Mon Jan 9 10:17am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Williams scores two more times
This last week showed why you should end your fantasy seasons in Week 17. This last week was a bit of a mess. Some players were benched after just a few series and some didn’t play at all. And many of the big performers were guys that weren’t on any radars. It was a really tough week to figure out for fantasy owners.
Chiefs 31, Raiders 13
Fantasy Stud: Hunter Renfrow. Renfrow had a disappointing fantasy season after his breakout year, but at least finished on a high note. He had seven receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. His reception total tied a season high and his yards was a season high. He scored 19.3 fantasy points, giving him double-digit fantasy points two of his last three games.
Fantasy Dud: Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes played fine but three rushing touchdowns really limited his fantasy numbers. He was not much of a help to fantasy teams, going 18-of-26 for 202 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Mahomes had his lowest fantasy total of the season, scoring just 17 fantasy points. He had 20-plus fantasy points all but a game before this one.
Game Notes: Jarrett Stidham had another decent start for the Raiders. He was 22-of-36 for 219 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He also led the team in rushing, running seven times for 50 yards.
Kadarius Toney found the end zone. He ran three times for 26 yards and a score. He also caught two passes for 18 yards.
Jaguars 20, Titans 16
Fantasy Stud: Christian Kirk. Kirk had a huge game, helping the Jaguars clinch their playoff spot. He had six receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Kirk topped 20 fantasy points for the first time since Week 10. It was the fourth time he went over 20 points for the season, though. He had a big first year in Jacksonville, finishing with over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns.
Fantasy Dud: Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence did not have much of a showing for fantasy teams in Week 18. He was 20-of-32 for 212 yards and a touchdown with a lost fumble, scoring just 13.6 fantasy points. He missed on a few throws that likely would have led to scores. He still had a great year overall and seems destined for stardom after his strong second season in the NFL.
Game Notes: Joshua Dobbs played pretty well once again but a couple turnovers did him in during the game. He was 20-of-29 for 179 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He also lost a fumble, which was returned for a touchdown.
Derrick Henry got a huge workload, rushing 30 times for 109 yards. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry but topped 100 yards because of the volume. Henry had four straight 100-yard games to end his season.
Panthers 10, Saints 7
Fantasy Stud: Chris Olave. The offenses were awful in this one, but Olave was a bright spot. He had five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. Olave scored 16 fantasy points in the game, his highest total since Week 11. Olave had a fine rookie season despite getting erratic quarterback play. He topped 1,000 yards for the season.
Fantasy Dud: Sam Darnold. The Panthers might have won, but Darnold had an awful game. He was 5-of-15 for 43 yards with two interceptions. He played pretty well since taking over as starter, but his finish didn’t help matters for his value going forward. This was a brutal showing for Darnold.
Game Notes: Alvin Kamara hit the 100-yard rushing mark, running 23 times for 107 yards. He also caught a pass for three yards. This was just his second 100-yard game of the season.
Falcons 30, Bucs 17
Fantasy Stud: Drake London. London finished his rookie season on a high note. He had six receptions for 120 yards. This was his first 100-yard game of his career. He had at least 13 fantasy points four of his last five games. London is a fantasy player on the rise, especially if the Falcons can figure out their quarterback situation this offseason.
Fantasy Dud: Mike Evans. Evans was active but didn’t get a catch and missed about the entire game because he was sick. It was a risk to play him to begin with, but Chris Godwin was active and had six catches for 55 yards. Evans had a good finish to this season, but fantasy owners weren’t happy with him this last week.
Game Notes: Desmond Ridder had his best showing as a pro. He was 19-of-30 for 224 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Tyler Allgeier had 24 carries for 135 yards. Allgeier had a great finish to his rookie year, getting 15-fantasy points four straight.
Vikings 29, Bears 13
Fantasy Stud: Alexander Mattison. Mattison got to carry the load with Dalvin Cook getting banged up. He took advantage, rushing 10 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Mattison has shown he can carry the load when give the chance and could be looking for a starting job somewhere next season.
Fantasy Dud: David Montgomery. Montgomery played but didn’t do much. He seven carries for just 21 yards and didn’t catch a pass. He took a backseat toe Khalil Herbert much of the game. Montgomery had a solid season, but his status with the team is a little up in the air going forward.
