Guest of the League
Fanatics Fantasy Football League Est. 2002
FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

Patriots, RB Rhamondre Stevenson agree to 4-year extension

Thu Jun 20 4:12pm ET
Field Level Media

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson and the New England Patriots have agreed to extend his contract for four years and $36 million, including $17 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Network reported on Thursday.

Stevenson, 26, is slated to earn a base salary of $3.116 million in the final year on his rookie contract, which he signed after the Patriots selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. His extension takes him through the 2028 season.

He told reporters earlier this month that the sides were "pretty close" to getting a deal done.

"It's not frustrating, but it's just a long process," he said on June 10. "This is my first time going through it, but just hearing from all the other guys, this is how it goes. It's a negotiation process, and I'm respecting the process."

Last season, Stevenson suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 13 and sat out the rest of a 4-13 campaign. In 12 games, he rushed for 619 yards and four touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 238 yards.

In 41 games (21 starts) over three seasons, the 6-foot, 227-pound Oklahoma product has 2,265 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns along with 121 catches for 782 yards and one receiving score.

Stevenson shared the backfield with veteran Ezekiel Elliott last season, but Elliott rejoined the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. This spring, former Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson is in the fold after signing a three-year, $11.25 million deal, but Stevenson remains the starter.

"I think he's one of the better backs in the league, no doubt about it," first-year Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said of Stevenson at the Patriots' mandatory minicamp two weeks ago. "I'm excited to see what he does this season, and look, he's earned everything that he gets. He is our starting running back and, hopefully, we do get something done."

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 7

Player Notes
Mason Rudolph Oct 19 5:10pm ET
Mason Rudolph

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph will start in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Will Levis (shoulder) is still questionable. However, Levis will get the week off, with Rudolph taking over under center. While the move may slightly increase the Titans' chances of picking up the win, the signal-caller hasn't played well as a starter, amassing an 8-4-1 record while accumulating 2,797 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions dating back to his tenure in Pittsburgh. As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't consider him a starting option in Week 7, although he has some value in deep Superflex setups for those who are desperate.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Oct 19 4:50pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) was activated from the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List on Saturday. While the rookie was in line to play along, the latest update makes things official. He was shot in the chest during an armed robbery attempt before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, so Week 7 will mark his official debut. However, it's tough to say how much work Pearsall will receive. But even if he plays more than expected, he'll need to battle with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr., and George Kittle for targets.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Oct 19 4:40pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (illness) is questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. He's battling an illness, so his late addition to the injury report means there's a realistic chance he won't suit up in Week 7. The 23-year-old has played well this season, totaling 234 yards and five touchdowns off 51 carries. He's also caught 21 of his 24 targets for 136 yards. With the Seahawks losing their last three contests, the team could certainly use him. In the meantime, fantasy managers should snag Zach Charbonnet off waivers, where available. If Walker doesn't get on the field, Charbonnet is worth starting in any fantasy format.

From RotoBaller

T.J. Hockenson Oct 19 4:30pm ET
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) won't play in Sunday's NFC North clash against the Detroit Lions. The 27-year-old recently returned to practice. While he's moving in the right direction regarding his return to the field, fantasy managers will need to wait a little longer. There's a chance Hockenson will be back in the lineup for the Week 8 clash with the Los Angeles Rams. However, it's more realistic to assume he'll make his 2024-25 debut for the Week 9 matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, anything can change moving forward, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation. In the meantime, it will be Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver splitting starting duties, although neither man can be considered a viable fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Oct 19 4:13pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Dynasty | The Browns have activated running back Nick Chubb. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb will make his much-anticipated return in week seven against the Bengals. His presence will be a welcome one by a Browns team that's 1-5 and flailing miserably. Cleveland traded Amari Cooper this week and Deshaun Watson looks like an absolute shell of himself, so anything the Browns get from Chubb will be important. Dynasty managers should be cautious as his role is likely not going to be a huge one for a few weeks. Still, it will certainly be nice to see him back after last year's gruesome injury.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Russell Wilson Oct 19 4:13pm ET
Russell Wilson

