July 15, 2025
According to CBS Sports' Bud Elliot, Cincinnati Bengals first-round rookie pass-rusher Shemar Stewart has been taking part in workouts with Texas A&M, his former college team, and could be considering returning to college in 2025 after being taken by the Bengals with the No. 17 overall pick in April. The 21-year-old has been holding out over default language the Bengals want him to sign as part of his rookie deal that would void all guarantees in his contract. Cincinnati is known for playing hardball with their players, so this isn't really anything new. If Stewart were to return to play for the Aggies this fall, the Bengals wouldn't receive any compensation for losing him, and Stewart would then be allowed to re-enter next year's NFL draft. It's unclear if a resolution is coming soon in this bizarre saga between Stewart and the Bengals.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Bud Elliot
July
15,
2025
Detroit
Lions
running
back
Jahmyr
Gibbs
said
new
offensive
coordinator
John
Morton
wants
him
"more
involved"
in
the
passing
attack
this
year.
"I
gotta
learn
the
formations
for
being
split
out,"
Gibbs
said.
"I'm
being
split
read more...
July 15, 2025
If convicted during his trial on Tuesday that stems from his 2024 DUI citation in the Superior Court of California, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Jordan Addison could be facing a baseline three-game suspension this year, per NFL policy, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Addison has pleaded not guilty. Even if the 23-year-old isn't convicted in court, the NFL could still suspend him to begin the 2025 season. The 23-year-old former first-rounder in 2023 out of USC took a slight step back in his second season last year with a 63-875-9 line on 99 targets in 15 regular-season starts. Addison is still a very dangerous No. 2 wideout behind All-Pro
Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, but the potential for a suspension is hanging over his head this year. Fantasy managers also have to wonder if he'll be as efficient with quarterback
J.J. McCarthy running the offense. Addison is a low-end WR3/high-end WR4 target in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
July 14, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Najee Harris (eye) suffered a superficial eye injury during a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July, but he isn't expected to miss significant time and should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season in early September. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Harris is likely to miss limited time to begin training camp this month. It's not the way the 27-year-old would have preferred to enter training camp in his first year in L.A., but it shouldn't affect his regular-season availability as he looks to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth straight season to begin his NFL career. Harris should have a key role in the Chargers' run-first offense in 2025, but his fantasy upside will be limited due to the presence of first-round rookie
Omarion Hampton. Hampton has more big-play ability than Harris, who should be viewed as an RB3/flex target in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
July 14, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has really benefited from the addition of new defensive coordinator Al Golden, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. Taylor-Britt has been unable to find consistency and was benched multiple times in 2024, but Dehner writes that his energy, athleticism and playmaking ability have shown up during the offseason. The 25-year-old former second-rounder (60th overall) in 2022 out of Nebraska has played at a high level before in Cincy's secondary and could become a true No. 1 cornerback for the Bengals in 2025. Although he had a career-high 77 tackles (58 solo), half a sack, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a career-high 16 pass breakups in 17 starts a year ago, Taylor-Britt was a liability in coverage and gave up 734 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. The Bengals need him to be better in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
July 14, 2025
The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver
Rome Odunze should be much better in 2025 with a better offensive scheme and improved quarterback play out of
Caleb Williams. Fantasy managers were disappointed with Odunze last season after he was taken ninth overall by the Bears out of Washington. However, Fishbain points out that the 23-year-old pass-catcher was fifth among all rookies in receiving yards (734) while catching 53.5% of his targets. He was most definitely inconsistent and scored only three times in 17 games (12 starts), but there remains plenty of upside, and he should be better in new head coach Ben Johnson's offense with
Keenan Allen gone. Odunze's after-the-catch abilities and physical prowess make him a nice WR3/flex with upside to target in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
July 14, 2025
Denver Broncos running back
RJ Harvey is expected "to play a significant role in the passing game," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver selected Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft and he enters training camp in a battle with free agent addition
J.K. Dobbins for backfield touches.
Jaleel McLaughlin and
Audric Estime could also be in the mix. Harvey had just 20 receptions for 267 and three touchdowns last season at UCF, but it sounds as though he'll be relied upon as a pass-catcher in Denver. Broncos' head coach Sean Payton has designed offenses that heavily feature running backs in the passing game before, so Harvey's usage in that role could be a significant boost to his value in PPR league formats.
