| 5/8/2024 12:16:00 PM | Achane and Raheem Mostert gained some competition for snaps via the additon of rookie Jaylen Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. |
| Achane is coming off a rookie campaign in which he rushed for 800 yards and eight scores in just 11 games, while Mostert racked up 1,012 yards and an outstanding 18 touchdowns. Both should still enter the 2024 season as Miami's clear top backfield options, but Wright brings blazing speed (4.38-second 40-yard dash time) to the table, and neither Achane or Mostert boast the size to hold up to extreme workloads. While both Achane and Mostert demand double-digit touches, it's possible that the addition of Wright could represent a cap to their respective fantasy ceilings, especially if the rookie impresses enough to eventually force his way into a three-headed backfield split. | |
| 5/1/2024 12:06:00 PM | Samuel wasn't traded during the 2024 NFL Draft and now seems likely to stay with the 49ers for at least one more season, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. |
| The 49ers selected receivers in the first round (Ricky Pearsall) and fourth round (Jacob Cowing), and while they reportedly fielded trade offers for both Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, nothing ever came to fruition. The receiver group now appears likely to undergo significant changes next offseason, at which point Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings are scheduled for unrestricted free agency and Samuel will have just one year remaining on his contract (with no guaranteed money). A contract extension for Aiyuk in the coming weeks or months would further increase speculation about Samuel eventually being the odd man out. | |
| 5/1/2024 11:22:00 AM | Richardson (shoulder) has resumed throwing at spring practices and looks to be healthy. |
| Head coach Shane Steichen said in March that he expected Richardson to be ready for OTAs in May and June. Steichen's prediction looks to be coming to fruition, though the quarterback won't necessarily be a full participant in all activities coming off surgery on his throwing shoulder in October. He resumed throwing in February and is the unquestioned starting quarterback for an offense that just added wideout Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. | |
| 4/30/2024 5:47:00 PM | Rookie third-round pick Trey Benson is unlikely to take Conner's starting job but may eventually force a timeshare in the Cardinals' backfield, according to KC Joyner of The Athletic. |
| Conner has missed multiple games in each of his seven NFL seasons, though never more than six in any one year, so any competition for touches could sort itself out. His 2023 included career highs for rushing yards (1,040) and yards per carry (5.0), with the downside being his fewest targets (33) and catches (27, 2.1 per game) since he was a barely-used rookie with Pittsburgh in 2017. The lack of receiving volume was partially a product of Emari Demercado getting playing time in passing situations, and it's worth noting that the Cardinals have two other backs in Michael Carter, DeeJay Dallas with track records as passing-down specialists. That said, Conner still figures to be the starter and lead runner, with Benson being the main threat to poach carries and TDs even if other guys are in the mix on passing downs. | |
| 4/29/2024 4:43:00 PM | Sanders faces competition from rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) for backfield work during the 2024 season, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports. |
| Sanders was overtaken by Chuba Hubbard down the stretch of the 2023 season, in which he logged a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 YPC) and one touchdown, so the arrival of Brooks could impact his opportunities. First-year coach Dave Canales said the Panthers plan to deploy all three backs, and Brooks is working his way back from an ACL tear, so Sanders' primary competition for touches could be Hubbard to begin the year. It's easy to imagine a scenario, though, where Brooks earns himself a more solidified role atop the depth chart once he's fully healthy. | |
| 4/29/2024 3:23:00 PM | Shaheed is in an excellent position for a starting job after the Saints waited until the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select a wide receiver, taking Bub Means at No. 170 overall. |
| Shaheed worked his way into a starting role as an undrafted rookie in the second half of 2022, and he then entered 2023 as the Saints' No. 3 receiver behind Chris Olave and Michael Thomas. While Thomas missed the final seven games of last season with an injury, Shaheed dealt with an injury of his own during that stretch and never really progressed to a full starter's workload. With Thomas gone and not replaced, Shaheed is in better position than ever before to pile up snaps/routes/targets, though his value on special teams as both a kick and punt returner could offer part of the explanation for New Orleans limiting his workload on offense even when the other WR options have been lacking. A.T. Perry and Cedrick Wilson look like the top candidates for wideout snaps after Olave and Shaheed this year. | |
| 4/29/2024 12:51:00 PM | The Jaguars officially exercised Lawrence's fifth-year option Monday. |
