Flag football championships return to Canton next month

Thu Jun 26 1:53pm ET
Field Level Media

About 300 teams representing all 32 NFL clubs will compete in the second annual flag football championships next month in Canton, Ohio.

The league announced details Thursday for the NFL Flag Championships from July 17-20, with 3,000 boys and girls participating across 12 divisions.

"We are thrilled to bring the NFL Flag Championships presented by Toyota back to Canton for the second consecutive year," said Stephanie Kwok, NFL vice president and head of Flag Football. "The Championships are a strong showcase for the growth of flag football at the grassroots level across the country and around the world. Flag is inclusive and accessible for all, and we are excited to see the competition across all age groups at the 2025 NFL Flag Championships."

Flag football continues to surge in popularity ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, where it will debut as an official sport in Los Angeles. The NFL announced last month that its players will be allowed to compete.

In the July event, eight international teams are participating, traveling from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

ESPN will showcase 15 games from the girls' high school division, 15 from the boys' under-14 division and three from the international tournament.

"The NFL Flag Championships are quickly becoming the ultimate summer showcase for one of the world's fastest growing sports," said Julie Sobieski, ESPN senior vice president of league programming and acquisitions. "For the second consecutive year, our presentation and expansive global distribution will spotlight the exceptional talent of the young boys and girls competing, while also celebrating the inclusive, fast-paced, and accessible nature of flag football. This year's tournament will not only build upon the tremendous success of the inaugural event, but will also add to the sport's immense momentum in recent years."

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Fantasy Life Championship Live Stream (7-16)

Player Notes
Justyn Ross Jul 22 5:10am CT
Justyn Ross

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Baylor wide receiver Hal Presley on Monday, adding depth following the release of Justyn Ross and with Rashee Rice potentially facing a suspension. Presley caught 31 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games last season. While his 4.57-second 40-yard dash raised concerns, the 6'3", 197-pound wideout has an 80-inch wingspan that could make him a red-zone option. Presley remains a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but with the Chiefs' receiver room in flux, he'll have a chance to compete during training camp.

From RotoBaller

Marcus Davenport Jul 22 5:10am CT
Marcus Davenport

Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport made a strong impression on Day 2 of training camp, delivering his most impactful session since joining the team. The former first-round pick crashed the backfield for a would-be tackle for loss, followed by a pressure that flushed the quarterback from the pocket. Later, he recorded a would-be sack, showcasing his burst and versatility. Davenport has struggled with injuries, appearing in only six games over the past two seasons, but his performance was a reminder of his upside. If healthy, he could be the ideal complement to Aidan Hutchinson on Detroit's defensive front.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Jul 21 9:00pm CT
Jakobi Meyers

The Las Vegas Raiders may have found a replacement for impending free agent wide receiver Jakobi Meyers when they drafted wide receiver Jack Bech in the second round of this year's draft, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. Reed writes that "there's a lot of overlap" between Meyers and Bech, and that "this feels like a situation where the Raiders will probably have to make a choice at some point." Meyers was productive in 2024 for Las Vegas, recording 87 catches for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns. However, it's worth noting that he was signed by the Raiders in March 2023, before current head coach Pete Carroll was in charge. If the new administration views Bech as his eventual replacement, the 28-year-old Meyers could be a trade candidate at some point during 2025. Meyers is currently being viewed as a fringe WR3 in fantasy, but further reports around his usage could be something to monitor in training camp.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Jul 21 8:40pm CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs "split positional drills between running backs and wide receivers, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Gibbs said earlier this offseason that new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton wants to involve him more in the passing game this season. In 2024, Gibbs logged 52 receptions for 517 yards and four receiving touchdowns in addition to recording 250 carries for 1,412 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. More receiving work could be a boon for Gibbs' value in PPR scoring, but it may be an unwelcome trade-off for fantasy managers if it means he gets less work as a rusher. Notably, Pouncy also reports that the Lions have been featuring two-back sets early in training camp with both Gibbs and David Montgomery sharing the field.

From RotoBaller

Sione Vaki Jul 21 8:30pm CT
Sione Vaki

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (leg) left practice on Monday with a leg injury and did not return, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. The Lions drafted Vaki out of Utah in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. The 23-year-old mostly played safety in college, but Detroit drafted him as a running back and has been developing him at the position. Stuck behind David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Craig Reynolds in a crowded Lions' backfield, Vaki mostly played special teams as a rookie. He played in 16 games but recorded just six rushing attempts. Vaki is unlikely to be a factor in fantasy this season either way, but a serious injury could impact his long-term outlook. His status will become clearer when Lions head coach Dan Campbell next meets with the media.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Jul 21 8:20pm CT
Noah Fant

