July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Jim Ayello writes that a double-digit sack season for Miami Dolphins second-year linebacker Chop Robinson is well within reach in 2025. Robinsons, who was taken 21st overall in 2024 by the Dolphins, finished fifth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after producing 26 tackles (16 solo), six sacks, eight tackles for loss, 14 QB hits and four pass breakups in 17 games (one start). The 22-year-old pass-rusher also ranked fourth in pressure rate (17.2 percent) among players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Only Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons and Alex Highsmith ranked ahead of Robinson in that statistic. It's pretty good company to be in and gives you an idea of how high Robinson's ceiling is. With Jalean Phillips and Bradley Chubb returning to health this year, Robinson could put the Dolphins over the top with a ferocious pass rush.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jim Ayello
July 15, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. burst onto the NFL scene last year after being taken with the No. 23 overall pick out of LSU. Even on a bad team with spotty quarterback play, Thomas managed to catch 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts). The Athletic's Jeff Howe thinks that if the
Trevor Lawrence-Liam Coen pairing works out the way it's envisioned, Thomas could be even better. Rookie first-round wideout
Travis Hunter will be on the other side of the field drawing attention away from Thomas, too. It's not a stretch to think that Thomas could become a household name in his sophomore season in 2025, which is why RotoBaller has him ranked as a top-10 fantasy pass-catcher. The 22-year-old had si straight games with at least 10 targets and 76 yards a year ago.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jeff Howe
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts second-year defensive end Laiatu Latu is primed to take a step forward this year after starting defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo left in free agency to join the Chicago Bears. The Colts took Latu 15th overall last year, and he finished his first year in the NFL with 32 tackles (16 solo), four sacks, five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 17 games (just one start). In addition to having a bigger role naturally in his second season, the 24-year-old pass-rusher should benefit from the addition of new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who is known for varying schemes that are designed to bring a lot more pressure than former D coordinator Gus Bradley did. While an every-down role might not immediately put Latu on the IDP fantasy radar, he's certainly one to watch this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
July 15, 2025
The Detroit Lions coaches think that cornerback Terrion Arnold is set up to take a big jump forward in his second year in the league in 2025, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Because the team thought he could handle it, they threw a lot at Arnold in his rookie campaign -- he played the most man-coverage snaps of any cornerback in the NFL. The 22-year-old fell to 24th overall in last year's draft, and the Lions pounced and traded up for him. Arnold definitely wasn't perfect in his first year in the league while playing meaningful snaps, but Detroit believes that exposure will serve him well moving forward. The Alabama product finished 2024 with 60 tackles (47 solo), 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season games (15 starts). It's possible Arnold will be the team's top corner in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that if Los Angeles Angeles Chargers running back
Najee Harris (eye) misses time in training camp with an eye injury that he suffered during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July, the possibility of rookie first-rounder
Omarion Hampton beating out Harris for a lead-back role becomes even more likely. Harris' injury is deemed minor, and he should be fully ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, but he could miss some practice time to begin training camp later this week. That could open the door for Hampton, who has tremendous upside and will have a chance to be an immediate difference-maker in the team's run-first offense. The 22-year-old has the explosiveness to score every time he touches the football, and he could see the majority of the first-team work early in camp. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the RB21 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
July 15, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers offensive guard Zion Johnson started at left guard for the team last year, and his inconsistencies in pass protection remained unchanged. It's why the Chargers plan to test him out at center this year, a position he hasn't played in college or the NFL, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. The former first-rounder started working at center during OTAs and minicamp in May and June, respectively. When Johnson was at center, Bradley Bozeman, who started at center in 2024, was at left guard. Bozeman has experience at left guard, starting there in 2019 and 2020 with the Baltimore Ravens. Since contact will ramp up during training camp this summer, the Chargers will finally get a read on whether Johnson will be able to handle his new position. If the experiment fails, L.A. will likely go back to their configuration from a year ago, when their interior pass protection was a weakness.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
July
15,
2025
Los
Angeles
Rams
tight
end
Terrance
Ferguson
was
selected
by
the
team
with
the
No.
