Who Should I Start? Patrick Ricard or Hunter Luepke

Friday, August 22, 2:17 PM

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that fullback Patrick Ricard (soft tissue) is dealing with a "soft tissue thing" but should be able to return to practice before Week 1. Ricard has played in all 17 games for Baltimore in each of the last three regular seasons. While he's not a fantasy-relevant player himself, Ricard is a five-time Pro Bowler who plays an important role as a blocker in Baltimore's jumbo packages. If Ricard were to miss any time, it could negatively impact the rushing efficiency for Ravens running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Wednesday, September 3, 9:47 AM

The Dallas Cowboys and fullback Hunter Luepke have agreed to a two-year contract extension worth up to $7.5 million, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo. The deal makes Luepke the second-highest paid fullback in the NFL, joining San Francisco's Kyle Juszczyk, behind Miami Dolphins' Alec Ingold. The third-year pro out of North Dakota State is coming off the best season of his career in 2024, when he tallied 149 yards and a touchdown on 24 touches. Beyond his production, Luepke proved his value as a versatile contributor, excelling as a runner, receiver, and blocker in the Cowboys' offense. With the extension secured, Luepke is expected to remain Dallas's starting fullback as the team prepares for a critical Week 1 divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.