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San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk said he wants to stay with the team this season despite a contract stalemate with the Niners. Aiyuk is entering the final season of his rookie deal but told TMZ Sports at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday that he's ready to play for the 49ers although the two sides have yet to agree on an extension. In a video on TikTok this month, Aiyuk told Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, his former Arizona State teammate, that "they said they don't want me back." ESPN's Jeremy Fowler also reported that talks between Aiyuk and the Niners "have stalled a bit." He's slated to count $14.124 million against the 2024 salary cap. Coming off a 75-catch, 1,342-yard, seven touchdown season, Aiyuk should stick around in the Bay Area for at least this season and should be viewed as a low-end WR1 in fantasy.

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Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Zech McPhearson (Achilles) has recovered from an Achilles injury that caused him to miss his entire third season in 2023. McPhearson tore his Achilles in a preseason game last year against the Cleveland Browns. Before his injury, there was considerable buzz around the 26-year-old, who was getting a look at nickelback after two years primarily serving as a backup to starters Darius Slay and James Bradberry on the outside. "I'm 100 percent, man," McPhearson said. "It's been a long road to recovery, but I'm so thankful. Sitting out this year has just taught me so much, especially on the mental side of the game, allowing me to see the game from a different perspective." McPhearson appeared in 33 of a possible 34 regular-season games in his first two years in Philly and had 30 tackles (19 solo), one sack and two pass breakups.

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Dynasty | Jacoby Brissett looks to be the opening day starter for the Patriots. Dynasty Analysis: For now, at least. New England will eventually turn to Drake Maye but early reports are indicating Brissett is likely going to be the starter on opening day. Brissett could have some early season appeal in 2QB leagues but the journeyman won't have much room to flounder as his replacement waits in the wings.

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Dynasty | Early reports are indicating Drake Maye will not be the opening day starter in New England. Dynasty Analysis: New England is likely taking it slow with their new franchise quarterback as Jacoby Brissett took all the first team snaps in training camp. If anything, it seems Maye will need to earn the job through training camp. Regardless, his day is coming sooner rather than later and while there's still significant risk with him based on a poor supporting cast, he remains a solid dynasty asset moving forward.

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Dynasty | At this point in time, Sam Darnold appears to be the QB1 in Minnesota. Dynasty Analysis: Of all the "rookie quarterback battles" (those are usually nothing more than fake competitions), this one seems pretty legitimate. JJ McCarthy still has some work to do and Darnold seems to be more than capable enough to hold down the fort until he's ready. Darnold clearly looks like he has one more chance to prove he's a starting quarterback in the league and while that may come in an early season audition for other teams while he keeps the seat warm for McCarthy, there is still dynasty value by having him on a roster.

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Dynasty | Vikings rookie JJ McCarthy is reportedly unlikely to start on opening day. Dynasty Analysis: This is really no surprise to anyone following the Vikings this off-season. McCarthy has done nothing wrong, but Sam Darnold is just more NFL ready at the moment and Minnesota has playoff aspirations this year. McCarthy will likely make starts later in the season (earlier if Darnold struggles) but it seems Minnesota will take it slowly with their future franchise quarterback. McCarthy remains a solid early pick in Superflex leagues and a good third round selection in conventional formats this Summer.

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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Isaac Yiadom has impressed enough this offseason that he seems to have the early inside track on being the first corner on the field when the team needs more than their top two. The 49ers signed Yiadom in March to bolster the competition for the No. 3 cornerback job behind starters Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. General manager John Lynch said that Yiadom reminded him of himself a little in that it took some time to get his feet under him, but once he did, things began to click. "Kind of just a mindset," Lynch said. "Stop doubting yourself, and let's go. And he was able to find that last season and have that belief in it, and it really flourished." The 28-year-old former third-round pick of the Broncos in 2018 out of Boston College has 158 tackles (113 solo), half a sack, two interceptions and 26 pass breakups in his six years in the league.