46
overall
pick
in
the
second
round
of
the
2025
NFL
Draft
out
of
Oregon.
It
was
rumored
that
the
Rams
read more...
July
15,
2025
San
Francisco
49ers
wide
receiver
Jacob
Cowing
had
a
quiet
rookie
season
after
being
selected
in
the
fourth
round
of
the
2024
NFL
Draft
out
of
Arizona.
The
24-year-old
produced
just
four
receptions
for
80
yards
read more...
July
15,
2025
Houston
Texans
wide
receiver
Jayden
Higgins
was
selected
with
the
No.
34
overall
pick
in
the
2025
NFL
Draft
after
an
outstanding
collegiate
season
at
Iowa
State.
As
a
senior,
he
tallied
87
receptions
for
1,183
read more...
July 15, 2025
The New York Jets are signing All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The new deal that includes a $30.1 million average salary makes the 24-year-old the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati, Gardner has earned two first-team All-Pro honors and been selected to two Pro Bowls. In 48 career games, he has tallied 181 tackles (128 solo), three interceptions, 41 pass deflections, one sack, and one forced fumble. The team recently reached an agreement on a contract extension for wideout
Garrett Wilson, locking up its premier players on offense and defense for the foreseeable future.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. could be poised for his first 1,000-yard season in 2025 with another year of chemistry with second-year quarterback
Bo Nix. Mims was selected in the second round (63rd overall) in 2023 out of Oklahoma, and he's already been a Pro Bowl returner on special teams twice. However, the 23-year-old's progress as a pass-catcher could unlock another element in the Broncos' offense. He showcased his ability to win on contested deep balls -- no example greater than his amazing Week 17 touchdown grab against the Cincinnati Bengals to force overtime. Mims had 434 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his final seven games in 2024 and is probably the favorite for WR2 duties behind
Courtland Sutton. For his big-play abilities alone, Mims is worth a bench stash as a WR5/6.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
July 15, 2025
In addition to wide receiver
Mike Williams, the Los Angeles Chargers placed receiver
Jaylen Johnson (undisclosed), safety Elijah Molden (knee), linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips (undisclosed) and offensive tackle Savion Washington (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday for the start of training camp. The Chargers can activate Johnson at any time during training camp this summer, but if he remains on PUP to start the regular season, he'll have to miss the first four games. The 25-year-old will be competing for a depth role in L.A. whenever he gets back on the field behind Williams,
Ladd McConkey,
Quentin Johnston, rookies
Tre Harris and
Keandre Lambert-Smith and
Derius Davis. Johnson didn't see any targets in his rookie season in 2024 and is nowhere near the fantasy radar.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
July
15,
2025
There
are
as
many
as
five
wide
receivers
battling
for
one
or
two
roster
spots
this
summer
with
the
New
England
Patriots,
including
Kendrick
Bourne,
Kayshon
Boutte,
read more...
July
15,
2025
Patriots.com's
Evan
Lazar
writes
that
along
with
wide
receiver
Stefon
Diggs
(knee),
New
England
Patriots
pass-catchers
DeMario
Douglas
and
third-round
rookie
Kyle
Williams
are
"locks"
to
read more...
July 15, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs and franchise-tagged offensive guard Trey Smith are finalizing a massive new contract extension on Tuesday that will make him the highest-paid guard in the league, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The four-year deal worth $94 million deal will be done by agents Tory Dandy and Jimmy Sexton. The deal includes $70 million guaranteed. Smith would have been the highest-paid guard in the NFL if he had played on the one-year, $23.4 million franchise tag in 2025, too. The 26-year-old was taken in the sixth round (226th overall) in 2021 out of Tennessee but has become one of the best guards in the league and was named a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024. Smith has started 67 of a possible 68 regular-season games since joining KC, including all 13 of their playoff games since 2021. He's now locked in with the Chiefs for the foreseeable future.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
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