Mon Jan 6 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Gibbs scores four touchdowns
Well, that’s a wrap on another NFL regular season. And as you expected, the last week of the regular season was a tough one to predict. Teams started some regulars but that didn’t last long. Others played some starters longer than expected while some didn’t play any starters at all. It was a bit of a mess and another reason you should likely end your fantasy seasons in Week 18. But if you did play, the good news is there were plenty of big fantasy performances this week, including a player topping 40 fantasy points. Hopefully, you had some of those big performances on your roster.
Ravens 35, Browns 10
Fantasy Stud: Derrick Henry. Henry had a fitting end to his season, posting another huge game. He ran 20 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 23 yards, giving him 161 total yards. Henry topped 30 fantasy points in the game for the third time this season. He finished just 79 yards shy of 2,000-rushing yards.
Fantasy Dud: Zay Flowers. Flowers was a bust because he didn’t last too long, leaving with a knee injury. He had a catch for 12 yards before getting hurt. It came at a bad time because he had a chance to post some good numbers in this game. Instead, he was a bust for fantasy teams.
Game Notes: Bailey Zappe got his first start and had his struggles. He was 16-of-31 for 170 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
Mark Andrews found the end zone for the sixth straight game. He had four receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown on eight targets.
Bengals 19, Steelers 17
Fantasy Stud: Ja’Marr Chase. Chase topped off his career-best season with another big performance. He had 10 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. He had 25.6 fantasy points, giving him nine games with 20-plus fantasy points. He is going to end the season leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Chase was a league winner in 2024.
Fantasy Dud: George Pickens. Pickens had just a catch for no gain on six targets. He just couldn’t get it going. Pickens was up and down all season. He showed his huge fantasy ceiling at times but also disappeared at other times. Pickens has finished with fewer than double-digit fantasy points every game since Week 13.
Game Notes: Pat Freiermuth finished with season highs across the board. He had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.
Mike Gesicki had eight receptions for 68 yards on 10 targets. He has 18 receptions on 22 targets his last two games.
Eagles 20, Giants 13
Fantasy Stud: Malik Nabers. Nabers continued to produce despite all the offensive woes for the Giants. He had five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 109 receptions. Nabers had at least 11 fantasy points 10 straight games to end his season. He is going to be a special player for years to come.
Fantasy Dud: Kenneth Gainwell. Some thought Gainwell might lead the backfield and produce well in an expanded role. He did get work but did next to nothing with it. He ran 10 times for just 15 yards. He also caught two passes for eight yards. It was not a great day for any fantasy owner that took a chance on Gainwell in Week 18.
Game Notes: Tanner McKee had a solid first NFL start. He was 27-of-41 for 268 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Wan’Dale Robinson had double-digit receptions for the second time this season. He had 10 catches for just 43 yards on 11 targets.
Texans 23, Titans 14
Fantasy Stud: Dameon Pierce. Pierce ended up getting most of the work at running back and had a huge game. He ran 19 times for 176 yards and a touchdown. It was an impressive showing for the former starter. Maybe this game puts him in conversation for some team to take a chance on him as their starter in 2025.
Fantasy Dud: Tony Pollard. Pollard played and started. He got plenty of work, rushing 22 times but had just 62 yards and didn’t catch a pass. Pollard had a good first season with the Titans, topping 1,000-rushing yards and should get first shot to start next season in what could be a better offense. His finish was disappointing for fantasy owners, though.
Game Notes: Will Levis and Mason Rudolph split the work at quarterback for the Titans in this one. Levis was 9-of-17 for 175 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph was 7-of-9 for 70 yards.
C.J. Stroud played a few series and looked good, going 6-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Patriots 23, Bills 16
Fantasy Stud: Kayshon Boutte. Boutte continued his late-season surge. He had seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. This was his first 100-yard game of the season. He has 20-plus fantasy points two of his last three games. Boutte could be a big part of this offense from day one next season.
Fantasy Dud: Antonio Gibson. Gibson started and got much of the work at running back once again for the Patriots. He was held in check, though. He ran 12 times for just 41 yards and had four receptions for 20 yards. It was a disappointing showing for Gibson, getting so much work but not doing much with it.
