July 24: Justin Fields suffers toe damage in exercise
The New York Jets` beginning QB became carted off the exercise discipline on Thursday with a toe damage, consistent with head instruct Aaron Glenn. The severity is unknown at this time.
Fields is No. thirteen withinside the consensus ESPN Fantasy quarterback scores and is likewise presently thirteenth amongst QBs in common draft position. Tyrod Taylor, who’s coming into his fifteenth NFL season, is the Jets’ backup quarterback.
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July 17: Rashee Rice ought to face a suspension
Tristan H. Cockcroft: With the information Thursday that Rice has been sentenced to 5 years of probation and 30 days of prison time as a part of a plea settlement Stemming from his role in a 2024 multicar crash in Dallas, the probabilities of him serving a multigame suspension have substantially increased. Fantasy managers want to brace for the risk Rice will omit a substantial a part of the 2025 season.
This had prolonged been a possibility, with the NFL deciding on to take care of rule until the legal approach finished itself out, but now that Rice`s penalty has been surpassed out, the league is certain to transport quick to announce a capacity suspension.
I’ve moved Rice down in my scores, from twenty first amongst huge receivers to 28th, among Rome Odunze and Jameson Williams, reflecting a likely absence. That ought to alternate relying upon the duration of any penalty. Xavier Worthy has additionally moved up from twenty third to twenty first.
However, consider that Rice brought a number of the great in line with-recreation delusion manufacturing while to be had for games, from Week 7 of the 2023 season, his first profession NFL start, thru Week three of 2024, his very last complete recreation earlier than getting harm final yr. Including the postseason, he had crew bests of a hundred and forty targets, a 23.0% goal share, 28.2% goal fee in line with direction and 108 receptions in the course of that span. Rice averaged 16.four PPR delusion factors throughout the ones 17 games, which, while contrasted in opposition to the 2024 huge receiver leaderboard, would’ve positioned him fifteenth.
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July 17: Mike Williams proclaims retirement from the NFL
After 8 years, Los Angeles Chargers huge receiver Mike Williams has retired from the NFL, the crew introduced Thursday.
Williams, 30, performed his final season withinside the league with the Jets and Steelers earlier than signing a one-yr deal this offseason to go back to the Chargers, the employer that drafted him withinside the first spherical in 2017. He ranks tenth in Chargers’ franchise records in receiving yards with four.803, and thirteenth in receptions (309) and touchdowns (31).
Without Williams, Justin Herbert and the Chargers will now flip to extensive receivers Quentin Johnston, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Tre Harris. Harris is presently retaining out of schooling camp as a part of numerous unsigned second-spherical learners throughout the NFL. Our 2025 myth soccer ratings were up to date to mirror this information, consisting of projections for all Chargers` players.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Burnt takes are a number of the maximum boring. Just due to the fact a participant did you grimy the yr earlier than would not mechanically suggest he is destined to disappoint you again. That said, the edge of Murray’s 2024 — specifically given my sturdy exposure — is difficult to forget. Despite being surrounded with the aid of using a bevy of dynamic receiving talent, Murray endured to warfare as a passer, averaging 7.1 yards in line with attempt (QB20) at the same time as dealing with simply 3 completions of forty or greater yards. Those stats might be forgiven had he been on target, however a final touch fee beneathneath 69% would not spark confidence.
And, yet, right here I am withinside the tenth spherical of 10-group mocks, clenching my jaw and (pun intended) jogging it returned. That’s due to the fact Murray’s legs can not be discounted. Murray took off a mean of almost 5 instances in line with game, racking up 572 speeding yards (QB4) and 5 speeding scores (QB7), which accounted for 29% of his general myth factors in 2024. With any other healthful offseason beneathneath his belt and information that his mobility is predicted to end up a extra factor of offensive emphasis, Murray enters the season with top-8 positional appeal.
