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  • Closing in on contract extension
    Stevenson said Monday on the first day of mandatory minicamp that he and the Patriots are "pretty close" to terms on a new contract extension, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: Stevenson said he's "trying to get the deal done and get it locked in" and that ongoing offseason negotiations are "not frustrating, but it's just a long process." As Stevenson enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, New England is looking ahead to a new era under coach Jerod Mayo, with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye atop the depth chart. Keeping Stevenson under contract long-term would provide the team some stability on offense, especially with Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn and Javon Baker also representing new additions to the wide receiver room. Mayo called Stevenson "one of the better backs in the league" this spring and said "he is our starting running back," though the team did also bring in Antonio Gibson on a three-year, $11.25 million contract this offseason to act as a complementary backfield option. Rotowire.com Monday, 3:32 pm
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    8.97 (109th)
     
  • Rhamondre Stevenson: Extension is ā€˜pretty closeā€™
    Rhamondre Stevenson said he thinks a contract extension with the Patriots is ā€œpretty close.ā€

    Advice: Weā€™ll see how things go from here. Stevenson turned 26 this offseason and is coming off his worst year as a pro. Playing in a broken Patriots offense didnā€™t do him any favors, but Stevenson averaged a career-low 4.0 yards per carry and 4.4 yards per touch before an ankle injury officially ended his season. Stevenson has been valuable as both a runner and pass-catcher since being drafted by the Patriots in 2021. His 121 receptions are the 13th-most of any running back over the last three years, but heā€™s at risk of losing some passing down work to Antonio Gibson, who joined the team as a free agent this offseason. Stevenson has gone as a low-end RB2 in fantasy drafts for much of the offseason. The addition of Gibson, coupled with him being in a Patriots offense with low expectations, is presumably baked into that price, but itā€™s fair to question whether or not heā€™s going at too high a cost at this point. Stevenson is in the final year of his contract and is set to earn just over $3.3 million this season. Rotoworld Monday, 11:26 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    8.97 (109th)
     
  • Knee injury included torn MCL
    Hull recently revealed his offseason knee surgery was more extensive than first thought, as he suffered a torn left MCL, also described as a "root tear" of his meniscus, The Athletic reports. He was cleared to return to full football activities a few weeks before OTAs and has participated fully in spring practices.

    Advice: Moss missed all but one game last season due to a knee injury, but the details of his surgery were not fully known. There's a wide-open competition for the backup role to Jonathan Taylor due to Zack Moss departing in free agency. Trey Sermon is likely the leading candidate, but Hull and Tyler Goodson are in the mix. Either Hull or Goodson could get more work as the third-down or receiving option due to pass-catching ability, but the situation remains fluid, and it's possible the Colts bring another veteran into the mix during training camp. Rotowire.com Jun 9, 9:20 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    2.73 (335th)
     
  • Vikings ā€˜have two true No. 1 running backsā€™
    Vikings OL Harrison Phillips said the Vikings ā€œhave two true No. 1 running backsā€ in Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler.

    Advice: Phillips said he thinks the Vikings will have ā€œa one-two punchā€ at running back this season, with Jones and Chandler both having a chance to make an impact. Chandler, the incumbent in the backfield, rushed 94 times for 419 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikingsā€™ final eight regular season games while adding another 16 receptions for 116 scoreless yards. Jones, who the team acquired earlier this offseason following his release by the Packers, is the presumed RB1 but is entering his age-29 season and is coming off a year in which he was limited to 11 games due to hamstring injuries. Both backs bring a three-down skillset to the backfield and would have fringe RB1 upside if the other were ever to miss time. For now, it sounds like Chandler could have some stand-alone value, making him a potential smash in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. Rotoworld Jun 7, 11:28 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    10.09 (82nd)
     
  • Daboll: Singletary knows offense ā€˜inside and outā€™
    Giants head coach Brian Daboll said RB Devin Singletary ā€œknows the offense inside and out.ā€

    Advice: Singletary, who signed with the Giants on a surprisingly pricey three-year deal worth $16.5 million, was in Dabollā€™s offense in Buffalo before Daboll left for the Giantsā€™ head coaching job. Understanding the intricacies of an offense is often crucial in a running back earning a lead back role. In Houston last season, Singletary was 13th in evasion rate and ninth in yards before contact per rush. He had the third most rush yards over the second half of the season. While Daboll complimented rookie RB Tyone Tracyā€™s progress in OTAs, no back is likely to challenge Singletary for the Week 1 RB1 role. Rotoworld Jun 7, 9:53 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    9.90 (88th)
     
  • Still the No. 2 back
    Mitchell remains the clear No. 2 running back for San Francisco, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Lombardi notes that the Niners have a history of trading backup running backs (Matt Breida, Jeff Wilson) when they're happy with their depth at the position. That could be an option this summer, though it's not necessarily likely, with Mitchell in the final year of his contract and a pair of rookies (fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo, UDFA Cody Schrader) getting work at minicamp. The 49ers also have returning veteran Jordan Mason, but he's mostly played special teams and has never managed to move above Mitchell on the depth chart when Mitchell's been healthy. The long-term plan probably entails Guerendo taking over as the No. 2 RB behind Christian McCaffrey, but Mitchell looks on track to handle the role again this season. Rotowire.com Jun 7, 8:13 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    4.27 (264th)
     
  • Looking good at minicamp
    Vikings DT Harrison Phillips said Thursday that he'd "buy stock in Chandler if I could," Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: It sounds like Chandler made a strong impression at spring practices, perhaps increasing his chances to have a key role off the bench behind new starting running back Aaron Jones. Chandler mostly played special teams throughout the first half of last season, but he eventually became the No. 2 running back and later started the final four weeks, averaging 11.8 carries for 52.4 yards (4.5 YPC) and 2.0 catches for 14.5 yards over the final eight games of the season (with three TDs). That makes him a clear favorite for the No. 2 RB job ahead of Myles Gaskin and DeWayne McBride, though it isn't clear how many snaps and touches the role will entail. Jones' history of injuries -- namely five MCL sprains since entering the NFL -- suggests Chandler has a good chance to make starts this season if the Vikings don't add a more experienced backup before Week 1. Rotowire.com Jun 7, 7:57 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    5.42 (233rd)