Fantasy Football News

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Washington has signed safety Bobby McCain to a one-year deal. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Before being released by Miami earlier this week, McCain had spent his entire career with the Dolphins since being drafted in 2015. Last season McCain started 15 games and finished with 46 tackles and an interception. The details of the one-year contract are yet to be known, but McCain immediately brings experience to a safety group that is still pretty young other than Landon Collins.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN is reporting that free agent WR Kelvin Benjamin is working out for the Giants as a tight end. (Source: Jordan Raanan on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Benjamin is trying out for the Giants this weekend but as a tight end, not a wide receiver. He's hasn't played in the NFL since 2018. The 30-year-old was drafted by GM David Gettleman in Carolina in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He hauled in 25 catches on 62 targets for 380 yards and one touchdown for the Bills/Chiefs in 2018. Benjamin will try to compete for a roster spot at the tight end position behind Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph.

The Miami Dolphins signed first-round wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to his rookie contract. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Waddle, the No. 6 overall pick from this year's draft, receives a fully guaranteed deal over four years. The Alabama product will line up in three-wide sets along with Will Fuller and DeVante Parker this season. He's also reunited with his former college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle is more exciting in dynasty leagues than he is in redraft formats.

Bucs QB Tom Brady is expected to begin throwing following February's knee surgery. (Source: TampaBay.com)

Fantasy Impact: Brady recently described the surgery as "pretty serious" and it was apparently affecting him throughout the season. "Every week I was kind of tending to my knee, and I thought I would love to see a season where I can focus on some other strength stuff that I want to do, some other technique stuff where I’m not just focused on protecting my knee all the time," Brady elaborated. It was certainly hard to tell that the 43-year-old was impacted as threw 40 touchdown passe en route to his seven Super Bowl. A healed knee with another year in Tampa Bay's system could mean that he's even better in 2021.

Former New York Giants OT Cameron Fleming is signing a one-year, $3.67 million deal with the Denver Broncos, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fleming started all 16 games at right tackle for the Giants in 2020 but allowed the sixth most pressures in the league at the position. The tackle joins his fourth team entering his eighth season and will look to improve his play on a Broncos' offensive line that ranked 25th in Pro Football Focus' final 2020 offensive line rankings.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (non-throwing shoulder) will participate in rookie minicamp but he's expected to be limited. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lawrence underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder back in February. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes that this year's No. 1 overall pick is still expected to be a full-go for training camp. Jacksonville certainly isn't going to rush things with their new franchise player.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that CB Mike Hughes has been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Chiefs are sending their 2022 sixth-round pick to the Vikings in return for Hughes and their 2022 seventh-round pick. Hughes only started two games this season. He did not record any interceptions and had nine tackles on the season. Chiefs wanted to add CB depth and Hughes will look to bounce back in Kansas City.

Former Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals CB Dre Kirkpatrick is reportedly visiting with the New England Patriots, per Ian Rapoport. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The veteran cornerback is set to enter his 10th year in the league and is reportedly visiting with the Patriots on Thursday. Kirkpatrick started 11 games for the Cardinals in 2020, finishing the season with 56 tackles, seven pass deflections, and three interceptions. He could spend time as a slot cornerback in Bill Belichick's defense, adding immense talent alongside All-Pro CB Stephon Gilmore and JC Jackson. Continue monitoring this situation, as Kirkpatrick still has plenty left in the tank to strengthen a revamped Patriots' roster in 2021.

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network is reporting that the Broncos are waiving WR DaeSean Hamilton. (Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Broncos reportedly had trade talks involving Hamilton. Denver was unable to finalize a deal and ultimately decided to waive him, saving $2.8 million in cap space. Hamilton was the odd man out in a loaded Broncos receiving group. The 26-year-old will most likely be claimed by another NFL team within the next few days. He caught 23-of-44 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns across 16 games in 2020. Hamilton is 189th among all wideouts in the latest expert consensus rankings and is mainly a stash in dynasty leagues formats.

The Tennessee Titans have officially signed their first-round pick CB Caleb Farley. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Farley was a dynamic playmaker in the Virginia Tech secondary, and if he can stay healthy he will be an excellent addition to the Titans defense.

