Dominate Your League

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that the team will find a place in the Week 1 divisional showdown against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday for rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, and he'll also see a role on special teams. TeSlaa has really turned heads and looked polished during training camp and the preseason, but it's unclear exactly what his involvement will look like out of the gates in 2025. With that said, the trade of Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars definitely opened things up for TeSlaa to have more opportunities in his first NFL season behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The 23-year-old sixth-rounder will probably have his typical rookie growing pains, but there are worse late-round fliers you can take on a receiver in fantasy drafts. In terms of Week 1, though, TeSlaa will be a pretty risky flex option.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) is in uniform and on the field during the early portion of the team's practice on Monday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. It's a pretty big development for a player that had not practiced with the team since late July after he aggravated a calf injury that he also dealt with earlier in the offseason program. In addition to sitting out with a calf ailment, the 28-year-old has been angling for a new contract during all of training camp and the preseason. He even went as far as to request a trade, but the Niners have said they aren't interested in trading him. Jennings stepped up with a career-best 77-975-6 line in 15 games (10 starts) in 2024, and it helped that Brandon Aiyuk (knee) missed half the season. Jennings should have a key role again in 2025, but his availability for Week 1 this Sunday against Seattle is firmly up in the air.

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said that the team is still evaluating what "usage time" will look like for rookie two-way star Travis Hunter in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday versus the Carolina Panthers. Hunter missed the preseason finale due to a minor upper-body injury, but it's not going to keep him from playing in his first real NFL game this weekend. However, it's unclear how many snaps he's going to see on both sides of the ball. The 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner is as athletic as they come, but the uncertainty around how much he'll be involved on offense in his first year in the NFL makes him more of a boom/bust WR3/flex for fantasy managers heading into the first week of the 2025 campaign. In a best-case scenario, Hunter will play more on offense than on defense and will serve as the WR2 behind Brian Thomas Jr.

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ESPN's Nick Wagoner writes that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall "dedicated a substantial amound of offseason time to making sure that he and quarterback Brock Purdy are in sync." Pearsall also traveled to Florida to work with Purdy on "timing and nuances of some of the routes in the Niners' playbook." Pearsall missed some time in OTAs with another hamstring injury, but it was evident that Purday and Pearsall "had made tangible improvements in their connection once Pearsall stepped on the field in training camp." "I think the sky's the limit for him," offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) on the PUP list and Jauan Jennings (calf) injured and holding out for a contract, Pearsall has the opportunity to be Purdy's top target early in 2025. Pearsall is a nice low-cost, WR3/flex target in fantasy drafts this week.

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ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reports that there has been no update from Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on unsigned rookie second-round running back Quinshon Judkins on Monday. An earlier report suggestd that Judkins could join the team as early as Monday, apparently the 21-year-old isn't with the team yet as they begin preparations for a Week 1 divisional battle against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Ohio State product was expected to take over as Cleveland's lead back when he was taken 36th overall in April, but a domestic-violence charge put a halt to those plans and kept the rookie out of all offseason workouts, training camp and the preseason. Although no formal charges eventually stuck, the NFL could still suspend Judkins in his first year in the NFL. The uncertainty around when Judkins will play and a possible suspension have tanked his fantasy value, but he's still worth a stash in most fantasy formats. Stay tuned.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is dealing with a "significant quad strain." It's the reason why the Panthers brought back veteran Hunter Renfrow, especially after trading Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings last week. The Panthers placed Coker on Injured Reserve, which means that he will be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the 2025 season after injuring his quad in practice late last week. It's a shame, too, since Coker was standing out in training camp practices this summer and was looking to be in line for a decent role as a depth piece for the Panthers passing attack. That could still happen later this year, and Coker isn't the worst IR stash in fantasy leagues if you're looking for an extra wideout. In the meantime, Renfrow could have the leg up for the WR3 role heading into Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team is excited to get wide receiver Hunter Renfrow back and that he will be active for Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Renfrow did not make the initial 53-man roster out of training camp and was released before eventually re-signing with the team after they traded Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings. Carolina also needed more receiver depth after placing Jalen Coker (quadriceps) on Injured Reserve to begin the year. Renfrow is going to start the year on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues, but he could have an opportunity to open the year in starting three-wide sets next to rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette. The 29-year-old had a 1,000-yard season in 2021 with the Raiders but didn't exceed 400 yards in 2022 and 2023 and was out of the league last year.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (return to football) is on track to play in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Miami has been bringing Waller along slowly after he spent the 2024 season retired from football. The soon-to-be 33-year-old projects as the team's clear top receiving threat at the tight end position, but it's hard to know how effective he will be at this point in his career. Waller last played in 12 games for the New York Giants in 2023, recording 52 catches for 552 yards and one touchdown. He should not be drafted in the majority of fantasy leagues, but his role in Miami's offense is worth monitoring early in the season.

