Thu Jul 4 2:52pm ET
Field Level Media
The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms with defensive back John Johnson III, the team announced Thursday.
Johnson, 28, returned to the Rams in 2023 after an initial four-year stint there followed by two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He played in 17 games last season (eight starts) and made 42 tackles with two interceptions and six pass breakups.
The Rams selected Johnson in the third round of the 2017 draft out of Boston College. He has 392 tackles, 10 interceptions, 38 pass breakups, eight tackles for loss and one forced fumble in 71 career regular-season games (56 starts) for the Rams.
He also has played in seven playoff games (all starts) for Los Angeles and made 42 tackles with one interception.
Johnson signed as a free agent with Cleveland in 2021 and he totaled 162 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five tackles for loss in 32 games (all starts) from 2021-22.
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10
Buffalo Bills wide receivers Curtis Samuel (pectoral) and Mack Hollins (shoulder) were both wearing non-contact jerseys at Thursday's practice session. Hollins was listed as a full participant on Wednesday, so this would represent a downgrade for him. Samuel returned in the Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins after missing Week 8, but he failed to catch his only target with Amari Cooper (wrist) out and has gone without a catch in each of his last two games. Rookie Keon Coleman (wrist) might miss multiple weeks, but even with Buffalo's receivers beat up, Samuel isn't an attractive starting fantasy lineup option. Hollins had gone without a catch in each of his last two games before bringing in all five of his targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. If Cooper is out again this weekend, Hollins will be a touchdown-dependent WR4/flex option, at best, in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers tight ends Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle, wrist) and Tommy Tremble (back) were both listed as limited in Thursday's practice. Meanwhile, Feleipe Franks (concussion) practiced in full for the second straight day. Tremble was a full-go on Wednesday, while Sanders is popping up on the injury report for the first time this week. Sanders has certainly been more involved in recent weeks as a pass-catcher than he was in the first four games of his NFL career. He's had at least five targets in four of his last five games and has a 19-217-0 line in his last five games. The 21-year-old has yet to find the end zone, though, and remains nothing more than a low-upside TE2 streamer in deeper fantasy leagues if he's active in Week 10 in Germany against the New York Giants. The return of Tremble would certainly be bad news for Sanders.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg reports that Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) is practicing in a similar fashion to last week. Cooper was inactive for the Week 9 win over the division-rival Miami Dolphins but was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough. He's likely to be listed as limited for a second straight day on Thursday and is up in the air to play in Week 10 versus the Indianapolis Colts. With rookie Keon Coleman (wrist) possibly missing multiple weeks with his own wrist injury, look for Khalil Shakir to see increased volume against the Colts, especially if Cooper misses a second straight game. The 33-year-old Cooper had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut in Week 7 before getting injured in Week 8. If Cooper is able to get the green light to return this Sunday, he should be considered a must-start for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) is not practicing for a second straight day due to a hamstring injury. The veteran turned in two limited practices last week before logging a "DNP" on Friday, so it's possible he suffered a setback to his ailment. With no practice to start the week, it would be somewhat of a surprise if he's activated from the Injured Reserve list for the Week 10 game against the New York Giants in Germany. With Diontae Johnson now in Baltimore and Jonathan Mingo in Dallas, rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker have fantasy appeal in 12-plus team leagues. The Giants are a natural matchup for wideouts, so both players are on the flex radar for Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) is back at practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice with a hamstring injury. This is great news for his fantasy managers, but his status should continue to be monitored on Friday and up to Sunday. Smith has posted at least 900 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, but he is a "boom-or-bust" fantasy option in most matchups while sharing a field with A.J. Brown (knee) and Dallas Goedert (hamstring). Assuming all three pass-catchers are active in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, Smith is a solid WR2 or WR3 play with upside, but he has a low floor due to his boom-or-bust nature.