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Player Notes

  • Leading No. 3 WR candidate
    Powell, Jalen Nailor and Trent Sherfield are the leading candidates for the No. 3 receiver role after the Vikings did not take a wide receiver in the 2024 draft, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: It was a mild surprise the Vikings didn't draft a wide receiver after the departure of K.J. Osborn in free agency (signed with New England), leaving Powell as the leading candidate for the No. 3 receiver role. The Vikings could add a veteran free agent later this spring to compete for the job. Whoever wins the role could get a significant number of targets early in the season with tight end T.J. Hockenson likely to miss several games in coming back from January surgery for a torn ACL. Rotowire.com 39 minutes ago
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1783rd
  • Poised for backup role
    With the Colts not taking a running back in the 2024 draft, Sermon and Evan Hull are the primary backups to starter Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts reports.

    Advice: It was a mild surprise that the Colts didn't draft a running back or sign a prominent undrafted free agent to compete for the starting role. It's possible the Colts will sign a veteran free agent this spring for depth, but Sermon at this point could have a prominent backup role. Sermon rushed 35 times (including 17 carries in Week 15) for 160 yards to go along with three catches for 13 yards with Indy last season. Rotowire.com Today, 8:53 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1904th
  • Competition for starting job
    Pierce and 2024 second-round draft pick Adonai Mitchell will compete on the outside for the No. 3 receiver role in training camp, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Pirece has been the starting deep threat for the Colts the last two seasons but without much production (just 32 receptions for 514 yards and two touchdowns last season). While that may have been due to poor quarterback play and a game plan that didn't throw the ball deep, but it has opened the door for a dynamic talent like Mitchell to compete for his job. Mitchell, the former Texas and Georgia receiver, dazzled at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.34-second 40-yard dash, 136-inch broad jump) following a productive end to his Longhorns career (55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns on 92 targets in 2023). Rotowire.com Today, 8:35 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    198th
  • Tank Dell treated for ‘minor’ gun shot wound
    Tank Dell was treated for a “minor” gun shot wound early Sunday.

    Advice: Dell was reportedly a “bystander during a shooting at a private event (where a) teenage gunman wounded 10 people after an altercation,” ESPN reports. Dell was not seriously wounded, and has already been released from the hospital and returned to Houston. Recovering from a major December leg injury, it appears Dell has escaped with “only” a scare. With Stefon Diggs now a Texan alongside Nico Collins, Dell could have problems cracking the top 36 at receiver in 2024, especially if there are any after effects of his Dec. injury.

    Rotoworld Today, 3:51 pm
    Tank DellHou - WR
    Bye
    New Player Note
    Q
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    47th
  • Vikings won't rush to name starting QB
    The Vikings could begin the season with Darnold as the team's starting quarterback despite taking J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, ESPN reports. "We're not going to rush his development," said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. "We're just going to do what's best for the Vikings in the short and long term."

    Advice: Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings as a short-term veteran starter or backup. It's hard to handicap when McCarthy may take over the starting job this soon after the draft, but it's notable the Vikings are trying to reduce expectations. Expect the quarterback battle for the Week 1 starting job to commence this summer. Still, odds are Darnold will only be the starter for a few weeks at most if McCarthy is healthy and making progress. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:25 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    189th
  • Jaguars to exercise Etienne’s fifth-year option
    Jaguars exercised Travis Etienne’s fifth-year team option for 2025.

    Advice: As fantasy football writer Jakob Sanderson points out, Etienne’s option being exercised the same weekend the Jags only added return man RB Keilan Robinson in the draft makes it a good weekend for Etienne’s Dynasty league value despite coach Doug Pederson’s supposed desire to get Tank Bigsby more involved in 2024. ’23 was definitely a shaky campaign for Etienne, but he appears poised to remain the Jags’ primary backfield option on every down. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:18 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    43rd
  • Jags to exercise Lawrence’s fifth-year option
    Jaguars exercised Trevor Lawrence’s fifth-year team option for 2025.

    Advice: The move was a formality even after Lawrence’s stretch-run struggles. A summer extension is likely also a formality, though Lawrence is now officially under team control for two more seasons. With Brian Thomas Jr. aligning opposite Gabriel Davis on the outside, Lawrence will have a deep, varied receiver corps for 2024 despite the free agent loss of Calvin Ridley. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:17 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    141st
  • Lynch claims 49ers didn’t ‘entertain’ WR trades
    49ers GM John Lynch claimed the team didn’t “entertain” any wide receiver trade offers on Friday.

    Advice: “We’re happy with our wide receiver group,” Lynch continued. “Actually, more than happy. We’re thrilled with it. And thrilled to add Ricky (Pearsall) to it to make it stronger.” Ok, now that’s really laying it on thick. One of the league’s worst-kept secrets is that the Niners know they can’t pay both Deebo Samuel and contract-year wideout Brandon Aiyuk, but the right trade offers just never materialized. It would now appear both will remain on the roster for 2024, but perhaps the Niners will move on to “entertaining” 2025 selections. Rotoworld Friday, 8:15 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    21st
  • Tracking to be Chicago's QB2
    Following the selection of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Bagent is viewed as the favorite to open the season as the Bears' primary backup quarterback, USA Today's Vincent Parise reports.

    Advice: With Justin Fields traded to the Steelers earlier in the offseason, it leaves Bagent and Brett Rypien behind Williams. There's a chance Chicago adds an experienced veteran to what is currently a pretty young quarterback room, but Bagent showed well enough as a rookie last year to enter 2024 with a chance to claim backup duties. Bagent went 2-2 in four games as a starter, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions and adding 109 rushing yards and two additional scores on 23 attempts. Rotowire.com Friday, 2:58 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1612th