Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that he expects running back Samaje Perine, who was just signed this week after being released by the division-rival Denver Broncos, to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship. Although Perine will eventually have an opportunity to carve out a nice role on third downs for KC, the Chiefs won't overload him in the season opener, and he's currently listed as the RB4 on the depth chart behind starter Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie Carson Steele. Perine's signing with the defending Super Bowl champions immediately gave him more upside in deep PPR leagues, but he's still only worth a bench stash, at best. Perine's addition to KC's backfield should also slightly worry Pacheco's fantasy managers.

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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) is the only player not practicing on Sunday. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Reid said earlier this week that the Chiefs aren't expecting Brown to suit up to kick off the 2024 regular season this Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. The 27-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in the team's preseason opener and missed the rest of the preseason and training camp. It remains to be seen if he has a shot to make his Chiefs debut in Week 2 against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, but he'll need to get back on the practice field in some capacity first. Brown is still worth stashing as a WR4/flex with upside in upcoming fantasy drafts, but just know he could miss several weeks to open the season. For however long he's out, more targets will be coming for Rashee Rice, rookie Xavier Worthy, and Justin Watson, among others.

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Sports Illustrated's Tim Weaver suggests that the Carolina Panthers could consider signing new wide receiver Diontae Johnson to a long-term contract extension to create more salary cap space heading into Week 1 of the 2024 regular season. The Panthers already gave up cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round draft pick to acquire Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. If they don't sign Johnson to an extension, they could see him walk next March in free agency. If Carolina decides to extend Johnson, they could save up to $7.1 million against this year's cap. The 28-year-old missed some time in training camp this summer with minor injuries but played in the preseason finale and caught one of two targets for 17 yards. Johnson is expected to be the top pass-catcher in Carolina this year for what should be an improved offense. Fantasy managers should target him as a WR3/flex.

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The Athletic's Alec Lewis believes a Week 5 (Oct. 6) return for Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is a fair projection when he was asked when we should expect to see Hockenson back on the field in 2024. It's when Hockenson will be eligible to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list. He'll be able to practice through the first four weeks of the season while on the PUP list, and he's already sprinting and running routes on side fields. If the Vikings really wanted to, they probably could have pushed Hockenson to be ready for the first couple weeks of the regular season. This news certainly should make fantasy managers more willing to snag the 27-year-old in upcoming drafts, granted your league has IR spots to stash him. Before tearing both his ACL and MCL late in December, Hockenson was having a career year. Still, with Kirk Cousins gone and coming off a serious knee injury, fantasy managers should have reservations about Hockenson when he does return to the field in 2024.

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Veteran running back Dalvin Cook signed with the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on Wednesday and is eager to contribute in any way he can to the team's offense in 2024. "Obviously I feel like this is a great opportunity for me to come in and help a great organization to win football games," Cook said. "And as I look around and I look at the running back room, it's a bunch of guys that I can go in there and run the football with. Although he has plenty of experience as a bell-cow RB in the NFL -- he averaged 18.5 carries per game in his last four seasons with the Vikings from 2019-22 -- but he started just one game with the New York Jets in 2023 and had 67 carries for 214 yards rushing. Cook's first goal is to work his way up to the active roster from the practice squad to eventually add depth alongside Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. Dallas also has second-year back Deuce Vaughn, so Cook will be part of a committee if/when he joins the active roster.

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Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert rushed five times for seven yards during the preseason. He did not command a target through the air. Although Mostert opened last year as the Dolphins' top running back, he has since lost that title to up-and-coming sensation De'Von Achane. With Achane expected to lead the backfield this year, Mostert will settle into the No. 2 running back role. That's not necessarily a death spell for the veteran given that there were five games last year in which both Mostert and Achane were top-36 fantasy running backs (out of the nine games they played together). There's evidence that the two speedy backs can co-exist, which keeps Mostert in the RB3/FLEX range at the moment.

