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
4 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling made a stop in Buffalo on Monday night. The wideout had a recent visit with the Chargers, although it appears nothing came of it. MVS hasn't been productive in years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by recording career lows in catches (21), receiving yards (315), and touchdowns (one). However, the Bills moved on from
Stefon Diggs this offseason, so Valdes-Scantling could work his way up the depth chart. Yet, he'll need to prove his value to fantasy managers no matter where he signs, which won't come until he has at least a few decent performances.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 days agoThe Denver Broncos continued voluntary offseason workouts on Monday. However, the team remains without wide receiver
Courtland Sutton, who continues to work out at his residence in Florida. The veteran has two years left on a four-year, $60 million extension, but has made it clear he wants a raise. He also requested a trade, although the team is apparently not looking to move him. Of course, there will be updates on the situation moving ahead. Yet, it won't be as much of a concern until the summer when Denver begins training camp. With that said, several teams will monitor things, especially with Sutton coming off a massive year, which included a career-high 10 touchdowns. But if he stays with the Broncos, his fantasy outlook is directly related to how
Bo Nix and
Zach Wilson look heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Charean Williams
4 days agoDetroit Lions quarterback
Jared Goff agreed to a four-year, $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides were working on an extension last week, and they evidently worked quickly and got the deal done. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams has been fantastic since being dealt to Detroit along with draft picks for
Matthew Stafford. He led Detroit to a playoff win for the first time since 1991 last year, and he's posted 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. He's now under contract through the 2028 season and will remain a fringe QB1 option in fantasy football as long as his offensive weapons remain on the roster. Given his job security and upside in Detroit's offense, he should be viewed as a strong dynasty QB2 in superflex formats.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was spotted at voluntary offseason activities on Monday despite his recent request to be traded. It's a notable development considering the practices and workouts are entirely voluntary, but it's too early to assume it means he wants to remain with the team if he does not receive a new contract. The 2017 third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints had a monster season in 2023, racking up a Bengals' franchise record 17.5 sacks. He is the 11th-highest-paid edge rusher (average salary) and is entering the final year of his four-year, $60 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2021. The 29-year-old's situation will be worth monitoring this offseason, as there will likely be no shortage of interested suitors if the team is willing to listen to offers. With quarterback
Joe Burrow already signed to a $275 million contract, and wide receivers
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins seeking a new deals, Hendrickson may be expendable.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 days agoThe New England Patriots signed undrafted free-agent running back
Terrell Jennings and released veteran ball carrier
Ke'Shawn Vaughn on Monday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Jennings rushed 120 times for 674 yards and nine touchdowns and caught seven passes for 60 yards in his final season at Florida A&M last year. The 225-pounder isn't on the fantasy radar yet, but he will have a shot to compete for a roster spot this offseason. Vaughn, who was a popular fantasy football sleeper after being selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, has a bleak future outlook following his release. In 43 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 27-year-old rushed 103 times for 384 yards and two touchdowns. He's unlikely to become a fantasy-relevant back based on what he's produced so far, but he could stick around the NFL as a depth option for another organization.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Mike Reiss -- ESPN
4 days agoThe Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent tight end
Ross Dwelley on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dwelley was undrafted out of the University of San Diego in 2018, but he stuck around on the San Francisco 49ers' roster for six seasons and played in 84 games. Overall, the 29-year-old has 44 receptions for 518 yards and five receiving touchdowns to his name. He'll look to compete with
Charlie Woerner and
John FitzPatrick to see the field in multi-tight end sets and to be
Kyle Pitts' direct backup in 2024. For now, he's nowhere near the fantasy football radar heading into his seventh NFL campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 days agoThe Carolina Panthers signed outside linebacker Cam Gill and defensive lineman TJ Smith following a workout on Monday, the team announced on X. Gill spent the last four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted in 2020 out of Wagner College. He was mostly a depth and special teams player for Tampa, collecting 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 40 career games. Smith, who was also undrafted out of the class of 2020, spent the last three years with the Minnesota Vikings and appeared in just five total games. Neither player is likely to push for a starting role, but depth jobs are up for grabs in the offseason and training camp, especially for a rebuilding franchise like Carolina.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Carolina Panthers on X
4 days agoFree-agent tight end
Nick Vannett is signing with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. The 31-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and caught one pass for three yards in eight games played. Vannett is a former third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and has spent time with seven organizations in seven years. Overall, he's hauled in 91 of his 130 career targets for 877 yards and six touchdowns. He'll likely compete with 2023 fifth-round pick
Josh Whyle for the TE2 role in 2024, but
Chigoziem Okonkwo remains the lead tight end for quarterback
Will Levis after this signing.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Turron Davenport
4 days agoThe Detroit Lions signed free-agent tight end
Parker Hesse to an undisclosed deal on Monday. Hesse entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons. He has spent all three of his seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and has totaled 14 receptions on 17 targets for 132 yards and no touchdowns in 28 games played (eight starts). The 28-year-old tight end played in only three games last year in Atlanta while also playing 28 snaps on special teams. In his three games played, Hesse wasn't targeted at all in the passing game. He'll merely be hoping to stick around on Detroit's roster after training camp and the preseason while providing depth at the position behind
Sam LaPorta,
Brock Wright,
James Mitchell and
Shane Zylstra.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Lions
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