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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel indicated that cornerback Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) would not practice on Monday, which is not the best sign for his availability in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, per Karen Guregian of Mass Live. We definitely aren't expecting Gonzalez to play in the season opener since he has not practiced at all ince injuring his hamstring in training camp in late July. Not having the former first-rounder in their secondary will surely be a hit to New England's defense against a new-look Raiders offense featuring quarterback Geno Smith and rookie first-round running back Ashton Jeanty. It's unclear who would start in Gonzalez's place this weekend if he's inactive, with Charles Woods, Alex Austin and Marcus Jones being the candidates across from Carlton Davis.

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Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (leg) is not practicing on Monday, per Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Wright had surgery on his injured leg in August, but avoided being placed on Injured Reserve. His exact return timeline is unknown, but Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel previously said that Wright could be back in "September-ish." Even if healthy, Wright may have been overtaken for the RB2 role in Miami by rookie Ollie Gordon II, who had a stellar preseason. The Dolphins' top running back, De'Von Achane (calf), will return to practice on Monday but is dealing with a lingering calf issue. For fantasy managers looking for a handcuff to Achane, Gordon II looks like the way to go early in the year.

From RotoBaller

Veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is visiting the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Schultz reports that Bourne is also scheduled to visit the Washington Commanders on Tuesday "if a deal is not reached with San Francisco." That could indicate that the 49ers should be considered the favorites to sign Bourne as long as they don't let him leave their building. Bourne spent the first four seasons of his career in San Francisco playing for current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, so he could hit the ground running with less than a week before the team's Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco is hurting for healthy and available wide receivers behind Ricky Pearsall, which means Bourne could step into a prominent role in the offense right away. He's a waiver-wire name to monitor for fantasy managers if he does indeed sign with the 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (oblique) is practicing on Monday, according to Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. Hill missed time in training camp with an oblique injury, but Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has said that he expects Hill to be ready for Week 1. The 31-year-old is looking for a bounce-back campaign after failing to reach 1,000 receiving yards last year for the first time since 2019. Hill looks like a borderline WR1/WR2 in fantasy who could hit big if he regains the form he had before 2024. However, the potential for age and/or injury-related regression adds significant risk to his profile.

