5 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins is seeking a deal similar to the one that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. received, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Pittman fetched three years and $70 million on his latest deal, which would suggest that Higgins is looking for a three-year deal worth roughly $23 million on an annual basis. If so, there's a significant gap in negotiations between him and the Bengals, who have not offered more than $20 million annually, according to Conway. The former second-round receiver previously requested a trade, but as it stands, he's expected to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. With
Joe Burrow throwing him passes, Higgins ranks as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Kelsey Conway
5 days agoCincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown remains the No. 2 option out of the backfield after the team opted not to select any competition in the NFL Draft. Cincinnati replaced
Joe Mixon with
Zack Moss last March, and while it seemed like they could upgrade their backfield in the draft, that wasn't the case. Instead, it appears Moss will be Cincinnati's primary running back, barring a surprise signing or trade. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic indicates that Moss has a leg up over Brown heading into the summer, including on third downs. This isn't necessarily a surprise given that Moss looked great in Indianapolis last year, but Brown also flashed promise as a rookie, totaling 335 yards and a touchdown. He enters the summer as Moss' backup but could push for more snaps with a strong camp.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Paul Dehner Jr.
5 days agoCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the plan in 2024 is to use all three of running backs
Chuba Hubbard,
Miles Sanders and rookie second-rounder
Jonathon Brooks (knee). The Panthers traded up in the second round to take Brooks. Because he's a rookie and is coming off ACL surgery, The Athletic's Joseph Person has put Brooks initially at third on the Panthers' running back depth chart. However, if he's healthy, he'll have a chance to surge up the depth chart in a hurry, and it's fair to wonder if Sanders will be marginalized with Brooks' arrival. The 26-year-old Sanders just didn't look good at all in 2023, getting a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 yards per tote) and one touchdown. Sanders' fantasy stock is reaching rock bottom.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
5 days agoThe Las Vegas Raiders didn't take a quarterback in this year's NFL draft, which means QBs
Gardner Minshew and
Aidan O'Connell are set to compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. The Raiders were rumored to be angling to trade up in the first round of the draft for a franchise signal-caller, but instead they stayed put and took Georgia tight end
Brock Bowers with their first-round selection. O'Connell held his own in 2023 when he was thrust into the starting role because of
Jimmy Garoppolo's injuries and inconsistency, but Minshew should still be considered the favorite this fall given his experience. The 27-year-old Minshew would be a solid midrange QB2 in fantasy if he wins the starting job after making his first career Pro Bowl in 2023 with the Colts. He threw for a career-high 3,305 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions in 17 games (13 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press - Mark Anderson
5 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Jermaine Burton could have a leg up on the No. 3 job in Cincy in 2024 behind
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins if he can acclimate quickly due to his size, explosiveness
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5 days agoThe Cincinnati Bengals mildly surprised by not taking a single running back in this year's NFL draft, which means
Zack Moss is in line for lead-back duties in his first year in Cincy in 2024. Moss will be the prime candidate to assume the third-down role with his extensive experience pass-blocking (68 opportunities last year, 15th in the NFL), and holding up relatively well.