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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane rushed for 10 yards on two carries during the 2024 preseason. He also had a significant impact through the air, catching two passes for an additional 34 yards. Achane came on incredibly strong last year, using his receiving skills and elite speed to completely fluster opposing defenses. He proved to be a league-winner in 2023, but he also showed that he and Raheem Mostert can co-exist in Miami's offense, even from a fantasy football perspective. Achane should be treated as a low-end RB1 heading into this year's fantasy drafts.

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New York Giants running back Devin Singletary rushed for 20 yards on 10 carries during the 2024 preseason. He did not get involved in the passing game. Singletary signed with the Giants this year after spending one season in Houston. As a Texan, he took over the No. 1 running back job from Dameon Pierce but wasn't exactly a gamechanger, struggling with efficiency there, too. Unfortunately for Singletary, he's playing against a Giants offensive line that has proven to be a liability. If his efficiency was already low, it's due to dip even more while running back a weak protection unit. Nevertheless, Singletary should see a boatload of volume, both on the ground and through the air. That'll be enough to push him into high-end RB3/FLEX territory.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins did not register a touch in his first preseason with the team. This was likely due to his veteran status, familiarity with Greg Roman's offensive system, and an extensive injury history that the Chargers' didn't want to add to before he takes his first regular season snap. After all, Los Angeles wants its top running backs healthy and ready to go for Week 1. It should be noted that Gus Edwards was also held out of the preseason. Both backs are listed jointly at the No. 1 spot on the Chargers' depth chart. There were suspicions a few months ago that Edwards would be the lead back, but it appears to be heading toward more of a true split. Los Angeles may certainly decide to just ride the hot hand in 2024. As long as both are healthy, Dobbins and Edwards are nothing more than RB3/FLEX plays.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards did not register a touch in his first preseason with the team. This was likely due to his veteran status and familiarity with Greg Roman's offensive system. Letting Edwards rest not only preserved his health but also gave additional opportunities to running backs with far less job security. It should be noted that J.K. Dobbins was also held out of the preseason. Both backs are listed jointly at the No. 1 spot on the Chargers' depth chart. There were suspicions a few months ago that Edwards would be the lead back, but it appears to be heading toward more of a true split. Los Angeles may certainly decide to just ride the hot hand in 2024. As long as both are healthy, Dobbins and Edwards are nothing more than RB3/FLEX plays.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White rushed 10 times for 46 yards during the preseason. White is in line to be the Raiders' No. 1 running back after Josh Jacobs departed for the Green Bay Packers in free agency. The young playmaker faces very little competition in Las Vegas, where Alexander Mattison and Dylan Laube are new to the team but aren't expected to steal many of White's touches. We can't forget that White ranked as the overall RB9 when Jacobs was injured over the final four weeks of last season. Heading into 2024, White has only gotten better and the Raiders' offensive line has improved. White should have no trouble producing this season, making him a stable RB2 option in most fantasy leagues.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison caught just one pass for seven yards during the preseason. While it would have been nice to see a little more production out of the receiver after his up-and-down rookie campaign in 2023, we also know that Addison has a firm grasp on the No. 2 receiver role and doesn't face much competition there. The biggest question surrounding Addison is whether he can have a meaningful fantasy season with Sam Darnold throwing him the football. Not only did the Vikings suffer a quarterback downgrade this past offseason, but Addison will also lose plenty of volume to Justin Jefferson, who is fully healthy once again. Fantasy managers might want to be cautious and let Addison start the year on their bench before deciding whether he can be plugged into lineups