Game Notes: Joe Milton ended up playing most of the game and looked very good for the Patriots. He was 22-of-29 for 241 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also ran 10 times for 15 yards and a score.
James Cook ran 10 times for 28 yards and a touchdown. He finishes his season with 18 total touchdowns, scoring four straight games to end his season.
Bears 24, Packers 22
Fantasy Stud: D.J. Moore. Moore had nine receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. Moore finishes the season just two catches shy of 100. He had at least six receptions eight straight games to end his season. Moore had another solid year and should be a big part of the offense once again for the Bears in 2025.
Fantasy Dud: Jayden Reed. Most of the Packers receivers played much of the game but none of them were much help to fantasy teams. Reed is the most marquee and had two catches for just 48 yards. He also ran three times for just three yards and lost a fumble. It was another disappointing showing for Reed.
Game Notes: Jordan Love started but suffered some sort of elbow injury and left the game. It was more of a precaution than something serious, though. He was 7-of-12 for 69 yards before leaving.
Emmanuel Wilson got more work at running back and ran well. He rushed 14 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Commanders 23, Cowboys 19
Fantasy Stud: Terry McLaurin. McLaurin was one of the few bright spots offensively in this one. He had eight receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. He has touchdowns five of his last six games and 13 total for the season. McLaurin is having one of the best fantasy seasons of any receiver.
Fantasy Dud: Jayden Daniels. There was thought that Daniels might play the whole game here with the Commanders still fighting for position. But he didn’t last too long, burning most of his owners. He was 6-of-12 for 38 yards and ran four times for 27 yards.
Game Notes: Marcus Mariota had a great game in relief of Daniels. He had three total touchdowns. He was 15-of-18 for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Mariota also ran five times for 56 yards and another touchdown.
Trey Lance showed well at times in his start but failed to score a touchdown. He was 20-of-34 for 244 yards and ran six times for 26 yards.
Colts 26, Jaguars 23
Fantasy Stud: Jonathan Taylor. Taylor continued his big-time play late in the year. He ran 34 times for 177 yards and a touchdown. Taylor had four straight 100-yard games to end his season. He scored six touchdowns during that stretch. He finished the year with more than 1,500 total yards and 12 total touchdowns. He even missed three games because of injury.
Fantasy Dud: Joe Flacco. Flacco played fine but you thought he might have a really big game in this favorable matchup. Instead, he was 23-of-40 for 264 yards and a touchdown, scoring just 17.2 fantasy points. He failed to hit 20 fantasy points.
Game Notes: Josh Downs hit double-digit receptions for the first time all year. He had 10 catches for 94 yards on 13 targets.
Brian Thomas hit the 100-yard mark for the third time in four games. He had seven receptions for 103 yards on 11 targets.
Bucs 27, Saints 19
Fantasy Stud: Jalen McMillan. McMillan had five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. McMillan finishes the season with touchdowns five straight games. He had at least 16 fantasy points all of those games. He could end up being a big factor from the get go in 2025 for the Bucs.
Fantasy Dud: Foster Moreau. Moreau had been gaining steam in recent weeks, having double-digit fantasy points two of his previous three games. He didn’t do much in this one, though, catching four passes for 31 yards. It was a ho-hum performance from Moreau.
Game Notes: Mike Evans broke a record, topping the 1,000-yard mark for the 11th straight season. He had nine receptions for 88 yards.
Bucky Irvin scored his eighth touchdown of the season. He ran 19 times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Panthers 44, Falcons 38
Fantasy Stud: Bryce Young. There were several huge fantasy performances in this game, but Young gets the well-deserved nod. He had his best game as a pro. Young was 25-of-34 for 251 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Young also ran five times for 24 yards and two touchdowns, giving him five total scores. Young had 38.95 fantasy points. He had multiple touchdowns four straight games to end his season, making big progress throughout the year.
Fantasy Dud: Kyle Pitts. Pitts had another typical game for his standards, catching two passes for 15 yards. He was once again all over the map this year for fantasy teams. His lack of consistency drives fantasy owners crazy. And it is clearly a trend and not a fluke based on the last few seasons.
Game Notes: Bijan Robinson had 28 carries for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson had multiple scores three straight games to end his season.
Drake London picked the last game of his season for his best. He had 10 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets.
