Fantasy Football News

The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they placed defensive end Elerson Smith on the Reserve/Retired list. Smith was originally a fourth-round selection (116th overall) by the New York Giants in the 2021 NFL draft out of Northern Iowa. The 26-year-old defensive lineman spent the first two years of his career in the Big Apple before playing with the Browns last season. He appeared in just two games in 2024 with Cleveland and had two tackles (one solo). In his two seasons with the G-Men, Smith had just 11 tackles (three solo), two QB hits, and a forced fumble in 13 games (zero starts) while mostly playing on special teams. He was first signed to the Browns' practice squad last September and was elevated to the active roster in Weeks 11 and 12 for D-line depth.

The Kansas City Chiefs waived former Clemson standout wide receiver Justyn Ross on Wednesday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. After not making the 53-man roster out of training camp last summer, Ross returned to KC's practice squad but only ended up playing in two regular-season games while failing to catch his only target on just 14 offensive snaps. The 25-year-old saw much more action in his rookie season in 2023, catching six of his 11 targets for 53 yards in 10 regular-season games (one start). Ross could still return to the Chiefs practice squad this fall, but he'd be a long shot for a considerable role on offense. Wherever he winds up, he won't suddenly enter the fantasy radar.

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre Harris is one of 30 unsigned second-round rookies, but general manager Joe Hortiz is hoping that the team can get things settled soon in order to get him back onto the practice field with training camp starting this week. "I wish I could put a crystal ball on it. I hope it's done soon. I hope he gets out here and practices, practice is vital for everyone, not just him," Hortiz said. The Chargers' rookies reported to camp last Saturday, so the 23-year-old is already behind the eight ball heading into his first NFL season. Harris impressed the coaches during offseason workouts this spring, but he'll need to get back out there soon so that he doesn't lose any progress he made. When he's on the field, Harris should have a key role as a deep target for quarterback Justin Herbert, although fantasy managers should expect inconsistency in a run-first offense.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said that running back Najee Harris (eye) will likely begin training camp this week on the Non-Football Injury list, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. Harris suffered a superficial eye injury during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July but he will report to the team's facilities on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Harris has been receiving treatment from doctors at Stanford for an injury that isn't believed to be very serious. The Chargers can activate Harris at any time from the NFI list, and he's not expected to miss much time at the beginning of camp. Additionally, he's fully expected to be full-go for Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 7. Still, this is a bad start for Harris in his first year in L.A., especially after the Chargers took Omarion Hampton in the first round in April.

Miami Dolphins new tight end Darren Waller signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the organization this week. The veteran can earn an additional $3 million in incentives. Waller came out of retirement this offseason after sitting out the 2024 campaign and was dealt to the Dolphins from the New York Giants as part of a late-round NFL Draft pick swap. With Jonnu Smith now in Pittsburgh, Waller won't face much competition from Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, or Tanner Conner to secure the clear TE1 role in Miami. Although Waller's last season of at least 60 catches or 700 yards came in 2020, he could enter the fantasy football TE1 radar based on the usage Smith received a season ago. For now, he should be viewed as a mid-range TE2 option, but the former Pro Bowler has at least some intriguing upside as a potential go-to red zone target for Tua Tagovailoa.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a sophomore slump following his fantastic rookie season in 2023 out of Ohio State. After throwing for more than 4,100 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games in Year 1, he regressed to just over 3,700 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 picks in Year 2. Entering 2025 in what could set him up for a lucrative contract extension, Stroud has trained hard to improve his physical fitness. "I've been working really hard on getting my body right -- losing body fat, trying to be faster, stronger," Stroud said. "And it went really well. ... [Working] pocket mobility, running out the pocket, throwing the rock. Everything kind of works hand in hand." Last season, Houston's offensive line struggled mightily, and Stroud was sacked 63 times, good for the second-most in the NFL behind only Caleb Williams (68). The offensive line could remain an issue after the team traded away franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but sacks are often largely a quarterback stat, too. If Stroud can become more dynamic operating inside and outside of the pocket, it could create more downfield opportunities for pass-catchers Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and Jayden Higgins, among others.