Game Notes: K.J. Osborn had his second 100-yard game of the season. He had five receptions for 117 yards. He has at least 14 fantasy points four of his last five games.
Cole Kmet scored a touchdown for the second straight game. He had four receptions for 57 yards and a score.
Dolphins 11, Jets 6
Fantasy Stud: Garrett Wilson. Wilson was about the only offense in this game. He had a great game, carrying the offense for the Jets. He has eight receptions for 102 yards. This was his fourth 100-yard game. He finishes his rookie year with more than 1,100 yards. He has a really bright future.
Fantasy Dud: Zonovan Knight. Knight carried the most work at running back but didn’t do anything. He has 12 carries for just 22 yards. He also didn’t catch a pass in the game. Knight showed well with his chances this year, but is likely playing for a top backup role next year for the Jets.
Game Notes: Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert split the work at running back again and produced well. Wilson had 16 carries for 72 yards while Mostert had 11 carries for 71 yards.
Tyreek Hill was banged up in the game, hurting his ankle. He had just two catches for 23 yards. He was in and out of the game.
Steelers 28, Browns 14
Fantasy Stud: Nick Chubb. Chubb continued his fine season with another good game. He had 12 carries for 77 yards. He also caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. Chubb topped 20 fantasy points in the game for the sixth time this year. He had more than 1,500-rushing yards in the game.
Fantasy Dud: Diontae Johnson. Johnson had two receptions for just 38 yards. He failed to score a touchdown, meaning he was shutout of the end zone the entire season. Johnson got his catches, but couldn’t find the end zone and his yardage totals were just so so.
Game Notes: Najee Harris scored his 10th touchdown of the season. He had 23 carries for 84 yards and a score. He had double-digit fantasy points all but three games.
Bills 35, Patriots 23
Fantasy Stud: Nyheim Hines. It was pretty unbelievable but Hines returned to kicks for touchdowns, including the opening kick of the game. This put the Bills home crowd in a frenzy and was a fitting start to the game after the Damar Hamlin tragedy. The Bills defense/special teams scored 19 fantasy points in the game because of the big showing from Hines.
Fantasy Dud: Devin Singletary. Singletary had seven carries for just 29 yards. And he caught just a pass for three yards. He also lost a fumble, finishing with just 3.2 fantasy points. Singletary had another up and down season as the Bills starter, finishing with just more than 800-rushing yards.
Game Notes: Josh Allen had another three-touchdown game, going 19-of-31 for 254 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He scored 25-plus fantasy points for the third straight game.
Stefon Diggs enjoyed his seventh 100-yard game of the season. He had seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Texans 32, Colts 31
Fantasy Stud: Zack Moss. Moss continued his strong showing as the starting back for the Colts. He had 18 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown. He also had three catches for seven yards. Moss topped 20 fantasy points, giving him double-digit fantasy points for the first time all year. He did have 70-plus rushing yards three of his last four games.
Fantasy Dud: Chris Moore. Moore was starting to emerge late in the year, but was quiet in this favorable matchup. He had two receptions for just 22 yards. Moore finishes the season with fewer than 30 yards three straight games. He got quiet in a hurry after looking like a big help to fantasy teams.
Game Notes: Jordan Akins was a big bright spot for the Texans, catching four passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. He also converted a two-point try to win the game for the Texans.
Brandin Cooks had his first 100-yard game of the season. He has five receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown, topping 20 fantasy points for the first time this year.
Bengals 27, Ravens 16
Fantasy Stud: Ja’Marr Chase. Chase had eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. Chase scored 22.6 fantasy points. Chase had a big second season, topping 1,000 yards while scoring nine times despite missing four games because of injury. He can challenge for top fantasy receiver in the game next year.
Fantasy Dud: Joe Burrow. Burrow played the whole game but was held in check pretty well. He was 25-of-42 for 215 yards and a touchdown. He also lost a fumble. Burrow failed to hit 15 fantasy points in the game, which was his lowest total of the entire season.
Game Notes: Isaiah Likely had his first 100-yard game as a pro. He had eight receptions for 103 yards, taking advantage of starting with Mark Andrews a healthy scratch.
Gus Edwards was hurt early in the game and unable to return. Kenyan Drake ended up carrying the load most of the game and had 16 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.
49ers 38, Cardinals 13
Fantasy Stud: Brock Purdy. Purdy just keeps getting it done for the 49ers. He was 15-of-20 for 178 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Purdy has multiple touchdowns six straight games. He is just a great fit for the offense, having 20-plus fantasy points two straight and three of five games.