Dynasty | The Steelers are planning on starting Russell Wilson at quarterback this week. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson has worked his way back from a calf injury and will replace Justin Fields in the starting lineup. It's a curious move as Fields has the team at 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North. Still, the Steelers are clearly hesitant in unleashing Fields as a passer and have made their game plans extraordinarily conservative on offense. Fields is likely to play in this one and Wilson is going to have precious little time to prove he should continue to start. In short, this looks like a situation to avoid for the foreseeable future in terms of dynasty lineups.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Aaron Rodgers Oct 19 4:13pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | The Jets are planning on Davante Adams playing at full strength this week. Dynasty Analysis: Adams was traded to the Jets this week and apparently the plane flight magically cured his injury. Dynasty managers won't complain as Adams has reportedly looked great in practice and is excited to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers. The Jets still have major problems and Adams is going to still need to build chemistry in the offense, so he should be viewed as more of a WR2 at the moment. Stay tuned.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Patrick Mahomes Oct 19 4:00pm ET
Patrick Mahomes

The San Francisco 49ers D/ST unit faces the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch in Santa Clara on Sunday. The 49ers D has been performing well, scoring touchdowns in two of the last three games. Last week in Seattle, they collected three turnovers, one sack, and allowed 24 points. Despite the 5-0 record Kansas City's offense hasn't been super efficient, ranking 15th in points per game and 11th in yards per game. They haven't taken care of the ball particularly well either, sitting in an eight-way tie for the 9th-most turnovers lost. San Francisco's defense is healthy, and so is Kansas City's offense besides the continued absence of Rashee Rice (knee), who they lost for the season in Week 3. Despite the Chiefs' offense being not-so-scary statistically, quarterback Patrick Mahomes II has been sacked the seventh-fewest times and is unlikely to provide 49ers D/ST managers with much in the way of a points-allowed bonus. The 49ers are the 13th-ranked D/ST unit in RotoBaller's Week 7 rankings.

From RotoBaller

Will Reichard Oct 19 3:00pm ET
Will Reichard

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard remains a solid streaming option in Week 7, facing the Detroit Lions. The 23-year-old has remained perfect throughout the season, going 9-for-9 on attempts and 16-for-16 on extra-point attempts. During the first five games, Reichard has averaged 8.6 PPR points per game and made at least two field goal attempts in three games. The Alabama product has also made three attempts from over 50 yards. Facing the Detroit Lions in what is projected to be a high-scoring affair, given the projected 50.5 point total makes Reichard a safe option with solid upside on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Oct 19 2:50pm ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (foot) is listed as questionable for Monday's game according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. White opened the week as a limited participant during Thursday's and Friday's practice. However, the 25-year-old was able to upgrade to full participation on Saturday, which is a positive sign for his availability on Monday evening. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor White's status throughout the weekend. If White can suit up, fantasy managers should expect Tampa Bay to split opportunities between their running backs, which makes Bucky Irving and White low-end RB2s, with Sean Tucker projecting to be a flex option facing a tough Baltimore rush defense.

From RotoBaller

Cam Akers Oct 19 2:40pm ET
Cam Akers

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers could be pushed up the depth chart on Sunday if Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable and could be a game-time decision. The Vikings traded for Akers from Houston earlier this week, which could suggest that Jones may not be able to play. In Houston, Akers saw work as the lead running back when Joe Mixon (ankle) was sidelined and tallied a modest 9.3 PPR points per game during a three-game stretch. While Ty Chandler will likely see most attempts in Jones' absence, Akers could carve out a solid workload and be a viable desperation flex option in 14+ team formats.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 19 2:40pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is off the injury report and good to go for Monday's game, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The veteran wideout was held out of practice on Thursday and Friday. However, on Saturday, Evans was able to upgrade to limited participation and avoided an injury designation ahead of Monday's game. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting the 31-year-old in all formats as he will face a weak Baltimore secondary who have surrendered the 29th-most points to opposing wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Anders Carlson Oct 19 2:30pm ET
Anders Carlson

San Francisco 49ers kicker Anders Carlson will kick off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Santa Clara. The younger brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson will be the third kicker used by the 49ers in as many games since Jake Moody (ankle) and Matthew Wright (shoulder, back) both suffered injuries attempting to make tackles. Last season, Carlson spent his rookie year as the Green Bay Packers starting kicker from beginning to end but was cut during this year's preseason. Carlson was the 23rd-most productive kicker in fantasy but led the league in misses with 13. Any decent kicker that San Francisco puts out there is likely a decent fantasy option, given the team's offensive prowess, as seen last week with journeyman Wright's three field goals and three extra points made. Anyone streaming kickers or looking for a replacement could do worse than Carlson in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Ty Chandler Oct 19 2:30pm ET
Ty Chandler