Broncos 38, Chiefs 0
Fantasy Stud: Bo Nix. Nix put on a show in the Broncos must-win game to make the playoffs. He was 26-of-29 for 321 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. The Broncos seem to have found their franchise quarterback. Nix should just get better with more seasoning, too.
Fantasy Dud: Carson Wentz. Wentz got his big start but was able to do anything with it. He failed to even throw for 100 yards. He was 10-of-17 for just 98 yards without a touchdown or an interception. Wentz was a big disappointment for fantasy owners in this one.
Game Notes: Marvin Mims continued his late-season surge. He had five receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Mims has multiple touchdowns two straight.
Courtland Sutton had five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Sutton scored his eighth touchdown and has scores three of his last four games.
Chargers 34, Raiders 20
Fantasy Stud: Quentin Johnston. Johnston had arguably his best game as a pro. He had 13 receptions for 186 yards. He did not have more than five catches in a game all season before this huge showing. Maybe this is his coming out party in the NFL. Johnston certainly has the talent to produce big games like this.
Fantasy Dud: Alexander Mattison. Mattison got most of the work at running back with Ameer Abdullah out but did little. He had six carries for just 20 yards and caught four passes for 11 yards. It was a disappointing performance from Mattison. He got some play this week, too, because of the expected bump in playing time.
Game Notes: Justin Herbert had his second 300-yard game of the season. He was 28-of-36 for 346 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Jakobi Meyers found the end zone for the second straight game and had his third 100-yard game of the year. He went over 1,000 yards for the season, catching nine passes for 123 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.
Seahawks 30, Rams 25
Fantasy Stud: Geno Smith. Smith had a huge fantasy game, going 20-of-27 for 223 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. He had 28.55 fantasy points, giving him 26-plus points two of his last three games. It was his second highest fantasy point total of the season. Smith had another solid season for the Seahawks, throwing for 4,320 yards with 23 total touchdowns.
Fantasy Dud: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks played their starters but Smith-Njigba got little work for once. He had four receptions for just nine yards. Smith-Njigba had a great, breakout season but his last two games were not good, having fewer than seven fantasy points each of his last two.
Game Notes: Jimmy Garoppolo started the game with the Rams resting some of their starters and was 27-of-41 for 333 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Noah Fant found the end zone for the first time all season. He had five receptions for 64 yards and a score.
Jets 32, Dolphins 20
Fantasy Stud: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had a down year but finished on a high note in what might have been his last NFL game. He was 23-of-36 for 274 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. It was a great showing from Rodgers, a game you hoped he had more of throughout the season.
Fantasy Dud: Tyreek Hill. Hill had a quiet game, catching two passes for just 20 yards. He was held in check and on the sidelines a little more in the second half than usual. Hill had a down season for his standards and you wonder what he will be like going forward at this stage of his career.
Game Notes: Davante Adams had six receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. He finishes the season with scores five of his last six games.
Devon Achane had just his second 100-yard game of the season but had them two of his last three games. He ran 11 times for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Cardinals 47, 49ers 24
Fantasy Stud: Kyler Murray. Murray was 25-of-35 for 242 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Murray topped 30 fantasy points for the third time this year, scoring 30.3 points. He didn’t have a huge year, but was better as the season progressed. He had 21-plus fantasy points three straight and four of his last five games.
Fantasy Dud: Isaac Guerendo. He was expected to be the starter but was on the field very little. Guerendo ran two times for just five yards. He had injury issues late in the season when he was supposed to finally get his chance to start. His injuries came at a bad time.
Game Notes: Trey McBride scored his first touchdown of the season last week and got his second in this one. He had seven receptions for 65 yards and a score.
Patrick Taylor got most of the work at running back for the 49ers and had a 100-yard showing. Taylor ran 17 times for 109 yards.
Lions 31, Vikings 9
Fantasy Stud: Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs had a monster performance in a huge game for the Lions. He ran 23 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 31 yards and another score, giving him four total touchdowns. Gibbs scored an amazing 46 fantasy points. Gibbs has 25-plus fantasy points four straight games.
Fantasy Dud: Sam Darnold. There were duds across the board for the Vikings, but Darnold tops the list because he was in charge of the offense. He really struggled, missing on a lot of possible game-changing passes. He finished just 18-of-41 for 166 yards without a touchdown. This probably was his worst showing of the season, coming at a terrible time for a Vikings team looking to clinch the No. 1 overall seed.