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (shoulder) said he expects to be a full participant during training camp after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason. The third-year pro out of Washington State played in all 17 games last year, so his shoulder procedure appears to have been a minor one. The former third-round pick was a tackling machine in 2024, racking up 147 tackles (84 solo), 10.5 run stuffs, one sack, and one interception. Needless to say, a healthy start to training camp bodes well for his chances to remain productive in 2025. Henley ranks as a top-20 overall player in RotoBaller's preseason IDP rankings.

San Francisco 49ers rookie seventh-round quarterback Kurtis Rourke (knee) will begin training camp this summer on the Non-Football Injury list after the team's rookies reported to camp on Tuesday. In addition, second-round rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins has yet to report while being one of the many second-round picks this year that have yet to sign their rookie deals. The 24-year-old Rourke played through a torn ACL in his final collegiate season in 2024 at Indiana, but he will not be ready to practice with the Niners when training camp kicks off next week. When Rourke is cleared to participate in practices, he'll merely be competing for the No. 3 QB role in San Fran behind starter Brock Purdy and backup Mac Jones. The 49ers also have Tanner Mordecai on roster at the QB position this year.

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons is not worried about a contract extension and knows he will get his money eventually. It's why Parsons showed up during the offseason program while still in discussions with the front office about a long-term extension. "I just work harder. Like, to me, I look at it like if people don't see your value, you don't cry and sit down. You just work harder," Parsons said. Even though Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett reset the market, Parsons was also set to break the record for most money for a non-quarterback. "Not really, because I'm just going to get mine no matter what," Parsons said about Garrett's contract affecting his market. The 26-year-old is a high-end IDP fantasy target regardless of his contract situation, as he's had at least 12 sacks in all four of his seasons while also forcing nine fumbles and recording 256 tackles.

The Denver Broncos and first-round cornerback Jahdae Barron agreed to terms on a rookie contract on Wednesday, sources informed of the deal told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Now that Barron has been signed, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart is the only first-rounder from April's draft that has yet to sign. Second-round running back RJ Harvey is the only one of Denver's seven draft picks that has not signed with training camp looming. However, Harvey is one of 30 unsigned second-round picks. Now that the 23-year-old Barron is signed, the 20th overall pick out of Texas will report to training camp on Wednesday with the rest of the team's rookies. He had 67 tackles and a career-best five interceptions for the Longhorns in 2024 and is expected to start immediately in Denver's secondary alongside Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss.

The Seattle Seahawks announced on Tuesday that they placed wide receivers Tyrone Broden (undisclosed) and Montorie Foster (undisclosed), defensive tackle Rylie Mills (knee), cornerbacks Zy Alexander (undisclosed) and Isas Waxter (undisclosed) and linebacker D'Eryk Jackson (undisclosed) on the Non-Football Injury list on Tuesday. Broden, 24, went undrafted out of Arkansas before signing with the Seahawks, but it looks like he won't be ready to take part in practices when training camp kicks off this month. Foster also signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State. Both Broden and Foster will be battling long odds to make the team's 53-man roster heading into the 2025 regular season this fall.

The Buffalo Bills placed rookie third-round defensive end Landon Jackson (undisclosed) on th Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday, according to the league's transaction wire. While it's unclear what type of injury Jackson is dealing with, the Bills are hopeful that he'll b ready for the start of training camp practices next week. Buffalo took the 22-year-old pass-rusher with the No. 72 overall pick in this year's NFL draft after he compiled 28 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in his college career with Arkansas. The Bills made a concerted effort to improve their defensive line this offseason, also signing pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht in free agency. When Jackson is able to return to the field, he'll be hoping to carve out a depth role heading into the 2025 campaign.

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Junior Colson is a "name to watch" in the competition to start next to Daiyan Henley at linebacker in 2025, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. A third-round pick in 2024, Colson played 11 games and made just one start as a rookie last season. Pro Football Focus graded Colson 180th out of 189 qualified linebackers in 2024. However, he missed time in training camp last summer after undergoing an appendectomy and then landed on Injured Reserve for a portion of the regular season due to an ankle injury. Popper notes that the Chargers re-signed veterans Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye over the offseason, and that those two figure to be Colson's main competition in camp.

