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Player Notes

  • 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 Yesterday, 8:15 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    21st
  • Bumps down the depth chart
    With the Panthers' selection of Xavier Legette with the No. 32 overall pick Thursday night, Mingo is pushed down the wide receiver depth chart, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Carolina has made it a point to upgrade its wideout room this offseason, first trading for Diontae Johnson before then trading up into the final pick of the first round for Legette. Adding those two to veteran slot man Adam Thielen pushes both Mingo and Terrace Marshall down in the pecking order for targets. Mingo -- who is bouncing back from a late-season foot issue -- started 14 of 15 games he appeared in as a rookie, but he posted an uninspiring 43-418-0 receiving line on 85 targets. He was one of the least productive starting receivers in the league in 2023. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:59 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    158th
  • Zeke returning to DAL is ‘increasingly imminent’
    The Dallas Morning News’s Michael Ghelken reports Ezekiel Elliott signing with the Cowboys is “increasingly imminent.”

    Advice: Ghelken noted that Dallas drafting a running back would not change the team’s interest in bringing back Zeke. The former and soon-to-be Cowboy has already visited Dallas this offseason. The Cowboys running back room is currently headlined by Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. Though all signs point to them drafting Texas running back Jonathon Brooks, Zeke may be viewed as a better option to back Brooks up based on his experience and pass-blocking abilities. Brooks would still be the top rookie back in dynasty circles if Dallas drafts him, though Zeke could vulture a few touchdowns at the goal line. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:10 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    131st
  • Joined by Bowers in TE room
    GM Tom Telesco said Thursday that he excepts Mayer to "take a leap this year" even though the Raiders drafted fellow tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13 overall, Nick Walters of KTNV Las Vegas reports.

    Advice: The Raiders presumably plan to use a lot of multi-TE formations, but the new competition for snaps and targets is nonetheless terrible news for Mayer's fantasy value. He and Bowers were arguably the most productive tight ends in college football over the past half-decade, with Mayer recording 2,099 yards and 18 TDs in three seasons at Notre Dame and Bowers putting up 2,538 and 26, respectively, over three seasons for Georgia. While Mayer is both taller and heavier, Bowers is faster, more agile and an earlier draft pick (Mayer went 35th in 2023). On the bright side, Telesco said there's "no concern" about the foot injury that brought Mayer's rookie season to an early end after 14 games (12 starts) and a 27-304-2 receiving line, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Rotowire.com Thursday, 9:15 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    178th
  • Lucrative extension with Philly
    Brown (knee) signed a three-year, $96 million extension with the Eagles on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

    Advice: Rumors emerged early in the offseason that Brown was on his way out of Philadelphia after a disappointing close to the 2023 campaign. He did his best to shut the speculation down, and this extension -- which reportedly includes $84 million in guaranteed money -- should squash any lingering doubt as to his future with the Eagles as he's now under contract through 2029. Brown -- who is bouncing back from a knee issue that he sustained in the Eagles' regular-season finale -- has had two standout seasons with the team, topping 1,450 in each year with 18 total touchdowns. Rotowire.com Thursday, 4:54 pm
    A.J. BrownPhi - WR
    Bye
    Player Note
    Q
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    13th
  • Report: SF dangling Aiyuk, Deebo in trade-up talks
    The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the 49ers are telling teams they are willing to trade either Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel in an effort to move up in Thursday’s first round.

    Advice: “The 49ers have had conversations with teams, including with one picking in the top 10, about trading either of their prized wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel in an effort to move up in the first round, per sources,” was Russini’s exact report. Now we’re talking. There has been loose — emphasis on loose — chatter about this possibility this week because it makes a little too much sense for a team that is not going to be able to pay both wideouts long term. Like their archrival Los Angeles (Rams), the Niners also have an addiction to splashy trades. This is a major storyline to follow Thursday evening. Rotoworld Thursday, 2:04 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    24th
  • Palmer: Chiefs expecting Rashee Rice suspension
    James Palmer confirms the Chiefs are expecting Rashee Rice to be suspended for his role in an alleged April street race.

    Advice: “But at this moment KC doesn’t exactly know the number of games,” Palmer added. This has been the expectation all along since Rice surrendered to Texas police, but there seems to be a wide range of potential outcomes as to the number of games. Receiver was a Chiefs need even before Rice’s legal woes, and it would be unsurprising to see KC select a wideout at No. 32 in Thursday evening’s first night of the draft. Rotoworld Thursday, 12:56 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    38th
  • Inks extension with Baltimore
    Bateman signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday.

    Advice: Bateman was already under contract through the upcoming season in the final year of his rookie deal, but the Ravens had until May 2 to decide whether to exercise the receiver's $14.44 million team option for 2025. By reaching an extension with Bateman, the Ravens will no longer have to decide on whether to exercise or decline the option, as he's now on the team's books through 2026. The 24-year-old appeared in 16 of the Ravens' 17 regular-season games this past season, catching 32 of 56 targets for 367 yards and one touchdown. Despite Bateman's underwhelming production during his third NFL season, head coach John Harbaugh noted earlier in the offseason that he views the wideout as a candidate to "take a big step" forward in 2024, per Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site. The Ravens' pass-catching corps should look mostly similar in 2024 as it did in 2023, as No. 1 wideout Zay Flowers is entering his second season and standout tight end Mark Andrews is back in the fold, though Odell Beckham is currently a free agent and may not be brought back. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 10:48 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    135th
  • Fifth-year option picked up
    The Bengals exercised Chase's $21.82 million team option for 2025 on Wednesday.

    Advice: Cincinnati's decision to exercise the fifth-year option on Chase's rookie contract comes as little surprise with the 24-year-old having emerged as one of the NFL's top receivers since getting drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2021. During this past season, Chase recorded a career-high 100 catches (on 145 targets) for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns over 16 games. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 10:03 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    5th