Rabih Abdullah

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Chicago Bears Defense Getting Healthier

The Chicago Bears are expected defensive backs Jaylon Johnson (leg) and Kyler Gordon (hamstring) to be ready for their regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson is "on the right track" to be cleared for Week 1, according to head coach Ben Johnson. Gordon is still viewed as week-to-week according to Chris Emma of 670 The Score, but is hoping to appear in a preseason game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status in case they face a setback leading up to the regular season. Johnson is a Pro Bowl defensive back who enjoyed another strong campaign in 2024, totaling 53 tackles with two interceptions. Gordon inked a three-year extension with Chicago in the offseason and is slated to also serve as a starter in the secondary. With both Johnson and Gordon expected to be ready for the regular season, the Chicago defense will have streaming appeal in favorable matchups.

Aug 13, 2025 1:59 PM EST


Arch Manning Unlikely to Declare for 2026 NFL Draft, Will Stay at Texas

Quarterback prospect Arch Manning is one of the most hyped players coming into the 2025-26 college football season. Manning's grandfather and former NFL QB Archie Manning said that Arch will not declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, but instead, "He'll be at Texas." Manning is getting plenty of attention in early mock drafts since his skill set and pedigree give him such a high ceiling in the NFL. Obviously, lots can change before the NFL Draft, which is almost a full year away, but coming into the college football season, it looks like the plan is for Manning to play at least the next two seasons at Texas before a potential arrival in the NFL in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Aug 7, 2025 9:53 AM EST



Raiders to Play Their Starters in First Preseason Game

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said that the team will play their starters in the preseason opener on Thursday night against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks. "Everyone will be ready to go," Carroll said. The Raiders are choosing to get their starters more experience right away in the preseason after trading for quarterback Geno Smith this offseason. Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and has worked with Carroll before, but in terms of his weapons alone, the move from Seattle to Vegas was a downgrade fantasy-wise. The Raiders could be much more of a run-first offense with first-round running back Ashton Jeanty now in town under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Outside of tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Jakobi Meyers, Smith isn't going to have a ton to work with through the air. Consider the 34-year-old as a low-end QB2 for superflex leagues.

Aug 5, 2025 6:10 PM EST


Jets No. 2 Receiver Role "Up for Grabs"

The New York Jets have an established No. 1 wide receiver in star Garrett Wilson, but they're unsure who will complement him in the No. 2 role. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said the job is "up for grabs," but the Jets are "happy" with the competition so far. Veterans Josh Reynolds and Allan Lazard lead the team's unofficial depth chart after Wilson. Tyler Johnson, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, and rookie fourth-round pick Arian Smith are also in the mix to serve as targets for new quarterback Justin Fields. However, other than Wilson, nobody from the group is expected to provide much fantasy value in a run-heavy offense.

Aug 4, 2025 8:34 PM EST


Micah Parson Considering Drastic Measures

Relations between the Dallas Cowboys and their star pass rusher Micah Parsons have reportedly gotten so bad that Parsons is considering drastic measures, as reported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The two sides remain far apart in contract negotiations heading into the second week of camp. There has reportedly been no engagement between the two parties since things fell apart during Parsons' direct dealings with team owner Jerry Jones. According to a league source close to the situation, Parsons is currently considering a trade request or even a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team. Parsons is one of the most impactful players in IDP leagues, and the ramifications of how this situation plays out could shake up the top of IDP draft boards.

Aug 1, 2025 11:04 AM EST



Dan Campbell Not Happy with Lions Performance in HOF Game

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was not happy with his team's mistake-filled performance in Thursday's 34-7 Hall of Game loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. In a game they lost by 27 points, the Lions turned the ball over five times. Although none of Detroit's presumed starters were in uniform, Campbell did not use that as an excuse. "You're wearing Lions gear, you've got to take care of the ball, or it's going to be hard to keep you around," he told reporters after the first NFL game ever played in July. The Lions will next take the field against the Atlanta Falcons for their second of four preseason games. After finishing last season with a record of (15-2), they enter 2025 as favorites to win the NFC North for the third straight year and have lofty aspirations to make a deep playoff run.

