July 15, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year cornerback Tykee Smith, who also has experience at safety, could become an every-down player for the team in 2025, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. Smith's production as a nickel corner in his rookie season -- 54 tackles (38 solo), two interceptions, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 13 games (six starts) -- led head coach Todd Bowles to consider playing him more. The 24-year-old could be a safety-nickel combination player this year, writes Pompei, and playing next to a healthy Antoine Winfield Jr. could elevate his game. Bowles has also said that he's considering moving the former third-rounder out of Georgia to full-time safety after 589 of his 672 defensive snaps in 2024 came as a slot corner. Tampa has an opening at safety after releasing Jordan Whitehead.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Pompei
July 15, 2025
Seattle Seahawks third-year outside linebacker Derick Hall has a high ceiling going into 2025 after recording 37 tackles (20 solo), eight sacks, six tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 17 games (14 starts) in 2024. The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar writes that Hall's combination of strength and athleticism makes him one to watch this year. The 24-year-old mostly wins with power by bull-rushing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. While learning from veteran DeMarcus Lawrence, Hall could improve even further in 2025 and make Seattle's pass-rushing fourseam a feared unit between him, Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafa. Hall isn't really a viable fantasy target in IDP formats as a linebacker that hasn't racked up many tackles, but he's one to keep an eye on.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
July 15, 2025
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that rookie third-round running back
Kaleb Johnson is an ideal scheme fit for Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith's offense after Iowa alum excelled on wide-zone runs with the Hawkeyes. Although the Steelers weren't very efficient, only three teams ran the football more in 2024. The 21-year-old Johnson has plenty of competition in Pittsburgh's backfield in his rookie campaign with
Jaylen Warren and
Kenneth Gainwell in the fold, but he profiles as the team's back of the future and should get more chances out of the backfield as the season plays out. Johnson has a physical, bruising style and is also patient, which is reminiscent of former RB
Najee Harris, but he should produce more big plays after racking up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries in his final season at Iowa. He'll be more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy formats as an RB3/flex candidate.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
July 15, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles didn't make any external moves this offseason to replace cornerback Darius Slay, which shows the confidence they have in Kelee Ringo, according to The Athletic's Brooks Kubena. Despite his struggles in his second year in 2024, Kubena adds that Ringo has the physical tools to become a starter for the Eagles this year. The 23-year-old is younger that five of the rookies that Philly took in 2024, and the Eagles think they can unlock his potential after developmental years. The former fourth-rounder (105th overall) in 2023 out of Georgia had just 36 tackles (29 solo), one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 34 games (five starts) in his first two NFL seasons. Heading into training camp, it appears that Adoree' Jackson will be Ringo's primary competition in the secondary.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
July 15, 2025
New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is in line to start in his second year in the NFL now that both Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo are out of town, according to Larry Holder of The Athletic. The former second-rounder (41st overall) out of Alabama became a starter for the Saints midway through his rookie season when Lattimore was traded and Adebo was injured. The 22-year-old defensive back held his own with opposing passer ratings below 78.0 in five of his final seven games, per Pro Football Reference. QBs only combined for a 30 percent completion rate when targeting McKinstry in the final three contests. McKinstry finished his first year with 42 tackles (32 solo) and six pass breakups in 15 games (nine starts). He will have many more opportunities to make an impact for New Orleans' secondary in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Larry Holder
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
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