Fantasy Dud: Greg Dortch. Dortch had been on a pretty good run lately, so he got some play this week. He had just four catches for 40 yards, though, with the entire Cardinals passing game struggling. He had 21 largest his last two games before getting just four in this one. Dortch could be a big part of the offense going forward, though, after his strong showing down the stretch.
Game Notes: Elijah Mitchell returned this week and ran five times for 55 yards and two touchdowns. He looked good in his first game back from a knee injury.
In what might have been his last game of his career, A.J. Green had a strong showing. He had three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Eagles 22, Giants 16
Fantasy Stud: Davis Webb. There was not much good offense in this game, but Webb produced decent numbers for fantasy teams. He had two scores and didn’t turn the ball over. He was 23-of-40 for 168 yards and a touchdown. He also ran six times for 41 yards and a score. Webb scored 22.5 fantasy points in his first NFL start.
Fantasy Dud: Jalen Hurts. Hurts returned from his shoulder injury and played the entire game. He played alright, but didn’t help fantasy owners at all. He failed to score a touchdown. He was 20-of-35 for 229 yards with an interception. He also ran nine times for 13 yards. The best news was he made it out of the game healthy and will be ready to go for the playoffs.
Game Notes: Kenny Golladay finally did something for the Giants in his last game of the year and likely last as a Giant. He had two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. This was his first score of the season.
Commanders 26, Cowboys 6
Fantasy Stud: Sam Howell. Howell had a solid game in his first NFL start. He topped 20 fantasy points in the game, doing a lot better than a lot quarterbacks from around the NFL in Week 18. He was 11-of-19 for 169 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He also ran five times for 35 yards and a score. Howell could make a case to be the starter in Washington next season. He showed some promise.
Fantasy Dud: Tony Pollard. Pollard had a dreadful game. He ran seven times for 19 yards and led the team in rushing. He also didn’t catch a pass. Pollard didn’t even hit two fantasy points, breaking a streak of at least 14 fantasy points four straight games. His point total was his second lowest of the season.
Game Notes: Dak Prescott had an awful game, going 14-of-37 for 128 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He scored just 11 fantasy points.
Terry McLaurin had three receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. He had another fine season despite quarterback issues. He was able to top 1,100-receiving yards.
Broncos 31, Chargers 28
Fantasy Stud: Russell Wilson. Wilson played a good game, going 13-of-24 for 283 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. This gives him two straight games with 26-plus fantasy points. Maybe a new coaching staff will get Wilson’s career going in the right direction again. He showed much better late in the year.
Fantasy Dud: Austin Ekeler. Ekeler played most of the game but couldn’t get it going. He had 11 carries for 34 yards and four catches for 36 yards. His 10 fantasy points was a season low. It broke a streak of four straight games finding the end zone.
Game Notes: Mike Williams appeared to injure his back in the game and had to be carted back to the locker room. He had four receptions for 32 yards before the injury.
Jerry Jeudy had a huge game, catching five passes for 154 yards. His receiving yards was a season high. He has 100-yard games two of his last three.
Seahawks 19, Rams 16
Fantasy Stud: Tyler Lockett. Lockett was one of the few offensive stars in this one. He had five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. He went over 1,000 yards for the season in the game and scored his ninth touchdown. Lockett was much more consistent this year, having double-digit fantasy points all but three games.
Fantasy Dud: DK Metcalf. Metcalf had just three catches for 40 yards. Jalen Ramsey did a good job of slowing down Metcalf in this one. Metcalf had his usual big season, but did have fewer than eight fantasy points two straight to end his year.
Game Notes: Cam Akers hit the 100-yard rushing mark for the third straight game. He had 21 carries for 104 yards and three receptions for 24 yards. He had quite the finish to his season, topping double-digit fantasy options six straight games.
Kenneth Walker topped 100-rushing yards for the third straight game. He ran 29 times for 114 yards and caught a pass for 10 yards. He went over 1,000-rushing yards for the year in the game.
Lions 20, Packers 16
Fantasy Stud: Jamaal Williams. Williams scored two more touchdowns, adding to his already big total. He ran 16 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Williams finishes the season with 17 touchdowns and also topped 1,000-rushing yards for the year. He had his best season as a pro and probably earned a big contract from some team this offseason.