Aug 1, 2025 9:38 AM EST


Running Back Roles "Starting to be Defined" In Jacksonville

It's becoming "more and more clear" how the Jaguars are using running backs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne, according to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated. Shipley writes that Bigsby has been the team's "most impressive downhill rusher," while Etienne has been "far and away the Jaguars' best and most-used running back in the passing game." This split isn't surprising based on how each player performed in 2024. Bigsby averaged 4.6 yards per rush attempt compared to 3.7 yards/attempt for Etienne, but Etienne tallied 200 more yards as a receiver. Bigsby could be in line for early-down work in Jacksonville this season, while Etienne is the favorite for passing-down work. Bigsby is currently being drafted significantly later than Etienne, which might be a mistake if the workload between the two is split as evenly as it appears it will be.

Jul 31, 2025 2:11 PM EST


Seahawks Give John Schneider a Four-Year Extension

The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a four-year contract extension on Wednesday with president of football operations/general manager John Schneider, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. The deal will keep Schneider around through the 2030 NFL draft and will take him through at least his 20th draft with the organization. Schneider has been Seattle's GM since the 2010 season and added the title of executive vice president in 2013. The 54-year-old also gained the title of president of football operations after former head coach Pete Carroll was fired after the 2023 season. Schneider made some big moves this offseason, trading away both quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf while also signing quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency.

Jul 30, 2025 1:10 PM EST


Bills' Backup Quarterback Competition "Completely Open"

Buffalo Bills quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Mike White are competing for the backup job to superstar Josh Allen, and the team is "nowhere close to a decision at this point," according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Both players spent 2024 with Buffalo, but neither saw significant playing time. Trubisky (57 starts) has seen significantly more NFL action than White (seven starts). However, Trubisky struggled in his last extended run of action with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, going 2-3 in five starts and throwing more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four). Hopefully for Buffalo, Allen continues to be an ironman, as he's started 67 games for the Bills across the last four seasons. However, given Allen's physical style of play, there's always the possibility that the backup in Buffalo could be forced into action.

Jul 30, 2025 12:05 PM EST


Cowboys to Go With Rotation in Backfield?

The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins writes that new head coach Brian Schottenheimer "hinted a rotation could be on the way once the regular season starts." Schottenheimer also named running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders as the two backs that were competing for the starting gig, and it would be a surprise if rookie Jaydon Blue, who has drawn criticism for his laziness, has a substantial role early on in 2025. Neither Williams nor Sanders have stood out early on in training camp, perhaps leading Schottenheimer to hint at a possible committee approach. Williams, 25, had lots of promise after rushing for 903 yards in his rookie but hasn't been the same after a season-ending knee injury in 2022. Sanders similarly had a career year in Philly in 2022 and has fallen off a cliff the last two years. If Williams and Sanders end up splitting touches down the middle, it will be hard to get excited about either in fantasy.

Jul 26, 2025 11:24 AM EST


Multiple Chiefs Running Backs Getting First-Team Reps

The Kansas City Chiefs have used running backs Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Elijah Mitchell, as well as a "sprinkling" of Brashard Smith, with the first-team offense, according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. Pacheco is coming off an injury-marred season in which he played just seven games, rushing for 310 yards (3.7 yards/attempt) and one touchdown. Hunt was Kansas City's primary fill-in for Pacheco in 2024, rushing for 728 yards and seven touchdowns on 200 carries. Mitchell is in his first season with the Chiefs after spending the first three seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers. He flashed at times in San Francisco but struggled last season, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt on 75 carries. Smith was drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 draft out of SMU, where he rushed for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024. Pacheco is the highest-drafted Chiefs running back by ADP, but early reports indicate that he may not be the workhorse back that fantasy managers are hoping for.

Jul 24, 2025 2:21 PM EST


Walter Nolen to Miss Time With Calf Injury

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Walter Nolen (calf) is set to miss time after suffering a calf injury while training, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Nolen was the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's an unfortunate development for the rookie, who is slated to miss out on the first opportunity to prove himself in training camp. Nolen began his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss for his final season in 2024. In 35 career games, he tallied 114 tackles (62 solo), 11.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He is expected to be a Day 1 starter and disruptor on the Arizona defensive line, but Calais Campbell, PJ Mustipher, Bilal Nichols, Elijah Simmons, and Jordan Burch could see more action with the first- and second-team defenses during his absence.