Game Notes: Sam LaPorta had seven receptions for 63 yards. He has at least five receptions four of his last five games.
Cam Akers got less work but actually led the Vikings in rushing. He ran six times for 65 yards, averaging 10.8 yards per carry. Aaron Jones rushed 10 times for 45 yards.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that new tight end Evan Engram fits the Joker role well. "I'm excited," Payton said. "The vision is pretty clear. Obviously we feel like he's someone who can run, gives us a passing threat on third down and in the red zone. He's got good body control and I think he's really good when he gets the ball in his hands. His run-after-catch numbers, statistically-wise, have been good." The 30-year-old former 23rd overall pick by the New York Giants in 2017 out of Mississippi had a career year in Jacksonville with 114 catches, 963 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. He played in only nine games in 2024, though before needing surgery to fix a torn labrum in his left shoulder. However, as a likely high-volume target for quarterback Bo Nix, Engram will have clear bounce-back potential in fantasy and will be a nice low-end TE1 target with upside.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears new head coach Ben Johnson said the team plans to go "back to the basics" with quarterback Caleb Williams heading into his second year as a pro after a disappointing rookie campaign after he was the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft. "It's the fundamentals of the quarterback position: What's our footwork going to look like under center? From the shotgun? What are we calling the formations? What's the defensive identification going to look like? So that we're all speaking the same language," Johnson said. The 23-year-old will take more snaps under center during offseason workouts to gauge his comfort level. Chicago ran 70.8% of their plays from shotgun in 2024 (tied for 16th-most), but the Lions lined up in shotgun less than any other team under Johnson. Williams took a league-high 68 sacks last year, so using more play-action should help better protect him. On paper, the addition of Johnson should be excellent news for Williams' development.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones will split first-team repetitions in practices as soon as the team begins offseason workouts on April 21, according to head coach Shane Steichen. The Colts don't plan to ease the two QBs into the competition for the starting job. Steichen said "it's going to come down to who's the most consistent, who's the most productive, will be the starter." The Colts still hope that Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, will develop into the long-term franchise starting signal-caller. But the 22-year-old has been way too inconsistent as a passer in his first two NFL seasons and has missed 17 of a possible 34 games due to four separate injuries. He completed just 47.7% of his passes in 2024, but his dynamic abilities as a runner make continue to give him high-end QB1 upside if he can ever put it all together and stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
When asked if the Washington Commanders have a desire to give wide receiver Terry McLaurin a new deal before the 2025 season, general manager Adam Peters said they've had talks with McLaurin's agent, and they've been positive so far. "We want to make Terry a Commander for a long time," Peters said. McLaurin was a Pro Bowler for the second time in 2024 and posted his fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign by catching 82 of his 117 targets for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts with impressive rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The 29-year-old has one year left on the three-year, $68.2 million extension he signed in 2022. The addition of wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. shouldn't really affect Scary Terry's overall volume, although fantasy managers should expect TD regression. Still, with McLaurin paired with the upside of Daniels, he should be a popular WR2 target this fall.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee), who missed all but the opening month of 2024 after having knee surgery for a torn LCL, is expected to be ready for training camp in July, according to head coach Andy Reid. "He's on track to be ready," Reid said. "We'll see. He's working his tail off right now, I know." Before suffering his season-ending knee injury in Week 4, Rice was leading the league in catches through three weeks and was second in receiving yards as quarterback Patrick Mahomes' favorite target. While Rice should continue to be a bit part of KC's passing attack in 2025 if healthy, he'll also be sharing targets with both Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy. The 24-year-old former second-rounder is a physical freak, though, and excels at generating yards after the catch in one of the best offenses in the league. As long as his knee injury doesn't cause him to lose a step, he'll have WR1 upside in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said it was miraculous that running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) even returned to the field last year from a knee injury that cut short his rookie year in 2023. "I'm almost certain he's going to be on a whole other level coming back this spring," Harbaugh said. The 23-year-old missed the first nine games of the 2024 season and ended up seeing action in only five games, carrying the ball 15 times for 30 yards and catching his only target for 28 yards. Mitchell's path to fantasy relevance in his third year in 2025 will be difficult as long as both Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are healthy, but the upside is evident after a rookie season that saw him average 8.4 yards per carry on 