According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Buffalo Bills are giving former first-round DT Ed Oliver a four-year extension. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Oliver saw his fifth-year option exercised in 2022; now, he is getting an extension in 2023 that will keep him under contract through 2027 when he is 30. According to PFF, Oliver has averaged over 30 pressures and 20 run stops per season since entering the league. Oliver gets his big payday that will make him a free agent potentially right in time for one more large paycheck.
Category: Transactions
Sat, Jun 3rd 1:42pm EDT
By Ari Koslow
Falcons HC Arthur Smith said he expects everybody being ready for the season opener, including TE Kyle Pitts. (Source: ESPN.com)
Fantasy Impact: Pitts has been sidelined during OTAs as he continues to recover from MCL surgery. His status will be one to monitor as we soon head into training camp, but he is still expected to be fully healthy for the start of the season as of right now.
Category: Injury Updates
Sat, Jun 3rd 1:39pm EDT
By Ari Koslow
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said he is excited for Kadarius Toney to build rapport with Patrick Mahomes. (Source: NFL.com)
Fantasy Impact: "I think we all see what he can do when the football's in his hands," Nagy said, per the team transcript. "Again, same type of deal, he comes over halfway through the season, it's a whole new offense, he's got to learn the ins and outs, and so you have that point and he was able to do that and it's exciting now for us to be able to take that to year two and build that relationship with Pat." Toney has drawn praise from his coaches early this offseason. It remains a wait-and-see situation to see if the Chiefs end up signing DeAndre Hopkins. If they don't, Toney could be in line for a bigger role this season in the Kansas City offense.
Category: Rumors
Jahmyr Gibbs saw run with the first-team in OTAs on Thursday with David Montgomery (leg) not taking part in practice. (Source: DetroitLions.com)
Fantasy Impact: Gibbs has been seeing reps with the first-team while Montgomery has been sidelined. Given the draft capital the Lions invested in him, he should be in line for a major immediate role alongside Montgomery.
Von Miller said that he expects to be ready for the start of the 2023 season. (Source: 9news.com)
Fantasy Impact: "... I feel like I’ll be ready to go at the start of the season," Miller said when asked about his recovery. He mentioned his past injuries and how it has now given him a better understanding on his path to recovery. Miller tore his ACL in Week 12 last season which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Even if he isn't ready for Week 1, Miller should be ready to return early in the year barring any setbacks.
Category: Injury Updates
Devon Achane signed his contract with the Miami Dolphins. (Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Achane was selected in the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft and he has reportedly excelled early on in camp. He will compete for snaps in the Dolphins backfield with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.
Category: Transactions
Anthony Richardson is getting first team reps in OTAs, hitting several receivers with pinpoint accuracy. (Source: Dov Kleiman on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Richardson is putting himself to take the QB1 role in Indy, according to the report. He was drafted to become the Colts next franchise QB after years of mediocre play by aging veterans, so Richardson showing promise early is no surprise. His dual threat ability is a big boost for fantasy managers and will keep him around late QB1 or mid QB2 territory in drafts.
Category: Rumors
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Indianapolis Colts are working out veteran wide receiver Breshad Perriman and are in discussions about signing him. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Even though he will be 30 by next season, Perriman has stuck around the league because of the threat he brings as a field stretcher. Perriman has played for four different teams, averaging 16.2 yards per reception in his career — one of the top marks in the league. If the Colts do sign him, he likely won’t have a fantasy relevant role, but he’ll provide a good complement to Indy’s offense, especially with a rushing threat like Anthony Richardson at QB.
Category: Rumors
Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Friday that Michael Pittman is dealing with a minor hip injury. (Source: NFL.com)
Fantasy Impact: It is too early to have any huge concern and you usually see teams be super cautious with injuries this time of the year. After hauling in 99 passes last season, Pittman will look to build on that with rookie QB Anthony Richardson likely starting right away for the Colts.
Category: Injury Updates
Rashaad Penny is participating in OTAs with the Eagles. (Source: Martin Frank on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Penny missed the end of last season after undergoing surgery on a broken fibula. He signed a one-year deal with the Eagles this offseason. He should be splitting the backfield with recently acquired D'Andre Swift this season.
Category: Injury Updates
Jalen Carter reportedly "looked the part" in drills for defensive lineman in OTAs. (Source: The Inquirer)
Fantasy Impact: Carter fell to No. 9 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft where the Eagles traded up for him. He adds to what was already a super strong defensive line for Philadelphia.