Fantasy Dud: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers didn't come up big for his team in a must-win game. He was 17-of-27 for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rodgers scored just 14.3 fantasy points. He had more than 20 fantasy points just two times all season. It was a really disappointing season for Rodgers. Will he continue to play going forward? That will be the big question this offseason.
Game Notes: Christian Watson had his third 100-yard game of the season. He had five receptions for 104 yards. He has 100-yard games three of eight.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) suffered a superficial eye injury during a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July, but he isn't expected to miss significant time and should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season in early September. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Harris is likely to miss limited time to begin training camp this month. It's not the way the 27-year-old would have preferred to enter training camp in his first year in L.A., but it shouldn't affect his regular-season availability as he looks to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth straight season to begin his NFL career. Harris should have a key role in the Chargers' run-first offense in 2025, but his fantasy upside will be limited due to the presence of first-round rookie Omarion Hampton. Hampton has more big-play ability than Harris, who should be viewed as an RB3/flex target in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has really benefited from the addition of new defensive coordinator Al Golden, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. Taylor-Britt has been unable to find consistency and was benched multiple times in 2024, but Dehner writes that his energy, athleticism and playmaking ability have shown up during the offseason. The 25-year-old former second-rounder (60th overall) in 2022 out of Nebraska has played at a high level before in Cincy's secondary and could become a true No. 1 cornerback for the Bengals in 2025. Although he had a career-high 77 tackles (58 solo), half a sack, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a career-high 16 pass breakups in 17 starts a year ago, Taylor-Britt was a liability in coverage and gave up 734 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. The Bengals need him to be better in 2025.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze should be much better in 2025 with a better offensive scheme and improved quarterback play out of Caleb Williams. Fantasy managers were disappointed with Odunze last season after he was taken ninth overall by the Bears out of Washington. However, Fishbain points out that the 23-year-old pass-catcher was fifth among all rookies in receiving yards (734) while catching 53.5% of his targets. He was most definitely inconsistent and scored only three times in 17 games (12 starts), but there remains plenty of upside, and he should be better in new head coach Ben Johnson's offense with Keenan Allen gone. Odunze's after-the-catch abilities and physical prowess make him a nice WR3/flex with upside to target in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is expected "to play a significant role in the passing game," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver selected Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft and he enters training camp in a battle with free agent addition J.K. Dobbins for backfield touches. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime could also be in the mix. Harvey had just 20 receptions for 267 and three touchdowns last season at UCF, but it sounds as though he'll be relied upon as a pass-catcher in Denver. Broncos' head coach Sean Payton has designed offenses that heavily feature running backs in the passing game before, so Harvey's usage in that role could be a significant boost to his value in PPR league formats.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders receiver Luke McCaffrey impressed during the team's offseason practices and should have a more meaningful role in 2025, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. Jones writes that McCaffrey "demonstrated an improved understanding of the playbook and improved confidence." A third-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, McCaffrey logged just 18 catches for 168 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie. The Commanders have Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel entrenched atop their depth chart at wide receiver, but there could be playing time available via the WR3 role. Veterans Noah Brown and Michael Gallup, as well as fourth-round rookie Jaylin Lane, are among the names McCaffrey will have to beat out for the job. He'll need to earn consistent playing time to become fantasy-relevant, but it appears as though McCaffrey will have that opportunity.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen will "have plenty of opportunities in 2025 to make his mark and prove he can be the long-term starter with (current starter Breece) Hall in the last year of his contract," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt notes that Jets' first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and play caller Tanner Engstrand would like to emulate the two-back model that was so successful in their last stop with the Detroit Lions. Allen was the clear RB2 behind Breece Hall last season, earning 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games played. A more even timeshare with Hall would be a highly fantasy-relevant development in the Jets backfield. That's especially true if Allen, as the larger back, gets more of the team's work around the goal line.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers have placed wide receiver Mike Williams (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Los Angeles will start training camp later this week. The 30-year-old missed mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed injury, but Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believed the veteran would be available for the start of activities in July. It's worth noting that Schefter reports a player can be transferred off the PUP at any time during the offseason, and it's mainly used as a roster management tool at this point in the year. It's at least mildly concerning that the nature of the injury is unknown, although Harbaugh doesn't seem to be too concerned about it. Williams disappointed last year in his first season back from an ACL tear with the Steelers, but he'll get a chance to redeem himself in his second stint with LA. Barring health, that is.