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler could have an increased role if No. 1 running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable on the team's injury report and will likely be a game-time decision. If Jones is eventually ruled out, Chandler should be expected to be pushed to the top of the depth chart. When Jones left their previous game early, Chandler saw 14 attempts but tallied a mere 30 yards. Through the air, he caught two passes for nine yards. Facing a tough Detroit defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs does lower Chandler's ceiling this weekend. However, if he is in the lead role, he is worth a look as a flex play simply for the potential volume.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Oct 19 2:20pm ET
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is considered "ahead of schedule" in his recovery process, according to Cameron DaSilva of USA Today. The 31-year-old tight end suffered a torn ACL in their playoff loss to the Detroit Lions last season, but head coach Sean McVay remains optimistic about his potential return this season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Higbee's status, as he could have a chance to return later this season. For the time being, Colby Parkinson should continue to see the majority of snaps at the tight end position. Through five games this season, Parkinson has averaged 7.1 PPR points per game.

From RotoBaller

Nyheim Hines Oct 19 2:10pm ET
Nyheim Hines

Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not activated before their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. Hines is still recovering from his torn ACL. However, the 27-year-old did log three full practices this week, which suggests he will return in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Hines tallied only 36 yards on the ground with one score but caught 25 passes for 188 yards through the air. This weekend, fantasy managers should expect Nick Chubb (knee) and D'Onta Foreman to lead the backfield. When Hines does return, he should see most of his work on passing downs.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Oct 19 1:10pm ET
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is denying that he has requested a trade. "I ain request a trade.. so that's a lie. I'm in an orange robe on the way to Knoxville.. #WhoDat," Kamara wrote on his X account. Rumors may be swirling that Kamara is unhappy in New Orleans after five straight losses, most recently a 33-10 beatdown at the hands of the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. The 29-year-old got off to a blazing start in 2024 with 80 rushing attempts for 362 yards (4.53 yards per tote) and five rushing touchdowns in the first four weeks, adding 17 catches for 174 yards and another score. But in three games since then, he has 76 yards on 31 carries for one touchdown and has caught 17 passes for 78 yards. It hasn't helped that QB Derek Carr (oblique) has missed the last two games. Kamara should improve once Carr returns, but that may not be for another week or so.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 19 12:50pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) will be questionable to play on Monday night in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens and will be a game-time decision. Evans was listed as a non-participant in practice on both Thursday and Friday but was seen practicing on Saturday, which at least gives him a shot to play on Monday. We would expect the 31-year-old to be able to suit up against Baltimore, but it's no sure thing and it puts fantasy manages in a tough predicament with Tampa not playing until Monday this week. Hopefully, we'll get a bit more clarity on Evans' status late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, but for now, he's trending as a volatile high-end WR2 this week because of his injury. If Evans is inactive on Monday night, Chris Godwin, Sterling Shepard and rookie Jalen McMillan are likely to start in three-receiver sets.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks Oct 19 12:50pm ET
Treylon Burks

According to sources, the Tennessee Titans are expected to place wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee) on Injured Reserve after he suffered a non-contact knee injury in practice this week. Moving Burks to IR would mean he would not be eligible to play for the next four weeks. The earliest Burks would be eligible to return would be for a Week 11 date against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 17. The 24-year-old former 18th overall pick in 2022 out of Arkansas has been a bust for the Titans in two-plus seasons in the NFL. In five games this year, he's caught four of eight targets for 34 yards and no touchdowns and is well off the fantasy radar, especially after his new knee injury. In Burks' absence for the foreseeable future, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who caught a touchdown in last week's loss to the Colts, should see more run as depth behind Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Oct 19 12:40pm ET
Cooper Kupp

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says that Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) could be a true game-time decision to play in Week 7 on Sunday versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Kupp was limited in practice all week and was listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report. He has had a good week of practice and is optimistic that he'll be able to return to action, but head coach Sean McVay said the team will see how he responds over the weekend leading into Sunday's contest. The 31-year-old veteran would be a must-start fantasy wideout if he's active for Week 7, but the problem is the Rams play in the later window on Sunday, so we won't know first thing on Sunday if Kupp will be playing. Something to consider is that the Rams play again next Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings, so it's possible they will rest Kupp for one more week if they don't feel he's quite ready.

From RotoBaller