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ESPN's Sarah Barshop lists Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp as one of the team's most surprising offseason standouts, which even she admits is odd. Kupp, who was the 2021 receiving triple-crown winner, has played through significant injuries in each of the past two seasons. He finished 2023 with 59 catches for 737 yards and five touchdowns, his fewest receiving yards since 2018, when he played in only eight games. However, Kupp is healthy this offseason, and it showed on the practice field. Head coach Sean McVay said during organized team activities that he doesn't think "anyone really understands the amount of things [Kupp was] working through last season" with his injury and that the receiver has been able to build his body "from the ground up." Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting the 2021 version of Kupp anymore, especially with Puka Nacua in the fold, but if he's healthy, he can still deliver value as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 in 2024.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy received a three-year, $52.5 million extension from the Browns less than a week after being acquired from the Denver Broncos in a trade this offseason. Jeudy didn't participate in the on-field portion of minicamp due to an undisclosed injury. He may not have been taking on-field reps during offseason practices, but he was at the facilities and has been seen as the receiver who could benefit the most from choice routes in offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey's scheme. Receivers coach Chad O'Shea said Jeudy has "made so much progress learning the offense" despite not getting on the field yet. The former first-rounder was a bust in his four years with Denver and will be the clear No. 2 behind Amari Cooper in Cleveland. He should see plenty of time in the slot and has a chance to bounce back with the Browns, but he's currently being drafted as more of a WR5/6 in fantasy.

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No NFL running back played a higher percentage of his team's offensive snaps last year than San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey. Elijah Mitchell, their top backup, missed six games in another injury-riddled season, and McCaffrey was simply too good to take off the field. CMC led the league with 1,459 rushing yards -- 292 more than the next best RB. His 21 TDs tied for the league lead and he also added 564 receiving yards, which ranked fourth on the 49ers. His 339 total touches were the second-most of his career. McCaffrey's efforts earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors and a two-year extension. The Niners would love a repeat performance in 2024, but perhaps with less wear and tear. A healthy Mitchell would help them accomplish that. "We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn't like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that's something we could protect him with more," head coach Kyle Shanahan said.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appeared on The Pivot on Friday. Of course, the topic of his contract with the team was addressed. NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported a few days ago that both sides had a "good meeting." However, that may not be the case. "Throughout this process, there have been times when we're super close," Aiyuk said during the podcast interview. "There's days and times, like in the past month or so, where you could say we're pretty far apart." The wideout indicated that both sides were closer to an agreement when the negotiation process began. But recent deals for other wide receivers around the National Football League changed things. Aiyuk finished the 2023-24 campaign by amassing 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also demonstrated his durability, missing just one regular season game in the last three years. The 26-year-old is entering the final season of his current deal, so his value to the other 31 teams in the NFL will increase if he continues to produce. Nonetheless, Aiyuk's fantasy stock is at an all-time high heading into the 2024-25 campaign, even though he'll share a field with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle.

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride enjoyed a solid season in 2023, hauling in 81 of his 106 targets for 825 yards and three touchdowns. He finished as the TE7 in PPR leagues, and he was the TE3 from Week 7 on after Zach Ertz was placed on Injured Reserve. However, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing believes the best is ahead for the young tight end. "I certainly feel like he has another level that he can take his game to," Petzing said. "And we're gonna push him to try to get him there." The 24-year-old could enter the elite tier of fantasy tight ends in 2024, and many view him as the dynasty TE2 behind Sam LaPorta. McBride's ADP in 2024 FFPC best ball drafts places him as the third tight end off the board, and although he will compete for targets with Marvin Harrison Jr., he has overall TE1 upside.

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The Baltimore Ravens signed free-agent wide receiver Keith Kirkwood on Friday, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Athletic. Kirkwood took part in mandatory minicamp on a tryout basis earlier this offseason and performed well enough to earn a roster spot ahead of training camp. The 2018 undrafted free agent out of Temple has played in 30 total games for the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints and has racked up 24 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns. He has also played significant special teams snaps during his career.

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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed seven games last season due to injury, and it was the first year dating back to high school that he recorded zero interceptions. In 2024, Fitzpatrick and the Steelers are expecting a return to his ball-hawking ways. "The biggest thing is as coaches, our job is to try to get all of our guys in the best position as possible so they can play as well as they can and play up to their abilities," defensive coordinator Te Teryl Austin said. "And so last year I probably failed in that regard. We tried to have him do too much stuff, and I think I'm going to get back to really what makes him special." Austin's comments signal that the team will give him more freedom this year, which could help him become fantasy-relevant in IDP leagues once again. The former first-round pick out of Alabama scored the third-most fantasy points among defensive backs in 2021 and the 12th-most in 2022.

