Vikings WR Justin Jefferson did not report for the start of the team's offseason program on Monday. He's entering the final year of his rookie deal and is (rightfully) looking for a big contract extension. “I’ve had a lot of great dialogue with Justin throughout even the early part of this offseason and leading up,” HC Kevin O’Connell said. “My hope is we can get him around the team. Obviously such a special player, but it goes beyond that this time of year because of just the energy and flat-out way he goes to work.” We'll see where these contract negotiations go and how long Jefferson stays away from the team. We'll also see if the Vikings add a QB early in the draft later this month. Despite those issues, Jefferson still sits fourth among WRs in our current 2024 fantasy football rankings.
Giants QB Daniel Jones' goal is to be medically cleared for the start of training camp, he told the media on Monday. That'd be about nine months after tearing his right ACL on November 5. "Rehab’s going well," Jones said. "Making good progress. Coming along. I feel like things are going well." He added that he's now able to throw while doing "some QB movements," per Newsday's Tom Rock. We'll continue to keep an eye on Jones' rehab. But the knee is just one issue for a guy coming off an ugly 2023 campaign that saw him average just 5.7 yards per pass attempt while taking a sack on 15.8% of his dropbacks. Jones is no better than a QB3 in early best-ball drafts.
The Eagles and WR DeVonta Smith agreed to a three-year $75 million contract extension with $51 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smith had two years remaining on his rookie deal but is now signed with Philadelphia through the 2028 campaign. The 2021 first-round pick has opened his NFL career with WR29, WR9, and WR16 PPR finishes. The presence of WR A.J. Brown (signed through 2026) caps Smith's upside a tad. But he's a rock-solid fantasy WR2 in the short and long term. The contract extension is also excellent news for QB Jalen Hurts' dynasty value.
The Jets are "extremely high" on WR Xavier Gipson, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes. Rosenblatt projects Gipson as New York's starting slot receiver between Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams -- although he concedes that the Jets could take a WR early in the draft. Gipson went undrafted last year but captured a significant role over the second half of the season. We'll see what the draft brings and still wouldn't recommend rostering Gipson in any redraft league. But he might be worth stashing in deeper dynasty formats.
The Browns and RB Nick Chubb have agreed to a salary adjustment for 2024, the final year on his contract. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the change drops Chubb's cap hit from $15.85 million to $6.275 million -- with incentives that could bring his salary back up to $12.2 million. You could read this several different ways. It's positive that Cleveland didn't simply cut Chubb, which would have cost just $4 million in dead cap space, according to Spotrac. But Chubb's new salary knocks him to 11th among RBs in total money for 2024, behind Tony Pollard and Aaron Jones; barely ahead of Devin Singletary and Miles Sanders. Chubb no doubt believes he can achieve at least some of the performance incentives and drive that number back up. But it also appears he wasn't willing to test the open market for higher 2024 earnings. Ultimately, it's way too early for fantasy managers to know what we can expect from the veteran RB. Chubb's multi-ligament knee injury in September has required surgeries then and in November. We haven't seen much on his return timeline. The Browns, meanwhile, have added RBs D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines this offseason. Both signed small, one-year deals that don't come close to guaranteeing offensive roles. (Hines probably arrives to primarily return kicks.) But they join Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong as backfield insurance. We're staying away from Chubb at his RB27 best ball ADP, which still has him ahead of Javonte Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Zamir White, among others. The crowded depth chart behind Chubb also makes it a risky backfield for investing in backups.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is skipping voluntary workouts and might hold out of mandatory work in June, according to The Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken. Lamb is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is rightfully looking for a big raise. He's coming off a massive 2023 season, posting a 135-1,749-12 line and leading all WRs in fantasy points. Lamb will undoubtedly get a new deal from the Cowboys, but we'll see how long it takes owner Jerry Jones to open up his wallet. For now, consider Lamb's short- and long-term fantasy value unaffected. He sits atop our redraft and dynasty WR rankings.
