NFL News & Rumors This Week: WRs Get Paid, QB Starters + Fantasy Help
Labor Day Weekend is the BIGGEST fantasy football draft weekend of the year, no question. And, with all the news, injuries, rumors, cuts and deals going down, you were wise to wait until this last weekend before football to set up your most important drafts. So, we’re just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing all summer and cover the most important news of the week!
First, we’ll hit on the biggest news stories that might matter to even the most casual of NFL fans. Then, at the bottom, we’ll dig into the deeper rumors and comments floating around that could move the needle for fantasy football drafts and rankings this weekend.
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Cowboys Pay CeeDee Lamb, 49ers Pay Brandon Aiyuk
- Two more holdout wide receivers were paid this week which leaves the Cincinnati Bengals Ja'Marr Chase as the last shoe to drop. CeeDee Lamb got a whopping $136M with $100M guaranteed while Brandon Aiyuk was paid four years, $120M with $76M guaranteed. Both contracts are top five for the position.
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Colts Tight End Kylen Granson To Wear Guardian Cap In Game
- The first player has announced they will wear an extra layer of protection during games with Colts tight end Kylen Granson. He did not mince words with his announcement, saying “At one point people thought seatbelts were ****ing stupid”. Per James Boyd, Granson suffered a concussion last year but stated he would have worn it anyway. A big step in player safety.
News & Rumors This Week: NFL Starting QB Jobs Are Finalized
- Jacoby Brissett has been named the starting QB for the New England Patriots over rookie Drake Maye.
- Russell Wilson will start for the Steelers though they didn’t rule out some wildcat packages for Justin Fields.
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Cut Deadline Trades & Injury Designations
We did a full article already on notable players who were cut. There were a couple trades as well.
- Jahan Dotson was traded to the Eagles.
- Malik Willis was traded to the Packers.
- The following players were placed on PUP or IR:
- AJ Dillon (season ending)
- Elijah Mitchell (season ending)
- Nick Chubb (four games minimum)
- Jonathon Brooks (four games minimum)
News & Rumors This Week: NFL Owners Vote On Allowing Private Equity Firms
- It’s yet to be seen whether further corporatization is a good or bad thing for NFL teams, but they will dip their toes into the water. They approved rules allowing 10% of each team to be sold to private equity firms. That will obviously help generate funds but private equity firms are often SOLELY focused on their bottom line so they could push some changes that are less than fan friendly. The Bengals were the only team to vote no.
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Bill Belichick Joins ManningCast
- He won’t necessarily be a co-host, but he will be a featured guest every single week. That is an incredible get for the show and should add valuable insights for football fans that love deep-cut discussions. And there should be plenty of jabs to go around with both Peyton and Eli Manning at the table.
Fantasy Football News & Rumors
This section is dedicated to fantasy-relevant rumblings from around the various off-season practices and meetings:
- Though Brandon Aiyuk has been paid, the 49ers are preparing for a world without star tackle Trent Williams for Week 1. He has three years left on his deal but wants a new one as the league's best lineman.
- The Browns restructured the contract of Deshaun Watson to save money for this year. That gives them over $62M in cap space. Some figured it was for a Brandon Aiyuk trade, but that is obviously not happening now.
- Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook has signed with the Cowboys. He’ll join a thin group with Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle.
- After being released by the Patriots, JuJu Smith-Schuster has signed with the Chiefs.
- Sean McVay announced that Kyren Williams will be the Rams punt returner. That’s typically not a good sign for their role.
- On the flip side, Rico Dowdle is expected to get fewer special teams snaps because of his increased role on offense.
- Rashee Rice will NOT be placed on the commissioner-exempt list. Based on his court date, he might not be suspended at all this season.
- The Chiefs signed Samaje Perine to their roster after he was released by the Broncos. He could help in the pass game.
- After he was released by the Giants, the Lions have signed Allen Robinson.
- Jaylen Waddle has been spotted in a red non-contact jersey. Not good news for an oft-injured player.
Player News
Lions signed WR Jameson Williams to a three-year, $83 million extension.
Jordan Schultz reports the deal includes a whopping $67 million guaranteed. That’s a monster sum considering Williams’ mixed track record and seeming inherent risk, but it’s also the Lions acknowledging the inevitable. Williams had two years remaining on his rookie deal, but the team just didn’t want any drama. It’s an approach a team like the Cowboys could learn from, for instance. A 2024 breakout star, the Lions’ coaching staff has talked up the possibility Williams further breaks out in 2025. A game-breaker at every level of the field, Williams is pushing for weekly WR2 value and could force his way up the ranks as the season goes. Still somehow only 24 years old, Williams could be a fantasy stud for years to come if he can manage to avoid further suspensions.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Steelers DL Cameron Heyward has agreed to a reworked contract ahead of Sunday’s opener against the Jets.
Heyward had been playing coy on whether or not he would suit up Sunday. Now he will after the Steelers added “over $3 million in incentives this year.” The 36-year-old could now max out at $18 million this season. Despite his advanced age, Heyward has remained one of the very best defensive lineman in all of football. The Steelers need him more than ever as this era of Pittsburgh football continues to sunset.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter Travis Hunter is expected to serve as an “every-down wide receiver and situational corner” in Sunday’s season opener against the Panthers.
It has been trending this way for some time, though Schefter reports things could change going forward. “It doesn’t mean that arrangement will hold in Week 2 or further into the season, according to sources,” Schefter reported. “The Jaguars plan to mix up Hunter’s usage throughout the course of the season, sources said, but they believe there will be some weeks when the rookie can and will be deployed as a full-time wide receiver and cornerback.” The truth is that not even the Jags might not know what is ultimately in store, but it’s been clear for some time Hunter was going to see enough offensive snaps and routes to merit immediate WR3 consideration in fantasy leagues.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports Buccaneers NT Vita Vea (foot) is likely to play in Week 1 against the Falcons.
Vea has been a stalwart defender throughout his career and is a big reason for the teams continued successes against the run, making his likely presence when the Buccaneers take the field in Week 1 against the Falcons a significant boost to their defense. It seems a full practice Friday was enough for coaches to confidently start Vea to begin the season.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports Patriots OT Will Campbell is “on track” to play in Week 1 against the Raiders.
Campbell was added to the team’s injury report Thursday with an ankle injury but signs are now pointing to him suiting up in Week 1 against the Raiders. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is set to make an immediate impact protecting quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside as part of a retooled offensive line in New England.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) is likely to play in Week 1 against the Seahawks.
McCaffrey popped on the team’s injury report Thursday with a calf injury, something fantasy managers remember all too well prior to the 2024 season before the veteran back eventually missed the first half of the season. He would then sit out Friday’s session entirely. “Barring a setback, it’s likely he’ll go,” Rapoport stated on X Saturday amidst mounting rumors. McCaffrey continues to insist he is fine and will suit up, stating Friday the “feels great” and that everything has been “blown out of proportion.” Even so, fantasy managers will want to monitor his situation closely and potentially line up alternative plans considering the 49ers don’t kick off until the afternoon in Week 1.