August 5, 2025
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back
Jaydon Blue will "likely have a role on third down" this year, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Blue has been one of the most impressive offensive players at training camp this summer for the Cowboys. However,
Javonte Williams is finally healthy and is "showing why Denver was so high on him after drafting him in 2021." Additionally,
Miles Sanders has looked good, so the expectation is that Williams and Sanders will dominate early-down carries for Dallas, at least early in the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues may not be drafting Blue this fall, but the 21-year-old should be on watch lists, especially in PPR formats. The fifth-rounder has displayed elite speed and pass-catching ability out of the backfield, which has earned him some time with first-team offense in camp.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
August 5, 2025
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes that it's a good sign of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens in head coach Brian Schottenheimer's offense that the coaches have been able to "move him around to different receiver spots after he was exclusively an X receiver (split end) in Pittsburgh." Pickens and
CeeDee Lamb worked out together in Florida in the offseason, and new receivers coach Junior Adams "has had the two working off each other constantly to try and build culture in his room." Things didn't end well for Pickens with the Steelers, but the early signs going into his first year in Dallas are "pretty good." The 24-year-old former second-rounder has had at least 801 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons. He's going to take a back seat to Lamb in this offense, but in what should be a pass-happy scheme, Pickens has lots of upside as a WR3/flex in fantasy in his new home.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
August 5, 2025
Now entering his fourth year in the NFL, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
KaVontae Turpin has mostly made his mark as a return man. However, the 29-year-old will "be more involved in the offense this year than at any other time over the last three seasons," according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer, previously the team's offensive coordinator, is looking to utilize Turpin more as both a receiver and a runner. The 5-foot-9, 153-pounder set career highs in catches (31), targets (52), and yards (420) last season. He also added two receiving touchdowns and carried the ball 16 times for 92 yards. Those aren't exciting numbers, but the Cowboys believe the speedster has the explosiveness to take on a bigger role.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jon Machota - The Athletic
August
5,
2025
Los
Angeles
Rams
wide
receiver
Jordan
Whittington
flashed
as
a
rookie
in
2024
when
Puka
Nacua
went
down
with
an
injury.
Sports
Illustrated's
Albert
Breer
writes
that
Whittington
is
a
"tough,
read more...
August 5, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller will be ready for Week 1, agent Drew Rosenhaus declared. "I don't think there's any doubt that Darren will be ready for the start of the regular season," Rosenhaus told Josh Moser. Waller sat out last season after announcing his retirement, but the Dolphins surprisingly acquired him in a trade with the New York Giants in July. The 32-year-old has since ended his retirement to play for Miami, but he's on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list and working back into game shape. Waller is expected to serve as Miami's No. 1 tight end, replacing the departed
Jonnu Smith. The Dolphins heavily relied on Smith last year during an 88-catch, 111-target, eight-touchdown campaign. That could bode well for Waller if he's still capable of serving in a starting role. In 2023, his most recent season, he played in 12 games and caught 52 of 74 targets for 552 yards and a touchdown.
--Connor ByrneSource: Josh Moser
August 5, 2025
Offseason free-agent addition
Jameis Winston is listed as the New York Giants' No. 2 quarterback behind starter
Russell Wilson on the team's first unofficial depth chart. First-round pick
Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall selection from Ole Miss, checks in at No. 3 ahead of
Tommy DeVito. It doesn't come as a surprise that Winston is second on the depth chart, though Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News notes that the rookie has typically gotten second-team reps ahead of the veteran in practice. Wilson is sure to open the season as New York's starter, but either Winston or Dart could grab the No. 2 job with a strong preseason. The Giants open their exhibition schedule in Buffalo on Saturday.
--Connor ByrneSource: Pat Leonard
August 5, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell is starting to look like a star at training camp, according to Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star. Mitchell struggled with drops in the first week of practices, but he's put that behind him and is now having a strong summer heading into the preseason opener this week. The 22-year-old former second-rounder (52nd overall) in 2024 had only 23 receptions on 55 targets for 312 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign. It's not a surprise that Mitchell struggled given the inconsistency at the quarterback position for the Colts last year, but the problem is it might not get much better in 2025. He'll be battling for the WR3 role next to
Michael Pittman Jr. and
Josh Downs. Mitchell is one to keep an eye on, but given that volume and efficiency could be problems, he'll go undrafted in 12-team fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Star - Nate Atkins
August 5, 2025
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters on Tuesday that he's unsure if superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons will play in the team's Week 1 matchup on Sept. 4 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Parsons hasn't fully participated in any of the Cowboys' training camp practices, and he publicly requested a trade last Friday. However, Jones has been insistent that the Cowboys are not trading Parsons, who's entering the last season of his contract and wants a new deal. If the standoff continues into the regular season, it would cause major harm to the Cowboys' defense. Parsons has amassed between 12 and 14 sacks in each of his four seasons in the league. On the other hand, Parsons' absence would be great news for the Eagles' offense and fantasy managers who are relying on any of the reigning Super Bowl champions' skill players in Week 1.