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Arizona Cardinals second-year pass-rusher BJ Ojulari added 10 pounds and shortened his stride in an effort to impress during his first full offseason in the NFL, and it has worked so far. Ojulari showed an improved set of pass-rush moves that could help him break into the rotation in a deep outside linebackers room in Arizona. He missed time last season because of hamstring and knee injuries that kept him sidelined until training camp. Now that he's healthy in 2024, Ojulari has shown why he was a second-round pick (41st overall) last year out of LSU. In 17 games played in his rookie campaign last year, the 22-year-old produced 40 tackles (23 solo), four sacks, five tackles for loss, six QB hits and one pass breakup for the Cardinals defense.

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The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that Minnesota Vikings first-round rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy definitely won't be starting in Week 1 of the 2024 regular season, and he probably won't start in the first quarter of the season. There's even a scenario in which he shouldn't be expected to start at all this year, depending on how Sam Darnold fares. It's not a referendum on McCarthy's talent or his minicamp performance, but rather the team's long-term developmental plan for him. If Darnold, a former first-rounder himself, is dominating and winning in his first year in Minnesota, it will make it easy for the coaching staff to keep McCarthy on the sidelines while he learns. But if Darnold is struggling and the team isn't competitive, it will be hard for head coach Kevin O'Connell to quiet the noise for McCarthy. The bottom line is that McCarthy should be avoided in redraft fantasy leagues.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Tyrek Funderburk, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Appalachian State, picked off quarterback Kyle Trask on the first day of mandatory minicamp this month and had a second interception on Day 2 off quarterback John Wolford. "He's a guy that's flashed out of pads," head coach Todd Bowles said. Funderburk still has a ways to go before we're talking about him for a 53-man roster spot, but he'll be a name to watch from Tampa's secondary once the pads come on at training camp at the end of July. It wouldn't be the first time the Bucs hit on an undrafted defensive back, though, as cornerback Christian Izien started as the team's nickel corner in 2023 after going undrafted. Pass-rusher Markees Watts and receiver Rakim Jarrett are also former undrafted free agents that remain on the Bucs' roster.

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Minnesota Vikings second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison produced one of the most notable springs of any Vikings player during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp this offseason, taking full advantage of his first NFL offseason to set himself up for an even better year after impressing as a rookie in 2023. Addison was hurt and missed most of the team's spring workouts last year after he was the 23rd overall pick in the draft. Still, he was one of four players in modern NFL history to record at least 70 receptions, 900 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie campaign. He showed a natural instinct for getting open and developed a reputation for making tough catches as well. Addison has a bright future, but fantasy managers in 2024 may want to temper expectations a bit now that quarterback Kirk Cousins is gone. He's a fine WR4/flex target but could be a bit more inconsistent with Sam Darnold throwing him the pigskin.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton refused to comment on whether he plans to attend training camp, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. Sutton, who is still seeking a contract extension but remains in a "stalemate" with the Broncos, admitted he considered skipping minicamp. He remains optimistic about getting an extension signed before training camp begins. "We'll see what happens,'' Sutton said. "We've got a month to be able to get things situated and hopefully things get situated. ... This is where I want to be, this is home, this is where I want to hoist the Lombardi trophy, this is where I want to retire.'' The 28-year-old is coming off a relatively modest 2024 campaign in which he caught 59 passes for 772 yards but did record a career-high 10 touchdowns. With Jerry Jeudy shipped off to Cleveland, Sutton is in line to operate as Denver's No. 1 wide receiver. However, a quarterback room featuring Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson leaves a lot to be desired. Inconsistent quarterback play could keep Sutton in the WR3 tier for fantasy football this year.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles recognized tight end Cade Otton for his durability and willingness to learn multiple systems, according to Luke Easterling of Bucs Wire. "His durability has been outstanding," Bowles recently said. "We've called on him a lot as a rookie. It's hard to believe he's only a third-year guy coming up. His durability has been outstanding and he's had different coordinators each year, so his ability to adapt and learn, He's had different coaches, it's not like he's had the same position coach or had the same offensive coordinator. So, to learn different things and tweak his game to fit what we needed him to do is outstanding." The 25-year-old tight end is looking to build on a campaign in which he caught 47 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns. He's the top tight end in Tampa Bay, and although he'll lose plenty of volume to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rachaad White, he' still a mid-range TE2 for fantasy purposes.

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