Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford enters 2024 with a chance to sit atop the depth chart, but his exact role will depend on the status of Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee), according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Both injured running backs are recovering from ACL tears, with Chubb working his way back from a gruesome knee injury sustained during a carry near the goal line last season and Hines dealing with the effects of a terrible jet ski accident last summer. Jackson notes that Ford could open the year as the Browns' No. 1 running back if he has a strong training camp and Chubb isn't cleared by Week 1; as of now, a Week 1 return would seem unlikely for Chubb, who also tore his MCL and meniscus on the same play. On the other hand, if Chubb progresses faster than expected, Ford could find himself competing for the backup role with the likes of Hines and D'Onta Foreman. This lack of clarity poses a challenge for fantasy managers trying to finalize their draft strategy. However, given the severity of Chubb's injury, it seems unlikely that he'll play in the season opener, and even if he does, he'll probably have a reduced role. Therefore, Ford should have enough early-season volume to make him a solid RB3/FLEX option for the first few weeks of the campaign (and perhaps even after Chubb returns). His ADP of 115 gives him a 10th-round price tag and slots him in as the 38th running back off the board in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The Bengals have no intention of signing wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase to an extension this off-season. Dynasty Analysis: Chase is under contract for two more seasons, so there isn't a huge sense of urgency here. However, the Bengals already have one disgruntled receiver in Tee Higgins and need to get all of this settled sooner rather than later. Regardless, Chase is one of the top three assets in all of dynasty fantasy football and he should be with the Bengals for a long time, regardless of the delay.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

The Detroit Lions placed defensive lineman DJ Reader (quadriceps), edge rusher Marcus Davenport (ankle) and defensive back Brian Branch (ankle) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday, meaning they will not be able to practice with the team for the start of training camp this week. This was fully expected for Reader, who tore his quadriceps last year while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. The 30-year-old has been one of the NFL's most productive interior defenders the last eight years and is expected to play a big role on the interior of Detroit's D-line when he's healthy. He's not a fantasy option in IDP leagues, though, with only 9.5 career sacks in eight years in the league, although he's produced at least 32 QB pressures in each of the last three seasons.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has impressed head coach Matt Eberflus with his maturity. "I think he knows himself really well," Eberflus said of Odunze. "Very mature for his age. He's a wonderful teammate and he's going to be exciting to watch," Eberflus also shared. After Odunze caught 92 passes for an FBS-leading 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games at Washington in 2023, the Bears chose him at ninth overall in the NFL draft to form one of the league's preeminent supporting casts for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Odunze has plenty of upside as a WR3/4 pick in the second half of drafts this summer, but while working alongside D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet in Chicago's offense, he'll need the attack to run at a higher tempo and become more pass-oriented to avoid getting lost in the shuffle. The 22-year-old wideout is ranked by RotoBaller as the WR45 overall, with an ADP of 69 ahead of training camp this week.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could opt to not participate in any practices until he receives a new contract. Tagovailoa is still expected to report for training camp this week, but he's in the final year of his rookie deal with the Dolphins and is searching for a long-term extension. It's not clear at this point where the two sides are at in this regard, and it's be something for fantasy managers to keep an eye on throughout camp. The 26-year-old star signal-caller was a first-time Pro Bowler a season ago, leading the league in passing yards (4,624) while registering career-high marks in completion rate (69.3%) and touchdown passes (29) with 14 interceptions over 17 starts in Miami's high-powered offense. Tagovailoa remains safe to draft this summer as a low-end QB1 starter without much rushing upside in the later rounds after the top-tier options are off the board, with RotoBaller ranking him as the QB12 overall.