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson reached an agreement on a four-year, $130 million contract, including $90 million guaranteed. Per Schefter, this marks the first time in NFL history that a wide receiver will average over $31 million per year after only three seasons in the league. Despite sharing the field with former superstar teammate Davante Adams in 2024 and dealing with less-than-ideal quarterback play in the two years prior, Wilson has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and 80 receptions in each of his first three campaigns. He'll head into 2025 as the team's undisputed No. 1 pass-catching option, but will again face the difficulty of developing rapport with a new quarterback in Justin Fields. While the quality of his targets is currently unknown, the Ohio State alum's talent and usage should provide WR1 upside.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder), who hosted his first football camp for kids last week, remained a limited participant as he's still recovering from offseason AC-joint surgery. "It's been good," Loveland told Aaron McMann of MLive.com. "There haven't really been live bullets flying yet. We'll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff." Expectations are high in 2025 for the Bears, and that goes for the former Michigan Wolverine, too, despite his status as a rookie. It sounds like his shoulder has responded well, but he hasn't exactly been aggressive in his testing of it. The Bears boast an array of talented weaponry to deploy for second-year signal-caller Caleb Williams, and upgraded their coaching staff with the offensive-minded Ben Johnson. Loveland's impact could be spotty due to the excess of mouths to feed, but he has the talent to be a standout early on if he can adapt quickly to the league.
From RotoBaller
ESPN.com's Rich Cimini reports that new New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has challenged defensive back Sauce Gardner to bring his game to a new level this offseason. "I know I'm not perfect, but the fact that he's trying to get perfection out of me is what I need," said Gardner. "I've had a lot of success, early success in the league...the last thing I need is a new regime to come in here and just allow me to be complacent." The fourth-year pro took the league by storm in his rookie season and followed it up with another exceptional campaign. However, 2024 saw Gardner rank 47 out of 52 qualified corners in EPA per target as the nearest defender, and he's recorded a lone interception in his last 31 appearances. It seems he's responded well to the challenge and is an excellent bounce-back candidate ahead of 2025.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy alluded to Kay Adams during an appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up and Adams" that the team may return to their once-signature explosive play style. "Coach Reid told us during OTAs Phase 1, 'When you come back, get your hamstrings ready,'" said the former Texas Longhorn. Once a high-flying offensive juggernaut, Kansas City has shifted to a more clock-control, defensive-oriented style of play. However, Worthy flashed his prowess as a deep threat during the team's playoff run, and an improved offensive line could push the Chiefs back to favor stretching the field more in 2025. He'll have third-year running mate, Rashee Rice, and veteran tight end Travis Kelce to contend with for targets, although it isn't a foregone conclusion that Rice and Worthy won't be a boon for each other as they operate in different roles. The 22-year-old garners some of the highest upside of the mid-round fantasy wideouts.
From RotoBaller
Despite an eye-raising off-the-field incident this offseason, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) impressed the team at minicamp and gave the impression he might be ahead of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear suffered last year. The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that Diggs will likely open training camp this month working on the side until he's fully cleared from his injury. It always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would mean he'd miss the first four games, but that all depends on how quickly he can get onto the field in a full capacity. He's on the wrong side of 30 with his prime behind him, and with Diggs' availability for Week 1 in question, fantasy managers have every right to be thinking about avoiding him entirely in drafts. It's not like Diggs was particularly explosive before his knee injury, either.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Xavier Legette should see improved production in 2025 as quarterback Bryce Young develops and rookie first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan draws coverage his way. Legette had 49 catches for 497 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts) after going 32nd overall in last year's draft out of South Carolina. It was a disappointment for the 24-year-old, but as Person points out, Legette didn't become a full-time starter in college until his fifth season. His eight drops put him among the leaders in that category. the 6-foot-3, 227-pounder has a big, chiseled frame and could make strides this year as long as Young continues to improve as well. There will be plenty of competition for targets in Carolina, though, so RotoBaller has Legette ranked as the No. 64 wideout.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes that the Baltimore Ravens think second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins has star potential. The 21-year-old former 30th overall pick last year out of Clemson got better as the season advanced last year, and quarterbacks had just a 66.7 QB rating when targeting the young defensive back in 2024. He allowed only 31 receptions on 62 passes thrown his way while playing 68 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Wiggins has put on 10 pounds of muscle and has a much better understanding of the Ravens' defensive plan going into Year 2, which could be the recipe for a strong sophomore season. He finished his rookie season with 33 tackles (25 solo), an interception returned for a touchdown, 13 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 15 games (six starts).