| Lawrence and fellow 2021 first-round pick Travis Etienne both had their fifth-year options officially picked up Monday, moves GM Trent Baalke alluded to Saturday. Lawrence is coming off back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons, and Jacksonville had made moves to fill the void left by offseason departure Calvin Ridley by signing Gabe Davis and drafting rookie Brian Thomas 23rd overall. The Jaguars will continue working toward a long-term deal with Lawrence, but in the meantime he now remains under contract through 2025. | |
| 4/25/2024 7:54:00 PM | Brown (knee) signed a three-year, $96 million extension with the Eagles on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. |
| Rumors emerged early in the offseason that Brown was on his way out of Philadelphia after a disappointing close to the 2023 campaign. He did his best to shut the speculation down, and this extension -- which reportedly includes $84 million in guaranteed money -- should squash any lingering doubt as to his future with the Eagles as he's now under contract through 2029. Brown -- who is bouncing back from a knee issue that he sustained in the Eagles' regular-season finale -- has had two standout seasons with the team, topping 1,450 in each year with 18 total touchdowns. | |
| 4/23/2024 11:41:00 AM | Kansas City is optimistic Toney will contribute in 2024, ESPN's Adam Teicher reports. |
| GM Brett Veach recently referred to Toney as "probably our most talented wideout," and coach Andy Reid said the 25-year-old is "arguably one of the most talented guys on the team." The implication, supported by Veach's comments, is that Toney's lack of playing time last season was a product of his medical issues, starting with a meniscus injury during training camp. Of course, injuries have been a constant for the 2021 first-round pick, who has missed at least four games in each of his three pro seasons and also seen his snaps limited a number of other times, and Toney has never recorded more than six targets or 30 offensive snaps in his 23 total game with Kansas City between the regular season and postseason. An ongoing legal situation involving Rashee Rice could open the door for Toney to get more playing time at some point in 2024, with his YAC ability potentially making him a good fit to see a lot of the quick passes Rice hauled in as a rookie in 2023. Fantasy relevance seems like somewhat of a long shot nonetheless, especially after Toney was a healthy(ish) scratch for the team's Super Bowl win over San Francisco in February. | |
| 3/29/2024 10:36:00 AM | The Jaguars signed Oluokun to a four-year, $45 million contract extension Friday. |
| Oluokun's new deal reportedly includes $22.5 million guaranteed at signing, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. In his last three seasons, Oluokun has racked up 192, 184 and 173 total tackles, making him one of the most feared interior linebackers in the league. Now heading into his age-29 season, Oluokun figures to remain a high-end IDP fantasy asset. | |
| 3/12/2024 11:57:00 AM | Spears faces a new backfield situation that's set to add Tony Pollard via a three-year, $24 million contract, while Derek Henry remains slated for free agency, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports. |
| Spears, a 2023 third-round pick, is coming off a strong rookie season in which he compiled 838 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns, showcasing versatility and explosiveness despite only getting one chance to handle double-digit carries in a game. The Titans' decision to sign Pollard appears to simultaneously signal the end of Henry's era with the team. Spears could have an easier path to genuinely competing for touches with Pollard, whereas Henry was firmly entrenched as a true lead back, and both players profile similarly. Spears and Pollard are each versatile and elusive runners, which will allow Tennessee's offense to swap both players off the field relatively freely. Spears and Pollard look the part of a solid 1-2 punch, though for fantasy purposes it's possible they could both limit each other from attaining a true workhorse workload. | |
| 3/11/2024 10:40:00 AM | Beathard is expected to compete with Mac Jones -- who is slated to be traded from the Patriots to the Jaguars -- to be Trevor Lawrence's top backup in 2024, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. |
| The report notes that Beathard is in the final year of a two-year, $4.5 million contract that he signed prior to last season. Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, part of the Jaguars' motivation for the deal is that Beathard has been banged up at times during his stint with the team, with Jones -- a 2021 first-rounder -- giving the team a healthy backup option with plenty of starting experience ahead of the coming season. | |
| 2/19/2024 2:57:00 AM | Spillane closed out his 2023 campaign with a career-high 148 tackles (82 solo), 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, four passes defensed and a forced fumble in 17 games. |
| Ultimately ranking 10th among the NFL in total tackles in 2023, Spillane was a defensive force in his first season with the Raiders after spending the previous four years as a part-time player in Pittsburgh. Such improvements could make Spillane a contract-extension candidate, but his current deal already runs through 2024, so expect the 28-year-old veteran to once again occupy the starting role at middle linebacker this upcoming season. | |
| 2/13/2024 6:33:00 PM | questionable |
| questionable | |
| 2/13/2024 6:33:00 PM | questionable |
| questionable | |
| 2/12/2024 10:28:00 AM | Anzalone recorded 129 tackles with three sacks and six passes defended over 16 games in 2023. |