Free agent tight end Noah Fant is a "name to monitor" for the Carolina Panthers, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Person notes that Fant has a history with Panthers head coach Dave Canales and TE coach Pat McPherson from their collective time together with the Seattle Seahawks. The 27-year-old Fant was released on Sunday by Seattle after three seasons with the team. In 14 games last season, he logged 48 catches for 500 yards and one touchdown. Carolina currently has veteran Tommy Tremble, 2024 third-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders, and 2025 fifth-rounder Mitchell Evans on their tight end depth chart. However, Tremble underwent back surgery in May and could miss time in training camp. Even if Fant signs with the Panthers, he figures to split playing time and targets with Carolina's other tight end options.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Tavion Sanders Jul 21 8:20pm CT
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders "lost 10 pounds during the offseason and looked faster during OTAs," according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Carolina drafted Sanders in the fourth round out of Texas in 2024. He appeared in 16 games (eight starts) as a rookie, logging 33 catches for 342 yards and one touchdown. Sanders should have an opportunity to earn significant playing time in his second season. His main competition at tight end in Carolina is Tommy Tremble, who has recorded 23 receptions in each of the past two seasons, and Mitchell Evans, a fifth-round selection by the team in this year's draft. With a good training camp and preseason, Sanders could be an intriguing late-round dart throw at the tight end position in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Nyheim Hines Jul 21 6:10pm CT
Nyheim Hines

Former Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines, who hasn't played in the NFL for the last two seasons due to a knee injury, reached an undisclosed agreement with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 28-year-old initially tore his left ACL in a jet-skiing accident after the 2022 season and missed all of 2023 and 2024 as a result. Before his injury, he was a useful pass-catching, change-of-pace option out of the backfield for the Colts and Bills. The Chargers are most likely adding Hines primarily as insurance for Najee Harris (eye), who is on the Non-Football Injury list to start training camp with a superficial eye injury that he suffered during a fireworks mishap. Hines is also known for his abilities as a returner on special teams, but for now, he'll strictly be RB depth for the Bolts with Harris not able to practice yet.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks Jul 21 5:40pm CT
Treylon Burks

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee) is expected to be good to go for training camp after only taking part in individual workouts during OTAs and minicamp this spring, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. It's good news for Burks, who tore his ACL in Week 6 of last year, although the Titans could still take it easy on the injury-prone pass-catcher early on in camp. The 25-year-old former 18th overall pick in 2022 out of Arkansas hasn't lived up to his first-round billing so far. He played a career-low five games last year due to his knee injury and has a combined 53 catches for 699 yards and one touchdown in his three NFL seasons. Burks will need to stay healthy and impress the coaching staff in order to win a starting role behind WR1 Calvin Ridley. Fantasy managers shouldn't be holding their breath for Burks at this point.

From RotoBaller

Dawson Knox Jul 21 5:20pm CT
Dawson Knox

Per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, the Buffalo Bills worked out free-agent tight ends Gerrit Prince, Matt Sokol, Steven Stilianos and wide receiver David White on Monday. Tight end Dawson Knox practiced through a left-knee issue back in minicamp and seems fine, while Dalton Kincaid (knees) suffered a PCL sprain in his left knee in Week 10 last year and dealt with a form of bursitis in his right knee last season. Kincaid's knee issues could carry over into the 2025 season, but he's been rehabbing and getting stronger in the offseason. The 25-year-old missed three regular-season games as a result of his knee injuries and didn't take the big step forward that many fantasy managers were expecting, catching 44 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his sophomore campaign. With better health, Kincaid could bounce back to TE1 territory.

From RotoBaller

Trey Hendrickson Jul 21 5:20pm CT
Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin commented on the status of All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson on Monday, saying, "He's an important part of our team. He's under contract and we expect all our guys under contract to be here. He's earned a raise and we'll see if we can get something done." The Bengals continue to maintain the stance that they want to reward Hendrickson for the four straight Pro Bowl seasons he's had, but they haven't put their money where their mouth is yet. The 30-year-old and the team could get more serious now that training camp is starting this week, though. But if the two sides remain apart on a deal, Hendrickson is fully expected to hold firm and hold out in camp and the preseason. There's a chance the reigning NFL sack leader's holdout extends into the regular season, too. Stay tuned.

From RotoBaller

Nyheim Hines Jul 21 4:20pm CT
Nyheim Hines

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that veteran free-agent running back Nyheim Hines worked out for the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday. News broke a few weeks back that the 28-year-old was looking to return to the NFL field, and it appears he's amassed interest from at least one squad. Hines hasn't suited up for a game since 2022 after tearing his ACL in a jet-ski accident. It's a noteworthy update, considering running back Najee Harris' (eye) recent fireworks mishap. Harris and rookie rusher Omarion Hampton seemed poised to handle a majority of the backfield work in 2025, taking into account the lack of viable depth behind them in Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal. While Hines may not pose too much of a threat between the tackles, his prowess as a receiver could threaten the aforementioned duo's ceiling.