Jul 23, 2025 3:54 PM EST


Saints Holding Three-Man QB Competition

There are three contenders for the New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback job, according to Executive Vice President/GM Mickey Loomis. 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough and 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler are the names who have been most frequently connected to the job, but Loomis "stressed" that 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener is also in the mix, according to Mike Triplett of New Orleans.Football. Shough played seven seasons in college and finished his career in 2024 at Louisville. He threw for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns this past season for the Cardinals. Rattler played in seven games (six starts) for New Orleans as a rookie, completing 57% of his passes for 1,317 yards and throwing more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four). Haener has made just one start in his two NFL seasons. Regardless of who starts the season at QB for the Saints, it's unlikely to be a position of strength for New Orleans in 2025.

Jul 22, 2025 9:33 PM EST


Bills Work Out Three Tight Ends on Monday

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.

Jul 21, 2025 6:06 PM EST


Lions Looking to Push the Ball Downfield More in 2025?

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.

Jul 21, 2025 2:13 PM EST


Bears Extend GM Ryan Poles

The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles have reached an agreement on a contract extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The new deal will keep Poles in Chicago through the 2029 season, and his contract length now matches that of first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Poles has a mixed track record in his time at the helm for Chicago. The team has struggled on the field, going 15-36 through his first three seasons in charge. However, Poles positioned the team to acquire quarterback Caleb Williams by pulling off a trade with the Carolina Panthers that netted the Bears the number one overall pick in the 2024 draft. Poles' future with the team will be closely linked to the success of both Williams and his second head coaching hire in Johnson, but he's locked in some additional security with this extension.

Jul 11, 2025 3:12 PM EST


Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract

NFL.com's Coral Smith reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed general manager Omar Khan to a new three-year contract on Thursday. The financial details were not noted. Khan has been a member of the Steelers' organization since 2001, but took over his current role in 2022 from predecessor Kevin Colbert. The 48-year-old, known for his aggressive offseason moves, has undoubtedly been entertaining as the team's GM. However, despite continuing the franchise's winning ways, playoff wins -- particularly deep playoff runs -- have been the issue. The hope is that will change in 2025, with a revamped wide receiver room led by DK Metcalf, veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers at the helm, and the recent acquisition of tight end Jonnu Smith. Still, they share a division with two of the more brutal AFC squads (Bengals, Ravens). Pittsburgh hasn't won more than ten games or sat atop the AFC North since 2020, but they're pushing their chips all-in ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Jul 3, 2025 7:56 PM EST


Taj Felton's Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Taj Felton was a third-round selection by the organization in the 2025 NFL Draft. Needless to say, he joined a crowded pass-catching group consisting of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. The Maryland product would have trouble earning targets even as the WR3, but Jalen Nailor remains the favorite to win that job. "It might take some time. Felton may play offensive snaps if Addison is suspended, but expect his rookie campaign to be spent mostly on special teams," Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote. "Felton must limit his drop rate and improve as a route runner." The 22-year-old is fresh off a 96-catch, 1,224-yard, nine-touchdown campaign in 2024, but it sounds like he'll have a limited role on offense to begin his career. He can continue to be stashed in dynasty leagues, but barring injury, he likely won't be worth rostering in redraft setups.

Jul 2, 2025 3:01 PM EST


Negotiations on 18-Game Season Not Expected Until Next Year

The NFL Players Association is not expected to engage in formal negotiations with the league and its owners on a potential 18-game regular season until at least early next year, according to people familiar with the deliberations. It makes it unclear on when an 18-game season could be implemented, according to The Washington Post's Mark Maske. The union could be in position to launch formal negotiations with the NFL and its owners after its annual meeting of player representatives in March. Some owners had hoped to have an 18-game season as early as 2027 or 2028, but it might be unrealistic to expect that to happen in 2027. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other league leaders have not pressed the union to begin negotiations. When formal negotiations do begin, they could be contentious, as many of the players already think a 17-game season is too long.

Jul 1, 2025 12:24 PM EST


Dolphins Now Looking to Acquire a Tight End

After the Miami Dolphins traded tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team is now in conversations with multiple team about acquiring a tight end, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. With Smith now in Pittsburgh, Pharaoh Brown, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner are Miami's top options at the tight end position, so it's not a surprise they are now looking for an upgrade. At the moment, the trade of Smith is good news for receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both had down seasons in 2024. However, that could change, depending on who the Dolphins bring in at tight end. The most plausible trade options could be the Ravens' Mark Andrews or the Raiders' Michael Mayer.

Jun 30, 2025 12:12 PM EST