47 rushing attempts before his knee injury. It remains to be seen if he'll be as explosive coming off his serious knee injury, but he could be a nice buy-low target in dynasty/keeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets new head coach Aaron Glenn called wide receiver Garrett Wilson a "dynamic player" and said the team is going to look to get him the ball "as much as possible." That was expected to be the case as soon as the Jets decided to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams. Wilson was still a top-12 fantasy receiver in half-PPR scoring last year despite Adams taking away valuable targets, but the 24-year-old's upside will be even higher as the unquestioned WR1 for new Jets quarterback Justin Fields, especially if they are force-feeding him targets. Fields has plenty left to prove as a passer, but it will be a bonus that Wilson and Fields already have plenty of chemistry from their days playing together in college at Ohio State. The volume should be there, but efficiency will be a question mark for Wilson, who should be considered a legitimate WR1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that he'd like the team to extend running back Derrick Henry, who is heading into the last year of his current deal in 2025. It comes after Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason and said in February that he'd like to finish his career in Baltimore. It makes sense for both sides after King Henry didn't show any signs of slowing down in 2024 with 1,921 rushing yards and a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns on 325 carries while adding 19 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns through the air in 17 regular-season starts. It was good enough to make him the RB3 in half-PPR scoring, behind only Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley. Father Time is undefeated, but Henry is a different beast and pairs extremely well with quarterback Lamar Jackson's rushing ability. Henry is still much more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy leagues, but either way, he's a high-end RB1.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) is "healthy and doing great" this offseason. Despite playing in just four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries, McCaffrey said back in January that he was close to 100 percent and probably would have played if the team had advanced to the playoffs. The 28-year-old do-it-all back averaged a mediocre 4.0 yards per carry on his 50 rushing attempts in 2024. Jordan Mason was traded to the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, and although CMC is still the team's unquestioned lead back when healthy, it's possible that Isaac Guerendo could see more complementary work in the backfield in 2025. McCaffrey surely won't be the No. 1 overall fantasy pick this fall after being the biggest bust in 2024, but although there's plenty of injury risk, the upside will still make him hard to pass up as a high-end RB1.
From RotoBaller
At the Annual League Meeting on Tuesday, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales compared wide receiver Xavier Legette to Pittsburgh Steelers wideout DK Metcalf. The Panthers reportedly checked in on Metcalf before the Seahawks traded him to Pittsburgh, but Carolina's head coach touted one of his own when asked about him. "I think we got that guy," Canales said, "I think it's Xavier." The 24-year-old flashed in 2024 but was mostly underwhelming and struggled with drops (eight on 81 targets). However, Canales believes we could see big things from Legette with an entire offseason under his belt. He also noted the second-year wideout's work ethic. "You can't get him out of the building. He's there early and late...he's doing all the right things, and with the hard work, it will pay off." The South Carolina native has a bit to go before he's fantasy-relevant, but the vote of confidence from his head coach is encouraging. He sits favorably on the team's depth chart for now, but that could change later this month after the draft.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants have re-signed linebacker Ty Summers to an undisclosed contract. Summers spent 2024 with the Giants -- his third team -- appearing in 16 games for the squad. Though the TCU product was mainly a special-teamer (61.4% of the team's snaps), he garnered two starts at the end of the year and produced an 11-tackle effort. He's likely to serve as a depth/special teams asset for New York again in 2025. However, he was productive from Week 16 to Week 18 when he saw the field on defense (22 tackles), and it wouldn't be surprising to see him push for more playing time this upcoming season. Summers started just one game in his career otherwise -- in 2020 with Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos have reached a one-year agreement with former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger. FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported the news, though the contract details have not been reported. Ehlinger had multiple offers, per Schultz, but chose the Broncos because he saw the best fit with head coach Sean Payton. The Texas product was a sixth-round pick for Indianapolis in 2021 and made just three starts over his four seasons with the team. In four appearances -- all in 2022 -- Ehlinger has 573 yards and a 3:3 TD:INT ratio with a 63.3% completion rate. He'll compete with incumbent backup Jarrett Stidham for the second-string quarterback role behind second-year sensation Bo Nix.