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The New Orleans Saints are excited about second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe. McKinstry showed up to training camp in terrific shape and has "shown strong ball skills, instincts and toughness." The former second-rounder out of Alabama could become the team's next stud cornerback after both Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo have left town. In his first taste of the NFL last year, the 27-year-old defensive back had 42 tackles (32 solo) and six pass breakups in 15 games (nine starts) in the Big Easy as a starter. It wasn't a bad showing for a rookie cornerback that was forced into a starting role, and it sounds as though McKinstry is ready to take the next step in Year 2 for a Saints team that isn't expected to do much under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. Takeways have never been a part of McKinstry's game, though, making him avoidable in IDP formats.

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Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown continued to impress during training camp this summer and "should be a force" again in 2025, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Brown has been a high-impact player for years now, and there doesn't appear to be a drop-off in sight for the former seventh overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Auburn. The 27-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler and one of the top D-linemen in the league in 2023, when he had a career-high 103 tackles (57 solo), two sacks, seven tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, an interception and six pass breakups in 17 starts. However, he tore his MCL in Week 1 of last year, leading many to wonder if he can regain his form for Carolina in 2025. By all accounts, Brown is fully healthy, and the Panthers defense is going to need him if they are going to make any noise in the NFC South.

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The Athletic's Jeff Howe writes that the Tennessee Titans "have been thrilled" with rookie first-round quarterback Cameron Ward's work ethic early on. Ward has showed up around 5 am every day during training camp to start his workout and is frequently bringing other players with him. That leadership is an important quality, although it doesn't mean that Ward isn't going to be a stud right away in his first NFL season. The 23-year-old is going to start right away for the Titans after they took him first overall in April's draft. Fantasy managers should expect a steep learning curve in an offense with Calvin Ridley as the WR1 and not much else behind him. Ward has "come as advertised," but the ups and downs he showed in the preseason are likely to continue into a very difficult Week 1 matchup on the road against a Denver Broncos defense that should be one of the best in the league again in 2025.

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Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Jarquez Hunter is likely to open the season behind both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in the team's backfield pecking order. Given how heavily Los Angeles has utilized Williams over the past two seasons, Hunter's RB3 status could mean that he is unlikely to see the field much as a rookie. A fourth-round pick out of Auburn, Hunter led the SEC by averaging 6.4 yards per rush attempt in his final collegiate season. The 22-year-old brings an explosive speed element to the Rams' backfield that Williams and Corum do not. However, Williams and Corum are dependable three-down backs who can make plays inside the tackles, which is a skill set that Rams head coach Sean McVay has typically favored. An injury could change things, but for now, Hunter should be off the radar of fantasy managers in 2025.

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Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant played well in training camp and the preseason and could be ready to contribute immediately in 2025. A third-round pick out of Illinois, Bryant recorded 54 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final collegiate season. The 22-year-old will likely open the season as the primary backup to star Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton. However, Bryant could force his way onto the field alongside Sutton if he produces when given the opportunity. Denver's WR2 and WR3 are Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin, who are both talented players, but neither has a proven track record of production. Bryant's upside case includes him working his way into the team's WR2 role by the end of the season, which makes him a worthy late-round flier in deep fantasy leagues.

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New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor has a chance to emerge as a key contributor within the team's passing game this season. A second-round pick out of LSU, Taylor recorded 55 catches for 546 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate season. The 21-year-old reportedly had an impressive training camp and is poised to open the season as the Jets' top tight end. New York does not have a clear secondary target-earner behind star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, so Taylor could conceivably work his way into a prominent role early in the year. He should not be counted on for fantasy TE1 production, but Taylor could end up being a value as a late-round flier in deeper leagues.

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The Carolina Panthers have placed wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) on injured reserve, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 23-year-old was in line for a larger role in the team's offense after Carolina traded away veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, but Coker will now miss at least the first four games of the season. After going undrafted in 2024, Coker recorded 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games last season as a rookie. The Panthers will now likely be turning to veteran wide receivers Hunter Renfrow and David Moore to replace Coker's production. Coker should no longer be a late-round target in fantasy drafts, but he's a name to remember as a mid-season waiver-wire addition, depending on the severity of this quad injury.