From RotoBaller

According to Cincinnati Bengals owner/president Mike Brown, kicker Evan McPherson and the team have discussed a contract extension. "We've been talking," said Brown on Monday. "We're hoping we can get there with him." The 25-year-old has been a solid fantasy asset over the last three seasons, making 83.9% of his kicks in 49 appearances. He's also gone 21-for-28 from beyond the 50-yard line. Without question, McPherson has been instrumental to Cincinnati's success, so there's a good chance a deal will get done sometime soon.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) is expected to begin training camp on the active/Physically Unable to Perform list. The 25-year-old appeared in just two games last season before suffering an ACL tear during practice ahead of the Week 3 meeting in Arizona. Fortunately, he has made progress in rehab since then. However, the team will take a cautious approach by not rushing things. Diggs has appeared in 47 games for Dallas since entering the league in 2020, totaling 173 tackles, 18 interceptions, and two touchdowns. Diggs can be removed from the list as soon as he passes a physical. But the Cowboys defense will suffer until he's ready to suit up.

From RotoBaller

According to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, wide receiver Rashod Bateman is expected to be a "top receiver" in the NFL. "Rashod's been working to make plays," said Harbaugh, addressing the media following Monday's practice. "To see him come out and make those catches, those are great catches. Traffic catches, one catch he plucked off the ground there. I was excited, everybody was fired up about it." Bateman, who received a contract extension this offseason, hasn't met expectations since entering the league, amassing only 93 receptions for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns. He's also been limited to 35 games due to injury. With that said, the 24-year-old likely hasn't reached his ceiling from a potential standpoint. However, the Ravens offense is loaded with capable producers, so it could be tough for anyone not named Lamar Jackson to remain consistently involved for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk officially requested a trade nearly a week ago after not securing a contract extension from the team. While there is still time to rectify the situation, the wideout is at least drawing support, with tight end George Kittle openly expressing his admiration for his teammate. "Aiyuk's just a phenomenal football player," Kittle told NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. "He does everything you want him to do as a wide receiver. So, yes, getting Brandon Aiyuk the money that he deserves -- I hope nothing for the best for him." The 26-year-old is due to make just over $14 million this season on the fifth-year option. But as long as both sides remain at a stalemate, Aiyuk's fantasy outlook won't get much brighter despite coming off a 1,342-yard, seven-touchdown 2023-24 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers running backs Kimani Vidal and Isaiah Spiller are locked into a positional battle for the No. 3 running back spot behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins (Achilles). With Dobbins recovering from injury and Edwards no stranger to injury himself, this team's No. 3 running back is an important position. Spiller is the incumbent but also a product of the previous regime. Spiller has only rushed for a total of 137 yards on 2.5 YPC in two seasons in the NFL. Vidal was a sixth-round pick out of Troy in April's draft. With a solid size-to-speed ratio, Vidal is an exciting young prospect. If Dobbins and Edwards get and stay healthy through training camp, then it is more likely that this positional battle will come down to blocking acumen and special team play. Given that Vidal is the pick of the Harbaugh regime and Spiller has been so abysmal to start his career, Vidal may be able to separate himself. If he wins the job and Dobbins or Edwards gets injured, Vidal could be a sneaky fantasy add in a Chargers offense that projects to be run-heavy.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has had a career marred by constant quarterback changes and organizational dysfunction. Through it all, McLaurin has recorded four straight 1,000-yard seasons. His talent has constantly been on display with highlight-reel catches, and he has been a consistently solid presence in Washington's receiving core. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels stepping in, McLaurin feels the Commanders offense could be headed somewhere special. For fantasy football's sake, hopefully, McLaurin is correct. Daniels brings stability to the quarterback position and should provide McLaurin and the other receivers with one single presence throughout the season. McLaurin has a chance to build on his 1,002-yard and four-touchdown season in 2023. As roughly the WR33 in fantasy drafts, McLaurin could provide your team with solid value even with a rookie quarterback slinging the rock.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (illness) was once again absent from the team's practice on Monday. He was also unavailable for Sunday's session. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh did not have an update on Jackson's condition beyond the fact that he remains out with an illness. Jackson is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns while running for 821 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson finished as the QB4 in fantasy in 2023. As such, fantasy managers are anxiously awaiting his return to the field. Given that he is suffering from an illness, hopefully, Jackson will be back on the field later this week.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been one of the best players at his position since entering the NFL as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The LSU product has the seventh-most receiving yards (3,717) in a player's first three seasons of all time and is part of one of the best QB-WR pairings in the league. With Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jaylen Waddle, among others receiving lucrative contract extensions this offseason, Chase was thought to be next in line. However, Bengals president Mike Brown suggested Chase is unlikely to be re-signed before the start of the regular season. "It's not so likely that this is the good time to negotiate," Brown said. "The offseason is a better time for that and we're going to try to keep focused on the football part. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I will tell you that the die has probably been cast." However, Brown said the team has every intention to keep him in Cincinnati long-term. "He's a key player next to Joe [Burrow]," Brown said. "He's our next one. He knows that. We know it. This may take a while. We are going to bend over backward to get it done. I can't tell you when." Either way, Chase has overall WR1 upside in fantasy football as long as Burrow remains healthy.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings running back DeWayne McBride (undisclosed) is being placed on the non-football injury list, the team announced on Monday. McBride joined the organization as a seventh-round pick last year, but he did not appear in a game after spending the season on the practice squad. McBride was once a deep sleeper in fantasy football following his prolific college career at UAB which saw him rush for over 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons combined. Heading into his second year as a pro, he'll likely have a tough time earning a role behind Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu, especially since he's beginning the offseason with an injury.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was placed on the non-football injury list ahead of training camp, and he is not practicing on Day 1. However, the second-year playmaker said he suffered a minor toe injury at his youth camp, and it is "nothing to worry about." This is promising news for his availability later in camp as he looks to build off a strong rookie performance. The No. 50 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft posted 64 receptions for 793 yards and eight touchdowns and added 119 yards and two scores as a rusher in 2023. Although ascending quarterback Jordan Love is likely to spread targets around in 2024, Reed should continue to see manufactured touches and be a difference-maker in the red zone.