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey caught one pass for five yards during his first NFL preseason. It was a relatively quiet stretch of games for the rookie receiver as he competes for an impactful role in the Chargers' offense. Nevertheless, he formed a strong rapport with Los Angeles' quarterbacks during camp and also showed real promise as a blocker throughout the preseason. These factors alone should be enough to help him push for the No. 2 receiver role to open the year. Joshua Palmer figures to secure the No. 1 job, so McConkey's main competition is Quentin Johnston, who underwhelmed as a rookie last year but has reportedly impressed the Chargers' new coaching staff this summer. McConkey should be treated as a late-round depth piece in most fantasy leagues given that we don't exactly know what his role will look like this year.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum is ready to get his inaugural campaign started. While the rookie is expected to get touches from week to week behind Kyren Williams this season, he cannot say how involved he'll be. "I'm not really sure," said Corum when asked about his workload during an interview. "I know I've had a good camp, and Kyren's a phenomenal back, so we could just feed off each other. Anything to help the team." Corum, the No. 83 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, has plenty of upside in dynasty formats. However, his current value in most redraft formats is strictly as an insurance policy for Williams' fantasy managers. With that said, Williams missed time in 2023-24 due to injury. If that happens again, Corum will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) was a victim of a robbery attempt on Saturday. According to reports, Pearsall was traveling to an autograph signing when he was approached by the suspect, who demanded the rookie's Rolex watch while brandishing a firearm. A struggle ensued for the gun, resulting in both Pearsall and the suspect sustaining gunshot wounds. The wideout was transported to a local medical facility and is now in stable condition. Police also caught the suspect. There should be an update on Pearsall's condition soon. While he'll likely miss time, his health beyond the field is undoubtedly more important.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Emani Bailey has been cut by the organization on Friday. The team has decided to move on from the 22-year-old to make room for quarterback Bailey Zappe on their practice squad. Bailey failed to impress during his time with the Chiefs during the preseason. He rushed 10 times for 29 yards and caught one pass in three games. The Chiefs decided to stick with Carson Steele as their No. 4 back instead of Bailey. The undrafted back will now look to catch on elsewhere before the season begins.

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Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward (concussion) has officially cleared concussion protocol ahead of Week 1. The star defensive back missed nearly two weeks of action before returning to practice earlier this week. It sounds like Ward should be able to get ready in time for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. His presence is a huge lift to this Browns secondary, so it's great to hear that he's back ahead of Week 1. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive back has 15 interceptions, 76 passes defended, and 73 tackles during his first six seasons in Cleveland.

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The Green Bay Packers have signed running back La'Mical Perine to their practice squad on Friday. This news comes days after Perine was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined Pittsburgh in May and rushed 16 times for 46 yards with a touchdown in the preseason. He should serve as decent depth with the Packers shorthanded at running back right now. In three seasons, Perine has rushed for 340 yards with two touchdowns in 17 games between the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore Perine with Josh Jacobs likely to see the bulk of the carries in Green Bay.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook believes he still has gas left in the tank. After finishing 2022 by running for his fourth-consecutive season of at least 1,000 yards, the 29-year-old didn't do much during his time with the Jets and Ravens in 2023-24. However, Cook feels he's still one of the best running backs in the NFL and attributes his struggles last season to the Achilles injury suffered by Aaron Rodgers. "I don't really want to speak on the situation, but when Aaron went down on Play 4, everything was just a little bit different," Cook said during an interview. "When I got to Baltimore, I was ready to go. I was ready to get the ball however many times they needed me to. Unfortunately, I didn't get it that much." While the Cowboys' backfield features Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle, it's anyone's guess how impactful the duo can be. If things get out of hand from a rushing standpoint, there's room for Cook to take over as the No. 1 option on the depth chart. If that happens, he'll immediately draw attention from fantasy managers, so drafting him as a late-round stash wouldn't be a bad idea.

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The Athletic's Daniel Popper thinks that if all the Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers stay healthy this year, Joshua Palmer will lead the team in targets. Palmer is the returning player with the most targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns from quarterback Justin Herbert. He's also the fourth-most targeted receiver in Herbert's career, behind Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. Palmer has earned Herbert's trust in his first three years in the NFL, and Popper thinks trust will be especially important in the early going in 2024 after Herbert missed three weeks of training camp with a plantar-fascia injury. In addition, the Bolts have installed a new offense under coordinator Greg Roman. Palmer has upside this year, but he's mainly a WR5/flex because of the fact that he hasn't been able to stay healthy. He missed six games in 2023 with a knee injury and also battled an ankle injury and a concussion in 2022.

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