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The Carolina Panthers are signing veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow to the active roster, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Renfrow will have a chance to be the team's primary slot receiver with Jalen Coker (quad) heading to injured reserve due to a quad issue. Renfrow did not appear in an NFL game in 2024. In 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, he recorded 25 catches for 255 yards. The 29-year-old will likely never reclaim the Pro-Bowl level he reached in his peak season in 2021, but Renfrow could prove to be a semi-capable target earner in Carolina this season. Still, he offers little upside as a downfield or red-zone receiver and should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

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Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks is poised to have a role in the team's offense early on in his career. Marks, a fourth-round pick of Houston back in April's draft, spent four campaigns at the collegiate level with Mississippi State, but didn't break out as a rusher until 2024 during his time with USC. However, the 24-year-old's skill as a receiver is what sets him apart from the Texans' other options. Marks caught fewer than 47 balls just once in college, recording seasons with 60 and 83 receptions, too. With teammate Joe Mixon's (ankle) ankle injury clouding his status for 2025, the 24-year-old will be required to outwork Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale for backfield touches. Opportunities in the run game could be sparse with veteran Nick Chubb ahead of him in the pecking order, but Marks figures to get a chance to stand out in the receiving game. He's an intriguing late-round selection for zero-RB drafters and is a nice stash in dynasty formats.

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NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Minnesota Vikings have reworked veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen's contract. Pelissero notes that the 35-year-old's salary will be cut by $2 million, while $4 million in incentives will be removed. It was seemingly never about the money for Thielen, who returns to the team that took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent back in 2013. The Minnesota State alum missed a good chunk of time during 2024 with a hamstring strain, but averaged 72.3 receiving yards per game from Weeks 12 to 18 when he was healthy. That includes two 100-yard efforts and one more just shy of that (99). Thielen projects to play a sizable role in the offense while teammate Jordan Addison serves his three-game suspension to start the year. Still, his production could be volatile with the unknown variable of second-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy.

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Once a sneaky candidate to back up star running back Christian McCaffrey, stock for San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James has declined since the NFL Draft. The fifth-round pick broke a finger, forcing him to be sidelined for a few weeks. Then, the 49ers traded for former Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that Robinson is locked into the number two role, and second-year back Isaac Guerendo is currently manning the third spot on the depth chart. Although he's back on the practice field now, James may never get the chance to showcase his talents during a regular-season football game this season, barring a rash of injuries in the San Francisco backfield. Still, general manager John Lynch recently reconfirmed his confidence in the rookie, so dynasty managers shouldn't give up hope yet. The other three San Francisco running backs are regularly being selected in redraft leagues.

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Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s role in the team's offense is unclear with the addition of veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper to the fold. The University of Tennessee product has speed for days and garnered hype this Summer as the Raiders' legitimate WR2 alongside incumbent starter Jakobi Meyers. However, Cooper returning to the team that selected him fourth overall in the 2015 NFL Draft is unideal for the prospect. Currently, Thornton Jr. sits fourth on Las Vegas' unofficial depth chart, behind Cooper, Meyers, and third-year pass-catcher Tre Tucker, who has flashed as well. The possibility remains that Thornton Jr. will eventually work into the starting offense. For now, though, fantasy managers can't expect more than the occasional spike week. He carries more value in best ball and dynasty formats.

