Ravens HC John Harbaugh said Monday RBs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are "making progress" in their recoveries from last year's torn ACLs. It's the first real update of any kind that we've gotten on these guys since they tore their ACLs in late August and early September, respectively. Harbaugh added that Dobbins and Edwards will "likely" start training camp on the PUP list. But the timing of the knee injuries makes both guys good bets to be available come Week 1.
According to The Athletic's Zak Keefer, Colts HC Frank Reich said from the NFL owners' meetings that he expects a "MUCH bigger role" for RB Nyheim Hines this season with QB Matt Ryan. Hines saw a career-low 3.4 targets per game with Carson Wentz under center last year. Wentz has historically targeted his RBs at a below-average rate. Reich expects Hines' role to be akin to what he did with QB Philip Rivers back in 2020, when he averaged 4.8 targets per game. Hitting that number might be tough behind RB Jonathan Taylor, although the Colts are currently thin at WR. Hines is still just a later-round pick in early PPR best-ball drafts right now.
New Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett said Monday morning (during NFL meetings) that he's "very excited" to get the ball in the hands of TE Albert Okwuegbunam. He said the plan is to use Okwuegbunam as a "move" TE, calling him "more of a receiver right now" who will train further as a blocker. Okwuegbunam lingered until the 4th round of the 2020 draft, but his profile points to a player with much more talent. The 6'6, 258-pounder ran a 4.49-second 40 ahead of the draft, giving him a 100th-percentile speed score for the position. The arrival of QB Russell Wilson and departure of TE Noah Fant (in the same trade) presents tremendous opportunity in 2022. Okwuegbunam sits 16th at TE in our current PPR rankings but presents upside into TE1 territory.
The Jets on Saturday announced the signing of former Cowboys and Rams K Greg Zuerlein. The 2021 Jets split kicking duties between Matt Ammendola (13 of 19 on FGs) and Eddy Pineiro (8 of 8). Zuerlein's plus-50-yard range gives him nice weekly fantasy upside, but he has also hit a mediocre 80% of FG attempts over the past 3 seasons. Playing for the Jets probably won't help his extra-point volume.
The Eagles have agreed to a 1-year deal with LB Kyzir White that can be worth up to $5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. White led Chargers LBs in playing time last year, so his departure leaves opportunity in a corps that has seen former 1st-round LB Kenneth Murray disappoint through 2 seasons. The money he's getting in Philly doesn't guarantee full-time status, but it looks bigger than the $2.2 million, 1-year extension the Eagles gave T.J. Edwards in November. White looks like a good bet for 3-down duty vs. the current depth chart. We wouldn't be surprised to see Philly draft an early-round LB, though.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Chiefs "plan to" sign RB Ronald Jones to a 1-year deal worth "up to" $5 million. We'll see how attainable those incentives look once the contract is finalized. We all knew Kansas City would be in the market for at least 1 RB after the team let Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon reach unrestricted free agency. The Chiefs reportedly negotiated with Williams before the start of free agency. We'd still bet on Clyde Edwards-Helaire leading this backfield in touches. Jones has flashed some rushing skills over his 4 seasons, but he saw a 3-year low in carries (101 in 16 games) last season and garnered only 13 targets. He looks interesting in mid-to-low RB4 range for now. We'll see whether K.C. is done adding to its stable.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said he told the Bucs that TE Rob Gronkowski is "truly undecided" about whether he'll play in 2022. We wouldn't expect Gronk to commit to another season in March. But we're ultimately expecting him to make another run at a Super Bowl with Tom Brady. Gronkowski is worth taking some shots on at his current 9th-round FFPC ADP. That'll climb at least a few rounds if and when he announces that he's playing this season.
The Chiefs are signing WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a 3-year, $30 million deal, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The pact reportedly includes $18 million in guarantees over the first 2 years and a max value of $36 million. Compare that with the mere 1-year, $3.25 million contract WR JuJu Smith-Schuster got from K.C. earlier this offseason, and it sure seems like the Chiefs plan for the former Packer to take on a larger passing-game role. We'll see whether the Chiefs are done adding significant pieces to this group, with wideouts still on the open market plus a strong incoming rookie class at the position.
The 49ers re-signed RB Jeff Wilson. The 26-year-old had surgery last May to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and slogged his way to just 3.7 yards per carry after returning in November. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry over his first 3 NFL seasons. Wilson figures to compete for backup duties behind Elijah Mitchell this summer.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Patriots are signing CB Malcolm Butler to a 2-year deal that could be worth up to $9 million. The money suggests they hope Butler can start for them but doesn't necessarily lock him into their top 3 at the position. Butler missed last season after "retiring" but has clearly been inspired by Tom Brady. When active, Butler is capable of delivering useful IDP numbers -- at least in part because QBs like to throw at him.