From RotoBaller
As long as he stays healthy, Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop is a pretty good bet to be a Week 1 starter in 2025, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. The 22-year-old former second-rounder (60th overall) in 2024 out of Utah was one of the main reasons why the Bills didn't address the safety position in this year's NFL draft. Bishop began his rookie season in Buffalo slow due to inconsistent performances and injuries, but he was able to hit his stride late in the year and even made spot starts in the regular season and playoffs. He finished his first regular season with 40 tackles (25 solo), two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 16 games (four starts) for the Bills. Buscaglia writes that Bishop looked more comfortable within the defensive scheme this offseason and has drawn very positive reviews from the coaching staff.
From RotoBaller
Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, more details have emerged involving Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins' recent arrest for domestic battery over the weekend via the arrest report. Judkins' accuser told police that he punched her with a closed fist in the chin/lip area and also hit her in the left arm and thigh while they were in a car leaving the airport on July 7. In addition to this disturbing news involving the 21-year-old second-round pick back in April out of Ohio State, Judkins remains unsigned by the Browns. Not only will he potentially miss valuable development time during training camp this summer, but he could be facing a suspension in his first NFL season in 2025. If Judkins is suspended for any length of time, it will make both Jerome Ford and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson even more valuable for fantasy purposes.
From RotoBaller
Linebacker Kaden Elliss has kind of flown under the radar among the Atlanta Falcons' defensive additions this offseason, but The Athletic's Josh Kendall believes that Elliss could end up being the team's most impactful pass-rusher this year. The 30-year-old veteran has 16 sacks in the last three seasons and leads the league in pressure percentage in that span. Despite the fact that the Falcons have also added outside linebackers Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has promised to keep deploying Elliss as a pass-rusher at inside linebacker. Kendall thinks that Elliss could rack up double-digit sacks in 2025 for the first time in his career -- his career-high of seven came in 2022 with the New Orleans Saints. Last year, Elliss had a career-best 151 tackles (85 solo), five sacks, eight tackles for loss, 16 QB hits and his first career interception.
From RotoBaller
Despite just requesting a new contract or a trade, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) is expected to be present when the team's veterans report for training camp next Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that Jennings' situation will be smooth and tidy after that. After signing a two-year, $15.4 million deal last year as a restricted free agent, the 28-year-old wideout broke out in 2024 to the tune of 975 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 77 receptions (all career-highs) in 15 games (10 starts). He missed some spring workouts with a minor calf injury, but he's expected to be fully healthy for the start of the 2025 regular season. With Deebo Samuel Sr. now out of town and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) potentially missing around half the season, Jennings is a prime WR3/flex target that should see an expanded role once again.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darius Robinson is healthy and positioned to make his mark in his second NFL season in 2025. The Cardinals took Robinson 27th overall in 2024 out of Missouri, but he injured his calf in training camp and spent the rest of his rookie campaign trying to play catch-up. As a result, the 23-year-old interior defensive lineman failed to make much of an impact, recording just 10 tackles (four solo) and one sack in six games played in the desert. With Robinson healthy going into this year, though, the Cardinals' defensive line could be much improved after the drafted pass-rusher Walter Nolen in the first round in April and also signed veterans Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. Robinson will surely play a much bigger part for Arizona's D-line in 2025.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings wants a new contract or to be traded heading into the 2025 NFL season. Jennings, who is set to make $7.5 million in the last year of his current deal, racked up career highs in receptions (77), receiving yards (975), and receiving touchdowns (six) a season ago. The 28-year-old is likely to start the season as the team's WR1 with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) potentially starting the season on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. Based on the average salary of his active deal, he ranks outside the top 40 wideouts. The former seventh-round pick out of Tennessee has a strong case to deserve a pay raise, and it would be somewhat surprising if the organization does not work with him, given its scarcity of pass-catchers behind tight end George Kittle. Should the Niners decide to trade him instead, his fantasy football outlook could be positively or negatively affected. His departure would open the door for sophomore Ricky Pearsall.
From RotoBaller