According to multiple reports, the Bills are sending WR Stefon Diggs to the Texans. Buffalo is also sending a 2024 sixth-round pick and 2025 fifth-rounder to Houston, while getting back only a second-round pick in 2025. Diggs' production fell off late last season after the Bills switched offensive coordinators. Now 30 and in a new offense, Diggs will have to show he's not in decline. He'll add the challenge of splitting targets with Houston's emergent young wideouts. Nico Collins (seventh) and Tank Dell (12th) both ranked among the top 12 WRs in PPR points per game last season, with rookie QB C.J. Stroud. The Diggs addition obviously lowers the target-share ceiling for all three wideouts. We'll also have to see exactly how Houston plans to deploy them. Diggs spent 35.7% of his pass snaps in the slot last year; 34.2% the year before. He topped 30% in that category for three of his four Buffalo seasons, surpassed only by his 2016 sophomore season (62.9%). Collins spent 20.1% of his time in the slot last year; Dell 28.7%. We'd bet on all three moving around the formation some. But Diggs could wind up primarily replacing Robert Woods (55.5% slot) and Noah Brown (39.3%). The trio gives Stroud one of the league's best WR groups and boosts his fantasy upside. The QB already sat sixth at the position in Underdog Fantasy ADP, though. That adds risk to Stroud as a draft target and gives him little room to move up. QB Josh Allen, meanwhile, has lost his top two wideouts (Gabe Davis the other) while adding only WR Curtis Samuel this offseason. The dearth of remaining talent adds risk to his fantasy outlook, though you shouldn't expect the high-level rusher to move significantly down our rankings. As for other affected players: Diggs' departure leaves target share available for TE Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir. His arrival in Houston makes life tougher for TE Dalton Schultz. He already sat just 13th among TEs in best ball ADP, though, and will likely fall further following this trade. Be sure to check our rankings for your format to see all the effects of this high-impact deal.
The Chiefs re-signed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. CEH drew very little interest in free agency after setting career lows last year with 223 rushing yards and 3.2 yards per carry. He'll be no higher than No. 2 on Kansas City's depth chart behind Isiah Pacheco. We'll see if the Chiefs add to the backfield in the draft. Edwards-Helaire is not worth a pick in early best-ball drafts.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice allegedly fled the scene of a serious accident in Dallas on Saturday night. He's believed to have been driving a Corvette that was racing a Lamborghini. The Lamborghini lost control, hit a median wall, and caused "a chain reaction collision involving four other vehicles," according to the Dallas police. Four people suffered minor injuries, including two who were taken to the hospital. We'll keep you updated on the situation, but Rice comes with at least some suspension risk if you're drafting right now.
The Dolphins and RB Raheem Mostert agreed to a one-year extension. He's now signed through the 2025 season on a deal that could be worth up to $9 million. It's a well-deserved raise for Mostert after an impressive 2023 campaign that saw him finish third among RBs in PPR points per game. That was fueled largely by his 21 total TDs -- but Mostert also ranked top eight in Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt, Elusive Rating, and Pro Football Focus rushing grade. He's a long shot to score as many TDs this season, and RB De'Von Achane could take more work. But this contract extension confirms that Mostert will remain a big part of Miami's offense. He's a solid value at his RB28 ADP.
The Broncos signed WR Josh Reynolds to a two-year, $14 million deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Reynolds ranked third among Lions last year in both receiving yards (608) and TDs (5), fending off Jameson Williams for the No. 2 WR job. He's developed into a reliable receiver. But he's also never topped 618 yards across his seven NFL seasons. Reynolds should find plenty of snaps for a Broncos team with Marvin Mims, Tim Patrick, Brandon Johnson, and Phillip Dorsett behind No. 1 WR Courtland Sutton. But he's not an exciting fantasy option. If Reynolds is the most significant WR addition Denver makes this offseason, Mims will have every chance to earn a major role in his second season.
RB J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) has been cleared for football activities, his surgeon wrote in a letter to teams on Tuesday. Dobbins looks “outstanding” after his rehab from September Achilles surgery, Dr. Neal ElAttrache said. Dobbins is expected to begin taking free-agent visits soon, according to NFL Network's Pelissero. A torn ACL and torn Achilles have limited Dobbins to just nine games over the past three seasons, and it's fair to wonder if the 25-year-old can regain pre-injury form. He's no more than a late-round flier in early fantasy drafts. We'll see where he lands in free agency.
The Steelers signed WR Cordarrelle Patterson to a two-year, $6 million deal, NFL Network reports. He's reuniting with OC Arthur Smith, who coached Patterson in Atlanta the past three seasons. Patterson averaged 10.2 carries and 3.4 targets per game across his first two years with Smith but just 3.6 carries and 0.9 targets per game last year. That was largely due to the arrival of RB Bijan Robinson -- but Patterson also struggled to just 3.6 yards per carry and 4.2 yards per catch. He turned 33 earlier this month. Patterson is unlikely to be a fantasy asset this season, although he could siphon some work from RB Najee Harris and especially RB Jaylen Warren in the passing game.
