Running Backs
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Wayne Gallman, NYG- Gallman carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and added seven catches for 40 yards in the Giants Week 14 contest. He has a tough matchup against the Eagles in Week 15 who are allowing the second fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs but he is a guy worth watching as the Giants season winds down.
Rod Smith, DAL- Smith has now found the end zone in each of the last three weeks but in Week 14 he put together a career day, rushing for 47 yards on six carries and adding 113 yards on five catches. He is behind Alfred Morris when it comes to carries buut it seems safe to assume his role as the team's pass catching back and change of pace handcuff is safe.
Wide Receiver
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Chris Hogan, NE- Hogan returned to the Patriots lineup in Week 14 but caught just one pass for one yard as the New England offense failed to show up to Miami. In Week 15 the Patriots will face off against a Steelers defense that has struggled to stop the New England offense and especially Chris Hogan who torched the Pittsburgh defense for 180 yards and two touchdowns during last year's AFC Championship game.
Cooper Kupp, STL- Enough can not be said about Kupp over the past few weeks as he has taken over as the Rams number one receiver with Robert Woods on the shelf and put up number one receiver type numbers. Though Woods is expected to return to the Rams offense in Week 15 I think it is safe to say that Kupp should be Goff's number two receviing target in a favorable matchup agaisnt a beat up Seahawks secondary.
Tight End
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O.J. Howard, TB-- Howard has exceeded 50 yards receiving in three of the last four weeks and has caught a touchdown pass in two of those contests. He is still contending with Cameron Brate for targets at the tight end position but the Buccaneers first round pick is starting to look more comfortable in the team's offense as the end of the season nears.
Player News
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala says free agent QB Aaron Rodgers “is not going to play just for the sake of playing.”
Kinkhabwala has had conversations with Rodgers and executives around the league trying to sign him. Based on those conversations, she says, “it’s extremely clear Rodgers is not going to play just for the sake of playing.” He remains unsigned with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple teams needing quarterback help. The Steelers are the most likely fit, but it seems Rodgers won’t force it if he does not find a good fit. This explains why Rodgers has been interested in the Vikings and has not yet signed. The 41-year-old may be headed for retirement if a situation he prefers, like the Vikings, does not want him back. His options remain limited and Rodgers may call it a career if he still does not like his options later in the offseason.
Bears signed LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year, $20 million extension.
Edwards’ extension includes $16.6 million guaranteed. The Bears originally signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract two seasons ago and he has outplayed that salary. Edwards has four interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons starting for Chicago in the middle of the field. He gets a raise as the Bears lock up another important part of their defense after extending CB Kyler Gordon earlier in the week.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams visited the Falcons on Wednesday.
Williams posted on his Instagram that he visited the Falcons facility on what was the last day of pre-draft visits. The 20-year-old is a Georgia native, played at the University of Georgia, and is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons have a need for an edge rusher and hold the No. 15 pick. They may look to keep Williams in-state and add his skillset to their pass-rushing group. Williams tallied five sacks last season and has explosive production for any team looking to add an edge rusher in the first round.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “won’t fall out of the first round.”
Schultz reports his sources are indicating that Dart will not fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He continues that the Giants are a candidate to trade up from pick No. 34 into the first round to take Dart if they do not take a quarterback at pick No. 3. The Saints are also an option with pick No. 9 or a trade up from pick No. 40. Dart is generally considered the third quarterback to come off the board after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a team in need of a franchise quarterback may take a chance on him after Ward and Sanders are selected. Teams could look to gain a fifth-year option on Dart and trade into the first round if he is not taken earlier.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not participating in the voluntary offseason program and seeks an extension.
Miller was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018 and has started 107 games over seven seasons for the team. He is set to enter the final year of his current contract in 2025, making $12.25 million. Though he is not technically holding out yet since the offseason program is voluntary, Fowler notes Miller is seeking an extension. He finished last season with an 80.6 PFF grade, No. 14 among offensive tackles. Miller has been the Raiders’ franchise left tackle for seven years now and both sides will certainly discuss an extension as training camp nears.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten said he had a private workout with the Commanders’ running backs coach.
Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.