Chase Brown will also be involved as a complement to Moss, but after the Bengals didn't add a single RB in the draft, Moss' fantasy arrow continues to point up heading into 2024 after he impressed in
Jonathan Taylor's absence with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. "No. 1, I think he'll be really good in the screen game because he's the kind of guy you get in space and has lateral quickness to make the first miss," offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
5 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver
Michael Gallup intends to ink a deal with the Raiders. The Cowboys released the wideout mid-March, saving the club nearly $10 million. But he's now heading to Las Vegas, where he will reportedly sign a one-year, $3 million contract. Gallup's best season was in 2019, with the 28-year-old amassing 1,107 yards and six touchdowns off 66 receptions. Since then, his production has declined. Gallup also tore his ACL late in 2021, which hindered his chances of turning things around. With that said, Gallup could have trouble getting consistently involved in Vegas, considering he'll presumably be behind
Davante Adams and
Jakobi Meyers on the depth chart. The quarterback situation also won't help his fantasy potential. Yet, Gallup could have a few decent outings with the Raiders, and his stock will rise if Adams or Meyers goes down with an injury at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
5 days agoThe Atlanta Falcons picked up the 2025 fifth-year option on tight end
Kyle Pitts on Monday, according to a source. Although the former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of Florida hasn't exactly lived up to his draft status, there's no way the Falcons weren't going to pick up his option. Pitts was a Pro Bowler in his rookie year, when he went for over 1,000 yards receiving, but he played in only 10 games due to injury in 2022 and has underwhelmed with six total touchdowns in his three NFL seasons. Atlanta's QB situation hasn't helped his cause, though. With a new coaching staff in town and with quarterback
Kirk Cousins running the offense in 2024, Pitts' fantasy stock is trending up despite back-to-back disappointing campaigns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
5 days agoThe Washington Commanders signed former Notre Dame quarterback
Sam Hartman as an undrafted free agent. According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Hartman is getting a $20,000 signing bonus and $225,000 base salary guarantee from Washington, potentially signaling they want to keep him around beyond offseason activities and training camp. In five years at Wake Forest and one at Notre Dame combined, the 24-year-old threw for 15,656 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions. He added 978 yards and 20 touchdowns as a runner. The Commanders selected LSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick and has former No. 2 overall pick
Marcus Mariota on the roster, so Hartman will likely be the QB3 in 2024 -- at best. The two-time All-ACC performer is one of the most high-profile UDFA's in this year's class.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
5 days agoDespite having
Javonte Williams,
Samaje Perine, and
Jaleel McLaughlin on the roster, the Denver Broncos selected former Notre Dame running back
Audric Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The 221-pound bruiser likely saw his stock fall after posting a 4.71 forty-yard dash time at the NFL combine, but Sean Payton and company stopped the fall. In a media availability after the draft, Payton called Estime a " first and second-down runner" with experience in a pro-style offense. With Williams posting just 3.6 yards per carry last season and Perine having a limited role, Estime could be in play for early-down work right away as a rookie. His fantasy upside will be limited, but any role as a fifth-round rookie would mean exceeding expectations.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Mason - DenverSports.com
5 days agoThe New England Patriots released offensive tackle Conor McDermott on Monday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. The 31-year-old started five games at left tackle last season for New England, but after the team drafted Penn State offensive tackle Caedan Wallace in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McDermott is being let go. He has 17 career starts in 55 games on his resume, so there could be interest from another organization for veteran depth purposes.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Mike Reiss -- ESPN
5 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars announced on X that they have picked up the fifth-year options on 2021 first-round picks
Trevor Lawrence and
Travis Etienne. This move keeps the former Clemson duo under contract through the 2025 NFL season. Lawrence, the former No. 1 overall pick, has played well in spurts and led the team to a playoff win. He seemingly regressed from 2022 to 2023, but he's shown enough to warrant the team rolling with him for at least another two years. After missing his entire rookie season with a lisfranc injury, Etienne has rushed 478 times for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 93 passes for 792 yards and one score as a receiver in 34 games.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jaguars On X
5 days agoThe Miami Dolphins have picked up the fifth-year option on star wideout and former No. 6 overall pick
Jaylen Waddle, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This is a no-brainer for the organization after he racked up 251 receptions for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns during the first three seasons of his career. Even with
Tyreek Hill in town, Waddle has remained a 1000-yard receiver and is one of the best No. 2 options in any passing game around the NFL. Although Waddle set career lows in receptions, yards, and touchdowns last year, he should be primed for a bounce-back campaign if he can stay healthy. He missed three contests in 2023. He's now under contract through the 2025 NFL season.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
5 days agoThe Minnesota Vikings have exercised the fifth-year option on standout offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft has earned a Pro Football Focus grade of at least 82.4 over the last two seasons and is widely viewed as at least an above-average player at the position. With rookie quarterback
J.J. McCarthy slated to take over the franchise at some point in the 2024 season, locking up key offensive linemen should be a priority. With this move, Darrisaw will be under contract with the Vikings through the 2025 campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
5 days agoFollowing this year's NFL draft in which the Minnesota Vikings didn't take a single receiver,
Brandon Powell,
Jalen Nailor and
Trent Sherfield are all candidates to fill the No. 3 receiver role heading
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