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is still out of practice on Thursday leading up to Sunday's matchup with the Denver Broncos. The former Pittsburgh Steeler and New England Patriot has not played since Week 5, and he's looking likely to be out again in Week 10. In his absence, K.C. traded for DeAndre Hopkins, who has taken over the clear WR1 role. When Smith-Schuster finally does return, he could have very little fantasy value. If he surprisingly plays this week, he is not worth starting except in 16-plus team leagues against a Denver Broncos defense that has surrendered the 8th-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (concussion) is not expected to travel with the team for the Week 10 game against the Carolina Panthers in Germany. Needless to say, he is trending toward being inactive after suffering a concussion last Sunday. In his absence, sophomore third-round wideout Jalin Hyatt should see more action, but he is not on the fantasy football radar. Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson should continue to operate as Daniel Jones' No. 1 and No. 2 targets in the passing game for the international NFC showdown.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin) is not practicing for the second straight day due to a groin injury. The third-year back out of Florida missed the Week 9 loss to the New York Jets and has only been active for four games in 2024. It looks like he could be on his way to missing another week of action, meaning J.J. Taylor and Dare Ogunbowale could serve as the RB2 and RB3 for Houston behind Joe Mixon. However, Mixon is in a workhorse role, so neither backup is worth starting in fantasy lineups. Pierce remains a handcuff RB in deep leagues, but he's barely on the fantasy football radar in leagues of 12 teams or fewer.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is not practicing on Thursday after logging a "DNP" on Wednesday. The 2020 second-round pick has missed several Wednesday practices before returning on Thursday this year, but his absence two days in a row could suggest he's at real risk of missing Week 10. Fantasy managers should monitor his status on Friday, but he's become an unattractive fantasy option in 2024. The USC alum has scored double-digit half-PPR fantasy points in just three of his nine games this year and totaled just 4.0 fantasy points over the last two weeks. If he plays, it will be against the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) is not practicing on Thursday, though he is working off to the side. This will mark his second straight "DNP" of the week with a wrist injury, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status heading into the weekend. The rookie out of Florida State has come on in recent weeks, scoring at least 14.5 fantasy points in matchups with the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks. If he cannot play, wide receiver Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid will have higher floors and ceilings against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10. The Colts have surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points per game to wideouts and fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is still not practicing on Thursday as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old has been sidelined on the Injured Reserve list since Week 5, and although his hamstring is reportedly feeling much better, it seems like he's on the wrong side of questionable for Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. Collins scored at least 14.7 half-PPR fantasy points in four of his first five games and was leading the NFL in receiving yards before getting hurt. If Collins cannot play this week, fellow wideout Tank Dell is a virtual must-start in a favorable matchup against the Detroit secondary. Fantasy managers holding out hope for Collins should monitor his practice status and official game designation on Friday afternoon.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard to a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: The contract includes $15 million in guaranteed money. It's a surprise given the fact the Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks and looks like a classic case of a contract being better in reality than in fantasy. Long-time dynasty managers are likely having memories about DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart sharing backfield duties and draining each other's appeal in the process years ago in Carolina. The move locks Hubbard not only to the roster, but also into a prominent role. This looks like the early makings of a thunder and lightning approach in Carolina and a big-time buzzkill in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | The Panthers have signed running back Chuba Hubbard to a four-year contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: This is sneaky big news in dynasty leagues as most expected Hubbard to move on in free agency, leaving the backfield duties to Brooks. Instead, it seems the Panthers are more than happy having two capable running backs to split carries instead of having a true bell cow. Brooks' dynasty value is going to take a hit now as it seems he's not going to have the workload many of us expected. This is major news in dynasty leagues and is going to have long-term ramifications.