Category: Rumors
Fri, Jun 2nd 2:39pm EDT
By Ari Koslow
Kenneth Walker III has reportedly been mentoring rookie running backs Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh throughout OTAs. (Source: The News Tribune)
Fantasy Impact: Walker had tremendous praise for Rashaad Penny and what he was able to do as a mentor to Walker this time last year. The second year running back is reportedly doing the same to the pair of running backs the Seahawks drafted this year. The Seattle backfield remains a tricky situation in regards to what the roles of Walker and Charbonnet will be, and it wouldn't be shocking if McIntosh carves out a role in the passing game as well.
Broncos coach Sean Payton said he likes pretty much everything about Pat Surtain II. (Source: Zac Stevens on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: "His physical traits [are impressive]," Payton said. "He’s long & he’s built [as a] prototype for what you’re looking for in that position. He’s got great makeup, he’s tough, he’s smart & the ball finds him. He’s got good ball skills." Surtain will look to continue his strong shutdown play in the Broncos secondary this season.
Kyren Williams is reportedly getting an extended look in OTAs, sharing the reps with Cam Akers. (Source: The RamsWire)
Fantasy Impact: It was Akers who worked as the clear workhorse to end last season in the Rams backfield, so this comes as a slight surprise. It is still early though. It will be more noteworthy if Williams is still seeing first-team reps once training camp rolls around.
Category: Rumors
Ji'Ayir Brown is reportedly being eyed for three-safety sets during OTAs. (Source: The Athletic)
Fantasy Impact: The 49ers traded up to select Brown with the No. 87 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He excelled at Penn State and will look to carve out a role in the 49ers secondary this season.
Category: Rumors
Tyrion Davis-Price is reportedly working on his ability in the passing game during OTAs. (Source: The Athletic)
Fantasy Impact: The same goes for Jordan Mason as they both hope to carve out a role in the 49ers backfield this season. Davis-Price saw two targets and did not catch a pass last year. Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell should continue to lead the 49ers backfield, but you can never have too much depth.
Category: Rumors
Jordan Mason is reportedly working on his ability in the passing game during OTAs. (Source: The Athletic)
Fantasy Impact: The same goes for Tyrion Davis-Price as they both hope to carve out a role in the 49ers backfield this season. Mason did not see a single target in the passing game last year. Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell should continue to lead the 49ers backfield, but you can never have too much depth.
Category: Rumors
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was candid about his ongoing contract situation, saying that the money is on his mind, but that it doesn't distract him and that he's focused on performing and letting "everything else handle itself." (Source: David Moore, The Dallas Morning News)
Fantasy Impact: Lamb said that, while he is worried about the money, it's not what's on his mind at all times. Lamb said his focus is on the field and that the contract will work itself out. After a 1,359-yard season, Lamb seems due for a large extension in Dallas after taking over the role as the team's WR1. Lamb enters Year 4 with his fifth-year option already exercised, and if he has another finish as a top wide receiver, his worth will only go up. Lamb has only improved every season from a fantasy production perspective.
Category: Rumors
According to Jeff McLane of The Inquirer, Philadelphia Eagles rookie edge rusher Nolan Smith's pre-draft size concerns are less of a worry as he engages in sevens and looks "longer" than expected. (Source: Jeff McLane, The Inquirer)
Fantasy Impact: Size and length could have been a reason for Smith's dip into the bottom of the first round. The Georgia product was listed at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds. Luckily, he was often compared to his now-teammate Haason Reddick who is also undersized as an edge rusher at 6-foot-1. Reddick could help show Smith the ropes and help him learn to be a pro despite their relative size as the athlete Smith still learns the game at the NFL level.
Category: Rumors
According to Jeff McLane of The Inquirer, second-year linebacker Nakobe Dean has stepped up as the leader in the middle of the field for the Philadelphia Eagles, operating as the team's signal caller. (Source: Jeff McLane, The Inquirer)
Fantasy Impact: Dean was a captain of the Georgia defense which was one of the most dominant units in college football history. With T.J. Edwards out of Philly, Dean can step right into that role with experience. Dean didn't play much in his rookie season, as injuries forced his fall in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he and Nicholas Morrow are reportedly manning the first unit for the Eagles, likely setting him up for a crucial role in 2023.
Category: Rumors