| While a fringe top-24 linebacker in IDP formats, Anzalone recorded career highs in tackles, solo tackles (85) and sacks as one of the most important pieces of a Detroit defense that made huge improvements in run defense. One year after finishing bottom-four in rushing yards allowed per carry and per game, this unit finished top-three in each of these categories and top-two in runs of 10-plus yards allowed (36) and runs of 20-plus yards allowed (five). With Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill also under contract in 2024, the key pieces are in place for both Anzalone and the Lions run defense to remain productive in 2024. | |
| 1/21/2024 10:08:00 AM | Witherspoon recorded 79 tackles (56 solo), 16 pass breakups, 3.0 sacks and a pick-six across 14 games during the 2023 season. |
| Witherspoon's physicality was a welcomed addition to a Seattle defense that had seemingly lost its identity over the past couple of years. The No. 5 overall pick made a statement in Week 4 with two sacks and a pick-six against the Giants, and he led the Seahawks in pass breakups. His 8.0 tackles for loss also ranks fourth on the team. Witherspoon will be a starter again in 2024, and he should be a solid fantasy contributor regardless of who the head coach is. | |
| 1/16/2024 12:02:00 AM | Hurts completed 25 of 35 pass attempts for 250 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card round of the playoffs, adding only one rush attempt for five yards in a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay. |
| Hurts' 2023 campaign comes to an abrupt halt after he and the Eagles mustered just one touchdown in a lopsided playoff defeat to the Bucs. The 2022 MVP runner-up turned in a pedestrian passing performance despite not carrying an injury designation from a dislocated right middle finger suffered against the Giants in Week 18. Hurts' one rushing attempt Monday checks in as his lowest total over 18 starts (including postseason) this year. From a fantasy perspective, the dual-threat superstar did his thing with 4,463 combined yards from scrimmage and 38 touchdowns compared to last year's 35 total scores. The only complaint from Hurts' stellar 17-game regular season would be the dramatic increase in turnovers compared to his breakout 2022 (20 compared to eight). Philadelphia will have to lick its wounds and regroup this offseason after an ugly end to what was poised to be a promising season. | |
| 1/15/2024 7:06:00 PM | McKee (coach's decision) is inactive and serving as the Eagles' emergency third quarterback in Monday's wild-card game against Tampa Bay. |
| McKee didn't see any game action during the regular season, but he consistently handled emergency QB duties. That will be the case again Monday against Tampa Bay. Jalen Hurts will serve as Philadelphia's lead signal-caller, with Marcus Mariota backing him up. | |
| 1/12/2024 10:02:00 PM | Thibodeaux finished the 2023 campaign with 50 tackles (26 solo), including 11.5 sacks, and added four pass defenses along with three forced fumbles over 17 games. |
| The Giants selected Thibodeaux fifth overall in the 2022 Draft with the hope that he'd develop into an elite pass rusher. Though he showed promising flashes in his rookie campaign, the Oregon product tallied just 4.0 sacks, but he boosted that number to a much more fantasy-friendly 11.5 sacks -- tied for 12th most in the league -- in Year 2. Thibodeaux still has plenty of room to grow, as the sacks dried up over the final four games of the season, and his overall missed-tackle rate increased in comparison to the previous campaign. Still, with two years remaining on his rookie contract, there's little doubt that Thibodeaux is a key piece of the Giants' future plans. | |
| 1/7/2024 8:29:00 PM | Hill logged six rushes for 51 yards and caught all four of his targets for 28 yards during Sunday's 48-17 win over the Falcons. |
| Hill returned to form in the Saints' regular-season finale. The 33-year-old was inactive Week 14 with foot and hand injuries, and he totaled just eight touches across the previous three games. However, nothing slowed Hill down Week 18, as he logged his second-most total yards of any game this season. He didn't register any passing attempts Sunday, though this may have been due to a big night for starting quarterback Derek Carr, who completed 22 of 28 passing attempts for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Since the Saints were eliminated from playoff contention Week 18, Hill finishes the 2023 campaign with 81 carries for 401 rushing yards and four rushing scores. He also tallied career highs as a receiver with 33 catches (on 40 targets) for 291 yards and two touchdowns. | |
| 10/11/2023 3:23:00 PM | Ehlinger will operate as Indianapolis' top backup to Garner Minshew beginning with Sunday's game against the Jaguars after Anthony Richardson (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports. |
| Ehlinger has been inactive for four of the Colts' first five games, with the lone time he's dressed coming in Week 3 at Baltimore while Richardson was sidelined with a concussion. After suffering an AC joint sprain to his throwing shoulder in the Week 5 win over the Titans, Richardson is projected to miss 4-to-8 weeks, setting Ehlinger up for an extended run as the No. 2 quarterback. The Colts also signed Kellen Mond to their practice squad Wednesday to provide the organization with further depth at quarterback. | |