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What’s Happening:
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, there is a belief that rookie Sony Michel will miss Week 1. Michel has dealt with some knee issues this preseason and while he has returned to do individual drills, it appears that he is still a little ways away from being ready to suit up for action. That being said, Michel’s ADP continues to drop with news of his injuries. His ADP in MFL10s is 35 spots lower than it was a month ago, which may make him a bargain once he is healthy. The Patriots used a first round pick on him, something they haven’t done for a running back since Laurence Maroney in 2006.
According to head coach Todd Bowles, Sam Darnold is making progress “week by week.” Darnold appears to have done enough to be the Week 1 starter and the fact the Jets traded away Teddy Bridgewater should make one think they are ready to roll with the rookie. However, the Jets do not have a ton of talent around him and rookies tend to struggle, so he is not much more than a QB3 and not really interesting outside of 2QB or dynasty leagues.
According to Gregg Ball, Rashaad Penny is on track for Week 1. Penny has missed most of training camp and preseason due to injury, but it appears that he should be able to make his NFL debut Week 1. However, the missed time has him squarely behind incumbent Chris Carson and now Penny is no more than a high upside stash in fantasy.
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Quick hits:
According to Roger Goodell, the NFL will hire full-time refs for the first time in their history.
Colin Kaepernick ’s suit against the NFL will be heard in court after an arbitrator ruled that the case may move forward.
The Raiders are asking for 2 first round picks for Khalil Mack . This seems unlikely to happen, which likely means, Mack will miss some time this season as reports are that the Raiders and Mack are not close on a new deal.
Elvis Dumervil has announced his retirement after 12 seasons in the NFL.
The Buccaneers released Charles Sims .
The Patriots agreed with Dwayne Allen on a pay cut that will keep him with the team for 2018.
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Burning Questions:
Who is the #1 receiver for the Ravens? Michael Crabtree appears to be the frontrunner over John Brown , but Brown has looked great in the preseason. The biggest question mark in Brown’s game is if he can stay on the field. With Joe Flacco looking healthy, this could be a big resurgence year for him and the Ravens.
Will Paxton Lynch get cut? Lynch is a former first round pick and was once looked at as the future of the organization for the Broncos. However, now he is on the roster bubble according to multiple reports. He will play a lot and need to impress in the final preseason game if he wants to stay in Denver.
What do the Lions do with Ameer Abdullah ? According to multiple reports, the Lions could trade or cut Abdullah after this last preseason game. It appears the final spot on the roster may come down to him and running back Zach Zenner . Abdullah was once a fantasy sleeper and now he looks like he may not be in the league much longer.
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Player News
Seahawks exercised the fifth-year option on OT Charles Cross.
Cross now remains tied to the organization through the 2026 season. PFF gave the towering 24-year-old tackle glaring marks in 2024, ranking him 10th of 140 qualified tackles, including 15th in pass protection and 16th in run blocking. The Seahawks extend the negotiating window on one of the key pieces of their offensive front.
Browns signed WR Diontae Johnson to a one-year contract.
The former Steeler wasn’t able to carve out a significant role with the Panthers, Ravens, or Texans in 2024 after seemingly breaking out in Pittsburgh. The Browns apparently saw enough during his visit with the team Monday to sign him to a one-year contract, the details of which have yet to be released. Expect Johnson to start opposite Cedric Tillman on the perimeter while Jerry Jeudy works the slot.
ESPN’s Field Yates reports Browns placed the unrestricted free agent tender on WR Elijah Moore.
Moore visited the Bills on Monday and then saw the Browns place the unrestricted free agent tender on him. Per Field Yates, this means that Moore will count against the compensatory free agent formula should he sign with another team. He’ll play on the tender if he returns to the Browns, which carries a value of $3.428 million for wide receivers in 2025.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Szhultz reports Packers signed LB/S Isaiah Simmons, formerly of the Giants.
The former first-round hybrid linebacker and safety has yet to live up to his No. 8 overall selection in the 2020 draft, but brings the unique ability to fill multiple positions over the middle of the field to a Packers defense that prefers to play a more inside-out style. There is upside in his athletic profile and versatility - perhaps another change of scenery will serve to unlock some of that potential.
Steelers signed WR Robert Woods, formerly of the Texans, to a one-year, $2 million contract.
The 33-year-old wide receiver has long since seen his days of 100-target seasons fall by the wayside, but he still adds a veteran presence to a relatively young wide receiver room in Pittsburgh. Woods played over 60% of the offensive snaps for the Texans just twice in 2024 after doing so 13 times in 2023, indicating a high likelihood he was brought in for his locker room presence and veteran savvy rather than as a consistent contributor to the offense. The low risk signing makes sense for both parties considering Woods’ age and the state of the Pittsburgh pass-catching corps.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports the Browns met with free agent WR Diontae Johnson.
Johnson had a forgettable 2024, to put it mildly. The former Steelers receiver saw himself traded to the Panthers last offseason only to later be traded to the Ravens, where his lack of playing time eventually led to his release. He then found his way to the wide receiver-needy Texans, who rostered him for just over three weeks. He was then claimed off waivers by the Ravens but was not eligible to play during the postseason. Now a free agent, Johnson, 28, has not enjoyed the market many expected him to see this time last year. He’s a productive receiver who has amassed 424 catches for 4,738 yards and 28 touchdowns in his six-year career, but it goes without saying that he’s likely in brand rebuilding mode as far as this offseason is concerned. It’s hard to imagine any team giving him a lucrative contract after last year’s disastrous campaign. That said, Johnson could still still provide help to plenty of needy teams and could prove to be a valuable contributor at a cost-efficient price. This is the first visit we’ve heard of for Johnson, who may meet with other teams before signing.