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Arizona Cardinals are signing veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. The 38-year-old returns to the team that selected him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Campbell bounced around the league after departing from the Cardinals following the 2016 season, including stints in Jacksonville, Baltimore, Atlanta, and finally Miami in 2024. Even at 38, the Denver native played nearly 58% of the team's defensive snaps, collecting 52 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble in 17 appearances. Arizona has beefed up its defensive line in free agency, with Campbell joining Josh Sweat as pass-rushing reinforcement.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill (knee) is expected to miss training camp and could miss the start of the regular season, according to head coach Dan Campbell. McNeill suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of last season and sounds likely to end up on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) to begin the 2025 campaign. McNeill is one of the better interior defensive linemen in the NFL and has compiled 137 tackles (66 solo), 11.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and 24.5 run stuffs in 61 career games since being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of NC State. While it's not ideal for the 24-year-old to miss time early in the season, getting him back later in the year for another potential playoff run is the focus of the organization.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Brandon Coleman is moving to the right side of the line after starting at left tackle in his rookie season in 2024, according to head coach Dan Quinn. The franchise traded for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil this offseason, and Coleman is expected to provide depth or competition behind starting right tackle Andrew Wylie. Coleman was a third-round selection out of TCU in the 2024 NFL Draft and played in 16 games (12 starts) a season ago. While this move doesn't directly affect fantasy football, a stronger offensive line and versatile depth at tackle can only help the prospects of Jayden Daniels, Austin Ekeler, and Brian Robinson Jr.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers are re-signing running back Raheem Blackshear to a one-year deal, according to NFL.com. After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech, Blackshear spent the 2022 preseason with the Buffalo Bills before landing with the Panthers, where he has been ever since. In his three-year NFL career, the 26-year-old has totaled 52 carries for 203 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and 16 receptions for 138 yards through the air in 41 games. With Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, and potentially Jonathon Brooks (knee) in the Carolina backfield next season, it would be a surprise if Blackshear ends up on the fantasy football radar.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not expected to participate in the team's voluntary offseason training program, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Cousins is just over a year removed from signing a four-year, $180 million contract ($100 million guaranteed) but was benched after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 games last season for first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The team has stated they are comfortable keeping Cousins on the roster as a backup, but he could still be cut or traded at some point before the 2025 regular season.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been negotiating directly with All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons on a long-term contract extension and is offering him a contract that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, according to DLLS Sports' Clarence Hill. The Cowboys have conducted all negotiations without Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, and haven't talked with him since the scouting combine in late February. Parsons will not sign a new deal without his agent's approval, so this could be a sticking point in negotiations. The 25-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2021 out of Penn State has made the Pro Bowl in all four of his NFL seasons and has been a first-team All-Pro twice, having recorded a whopping 52.5 sacks in 63 regular-season games. Regardless of his contract situation, Parsons is an elite pass-rusher in IDP fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said he expects center Coleman Shelton, who was re-signed to a two-year deal in free agency this spring, to start again in 2025. Shelton started for the Rams in parts of the 2022 season and for all of 2023 before spending last year with the Chicago Bears. Due to injuries in 2024, rookie sixth-rounder Beaux Limmer ended up starting at center. While Limmer held his own in a starting role last year, the Rams wanted to upgrade at the position and improve the communication along the offensive line. The Rams will continue to develop Limmer in 2025, and he could also be used at guard. The 29-year-old Shelton also started all 17 regular-season games while with the Bears in 2024. It's good news for quarterback Matthew Stafford and the rest of the Rams offense.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he's optimistic that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. "I'm hoping he's on the field Week 1. I'll have more to know about that after [this] month goes on - see how he feels when he gets running and practicing and everything else," Bowles said. Despite suffering a dislocated left ankle in Week 7 of 2024 that sidelined him for the rest of the season, the Bucs re-signed Godwin this offseason to a three-year contract. The 29-year-old pass-catcher will continue to form an excellent one-two punch with veteran Mike Evans when he's healthy, but there will be plenty of skepticism about his fantasy value until we see him get back on the field this offseason. The good news is he was averaging a career-high 19.7 PPR fantasy points per game last year before his injury.
From RotoBaller