Raiders HC Antonio Pierce called newly signed RB Alexander Mattison and TE Harrison Bryant depth pieces. "We’re talking about guys that could come in and, at some point — don’t know when it’s gonna happen — but, give us that starter, that little jolt or juice that we can use," Pierce added. Bryant was never a legitimate threat to 2023 second-rounder Michael Mayer. The bigger takeaway here is that the Raiders evidently don't view Mattison as a competitor for the starting RB job. Mattison's play could change throughout the offseason, of course. And Vegas could still add a RB in the draft. But Zamir White's odds of opening the season as the starter continue to climb. He remains a solid value in early best-ball drafts. For more on White, check out 2024 Fantasy Football Breakouts.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder) "should be" ready for the start of OTAs next month, HC Shane Steichen said. Richardson underwent surgery on October 24 to repair a severe AC joint injury and was cleared to resume throwing in February. “I think what happened to him is gonna make him stronger,” Steichen said. “I know he’s super fired up and ready to roll through the spring practice and training camp and this season. ... I couldn’t be more excited to get him back going again. His limited sample size that he had in those first five weeks was impressive. He hit some plays I’ve never seen guys make.” Steichen added that keeping Richardson healthy is a priority but that he won't limit him as a runner. Richardson said earlier this offseason that he won't change his playing style, despite last year's injuries. There remains top-5 fantasy upside here.
Former Patriots and Bills RB Damien Harris announced his retirement Monday. Harris signed with Buffalo last offseason but appeared in just six games before suffering a neck injury. Although not deemed season-ending at the time, it wound up sidelining him the rest of the year. We're guessing that injury also factored into his retirement (at age 27), though that hasn't been reported as of this writing. There's no fantasy impact here unless you have Harris on your dynasty roster. (Feel free to release.) The Bills sport only James Cook and Ty Johnson at RB on their current roster (plus Darrynton Evans on a Futures contract). We'd bet on at least one upcoming RB addition -- and quite possibly more.
It was reported when the Steelers traded for QB Justin Fields that he was coming in to back up QB Russell Wilson. HC Mike Tomlin clarified the situation over the weekend, calling Wilson the favorite for the starting job but adding that Fields is in the mix, too. "When it's time to compete, Justin will given an opportunity to compete," Tomlin said. "But I thought it was appropriate to describe it in a way for when we get started. Russell's in pole position, and I think his body of work justifies that." Wilson was decent last year, completing 66.4% of his passes, averaging 6.9 yards per attempt, and ranking 19th among 30 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' passing grades. It's certainly possible that he plays well enough throughout 2024 to keep Fields on the bench. But fantasy drafters should not be treating Wilson as a locked-in starter at this point. Fields, meanwhile, is tough to spend a pick on in early best-ball drafts. But this could be a nice time to buy low in dynasty leagues.
Texans HC Demeco Ryan expects WR Tank Dell (leg) to be ready for the offseason program. Dell fractured a fibula in early December, but the injury shouldn't be an issue for his 2024 fantasy value. He, of course, was excellent before going down, finishing 12th among WRs in PPR points per game as a rookie. Dell returns to the same offense (OC Bobby Slowik) with the same QB (C.J. Stroud) this year. See where Dell sits in our early 2024 fantasy football WR rankings.
Giants HC Brian Daboll would not commit to QB Daniel Jones (knee) being ready for the start of the 2024 season. He's working his way back from a torn right ACL suffered in early November. Jones said in February that his goal is to be back for the start of training camp, but his progress will be worth watching closely this spring and summer. Daboll added that Jones remains the starter when healthy, despite the addition of QB Drew Lock and the Giants holding the sixth overall pick of next month's draft. "When he gets back he'll be the guy," Daboll said.
The Browns signed RB D'Onta Foreman to a one-year deal. Although he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in Chicago last year, Foreman ranked 22nd in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, 22nd in Elusive Rating, and 26th in Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt among 49 qualifying RBs. That followed a career-high 914 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per attempt for the Panthers in 2022. Foreman is a quality depth addition for a Browns team that has RB Nick Chubb working his way back from a significant knee injury that will likely cost him at least part of the 2024 season. Foreman will team up with RB Jerome Ford for however long Chubb is sidelined.
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