Cincinnati Bengals newly acquired running back Khalil Herbert is expected to be active to make his debut with the team on Thursday Night Football against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, according to sources. The Bengals acquired Herbert from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday at the trade deadline, and he should immediately step in for Zack Moss (neck), who is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. Chase Brown's fantasy stock has seen a boost in recent weeks, and he's fully expected to be Cincy's primary backfield option going forward. Herbert and Trayveon Williams will battle for change-of-pace duties now that Moss is sidelined. The 26-year-old Herbert's fantasy value sees a boost with his trade to Cincy, although he'll still likely struggle for standalone starting appeal in fantasy lineups while working behind Brown.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark (groin) wasn't listed on the team's Week 10 injury report on Wednesday, meaning that he was able to put in a full practice. Chark was activated from Injured Reserve last Saturday but did not play in the Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns. The fact that the 28-year-old is completely off the injury report to begin Week 10 preparation is a good sign for his chances of being active this Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, though. It will be a boost to LA's receiving corps, but the former second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 out of LSU should remain on the waiver wire in standard 12-team fantasy leagues. Chark has yet to play in 2024 and will be the team's WR4 behind Quentin Johnston, rookie Ladd McConkey and Joshua Palmer.
From RotoBaller
Sources are saying that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) is considered unlikely to play in Week 10 against the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Sunday as he continues to get treatment and weight options for the future due to a left-shoulder injury. Lawrence was limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday, and head coach Doug Pederson was non-committal about his status for the weekend. This comes as a bit of a surprise with the 25-year-old dealing with a sore non-throwing shoulder. We'll know more on Lawrence's Week 10 status on Friday, but for now, fantasy managers should move him to their benches. Jacksonville added C.J. Beathard for QB depth on Tuesday, but backup Mac Jones will likely make his first start of 2024 if Lawrence is inactive. Jones will only be worth looking at as a desperation low-end QB2 option in superflex fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (toe) will miss a second straight practice this week on Thursday, but sources are saying he will be fine to play in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers. Mayfield apparently picked up a toe injury despite playing all of the Monday night overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The 29-year-old will likely return to practice in some capacity on Friday and will be active this Sunday as the team hosts the 49ers, who are coming off their bye. Without receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) and with rookie Jalen McMillan (hamstring) and Sterling Shepard (hamstring, hip) also banged up, Mayfield could be operating this weekend with Trey Palmer as his No. 1 wideout. He's been leaning heavily on tight end Cade Otton in recent weeks. With how thin Tampa's receiving corps is right now, Mayfield will be a much shakier QB1 streaming option in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) will meet with neck specialist Dr. Robert Watkins and is likely to avoid surgery. It's good news for Moss, but he's already been placed on Injured Reserve and will miss the rest of the 2024 season after injuring his next in the Week 9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He will be shut down for the next two months. In a best-case scenario, the 26-year-old might be able to return if the Bengals make the postseason and make a deep run. In his first year in Cincy, Moss finishes with 74 carries for 242 yards (career-low-tying 3.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns while snagging 23 of his 27 targets for 187 more yards and a touchdown. The Bengals quickly replaced Moss by trading for Bears RB Khalil Herbert, who should immediately serve as the No. 2 behind Chase Brown, possibly as early as Thursday night against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (ankle) is going to be ready to be activated from Injured Reserve in the near future and will likely take the 53-man roster spot of linebacker Preston Smith, who was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday at the trade deadline. The Packers are on bye in Week 10, but they could open the 23-year-old's 21-day practice window next week, and he could be ready to return for a Week 11 clash against the division-rival Chicago Bears. The third-rounder has been banged up since training camp and only played in Week 2 against the Colts, carrying the ball six times for 15 yards and catching one pass for three yards. Lloyd has missed a lot of developmental time in his rookie campaign, but he has the skills to be Green Bay's RB2 behind Josh Jacobs by season's end.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers an star running back Chuba Hubbard agreed on a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension on Thursday, according to sources. Hubbard receives a maximum value of $37.2 million with $15 million in new fully guaranteed money. The 25-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Oklahoma State took over lead-back duties from Miles Sanders a season ago and hasn't looked good. While he could loses valuable touches in the backfield to rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee), who is trending toward making his NFL debut in Week 10, the rest of the way, Hubbard should remain the Panthers' top option after averaging 5.0 yards per carry through nine games in 2024. Hubbard currently ranks as the RB7 in half-PPR fantasy scoring heading into Week 10 in Germany against the New York Giants, where he should be deployed as an RB2.
From RotoBaller