From RotoBaller

Veteran defensive back Daryl Worley re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced on Monday. Worley has spent the last three seasons with Baltimore after being with eight different organizations before the 2021 regular season. The 29-year-old played in 12 games in 2023 and racked up 12 tackles and one pass deflection. The Ravens added former All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson and first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins this offseason, so it would be a surprise if Worley sees an uptick in playing time heading into his ninth pro campaign.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hip) is not practicing on the first day of training camp due to a hip injury, according to team reporter Rob Demovsky. The rookie out of USC is expected to have a role in the ascending Green Bay offense right away, so missing reps is not ideal. However, it's early in the offseason, meaning teams are going to be extra cautious with bumps and bruises. For now, this development should not affect his rookie fantasy football value. While Josh Jacobs is fully expected to be the lead back in 2024, Lloyd could have standalone value as a handcuff running back, and his role could increase as the season moves along, especially if Jacobs continues to regress after a disappointing final season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

The Minnesota Vikings announced that first-round linebacker Dallas Turner signed his four-year rookie contract on Sunday in order to report for the start of training camp this week. The Vikings traded up with the Jacksonville Jaguars in April's NFL draft to take Turner with the 17th overall pick out of Alabama. The 21-year-old was one of the top pass-rushers in this year's draft class after recording an SEC-leading 11 sacks in his final collegiate season in 2023. Turner is undersized for an edge rusher but makes up for it with his elite athleticism and is expected to be an immediate starter in Minnesota's defense. The Vikings are hoping that Turner can make up for the loss of Danielle Hunter, who is now playing for the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback Sam Darnold will take the majority of the first-team QB snaps in training camp this summer, although rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy will get some first-team work as well. This isn't breaking news, as the Vikings announced in early June that Darnold, a former first-rounder himself, would head to camp as the QB1 as they look to give McCarthy plenty of time to develop as their potential franchise signal-caller. Darnold looked sharp in offseason workouts and is working with the best supporting cast of his career in Minnesota. His fantasy stock is on the rise as a QB2 in fantasy and is ranked as the No. 17 QB by RotoBaller. However, Darnold is going to need to perform well in 2024 in his first year in Minnesota if he wants to hold off McCarthy all season long.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent DB Daryl Worley (Ravens) re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens on an undisclosed deal Monday, July 22.

From TheHuddle