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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The NFL informed teams that for the second straight year, they will not hold a supplemental draft this summer, sources told The Athletic. The supplemental draft is an option for draft-eligible players who did not declare for the regular NFL draft in the spring for various reasons. The supplemental draft was last held in 2023 with two eligible prospects, but neither was selected. A player hasn't been taken in the supplemental draft since 2019, when the Arizona Cardinals took defensive back Jalen Thompson. In all, 46 players have been selected in the supplemental draft's history, with notable selections being quarterback Bernie Kosar (1985), wide receiver Cris Carter (1987) and receiver Josh Gordon (2012).
Jun 29, 2025 11:22 AM EST
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton isn't ready to project what the running back room will look like come September, writes ESPN's Jeff Legwold. Rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey and free-agent addition J.K. Dobbins are expected to be the top two RBs, but the team also has Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and Blake Watson in the fold. The Broncos' rushing leader last year, Javonte Williams, is now in Dallas, opening up plenty of opportunity in 2025. Legwold writes that Dobbins likely has the early advantage for the most snaps in the room because of his experience, ability as a pass-blocker and "intelligence on third down." He also had a career-high 905 rushing yards with the Chargers in 2024 despite missing four games with a knee injury. Harvey has more pure upside as an RB3/flex, while Dobbins shouldn't be ignored in PPR formats as a potential weekly flex option in 2025.
Jun 27, 2025 8:18 PM EST
The Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County agreed to principle terms for a new lease that will keep the Bengals in Cincinnati playing home games at Paycor Stadium through June of 2036, with 10 additional option years that could extend the lease through June of 2046. Included in the agreement is an approach to modernize the 25-year-old stadium that will be a $470 million renovation project. The Bengals will invest $120 million into the renovation project, which will cover 75 percent of new improvements to the stadium. It's a big win for the Bengals franchise as they look to get back to the Super Bowl in 2025 with one of the best offenses in the league.
Jun 26, 2025 6:13 PM EST
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced on Thursday that they signed head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht to multi-year contract extensions. Bowles' extension is for three seasons, according to sources, and will push his deal through the 2028 season. He is entering his fourth year as the head coach in 2025 with a 27-24 record and having won three straight NFC South titles from 2022 to 2024. Licht is entering his 12th season with the franchise and is currently the league's fifth-longest-tenured traditional GM. Under Licht, the Bucs won Super Bowl LV and have drafted key players such as Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, Cade Otton, and more. Tampa leads the NFL in total snaps and starts by homegrown players that were selected in the first five rounds since 2014.
Jun 26, 2025 12:05 PM EST
The Athletic's Ben Standig writes that the Washington Commanders cornerback room could be much better in 2025 after the departures of Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Michael Davis. With that trio struggling a year ago, it forced rookie Mike Sainristil from inside to outside and the team to trade for an injured Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore struggled after joining the Commanders and has a history with injuries, but if he's healthy, the four-time Pro Bowler and second-round rookie Trey Amos could form a nice tandem in the secondary for Washington. Former New England Patriot Jonathan Jones also joins the mix, which could allow Sainristil to shift back to his more natural role in the slot after an impressive rookie season. The 29-year-old Lattimore had five straight seasons of at least 13 starts to begin his career but has missed 25 games over the last three years due to injuries.
Jun 24, 2025 10:47 PM EST
The Philadelphia Eagles aren't as deep in their secondary after the offseason departures of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Avonte Maddox. As a result, Cooper DeJean and rookie Drew Mukuba might both have flexible roles in the secondary in 2025, according to The Athletic's Brooks Kubena. DeJean is still being used at nickel, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is also using him at outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell in base packages. Mukuba, meanwhile, has taken first-team snaps at safety as he battles with Sydney Brown while also playing the slot with DeJean in dime packages. Philly still has plenty of talent in their secondary, but an injury to one of DeJean, Mukuba or Mitchell could cause serious issues on the back end.
Jun 24, 2025 12:07 PM EST
Multiple Philadelphia Eagles players this spring expressed the need for the offense to evolve in 2025, suggesting that there could be more variance under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, according to Inside The Birds' Andrew DiCecco. Running back Saquon Barkley figures to be the primary beneficiary if that plan manifests in the form of a more balanced attack, minimizing his wear and tear. The 28-year-old became just the ninth player in NFL history to go over 2,000 rushing yards in a season in 2024 as the Eagles offense leaned heavily on him. He had career-highs in carries (345) and rushing yards (2,005) and totaled 482 touches (including the playoffs). While Barkley will again be called on to do most of the heavy lifting, it's also quite possible the Eagles will look to give him more rest after such a big workload in 2024. Still, he's going to be the first player off the board in most fantasy drafts this fall.
Jun 24, 2025 12:01 PM EST
The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that there will be legitimate competition for the New York Jets' starting center job this summer at training camp. Joe Tippmann graded out decently last year, but he was a draft selection by the previous regime. New head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey brough in Josh Myers in free agency to push Tippmann, a former second-round selection. Myers pushed Tippmann during OTAs and minicamp, and he has the edge in experience as a starter and experience working with quarterback Justin Fields from their time together at Ohio State in college. Rosenblatt still views Tippmann as the favorite to start at center to begin the 2025 season, but Myers is going to get a real shot at the starting gig in camp and the preseason.
Jun 23, 2025 9:52 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints offensive line seems to be in place this year, and the team hopes their front five will be far more reliable than last year with four former first-round picks, according to The Athletic's Larry Holder. Trevor Penning, a first-rounder in 2022 is moving to left guard as he enters the final year of his contract after struggling at tackle in his first three NFL seasons. Holder writes that the move seems to fit Penning early on. Erik McCoy is the leader of the offensive line after missing most of the 2024 campaign due to injuries. This is certainly a positive development in new head coach Kellen Moore's first year in the Big Easy, especially if the Saints end up going with rookie second-round quarterback Tyler Shough as their starter under center in 2025 following the abrupt retirement of Derek Carr.
Jun 23, 2025 9:16 PM EST
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