From RotoBaller

A.T. Perry Jul 21 4:00pm CT
A.T. Perry

Denver Broncos wide receiver A.T. Perry (undisclosed) will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, per Sports Illustrated's Zack Kelberman. While the nature of Perry's injury is unknown, head coach Sean Payton predicted the wideout might miss time to begin camp back in mid-June. Payton further noted that he may only be absent a week or so before rejoining the team, "depending on how the summer goes." The Wake Forest product flashed with a few splash plays in his rookie season with the Saints, but was waived following the year and garnered no stats in 2024. Despite his status as a developmental asset for Denver, his frame aligns with Payton's ideal pass-catcher profile. Perry will have quite a bit of work to do in a receiving room brimming with talent, but he is an interesting low-cost add in dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Milton Williams Jul 21 3:50pm CT
Milton Williams

According to the team, the New England Patriots have signed defensive lineman David Olajiga to a one-year, $840,000 contract through the NFL's International Pathway Program. The Central Missouri alum was part of the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad in 2024 through the same program, although the team never activated him. During his time as a Mule, he racked up 98 tackles (47 solo), 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and four blocked kicks. Olajiga is a long shot to make the roster. Still, it's worth noting that outside of fellow defensive linemen Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, the room is mostly open for the taking. The 27-year-old will at least be given an opportunity to seize a backup role in camp, and is moderately intriguing considering his propensity to block kicks.

From RotoBaller

Tommy Tremble Jul 21 3:40pm CT
Tommy Tremble

The Athletic's Joe Person reports that the Carolina Panthers have placed tight end Tommy Tremble (back) on the PUP list. Tremble underwent back surgery in May, from which he's still recovering, but the team can remove him from the list at any time. It was always presumed that the 25-year-old would begin his ramp-up at the end of July, and that remains the case. Carolina's offense could be a surprise source of fantasy output in 2025 if third-year signal-caller Bryce Young can sustain the gains he exhibited to close out last season. If that's the case, Tremble could continue to build off his improvements, too. He's currently an afterthought in drafts.

From RotoBaller

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Jul 21 3:20pm CT
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Detroit Lions second-year defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (chest), who exited Sunday's team practice early, will miss just a few days, according to head coach Dan Campbell. The 23-year-old was diagnosed with a contusion. Rakestraw Jr. played fewer snaps on defense than on special teams in his first campaign, collecting six total tackles in eight appearances. Barring any changes, he's slated to play second-fiddle behind teammate Amik Robertson at the nickel for Detroit this season, so it's encouraging to hear that the damage was minor. The former second-round pick doesn't currently project to make a massive impact in fantasy, but there's enough time left in the summer for him to continue climbing the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Jul 21 2:10pm CT
Najee Harris

A video of Los Angeles Chargers running back drills posted by Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times shows that Najee Harris (eye) is still missing from the team's on-field activities. Harris suffered an eye injury on July 4 after a fireworks-related mishap and currently sits on the Non-Football Injury List. He's reportedly been participating in team meetings, but it's currently unclear how long he'll be held out of practice. Harris signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in the offseason after spending four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rushed for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 and has yet to miss a game in his NFL career. It appears that ironman streak could be in jeopardy in 2025, although there's plenty of time remaining in the offseason for him to fully recover. Chargers first-round rookie Omarion Hampton's stock should rise with each day that Harris is unable to play.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Jul 21 1:40pm CT
Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons is "in full gear and practicing" at the team's training camp, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Parsons is entering the fifth and final season of his rookie contract in 2025, and Dallas presumably wants to sign the three-time All-Pro to an extension at some point. However, Machota also reports that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has "still not had a conversation" with Parsons' agent David Mulugheta. Despite being limited to just 13 games last season, Parsons finished the year with 12 sacks, 23 QB hits, and two forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus ranked his performance sixth-best out of 211 edge defenders. He's arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL, and a premier option for fantasy in IDP formats.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Chark Jul 21 1:30pm CT
D.J. Chark

Free-agent wide receiver DJ Chark recently visited with the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. NFL.com's Christian Gonzales also mentions the Los Angeles Chargers as a possibility for Chark after the recent retirement of veteran wideout Mike Williams. The 28-year-old Chark played in seven games for the Chargers in 2024, logging just four catches for 31 yards and one touchdown. A hip injury forced him to miss 10 games. Chark has been a reliable downfield and big-play threat at certain points in his career, and he'd likely be called upon to play a part-time role in Chicago. There's familiarity between Chark and Bears head coach/play-caller Ben Johnson, who coached Chark back in 2022 when both were members of the Detroit Lions. Even if he does sign with Chicago, Chark is not a fantasy-relevant receiver at this point in his career.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Jul 21 1:20pm CT
Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions' offense has been looking to "push the ball vertically" in practice, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. It's still very early in training camp, but this could be a noteworthy change from former play-caller Ben Johnson to current offensive coordinator John Morton. The Lions had one of the most efficient passing attacks in the league in 2024, with Jared Goff finishing second among qualified quarterbacks in yards per attempt (8.59). However, Goff did most of his work with short-area targets. His 6.33-yard average depth of target was 35th out of 39 quarterbacks with at least 250 plays. An increase in downfield targets would figure to help Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, who led the team with an 11.40-yard ADOT. Conversely, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (7.67-yard ADOT) and tight end Sam LaPorta (6.99-yard ADOT) could be negatively impacted.

From RotoBaller