Add in progressed chemistry with Marvin Harrison Jr. and a big electricity of time table upgrade, and Murray should flirt with career-exceptional numbers, rising as certainly considered one among the largest QB values at the board.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey did not simply burn managers, he scorched complete squads in 2024. Not simplest turned into CMC constrained to simply 4 games, however the weekly uncertainty surrounding his availability left buyers in a consistent nation of limbo. Given the cascade of injuries — from a suspected calf pressure to an Achilles problem to a knee sprain — at the side of the group’s loss of transparency, it is difficult to consider McCaffrey may be returned to Madden Cover shape in 2025.
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But that`s possibly now no longer going to prevent me from tabbing him as my RB1 in myth, specially if he falls to the No. 10 spot. Full transparency, I am extra bullish than the consensus on Ashton Jeanty and might take the rookie over CMC. However, if a person beats me to Jeanty, then McCaffrey is extra than welcome to steer my crew’s backfield. Having averted surgical treatment and getting into camp with 0 restrictions, McCaffrey seems poised for a soar back.
Since touchdown in San Francisco, McCaffrey has been the offense’s engine. Kyle Shanahan in no way constrained the RB’s workload, in spite of harm-riddled seasons in Carolina. After being traded to the 49ers, McCaffrey averaged 20.four touches consistent with sport and registered 23.three myth factors consistent with contest from Week 7 of 2022 thru Week 17 of 2023, which changed into an high-quality 6.three extra consistent with sport than the second-maximum effective participant on the position (Austin Ekeler) throughout that span, amongst qualifiers.
The odds of harm constantly exist, however few gamers gift with the equal capacity ceiling. Per ESPN harm professional Stephania Bell, “The recency bias of final year’s harm coupled together along with his age (29) will make a few nervous, however it is a danger I’m inclined to take, given his demonstrated resilience in post-harm years, his paintings ethic and his unrestricted hobby degree as early as OTAs.” That bought me.
Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Like Segway scooters, Unicorn Frappuccinos and adulthood, Williams has in no way lived as much as the hype. Drafted No. 35 overall, there has been wish Williams might overtake Melvin Gordon III and grow to be the Broncos’ RB1 as a rookie in 2021. Despite flashing the tackle-breaking prowess that made him a celebrity at North Carolina, Williams didn’t take complete manage of the backfield. A critical knee harm then robbed him of his sophomore attempt in 2022 and constrained his play nicely into 2023.
The wish changed into that his trademark explosiveness might be absolutely restored in 2024, putting the level for a tremendously predicted comeback. Cue the unhappy trombone. Sean Payton selected to unfold the wealth, lowering Williams to a mean of 8.2 consists of consistent with sport (RB33) and upending any threat of a top-25 myth RB finish.
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It’s absolutely viable that Williams is washed. That’s a danger I’m inclined to take withinside the tenth spherical of 10-crew leagues, due to the fact it is similarly viable he falls right into a strong position because the crew’s number one ball carrier. Williams changed into now no longer an green rusher final season (three.7 YPC), however he did haul in fifty two passes (RB6) whilst dealing with 1.eighty one yards consistent with course run (RB14) in 2024. With Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue as his most important opposition for touches, Williams must as a minimum start the season in a extent advantageous position.
If he additionally takes place to regain his early-profession form, then he`s in all likelihood to flirt with eighty yards and double-digit myth factors on a weekly basis. It’s now no longer sexy. But the fee is intriguing. As is the truth that the health practitioner who achieved his knee restore additionally takes place to be the Cowboys’ crew doctor. That won’t imply Williams will appearance vintage, however it does sign a comfortability with the RB’s health. Still handiest 25 years vintage and in a Brian Schottenheimer-designed offense that fed Rico Dowdle 17 instances consistent with time out closing season, I’m inclined to provide Williams a bench spot as my crew’s RB4.
Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
Fantasy blinders are a actual thing. Like whilst we are so enamored with the aid of using a player’s expertise that we war to nicely examine his situation. Or whilst our place of origin loyalties cloud our higher judgment. Sometimes the ones times converge and purpose us to attain for a player. Not this time, though. Odunze is the actual deal.
The Bears would possibly have introduced rather touted byskip catchers (Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III) withinside the 2nd spherical of April’s draft, however Keenan Allen’s departure nonetheless frees up a hundred and twenty looks. Furthermore, Odunze and Caleb Williams have simple chemistry that began out to percolate earlier than they even touched down withinside the Windy City.