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New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal is listed fourth on the team's depth chart, but still made the most of his limited preseason opportunities. The sixth-round pick out of Kansas was sidelined with a hamstring injury for a large chunk of training camp, preventing him from winning the backup job to Alvin Kamara. Kendre Miller earned that role, relegating Neal to fight for touches with converted wide receiver and special teams player Velus Jones Jr. Neal impressed head coach Kellen Moore and backup quarterback Tyler Shough in his lone preseason appearance (seven touches for 30 yards), and the team parted ways with Clyde Edwards-Helaire shortly after. It will take an injury or two for Neal to receive meaningful touches on what could be the league's worst offense. He doesn't need to be drafted in standard-sized redraft leagues this season.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield appears to be in line for a new contract this offseason, according to a report from The Athletic's Jeff Howe. The Buccaneers signed Mayfield to what is now viewed as a discounted three-year, $100 million deal in March 2024. Mayfield responded by setting career-high marks in completions (407), passing yards (4,500), and touchdowns (41), and led the Buccaneers to an NFC South title. He also ran for more yards (378) than ever before in his career. Mayfield and the Tampa Bay front office have made it clear they want to continue this relationship long-term, so it should come as no surprise to see Mayfield earn a raise before entering the final year of his current contract. Mayfield ranks as RotoBaller's QB8 in redraft leagues this season.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is taking extra efforts to make sure the team's offense is doing things correctly, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe. Unfortunately, teachings from the 41-year-old are coming often. The Steelers exchanged their starting quarterback, running back, and top wide receiver this offseason, so there's not much continuity on the practice field. Howe notes the offense is still a work in progress, but Rodgers is doing everything he can to get the team ready for Week 1. Rodgers, in what is likely the final season of his career, is buried in the quarterback fantasy football rankings. But he's shown a tendency to hyper-target his top wide receiver, bringing hope for a strong season from DK Metcalf.

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Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders put together an impressive training camp, most notably as a receiver. Head coach Dave Canales recently spoke about his improvement as a pass-catcher. The second-year, fourth-round pick caught 33 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown during his rookie season. Interestingly, he did that on only 43 targets. Sanders was on the field often, but wasn't a favorite target for quarterback Bryce Young. Following an absence in Week 13 due to an injury, Sanders was almost completely uninvolved in the Carolina passing attack. He projects to be Carolina's primary tight end in 2025, but his rookie inconsistencies have made him nothing more than a late-round dart throw in fantasy football redraft leagues.

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The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt predicts that New York Jets running back Braelon Allen "will become the predominant ball carrier" in the team's running back room, "perhaps early" in the season. Rosenblatt also writes that he expects the Jets to finish in the top five in the NFL in team rushing attempts, so the team's lead rusher could end up with a significant workload. Allen is expected to split reps at running back with Breece Hall, but Rosenblatt implies that Hall could shift into more of a pass-game role this season. Allen profiles as a low-end RB3/high-end RB4 in redraft fantasy leagues for 2025, and should have dynasty appeal as the Jets running back of the future with Hall in the final year of his contract.

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New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson has "impressed Patriots brass with his ability to run between the tackles, not just to the outside," according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Graff also writes that Henderson "looks like easily (New England's) best offensive weapon" and has "outperformed both" of the team's veteran running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, in practice. Henderson's explosive speed and receiving ability are well known from his collegiate days at Ohio State. However, if the 22-year-old is also opening eyes with his inside rushing ability, he could be on the fast track to a three-down role in New England. Henderson is a priority RB2 target in redraft leagues with significant upside if he can wrestle touches away from Stevenson and Gibson over the course of the season.

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The Athletic's Daniel Popper predicts that Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman "is going to feed" rookie running back Omarion Hampton this year and that Hampton can be a "very productive workhorse." Veteran running back Najee Harris (eye) is back in practice, but Popper writes that there are "still questions about how much Harris will be able to contribute." Hampton was drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft and has the skillset to be a three-down back. The 22-year-old profiles as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in fantasy, and his ceiling is likely only capped by how many touches he gets in the Chargers' offense.

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The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. predicts that Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown's workload "won't be too far off" from the 23.6 touches he averaged per game between Week 9 and Week 17 of the 2024 season. Dehner Jr. writes that the team "restructured the run game specifically around (Brown's) skillset" and is "utilizing him more split out wide." During the eight-game stretch last season referenced above, Brown gained 930 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns. As long as Cincinnati's offense is again one of the league's most prolific, Brown should be in line for a monster season. He's a low-end fantasy RB1, and could finish even higher in full-PPR scoring formats.

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