The Chiefs are trading WR Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in exchange for the 29th overall pick of this year's draft, plus 2022 2nd- and 4th-round picks and 2023 4th- and 6th-rounders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hill will reportedly get a contract extension from Miami that will make him among the highest-paid WRs in the league. His fantasy value takes a hit with the move. He goes from QB Patrick Mahomes to QB Tua Tagovailoa and from a pass-heavy offense to what figures to be a more balanced offense under new Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel. Hill remains arguably the most electric playmaker in the NFL, though, and should garner a big target share in Miami. He's still a WR1. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are currently left with WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, Josh Gordon, Justin Watson, Cornell Powell and Corey Coleman. They figure to add to the group in free agency and/or the draft, but Smith-Schuster and Hardman gets sizable boosts with Hill's departure.
Update: Miami is giving Hill a 4-year, $120 million extension with $72.2 million guaranteed, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus. That $30 million per year puts Hill a couple million ahead of new Raider Davante Adams for highest-paid WR.
The Chiefs have given WR Tyreek Hill permission to seek a trade, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 2 sides have been working on a long-term deal, and Kansas City has reportedly made an offer that would make Hill 1 of the league's highest-paid WRs. But "talks have stalled," Rapoport says. The Dolphins have been among the most interested teams so far, Rapoport adds. We'd be surprised if the Chiefs let Hill get away but will certainly keep a close eye on the situation. In likely related news, Kansas City is hosting free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Wednesday.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets, "Jets and Dolphins are in serious talks to trade for Chiefs’ WR Tyreek Hill, per league sources. Hill and Chiefs are mulling what to do but Hill’s time in KC looks like it could be coming to an end."
The Raiders signed WR Demarcus Robinson to a 1-year deal. Despite playing with QB Patrick Mahomes the past 4 seasons, Robinson has never reached 500 receiving yards. As Vegas' depth chart currently stands, Robinson and Bryan Edwards will be duking it out for the #3 WR job behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow.
The Vikings are signing EDGE Za'Darius Smith to a 3-year, $42 million deal with a top value of $47 million, according to multiple reports. Smith nearly signed with the Ravens but backed off that and lands with a Minnesota defense that will position him opposite DE Danielle Hunter. It's not yet clear how the new Vikings staff will primarily align its front 7. That only matters for how the positional designations will settle out for IDP leagues. The contract -- and the fact that 2 teams were willing to pay him -- indicates that Smith should be ready to return from the back surgery that halted his 2021 campaign. He has a chance to be a nice value in pressure-friendly fantasy football leagues. Smith totaled 26 sacks over his past 2 healthy campaigns.
After acquiring QB Matt Ryan via trade Monday, the Colts are restructuring the veteran's contract. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the altered deal "locks him in at two years and $53.9 million." For fantasy football purposes, that means we should expect Ryan to be Indy's starter through the coming season and 2023, at least.
The Buccaneers are re-signing RB Leonard Fournette to a 3-year, $21 million deal that could be worth up to $24 million. We'd bet there's some fluff built into that contract to inflate the overall numbers, but even in that case it's a much more significant commitment than the 1-year, $3 million pact that brought Fournette back for last season. Expect the 27-year-old to open the year as Tampa Bay's lead back and potentially continue operating as a true workhorse. For fantasy, expect Fournette's ADP to now work inside the top 4 rounds.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the contract includes $11 million in guarantees, which should make it at least a 2-year deal.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Saints QB Jameis Winston is expected to be ready for training camp "if everything continues to go smoothly with his rehab." This doesn't come as a surprise after New Orleans committed to Winston financially earlier in the week, but it's good confirmation for those jumping into early best-ball fantasy football drafts.
WR Laquon Treadwell re-signed with the Jaguars. The former 1st-rounder had 1 of his better stretches as a pro over the 2nd half of last season, averaging 4.4 catches and 57.9 yards across the final 7 games. It doesn't look like he drew much interest on the open market, though, and returns to a Jaguars team that previously added WRs Christian Kirk and Zay Jones to Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault and Jamal Agnew. We'll see how the WR room shakes out this summer, but Treadwell isn't a recommended target in early best-ball drafts.
WR Jamison Crowder has inked a 1-year deal with the Bills worth "up to" $4 million, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Crowder is coming off a disappointing 2021 season, averaging a career-low 8.8 yards on 51 catches across 12 games for the Jets. But he'll turn just 29 in June and averaged 4.9 catches and 54.4 yards per game between 2019 and 2020. Crowder looks like a natural replacement in Buffalo for Cole Beasley, who finished 34th, 27th and 41st among WRs in PPR points the last 3 seasons.
The Eagles signed former Colts WR Zach Pascal to a 1-year deal. This reunites Pascal with Nick Sirianni, Indy’s OC from 2018-2020. The 27-year-old pass catcher brings some size (6’2, 214) to Philly’s WR corps, but he averaged just 540 yards across 2019-2011. Pascal isn’t someone to chase in early best ball drafts.
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