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Player Notes

  • Keim: Commanders want to rely on strong run game
    ESPN’s John Keim reports the Commanders “want to rely on a strong defense and run game to reduce the burden” on Jayden Daniels.

    Advice: The team has not yet committed to Daniels — the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — as their Week 1 starter, though it would be a massive upset if Marcus Mariota got the opening day call for Washington. Keim expects Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury to lean heavily on the rushing attack, which will be led by Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson. Ekeler is most likely to be the primary pass-catching back while Robinson functions as the team’s early-down back. A lack of passing volume could be an issue for Washington’s pass catchers. Terry McLaurin could still see a solid target share, however, as offenses that use lots of run-pass option plays tend to target their WR1 heavily. Rotoworld Friday, 10:00 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    103rd
  • Fifth-year option not picked up
    The Jaguars didn't pick up Jones' fifth-year contract option, AL.com reports.

    Advice: While Jacksonville picked up the fifth-year options of starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and top running back Travis Etienne, the team elected not to do so with Jones, who the Patriots took 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. The decision wasn't surprising, given that the value of the Alabama product's option was $25.6 million, the same figure that applied to Lawrence. With the Jaguars, Michael DiRocco of ESPN notes that Jones -- who was obtained from New England in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick -- is slated to compete with C.J. Beathard to be the team's top backup signal-caller in 2024, and potentially beyond. During his three-year stint with the Patriots, Jones drew 42 starts, but the 25-year-old's 2023 campaign wound up with him being benched after Week 12 in favor of Bailey Zappe. Rotowire.com Friday, 9:36 am
    Mac JonesJax - QB
    Bye
    Player Note
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1711th
  • Dolphins expected to sign Odell Beckham
    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Dolphins are expected to sign WR Odell Beckham.

    Advice: OBJ’s deal is reportedly for one year and up to $8.25 million. His base salary will be $3 million. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said in late March that the team had made an offer to Beckham, but according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, base salary and incentives were sticking points between the two sides. Beckham was used sparingly in 2023, his only season in Baltimore. Operating mostly as a downfield threat, he had 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns as the third option in the Ravens’ passing offense. Beckham’s addition to the Miami wideout room is a potential complication for hyper-productive rookie WR Malik Washington. The rookie could see significant playing time in three-receiver sets if (or when) Beckham, 31, struggles with various injuries that have hampered him for years. Rotoworld Friday, 8:42 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    249th
  • Bills take flier on journeyman Chase Claypool
    Bills signed WR Chase Claypool, formerly of the Dolphins, to a one-year contract.

    Advice: Claypool in 2023 had four receptions over nine games for the Dolphins after playing his way out of Chicago. He’s never reached the heights of his first couple NFL seasons, when he went for over 800 receiving yards and appeared to be a viable WR2 option. In both Miami and Chicago, Claypool reportedly had effort issues learning the playbook. Heading into his age-26 season, Claypool will look to carve out a role in Buffalo’s wide receiver room, which will be led by some combination of Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, and rookie Keon Coleman. It’s certainly possible Claypool won’t make the team this summer. Rotoworld Friday, 8:18 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2068th
  • Should have larger role in 2024
    Tolbert is in line for a larger role this season after working as the Cowboys' No. 4 WR in 2023, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports

    Advice: After playing just 89 snaps on offense as a rookie, the 2022 third-round pick got a lot more playing time (477 snaps) in his second season, essentially splitting the No. 3 receiver role with Michael Gallup for much of the year. Gallup is now in Las Vegas and hasn't been replaced by a similar veteran or early draft pick, leaving Tolbert as the likely third WR behind entrenched starters CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. While the role won't necessarily entail a large quantity of targets, Tolbert at least would be positioned for a degree of fantasy value if Lamb were to miss any time with an injury. Rotowire.com Friday, 8:11 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1817th
  • Looking good for RB2 job
    Gray is in good position to handle a bigger role in his second NFL season, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

    Advice: New lead back Devin Singletary is unlikely to dominate backfield snaps the way Saquon Barkley did last season, leaving more work on the table for Gray and other backups. A 2023 fifth-round pick, Gray played in 13 games as a rookie, taking 23 touches for 70 yards on 65 snaps. Competition for backup roles behind Singletary doesn't appear especially fierce in New York, with Gray joined by fifth-round rookie Tyrone Tracy, veteran journeyman Deon Jackson, fourth-year pro Gary Brightwell and a couple of young UDFAs (Jashaun Corbin, Dante Miller). Rotowire.com Friday, 7:48 am
    Eric GrayNYG - RB
    Bye
    Player Note
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2136th
  • Returning to remade offense
    Moore worked out in April with Bears QB Caleb Williams and fellow Bears WRs Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: The workouts took place shortly before the draft, at which point Williams was all but locked in as the No. 1 overall pick for Chicago (and Odunze considered a strong candidate to join him at No. 9). The Bears ended up with both, completing their offseason makeover on offense after trading for Allen and signing RB D'Andre Swift and TE Gerald Everett. The crowded pass-catching corps means Moore is unlikely to match his career-high 28.8 percent target share from 2023, though there likely will be more overall targets, as the Bears figure to call pass plays at a higher rate and will no longer have sack/scramble-happy Justin Fields under center. Rotowire.com Friday, 6:59 am
    DJ MooreChi - WR
    Bye
    Player Note
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    33rd
  • Mayo: Maye, Brissett to compete for starting job
    Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett will compete for the team’s starting quarterback job.

    Advice: “Ultimately, [Maye] still has to win that job and we’re not just gonna give it away,” Mayo said in a Thursday interview. “And I don’t think Jacoby — the type of player, the type of competitor that he is — is just gonna give it up, either. So, we’ll see what happens in camp.” Mayo said everyone would compete for Week 1 starting duties in training camp. Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, would have to struggle mightily in camp and during the preseason for the Patriots to consider starting Brissett in Week 1. Still, it will be a situation worth monitoring in the summer.

    Rotoworld Friday, 6:52 am
    Drake MayeNE - QB
    Bye
    Player Note
    NA
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    275th
  • Joins forces with Bolts
    Chark and the Chargers agreed to terms on a one-year contract Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

    Advice: Per Rapoport, the deal is worth up to $5 million. Chark visited with the Chargers exactly one week before the 2024 NFL Draft, and his signing with the team comes exactly one week after its first round. With L.A., he'll be providing a veteran presence to a receiving corps that parted with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, meaning Chark will be vying with the likes of Joshua Palmer (knee), Quentin Johnston and second-round rookie Ladd McConkey for reps in the upcoming campaign. In 15 regular-season games with the Panthers in 2023, Chark hauled in 35 of 66 targets for 525 yards and five touchdowns. Rotowire.com Thursday, 7:35 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    267th