From RotoBaller

Veteran linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. has agreed to join the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Walker Jr. played the first four seasons of his career in Indianapolis from 2017 to 2020. The 30-year-old spent last season with the Miami Dolphins, recording 34 solo tackles and one sack in 14 games (eight starts). Walker Jr. has topped 100 combined tackles three times in his career, but the last year he did so was 2021. He's likely no longer a fantasy-relevant player in IDP leagues, but he could make his way on the Colts' active roster early in the year.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in agreement with running back Jaylen Warren on a two-year extension, per The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. The 26-year-old has spent the first three seasons of his career in Pittsburgh and is now tied to the team through 2027. Warren enters 2025 as the RB1 in Pittsburgh for the first time in his career, although veteran Kenneth Gainwell and rookie Kaleb Johnson are both expected to play roles in the team's backfield as well. Warren has amassed 2,568 yards from scrimmage on 473 total touches in 48 career games, and he profiles as a high-end RB3/flex option in fantasy. For dynasty managers, Johnson's stock takes a hit with this news, as he is now sure to be splitting touches to some degree with Warren over the next few seasons.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (calf) is returning to practice on Monday and is on track to play in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Achane missed over a week of practice due to a lingering calf issue, but appears to be full-go early this week. The 23-year-old should see a heavy volume of touches in both the run and pass game for Miami this season, particularly given the team's questionable running back depth behind him. Rookie Ollie Gordon II impressed in the preseason and looks like Miami's RB2 entering the year, but he's a seventh-round pick and lacks NFL experience. As long as Achane can recover from this calf issue fully, he profiles as a fantasy RB1.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins could report to the organization this week, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I believe Judkins will be back with the Browns soon, possibly even sometime this week as they prepare for the Bengals," she wrote. This is a promising sign for Browns fans, as the second-round pick has been away from the team amidst legal and contractual issues. Not only has Judkins not yet signed his rookie contract, but he's also the subject of an NFL investigation following a legal incident on July 12 in Florida. While charges were dropped following that incident, Judkins's situation continues to be reviewed by the NFL for a potential suspension. Nevertheless, it appears we could have a major domino fall this week if Judkins reports to the Browns and signs his contract. By doing so, he'd have a chance to earn some snaps in the season opener, according to Cabot. He's worth a mid-round fantasy draft pick given that he could emerge as the Browns' starting running back this season, but until he has a clearer and steadier role, he belongs on your bench.

From RotoBaller

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed wide receiver Britain Covey to their practice squad. He spent his first three NFL seasons in Philadelphia before joining the Los Angeles Rams for training camp. However, he didn't make the Rams' 53-man roster and is now back with the Eagles as the regular season approaches. Covey appeared in 38 games over his three years with Philadelphia, catching 11 passes for 76 yards. He primarily played on special teams, where he had 68 punt returns, 771 punt return yards, 11 kick returns, and 236 kick return yards. If he gets elevated to the active roster this season, he'll likely have a similar role.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is still wearing a brace on his surgically-repaired left thumb, and he may continue to wear the brace as the regular season gets underway. "It'll be some weeks having to brace it up and just keep it protected," Love told ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "We'll play it by ear as I start getting into games and seeing how it feels, as you get back to live contact. But there'll be some time having that brace still." It's fair to assume that the brace may have a slight impact on Love's play, but the quarterback doesn't seem to have any concerns about how it will factor into his productivity. He's looking to shake off the struggles of last season, when he was dealing with nagging injuries and mustered a 63.1 percent completion rate while totaling 3,389 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The former first-round pick currently owns a fantasy ADP of 114, which makes him the 17th quarterback off the board. His price tag loosely aligns with RotoBaller's expert draft rankings, which have Love listed as the overall QB19.

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Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (quad) told KPRC's Aaron Wilson that his recovery is ahead of schedule and he feels ready for the regular season. "It's really a couple weeks ahead of schedule, which is a blessing," Pierce said. "I feel ready to go." The Florida product missed six games last season and didn't mak a single start. In order to get him some game reps before the regular season, the Texans' coaching staff put him on the field for a portion of their preseason finale earlier this month. In that contest, he rushed seven times for 17 yards on the ground. Houston may be forced to call on the 25-year-old early this season as the timetable for Joe Mixon (ankle) remains very unclear. At a minimum, he'll miss four games, leaving Nick Chubb to lead the backfield while Pierce and Woody Marks occupy supplementary roles. There's a chance Pierce could earn some meaningful touches, which would justify drafting him in the final rounds of your fantasy draft. However, it's just as likely that Chubb and Marks both play quite well, leaving Pierce without much of a role. At worst, you can draft him with your final pick and then just drop him if it doesn't work out.

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The New York Jets expect rookie wide receiver Arian Smith to "contribute right away," according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. A fourth-round pick out of Georgia, Smith recorded 48 catches for 817 yards and four touchdowns in his final collegiate season for the Bulldogs. Outside of top wideout Garrett Wilson, the Jets are hurting for talent at the position. Veterans Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard (shoulder) are penciled in as the team's WR2 and WR3, but Lazard is battling a shoulder injury. If Smith hits his upside as a prospect, he will bring a speed element down the field that the Jets' veteran receivers cannot. The 23-year-old is a name to monitor early in the season as a potential waiver-wire stash.

From RotoBaller