
standouts
at
organized
team
activities
open
to
the
media,
especially
because
of
his
emergence
as
a
legitimate
option
as
a
pass-catcher.
Most
of
his
catches
had
been
coming
onread more...
3 days agoThe Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that the connection between New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and top wide receiver Garrett Wilson is growing during voluntary organized team activities this offseason. Wilson ran such a good route in practice on Tuesday that he wound up wide open in the middle of the field for an easy touchdown, and he had another catch on a pass from Rodgers in which he was able to adjust his body in mid-air to catch a pass that was thrown a little behind him. Wilson is "as advertised," according to new receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. "This kid can be whatever he wants to be. He has that it ... the sky is the limit for this kid." If Rodgers can stay healthy all year, Wilson will also have high-end WR1 value for fantasy managers in 2024. The former 10th overall pick has topped 1,000 yards in both his NFL seasons despite subpar QB play.Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
3 days agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee), who has been rehabbing a knee injury that kept him out of six games last year, said he got the most repetitions of the offseason in Tuesday's organized team activities. After posting a career-best 58.1 receiving yards per game last year, Palmer's role is set to increase even more in 2024 now that both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are out of town. However, he'll still be competing for targets with former first-rounder Quentin Johnston and second-round rookie Ladd McConkey, not to mention DJ Chark. The Bolts' offense is also transitioning to a run-first unit under head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, so Palmer is far from a lock to break out this year. However, the 24-year-old's big-play ability makes him enticing as WR depth.Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
3 days agoNew England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the third overall pick of this year's NFL draft, has been impressing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt this offseason. "He's been impressive," Van Pelt said. Maye took snaps as the top backup in Tuesday's organized team activities after previously working as the No. 3 option. While Van Pelt has praised Maye early on, he's also preaching patience with the rookie. Maye has quickly adapted the footwork chances the coaches have taught him, allowing him to play more in rhythm. Van Pelt reiterated that veteran Jacoby Brissett remains the starter and has had an "exceptional spring" by showing "great command of the offense." The Pats are hoping Maye is the starter of the future, but all indications are that he'll begin the year holding a clipboard for Brissett on the sideline. "There is no timetable" for Maye to be the starter, Van Pelt said.Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
3 days agoHouston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan has been receiving praise from head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ryans told the media that Jordan is "playing fast and confidently and making some great catches." Jordan served as the backup tight end in Houston last season to Dalton Schultz and finished the campaign with 219 yards and two touchdowns on 17 catches. While this is a great sign for the 23-year-old in the long term, he still should be expected to retain a similar second-string role to Schultz in 2024. However, the former fifth-round pick has flashed at times with an eye-catching 7.6 average yards after the catch, which places him in the top-95th percentile among all tight ends, and he had an impressive 76-yard score in the wild-card game last season. Jordan could emerge as a fantasy-viable tight end if Schultz were to miss time, but for now, he has a difficult path to consistent playing time.Source: Cody Stoots
3 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver John Ross was getting first team reps on Wednesday in OTAs, according to Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks. The 28-year-old agreed to a one-year contract with the Eagles on May 23 and has already begun to have opportunities with the first team. The former Washington product was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals but has unfortunately been unable to perform in the NFL. He had a season-high of only 506 yards in 2019 and has yet to come close to that total over the past four seasons. He announced his retirement last summer but appears to be eyeing an NFL comeback. Currently, the Eagles wide receiver room is highlighted by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith but is lacking a consistent number three option. Ross could become a name to mention throughout training camp in July if he continues to earn opportunities with the starting staff.Source: Eliot Shorr-Parks
3 days agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) was seen with trainers on Wednesday during OTAs. Colts writer James Boyd of the Athletic said that trainers were looking at Richardson's shoulder throughout the day, but nobody seemed worried. As a result, Joe Flacco took the majority of first-team reps this afternoon. This should be seen as precautionary, as the former Florida Gator expressed last week on the Pat McAfee show that his shoulder was at "95 percent" as he has been recovering from a season-ending shoulder surgery he underwent last October. The 22-year-old will be a popular breakout pick in drafts later this summer, as he flashed elite upside in four games last season with 577 yards through the air and 136 yards on the ground with seven total scores. Richardson also has elite playmakers around him in Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, and second-round pick Adonai Mitchell which further boost his fantasy stock.Source: James Boyd
3
days
agoWashington
Commanders
rookie
quarterback
Jayden
Daniels
has
begun
to
build
chemistry
with
the
revamped
offensive
line
in
the
nation's
capital,
especially
with
center
Tyler
Biadasz.
Biadasz
played
under
newly
named
Washington
Head
Coach
Dan
Quinn
in
Dallas
and
was
one
of
the
bestread more...
3 days agoBuffalo Bills wide receiver Chase Claypool has been the most consistent receiver through OTAs so far in Buffalo, according to Bills beat writer Matt Parrino. Claypool signed a one-year contract with the Bills earlier this month and is expected to have a depth role in the offense in 2024. However, the 25-year-old has performed well through the early part of OTAs and is making a strong case to not only make the 53-man roster but have a steady role in this offense. Currently, the Buffalo wide receiver room consists of Khalil Shakir, veterans Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Florida State rookie Keon Coleman, who was drafted with the 33rd overall pick this spring. This is a story to monitor over the course of the offseason, as Claypool could be an enticing late-round pick in deeper leagues if he earns a starting role in this offense.Source: Matt Parrino
3 days agoSan Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) said his goal is to be available in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season after suffering a torn ACL in the Week 11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2021 fifth-round pick and 2022 Pro Bowl selection hopes he can return at some point in training camp later this summer to ramp up for regular-season action. August 19 will mark nine months since his right ACL tear, so there's a chance he will achieve his goal. That said, it's early in the offseason, so there will be plenty of updates on his status. Hufanga should start alongside second-year safety Ji'Ayir Brown as soon as he's fully cleared for action. The 24-year-old USC product has tallied 181 tackles, two sacks, seven interceptions, and 14 pass deflections through his first 42 games. In IDP leagues, he scored the fourth-most fantasy points among safeties in 2022.Source: Nick Wagoner
3 days agoMinnesota Vikings wide receiver N'Keal Harry is reportedly up to 240 pounds in preparation for his attempted move to tight end. The 2019 first-round pick by the New England Patriots out of Arizona State has not found success at receiver through his first five NFL campaigns, and there have been a few success stories of players moving to tight end. Harry said heard "whispers" during his career about moving to tight end, but the Vikings were the first team to broach it with him with the idea. With T.J. Hockenson (knee) likely out of action to begin 2024 after a late-season ACL tear last year, it will be interesting to see if Harry can carve out a role in the new-look Vikings offense led by Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy. He's not on the fantasy radar in regular leagues, but deep-league dynasty fantasy managers could take a flyer on him.Source: Kevin Seifert - ESPN