WR Rashod Bateman signed his four-year, $12.6 million rookie contract with the Ravens on Wednesday. (Source: Jamison Hensley on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Bateman’s rookie deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus. The Ravens selected Bateman with the No.27 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He's expected to start alongside Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins. The Minnesota product can create separation and play all over the field. Bateman gives QB Lamar Jackson a new weapon that could flourish in the Ravens' passing game. Bateman is currently 68th among all wideouts in the latest expert consensus draft rankings.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that FA QB Blake Bortles is signing with the Green Bay Packers. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Bortles spent last season on the Rams as the backup to Jared Goff. The Packers are dealing with a QB dilemma right now with Aaron Rodgers wanting out. The only other QB on the roster is Jordan Love, so this could just be a depth-piece signing. Packers organization are hoping they can mend things with Rodgers, but it's unclear if they can. If Rodgers does get traded, Bortles could become the starter since Love may not be completely ready for NFL action. This is a situation to monitor.

Penei Sewell announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID. (Source: Penei Sewell on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Sewell was drafted number seven overall by the Detroit Lions. He is widely regarded as the best OL prospect. Sewell will have to quarantine until he is cleared. He will likely miss mini-camp, but will head to Detroit as soon as he's cleared.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that FA WR Tavon Austin worked out for the Jets. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Austin spent last season on the 49ers and the Packers. He only caught five passes for 20 yards. Even if he signs with the Jets, his fantasy value is pretty much nonexistent.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Arizona Cardinals have given LB Jordan Hicks permission to seek a trade after naming rookie Zaven Collins their starting MLB. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hicks, 28-years old, signed with the Cardinals back in 2019, but now looks to likely be on the way out after the Cardinals drafted LB Zaven Collins with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Arizona has committed to Collins as their starting MLB and has given permission to Hicks to seek a trade. Hicks finished with 118 tackles and four passes defended in 2020. In the scenario there is no trade interest for Hicks the Cardinals have not ruled out the option of retaining Hicks as a veteran who can provided depth if needed.

Former Bears OT Charles Leno Jr. has agreed to terms with The Washington Football Team on a 1-yr deal worth up to $5M. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Leno spent the first seven years of his career with the Bears. He's been an iron man for the last five, starting 80 consecutive games. Leno adds to a group that finished in the top-10 in 2020, and Ryan Fitzpatrick and Antonio Gibson stand to benefit most from this transaction.

Mark Kaboly of The Athletic writes "there's "no reason to think Najee Harris won’t push the 275-touch mark as a rookie." (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: We knew heading into the draft that Pittsburgh wanted a workhorse running back, and now they have one. Harris' competition is Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland, so it shouldn't be too hard for him to seize a large role right away. The fact that the Steelers have been so forward about their desire to upgrade the running game through Harris is music to the ears of fantasy players. A shaky offensive line is still a concern, but usage trumps all else when it comes to fake football. Harris should presently be valued as a rock-solid RB2 with RB1 upside heading into the summer.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Antwaun Woods has signed a one-year deal with the Colts per his agent Drew Rosenhaus. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Woods started seven games for the Cowboys last season. He totaled one sack and seven solo tackles. He will be a nice addition to the Colts defense if he can stay healthy.

Former New York Jets K Chase McLaughlin has reportedly been claimed off of waivers by the Cleveland Browns, per Field Yates. (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McLaughlin split time with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets in 2020, converting four of five field-goal attempts and five of six extra-point attempts, including a successful 52-yard field goal at Lambeau Field. The 25-year old kicker joins Cody Parkey and Matthew McCrane as the third placekicker on the Browns' roster and is expected to compete with the others during training camp to earn the starting job. Parkey was much improved in 2020, converting 19-of-22 field goal attempts but missed an extra point attempt in three of the team's final four regular-season games. All three of Parkey's missed field goal attempts occurred in one-possession games, which indicates the Browns are seeking improvement or preparing for his eventual replacement in 2021.

Falcons RBs coach Desmond Kitchings said Monday that "the door is wide open" for anyone to take over their backfield. (Source: Tori McElhaney on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is obviously a good sign for Mike Davis, who was brought in as a free agent this offseason. Atlanta also didn't draft a running back, so there's an opportunity for Davis to seize feature-back duties this season. He filled in admirably for Christian McCaffrey at times in 2020, and his three-down skill set will give him a leg up over his competition with the Falcons.