--Will BradySource: Nick Kosmider - The Athletic
July 14, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson "lost 10-15 pounds and has sharpened his fundamentals," according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. Reed also writes that Powers-Johnson has been able to focus solely on playing center after also spending time at both guard spots as a rookie in 2024. Under new head coach Pete Carroll, much will be expected of Powers-Johnson as a tone-setter in the run game. His development will be key in the fantasy outlook for Raiders' rookie running back
Ashton Jeanty. Pro Football Focus graded Powers-Johnson 56th out of 138 guards in 2024, so a moderate step up would have him as a clearly value-additive player.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Tashan Reed
July 14, 2025
Washington Commanders receiver
Luke McCaffrey impressed during the team's offseason practices and should have a more meaningful role in 2025, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. Jones writes that McCaffrey "demonstrated an improved understanding of the playbook and improved confidence." A third-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, McCaffrey logged just 18 catches for 168 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie. The Commanders have
Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel entrenched atop their depth chart at wide receiver, but there could be playing time available via the WR3 role. Veterans
Noah Brown and
Michael Gallup, as well as fourth-round rookie
Jaylin Lane, are among the names McCaffrey will have to beat out for the job. He'll need to earn consistent playing time to become fantasy-relevant, but it appears as though McCaffrey will have that opportunity.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Mike Jones
July 14, 2025
New York Jets running back
Braelon Allen will "have plenty of opportunities in 2025 to make his mark and prove he can be the long-term starter with (current starter Breece) Hall in the last year of his contract," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt notes that Jets' first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and play caller Tanner Engstrand would like to emulate the two-back model that was so successful in their last stop with the Detroit Lions. Allen was the clear RB2 behind
Breece Hall last season, earning 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games played. A more even timeshare with Hall would be a highly fantasy-relevant development in the Jets backfield. That's especially true if Allen, as the larger back, gets more of the team's work around the goal line.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
July 14, 2025
The Los Angeles Chargers have placed wide receiver
Mike Williams (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Los Angeles will start training camp later this week. The 30-year-old missed mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed injury, but Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believed the veteran would be available for the start of activities in July. It's worth noting that Schefter reports a player can be transferred off the PUP at any time during the offseason, and it's mainly used as a roster management tool at this point in the year. It's at least mildly concerning that the nature of the injury is unknown, although Harbaugh doesn't seem to be too concerned about it. Williams disappointed last year in his first season back from an ACL tear with the Steelers, but he'll get a chance to redeem himself in his second stint with LA. Barring health, that is.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
July 14, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New York Jets and wide receiver
Garrett Wilson reached an agreement on a four-year, $130 million contract, including $90 million guaranteed. Per Schefter, this marks the first time in NFL history that a wide receiver will average over $31 million per year after only three seasons in the league. Despite sharing the field with former superstar teammate
Davante Adams in 2024 and dealing with less-than-ideal quarterback play in the two years prior, Wilson has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and 80 receptions in each of his first three campaigns. He'll head into 2025 as the team's undisputed No. 1 pass-catching option, but will again face the difficulty of developing rapport with a new quarterback in
Justin Fields. While the quality of his targets is currently unknown, the Ohio State alum's talent and usage should provide WR1 upside.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
July 14, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie tight end
Colston Loveland (shoulder), who hosted his first football camp for kids last week, remained a limited participant as he's still recovering from offseason AC-joint surgery. "It's been good," Loveland told Aaron McMann of MLive.com. "There haven't really been live bullets flying yet. We'll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff." Expectations are high in 2025 for the Bears, and that goes for the former Michigan Wolverine, too, despite his status as a rookie. It sounds like his shoulder has responded well, but he hasn't exactly been aggressive in his testing of it. The Bears boast an array of talented weaponry to deploy for second-year signal-caller
Caleb Williams, and upgraded their coaching staff with the offensive-minded Ben Johnson. Loveland's impact could be spotty due to the excess of mouths to feed, but he has the talent to be a standout early on if he can adapt quickly to the league.
--Alex CiullaSource: Josh Alper
July 14, 2025
ESPN.com's Rich Cimini reports that new New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has challenged defensive back Sauce Gardner to bring his game to a new level this offseason. "I know I'm not perfect, but the fact that he's trying to get perfection out of me is what I need," said Gardner. "I've had a lot of success, early success in the league...the last thing I need is a new regime to come in here and just allow me to be complacent." The fourth-year pro took the league by storm in his rookie season and followed it up with another exceptional campaign. However, 2024 saw Gardner rank 47 out of 52 qualified corners in EPA per target as the nearest defender, and he's recorded a lone interception in his last 31 appearances. It seems he's responded well to the challenge and is an excellent bounce-back candidate ahead of 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Rich Cimini
July 14, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy alluded to Kay Adams during an appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up and Adams" that the team may return to their once-signature explosive play style. "Coach Reid told us during OTAs Phase 1, 'When you come back, get your hamstrings ready,'" said the former Texas Longhorn. Once a high-flying offensive juggernaut, Kansas City has shifted to a more clock-control, defensive-oriented style of play. However, Worthy flashed his prowess as a deep threat during the team's playoff run, and an improved offensive line could push the Chiefs back to favor stretching the field more in 2025. He'll have third-year running mate,
Rashee Rice, and veteran tight end
Travis Kelce to contend with for targets, although it isn't a foregone conclusion that Rice and Worthy won't be a boon for each other as they operate in different roles. The 22-year-old garners some of the highest upside of the mid-round fantasy wideouts.
--Alex CiullaSource: Nick Shook
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