Nate Taylor of The Athletic believes Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is in for a "huge role" in 2024. “Pacheco should eclipse his career high of 205 rushing attempts, which he set last season,” Taylor predicted. The rationale? Kansas City’s current lack of RB depth, which includes Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Deneric Prince, and rookie Louis Rees-Zammit. That matches our current sentiment. Head to the fantasy RB rankings, and you’ll find Pacheco projected for a career-high in carries (in fewer than 17 games).
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is dealing with a sprained right foot, according to The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. Prescott was recently spotted with the foot in a boot while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. It's unclear when or how Prescott suffered the injury, but a source tells Watkins that it isn't serious.
Cardinals rookie RB Trey Benson might not be a lock to run second behind James Conner right away. Johnny Venerable of PHNX Cardinals told the Rotoworld Football Show this week that Michael Carter is "the No. 2 back" and that he expects Benson to sit third on the depth chart to enter the season.
The Patriots agreed this week to a three-year extension with LB Jahlani Tavai that will pay him at least $15 million and as much as $21 million, according to ESPN. That locks in a starting LB who was set to enter the final season of his existing contract.
The Vikings are expected to re-sign RB Cam Akers, according to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press. That depends, of course, on Akers passing a physical. He joined Minnesota last September but went down for the season in Week 9 with a torn left Achilles' tendon. Over his six games with the team, Akers reached 29% snap shares four times, with a high of 39% in Week 7. He worked ahead of Ty Chandler over that span but behind then-starter Alexander Mattison.
ESPN's Mike Reiss posited this week who the early favorites might be to lead the Patriots at WR. "Former Viking K.J. Osborn ... has positioned himself as an early leader among Patriots receivers," Reiss wrote. "Second-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas appears as quick as ever. Add in [rookie Ja'Lynn] Polk, and that could be the team's top three targets if everyone is healthy." That assessment came amid a longer intro that focused on Polk's work. The second-round pick has reportedly impressed with his work in practice. He -- and the others -- face a seemingly wide-open fight for jobs in a WR corps that stunk last year and didn't spend much on adding to it this offseason.
Texans Wire's Cole Thompson reports that second-round rookie CB Kamari Lassiter "was the talk of OTAs." Thompson says the team drafted Lassiter -- 42nd overall, Houston's first pick of the draft -- with hopes he'd compete for the nickel CB role. But Lassiter "held his own working first-team reps on the boundary" against a strong group of Texans WRs. If Lassiter continues his strong play through training camp, he could compete for the starting gig opposite Derek Stingley Jr. His primary competition for that spot will be Jeff Okudah, a former first-round pick of the Lions who's now with his third team. Okudah signed a one-year, $4.75 million deal with the Texans this offseason.
Jets RB Breece Hall said, "I feel like I'm back to my old self" heading into the 2024 campaign. He spent his 2023 offseason rehabbing a torn ACL. He was able to get back into his regular offseason routine this time around, particularly focusing on adding strength back to that left knee and left quad.
After a promising rookie year, Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin continued to develop this offseason. Per The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider, “McLaughlin’s offseason program turned heads among coaches, teammates, and onlookers at practice. It would not be a stretch to say he was the Broncos’ most dynamic offensive player during OTAs and minicamp.”
WR Brandon Aiyuk indicated a couple times over the past week that he's likely to remain with the 49ers for at least the 2024 season. He first said on The Pivot podcast about what jersey he'll be wearing, "If I were to take a guess, probably a Niners uniform." Aiyuk later told TMZ he's "for sure" ready to play in San Francisco this season. The wideout remains under contract through 2024, but the two sides have reportedly stalled out in negotiations on an extension beyond that. Aiyuk has fueled trade rumors with negative takes via social media about his relationship with the team.
Cardinals OC Drew Petzing believes TE Trey McBride is capable of taking his game to "another level" this season. McBride is coming off a breakout 2023 season, catching 81 balls for 825 yards and three TDs.
Giants HC Brian Daboll has been calling plays on offense so far this offseason, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. OC Mike Kafka handled those duties over the past two years. The team hasn't officially announced the change, but it looks like it'll be Daboll at the controls this season.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson will be a "full go" for training camp, GM Chris Ballard said. Richardson is working back from surgery on his throwing shoulder and experienced some soreness earlier this month. He sat out the final day of minicamp.
Keep an eye on Broncos TE Lucas Krull as a deep fantasy football sleeper. Last year, he caught only 8 balls in 7 games. But according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post, the Broncos are "banking on" Krull to "provide some pop" at TE. Greg Dulcich missed the offseason program with a foot injury. Meanwhile, HC Sean Payton has praised Krull for his work at OTAs/minicamp.
Former Seahawks QB Brock Huard expects TE Noah Fant to play a bigger pass-catching role this season than he has the past two years in Seattle. The Seahawks re-signed Fant to a two-year, $21 million contract this offseason and let TEs Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson walk in free agency.
"If there is any Jacksonville Jaguars player who boosted their stock this offseason, it is second-year wide receiver Parker Washington," writes SI.com's John Shipley. Washington has reportedly garnered accolades from coaches and teammates for "an offseason of exceptional practices." Washington arrived in the sixth round of last year's draft. He played just 12 offensive snaps before WR Christian Kirk went down in Week 13. The rookie flashed for a 6-61-1 receiving line as the fill-in that game but followed with a modest 10 receptions for 71 yards and 1 TD over the remaining five contests.
Jaguars insider John Shipley was not impressed by RB Tank Bigsby this offseason. "Bigsby had some issues with drops during the summer and didn't have the standout offseason program that he had last year," Shipley wrote.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes Aidan O'Connell "probably has the slight edge right now" in the Raiders' QB competition against Gardner Minshew. Fowler calls it "a real battle."
SI.com's John Shipley calls LB Devin Lloyd the biggest defensive "winner" this offseason among Jaguars. "He looked like he got noticeably bigger in terms of muscle mass," Shipley writes. "Lloyd looked and sounded significantly more confident and aggressive as well, which could be the key to him having a breakout season."
ESPN's David Newton says Panthers TE Ian Thomas "has stolen the spotlight [this spring] at a position that is featured in Dave Canales' passing game." The Panthers ranked just 28th in total TE receptions last season (59), with Tommy Tremble's 23 catches leading the group -- and ranking just sixth on the team. Thomas managed only 5 receptions on 9 targets over 12 games after getting a contract extension last offseason. Thomas has 116 career receptions through six years with the Panthers. But the 49 targets and 36 catches of his rookie year remain career highs. He hasn't topped 31 targets, 21 receptions, or 197 yards in a season since.
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