MNF Packers vs Raiders Bets & Props | NLDS Game 2 Picks | Bettor Sports Betting | October 9th

The long-time Ravens head coach went on to add, “That’d be my goal for him, and he’s capable of it.” It’s no secret that being an All-Pro requires a lot of playing time and a lot of production, and Likely would need both if he hopes to hit Harbaugh’s lofty goal this season. Of course, the challenge is overcoming Mark Andrews, who is presumed to be the Ravens’ TE1 this season, following an offseason of trade talks as the final year of his contract approaches. Like Andrews, Likely is also entering the final year of his contract, which is the rookie deal he signed in 2022. Since entering the league, Likely has shown plenty of flashes, including a 9-111-1 performance in Week 1 last season against the Chiefs. He would only catch 33 passes for 366 yards the rest of the season, but the potential is clearly there for Likely to make a bigger impact with more opportunities. It’s worth keeping in mind that this is a May quote from a coach, and a lot can change between now and then. That said, a 2025 breakout campaign from Likely wouldn’t be the most surprising thing after Andrews struggled for parts of last season and in the playoffs.

Adofo-Mensah was first hired as the Vikings’ general manager in 2022 after spending two seasons with the Browns. The 43-year-old GM has helped guide the team to a 34-17 record since his arrival, and signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal last offseason which wound up paying big dividends for a team that went on to post a 14-3 record, which was good for the second-highest single-season win total in franchise history. Outside of a down 2023 campaign in which the Vikings lost Kirk Cousins eight games into the season, the Vikings have had the look of a perennial contender in the NFC. Securing Adofo-Mensah for the long term should go a long way in locking them in for more successful runs if quarterback J.J. McCarthy proves to be worth the No. 10 overall pick the Vikes used on him last season.

Kelce, 35, mulled retirement this offseason after turning in the worst year since his 2013 rookie campaign. Kelce posted a career-low three touchdowns last season and averaged a meager 8.5 YPR on 97 receptions. While the raw receiving totals remained intact, there’s no doubt that Kelce’s explosiveness has fallen off in recent years. He’s now had back-to-back seasons with a career-low YPR, and despite his quarterback praising him for being “motivated to go out there and have an even better year than he had this last (season),” it’s fair to wonder how much Kelce has left in the tank as far as being a high-end producer is concerned. While the future hall of famer will likely continue to produce more than the average tight end — as he did last season, his days of being a yearly 1,000-yard producer are likely behind him.

Kelly, entering his first year as Vegas’ OC, has moved Jakobi Meyers and rookie Jack Bech from the outside to the slot in early practices. This suggests both receivers — along with Brock Bowers — could see varied use in what is expected to be a run-first Kelly offense. Meyers in his two years with the Raiders has played from the slot at a 31 percent rate, way down from his days in New England, which saw Meyers operate from the slot on two-thirds of his routes. Bech during his breakout 2024 season at TCU ran 27 percent of his routes from the slot. In 2024, Meyers ranked 40th out of 66 qualifying receivers in yards per route run from the slot, a key measure of pass-catching efficiency. That’s bound to rise with Geno Smith under center for Vegas in 2025.

Barrows writes that “the rookies are very much in learning mode at this stage and didn’t have many prominent roles,” with the “exception” of Watkins, who caught three passes at practice, including two from Purdy. Per Barrows, “Watkins looked as fast and fluid,” and his first catch from Purdy resulted in a” big gain down the middle of the field.” It is very difficult for fourth-round rookie wide receivers to carve out a role on offense, and fantasy managers should not expect him to do so. Still, at this point, it is worth monitoring his development this summer, with Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL and Ricky Pearsall sidelined by a new hamstring strain.