The Baltimore Ravens "figure to make a push to extend" tight end Isaiah Likely, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Zrebiec also writes that the team believes Likely to have "star potential." A fourth-round draft pick back in 2022, Likely is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He's played a complementary role to star Ravens tight end Mark Andrews to this point in his career, but that sounds as if it could be changing. Likely set career-highs in catches (42), receiving yards (477), and touchdowns (6) in 2024. While he probably still needs Andrews to miss time to be a must-start fantasy tight end this season, the workload split between the two will be one to monitor throughout training camp and the preseason.

There have been no rumors indicating that an extension for Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is on the team's radar, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The former number four overall pick in the 2021 draft, Pitts has been a disappointment relative to the hype he received as a prospect. Last season, Pitts logged 47 catches for 602 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. The four touchdowns were actually a career-high for the 24-year-old, who has 10 receiving touchdowns in 61 career games played. Pitts enters 2025 on the last year of his rookie contract. He's still the presumptive starter for Atlanta heading into training camp, but the news that he's not in the team's long-term plans could mean his role in the offense will continue to be de-emphasized.

The Cleveland Browns are seeking clarity around rookie running back Quinshon Judkins' domestic violence incident and are in "no rush to sign (him) to his rookie contract or get him to camp," according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Judkins was arrested on domestic battery charges on Saturday night in Florida. The Browns used a second-round selection on him in this year's draft but have not yet signed him to his rookie contract. Judkins is due to report to training camp on Friday alongside the quarterbacks and the rest of the rookies. However, Cabot writes that the Browns have stressed to Judkins that he must "make his domestic incident the high priority over football." If Judkins misses time in camp or during the season due to potential suspension, more playing time would open in the Browns backfield for both incumbent back Jerome Ford and fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson.

Tennessee Titans offensive tackle JC Latham struggled in his first year in the NFL in 2024 after being taken seventh overall out of Alabama. Although he played right tackle for the Crimson Tide in college, Tennessee was intent on using him at left tackle in his first year in the league, but that backfired, so they have moved him back to the right side heading into 2025. The Athletic's Joe Rexrode writes that the 22-year-old tackle has lost 30 pounds, and if he's more comfortable on the right side this year, he could be one of the team's most improved players. Latham started all 17 games last year and played 1,095 offensive snaps, and while he wasn't amazing, he also didn't completely fall on his face despite playing in what was a bad offense. It was clear that Latham would be switching sides on the O-line after the Titans signed Dan Moore to a four-year deal.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year cornerback Tykee Smith, who also has experience at safety, could become an every-down player for the team in 2025, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. Smith's production as a nickel corner in his rookie season -- 54 tackles (38 solo), two interceptions, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 13 games (six starts) -- led head coach Todd Bowles to consider playing him more. The 24-year-old could be a safety-nickel combination player this year, writes Pompei, and playing next to a healthy Antoine Winfield Jr. could elevate his game. Bowles has also said that he's considering moving the former third-rounder out of Georgia to full-time safety after 589 of his 672 defensive snaps in 2024 came as a slot corner. Tampa has an opening at safety after releasing Jordan Whitehead.

Seattle Seahawks third-year outside linebacker Derick Hall has a high ceiling going into 2025 after recording 37 tackles (20 solo), eight sacks, six tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 17 games (14 starts) in 2024. The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar writes that Hall's combination of strength and athleticism makes him one to watch this year. The 24-year-old mostly wins with power by bull-rushing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. While learning from veteran DeMarcus Lawrence, Hall could improve even further in 2025 and make Seattle's pass-rushing fourseam a feared unit between him, Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafa. Hall isn't really a viable fantasy target in IDP formats as a linebacker that hasn't racked up many tackles, but he's one to keep an eye on.

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson is an ideal scheme fit for Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith's offense after Iowa alum excelled on wide-zone runs with the Hawkeyes. Although the Steelers weren't very efficient, only three teams ran the football more in 2024. The 21-year-old Johnson has plenty of competition in Pittsburgh's backfield in his rookie campaign with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in the fold, but he profiles as the team's back of the future and should get more chances out of the backfield as the season plays out. Johnson has a physical, bruising style and is also patient, which is reminiscent of former RB Najee Harris, but he should produce more big plays after racking up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries in his final season at Iowa. He'll be more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy formats as an RB3/flex candidate.