The Dallas Cowboys re-signed defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Hankins started the 2022 season with the Las Vegas Raiders before being traded to Dallas midway through the year. He finished with 20 tackles (seven solo) in 10 total games played (four starts) for both teams. The 31-year-old is likely to continue playing a rotational role on the interior of Dallas' defensive line in 2023, leaving him with virtually not IDP fantasy value. In his 10 years in the NFL, Hankins has 376 tackles (211 solo), 14.5 sacks, 37 tackles for loss, 47 QB hits, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 138 games (120 starts).
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Allen Robinson II (foot) has been able to participate in team drills over the past week. Robinson had surgery to repair a broken foot and began the offseason working individually. Last week he began working in on 11-on-11 team drills. The Steelers traded for Robinson in April and are expecting to have him play out of the slot in the upcoming season. Robinson has turned in two straight disappointing seasons and will be tough to trust in 2023 while playing on his third team in as many years.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (abdomen) took part in 11-on-11 drills in Tuesday's OTAs. Cooper had core muscle surgery in February after playing through the issue for part of the 2022 season. His ability to participate fully on Tuesday is a good sign as he should be able to open training camp. Cooper is primed for a solid year as Cleveland's WR1 heading into 2023.
The Denver Broncos are not expected to take a run at acquiring Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, according to what 9News' Mike Klis has been hearing. The Vikings have been rumored to be looking to move on from Cook for most of the offseason but Kils does not believe the Broncos will be among his suitors. For one, Cook has an $11 million cap hit in 2023 while Klis cites the Broncos' lack of cap space (just $11.7 million). Klis also goes on to cite Denver's lack of upcoming draft picks due to past trades. That being said, the Broncos could look to add Cook if Minnesota ends up releasing him. For now, Denver has Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine as their top two running backs heading into 2023.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers suffered a "minor tweak" during OTAs on Tuesday, according to head coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens presumably are just being cautious with their first-round rookie as they gear up for a revamped passing attack under new OC Todd Monken in 2023. According to Harbaugh, Flowers is expected to be able to suit up for mandatory minicamp next week. Flowers is a decent flier late in redraft leagues this season while he remains a high-potential rookie stash in dynasty formats.
Minnesota Vikings running back DeWayne McBride signed his rookie deal on Tuesday after the team selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. McBride's signing means that the Vikings have now signed all six of their rookie picks from the draft. The running back out of UAB could have a role behind Alexander Mattison in 2023 if the Vikings end up moving on from Dalvin Cook, a move that has been rumored for much of the offseason. McBride is a solid stash in dynasty leagues.
The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that it would be shocking if New York Giants tight end Darren Waller doesn't lead the team in targets in his first year in the Big Apple in 2023. Waller is the team's most accomplished receiving option, and both head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have experience in offenses with a tight end as the top pass-catching option. The 30-year-old had well over 1,000 yards receiving in 2019 and 2020 with the Raiders, but he missed 14 total games the last two seasons due to injuries and wasn't as involved last year in the passing game with receiver Davante Adams around. If Waller can stay healthy, he should be able to bounce back as a strong TE1 for fantasy managers.
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton's two-year, $12 million deal should assure that he's a roster lock heading into the 2023 season, but he could be on the chopping block next offseason if he regresses this year. Slayton saw a significant role in his fourth NFL season in 2022 given all the injuries at the position for the Giants, and he responded with 46 catches for 724 yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular season games (11 starts). The 26-year-old has the ability to stretch the field and make big plays, but he has much more competition this year after the G-Men added Isaiah Hodgins and Parris Campbell in free agency and rookie Jalin Hyatt in the draft. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues, Slayton will most likely go undrafted.
The Athletic's Dan Duggan is guessing that New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu will win the starting left-guard job this summer in training camp. Ben Bredeson has been the first-team left guard so far in offseason workouts this spring, but there is still plenty of time for Ezeudu to make up ground before the 2023 season starts. If Ezeudu doesn't come through, the Giants could also use a rotation at the position again. John Michael Schmitz has also been working as the starting center this offseason, so that will be his job to lose. The 23-year-old Ezeudu has been recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason after being sidelined for the final nine games of 2022, but he's expected to be ready for training camp.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had 120 carries last year, which ranked fourth-most among QBs. Around half of those carries were designed runs, as he ranked third in the NFL with 56 scrambles. The zone read is likely to remain a big piece of the offense in 2023, so Jones' designed runs aren't necessarily expected to decrease now that he's a $40 million signal-caller. Jones ranked fifth in the NFL with 708 rushing yards at the QB position, and he added seven rushing scores, which carried his fantasy value. If the 26-year-old is going to finish as a low-end QB1 again in his fifth season in the league, he's going to need to continue picking up chunk gains with his legs while improving through the air with more offensive playmakers at receiver.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (toe) said he will be ready for training camp "Day 1, full speed." Thomas, who is taking part in organized team activities this week, also said he'll be back to form "just like everyone's used to." It's hard for fantasy managers to take Thomas at his word after the 30-year-old pass-catcher has played in only three games the last two years due to ankle and toe injuries. And even if he's fully healthy in 2023, he'll likely take a back seat to Chris Olave as the teams No. 1 target with new quarterback Derek Carr in town. With all that said, it's nice to see Thomas getting healthy again, and his 16-171-3 line in three games in 2022 gives us some optimism that he can be a value pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts as a W4/5.
Sports Data APIs
Sports Odds APIs