--Connor ByrneSource: Clarence Hill
August 5, 2025
The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar writes that Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba "plays everywhere" and is a "threat everywhere." Additionally, he's being targeted from everywhere in training camp practices. The 23-year-old former 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Ohio State broke out in his second year in the league in 2024 and was Seattle's most productive wideout, outshining both
DK Metcalf and
Tyler Lockett with 100 catches on 137 targets for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts). Heading into his third year, he'll share targets with newcomer
Cooper Kupp with both Metcalf and Lockett no longer in town. It's great news that JSN is being targeted all around the field, but will he be as effective with new quarterback
Sam Darnold. Fantasy managers should be willing to pay the price of a WR2 to find out.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
August 5, 2025
While speaking on the Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said he wouldn't be surprised if rookie first-round two-way player
Travis Hunter won both Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. The Jaguars traded up to No. 2 overall to select the 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner out of Colorado back in April, and they made it no secret that they absolutely plan on using Hunter on both offense and defense in his first year in the league. Jacksonville prioritized Hunter learning the offense this spring and early in training camp, but he's now working on both offense and defense every day at practice. Hunter should have close to a starter's workload on offense right away, which means he could be the WR2 right away behind
Brian Thomas Jr. Still, Hunter could be a boom/bust WR3/flex as more of a specialist on offense than a staple.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rich Eisen Show
August
5,
2025
Free-agent
wide
receiver
Keenan
Allen
has
agreed
to
a
one-year,
$8.52
million
contract
with
the
Los
Angeles
Chargers,
according
to
Tom
Pelissero
and
Ian
Rapoport
of
NFL
Media.
Allen,
33,
spent
the
first
11
years
of
his
read more...
August 5, 2025
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow (hamstring) is running and cutting, but Canales doesn't want Renfrow practicing just yet. The Associated Press' Steve Reed says it sounds like the Panthers are just being extra cautious with a veteran wideout that didn't play at all in 2024 due to health issues. Renfrow is unlikely to play in the team's preseason opener this week, but barring a setback with his hamstring, he has plenty of time to get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. He has missed a week's worth of training camp practices, which isn't exactly helping his cause as he looks to win a roster spot going into the regular season. Renfrow is a slot specialist but could be behind both
Adam Thielen and rookie
Jimmy Horn Jr. at the position if he makes the active roster.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press - Steve Reed
August 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Jonnu Smith (knee) left Tuesday's training camp practice early with knee soreness, but head coach Mike Tomlin said it doesn't seem like a serious injury. Smith himself downplayed his injury when talking to reporters, so it's likely the 29-year-old will be back on the field in a few days. He had a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins and made his first Pro Bowl appearance while catching 88 of his 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (six starts). Smith was the beneficiary of Miami's disappointing dink-and-dunk offense a year ago, and fantasy managers reaped the benefits. A year later after his trade from Miami to Pittsburgh, Smith is going to go undrafted in standard-sized 12-team leagues as he attempts to split playing time with
Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth is expected to be the team's primary pass-catching option at TE.
--Keith HernandezSource: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
August
5,
2025
Cleveland
Browns
quarterback
Joe
Flacco
will
not
play
in
the
team's
preseason
opener
on
Friday
against
the
Carolina
Panthers,
according
to
Mary
Kay
Cabot
of
The
Cleveland
Plain
Dealer.
Injured
QBs
Kennyread more...
August 5, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson and running back
Derrick Henry will not play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts, according to head coach John Harbaugh. The head coach said the Ravens will determine if Jackson and Henry will play in any preseason games at all. Neither superstar is dealing with an injury, but the Ravens will continue to be cautious with their best players in exhibition games. The 28-year-old Jackson did not play at all in the preseason last year and still had the finest year of his career as a passer with 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 17 regular-season games. He also rushed for 915 yards and four TDs on the ground. Jackson is RotoBaller's QB2 in fantasy, while King Henry sits as the RB5. The combination of both Jackson's and Henry's legs make Baltimore's offense elite.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
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