With higher safety and beneathneath the tutelage of latest instruct Ben Johnson, Williams figures to plant his feet, discover his attention and substantially enhance his passing efficiency. All of which need to gain Odunze, making for a completely practicable Year 2 breakout. Currently being decided on 86th overall (at the back of Calvin Ridley and simply in advance of Jerry Jeudy), Odunze is an alpha withinside the making who has the capacity to clean 1,000 receiving yards in 2025. That’s a WR2 ceiling at a WR3 cost. Done.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
The 2024 season turned into a brutal one for Olave and the complete Saints organization, as evidenced with the aid of using the crew’s 5-12 record. Olave turned into confined to simply 8 video games because of struggling his 1/3 and fourth recorded concussions, finishing his season after Week 9. Moving into 2025, he will be tasked with studying a brand new playbook and catching passes from a 26-year-vintage rookie. None of this is giving easy-breezy bounce-back.
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Still, I assume Olave has the products to supply a huge and smooth rebound. After all, that is a participant whose elite ball abilties and sticky mitts helped make him the No. eleven normal choose lower back in 2022. He proved worth of the draft capital, recording extra than 1,000 receiving yards whilst coping with pinnacle-25 delusion WR numbers in his first seasons as a pro
It`s additionally really well worth bringing up he cleared eighty receiving yards and became a pinnacle-25 delusion manufacturer at the location in 3 of 5 video games earlier than maintaining his first concussion of the season in Week 6. And he hit the ones markers with a mixture of Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton and Derek Carr beneathneath center. Tyler Shough is probably his largest project yet, however Olave has published strong stats in spite of subpar QB play.In Kellen Moore’s up-pace machine and because the team’s uncontested No. 1 WR, Olave’s expected quantity places him in a role to produce.
While the concussion issues are warranted, he became a complete player at OTAs and has ignored simplest one recreation in his 3-yr profession because of lower-frame issues.
Currently the thirty eighth WR coming off of draft forums, Olave offers first-rate value. Mike Clay has him projected for a 82-1,000-four stat line, supplying the Saints’ wideout with definitely viable WR2 upside.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
Even the Dawg Pound’s maximum committed need to admit that the mere point out in their cherished membership is regularly observed with the aid of using alarm bells. Njoku, however, has been a port withinside the team’s many storms. While he became, unfortunately, confined to his fewest quantity of video games (eleven) on the grounds that 2019 ultimate season, the previous Hurricane furnished cowl for delusion managers, averaging 13.five delusion factors according to recreation (TE4). It’s genuine that the addition of third-spherical choice Harold Fannin Jr. would possibly sign a converting of the TE guard (particularly given the rookie’s pass-catching chops), however Njoku’s enjoy can not be discounted.
David Njoku became confined to eleven video games in 2024, however nonetheless controlled sixty four receptions and 5 TDs. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Currently coming off of draft forums across the 8th spherical, Njoku is an excellent goal for managers in search of later-spherical balance at the location. Surrounded with the aid of using a glut of unproven talent, the 28-yr-antique figures to get fed. He’s completed withinside the pinnacle five amongst tight results in overall objectives in lower back-to-lower back seasons, averaging almost 8 according to recreation in 2023 and 2024. The aforementioned Fannin may want to pull some looks, however Njoku have to as a minimum begin the season because the uncontested No. 1 option, mainly if Joe Flacco wins the beginning gig.
To that point, Njoku published monster numbers whilst paired with Flacco in 2023, clearing ninety receiving yards in 3 of the QB’s 5 begins offevolved whilst additionally recording 4 TDs from Weeks 13-17. Even if Flacco arms the reins off to one of the team’s more youthful options, Njoku is in all likelihood to paintings as a depended on protection valve
Reportedly absolutely recovered from the knee difficulty that upfront ended his 2024 marketing campaign and coming into a agreement year, Njoku have to be prompted to preserve the chains moving. A top-12 fable manufacturer at TE for 3 consecutive seasons, Njoku is one of the most secure bets on a unstable squad and
