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  • McDermott ‘very impressed’ with Claypool in OTAs
    Bills HC Sean McDermott said he is “very impressed” with what Chase Claypool has shown so far in OTAs.

    Advice: It’s just pad-less practices, but for a player hoping to contribute to a team more than he did in 2024, it’s a positive sign for Claypool, who entered the league as a second-round pick of the Steelers in 2020 but has already been labeled a journeyman. The fifth-year receiver is on his third team in two seasons and has totaled just 22 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown since being traded to the Bears during the 2022 trade deadline. Claypool joined a rather thin receiver room earlier this offseason when he signed a one-year deal with the Bills. He joins veterans Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, along with rookie Keon Coleman, as new faces on the team. At just 25 years old, Claypool has a chance to contribute if he can get back to his rookie-year form in which he went for 62-873-9. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:47 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    1.74 (354th)
  • Jalen Tolbert could see bigger role in 2024
    ESPN’s Todd Archer says Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert “has a chance to take the No. 3 role behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks” this upcoming season.

    Advice: The departure of Michael Gallup this offseason immediately opened the door for Tolbert to step into a bigger role. Couple that with the fact that the Cowboys didn’t take a receiver until the sixth round of the draft, and his path to snaps becomes all the more clear. Archer reports that Tolbert has “joined [Dak] Prescott at the hip” this offseason, spending additional time with Prescott in hopes of developing additional familiarity and trust with the quarterback come game day. Head coach Mike McCarthy also praised Tolbert’s growth, saying he’s “taken leaps and bounds” with his confidence and understanding of the game. Tolbert entered the league as a third-round pick out of South Alabama and turned in a solid combine, posting an 8.76 RAS. He’s played sparingly through his first two years in the league, amassing 24 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns for his career, and has likely faced a steep learning curve going from the Sun Belt conference to the NFL. Any significant role would make him an interesting dart throw in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, as an injury to either Cooks or Lamb could thrust Tolbert into a starting role. Rotoworld Yesterday, 6:31 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    3.76 (251st)
  • Fowler: Aiyuk eyeing contract similar to ARSB
    Speaking on NFL Live, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said “the benchmark” for a Brandon Aiyuk contract extension “is Amon-Ra St. Brown.”

    Advice: Fowler went on to point out that St. Brown is getting $28 million per year on his new four-year deal, adding that Aiyuk “doesn’t have to be the highest paid [wide receiver] in the league” but that he thinks he deserves to be paid like a top wide receiver. Aiyuk has totaled back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the 49ers and went for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023 while scoring seven touchdowns. He’s currently set to earn $14.124 million in 2024 after the 49ers picked up his fifth-year option, but is hoping to get long-term security before the start of the season. It was reported earlier this month by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the 49ers are planning on keeping Aiyuk for the long term, meaning an extension could be coming before Week 1. Aiyuk has not been present at voluntary OTAs. Rotoworld Friday, 3:40 pm
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    11.68 (52nd)
  • Likely RB3 for Washington
    With the Commanders not selecting a running back in last month's draft, Rodriguez profiles as the team's No. 3 option at running back behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson,Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Per Standig, Rodriguez, who's presumably past his late-season ankle issue, appears to be the clear early-down backup to Robinson. However, with Ekeler also in the mix and destined to see plenty of touches, notably in passing situations, Rodriguez doesn't initially have a path to steady volume as the 2024 season approaches. As a rookie, the 2023 sixth-rounder recorded 51 carries for 247 yards and two TDs to go along with two catches for 12 yards in 13 regular-season contests. Also currently in the Commanders' depth RB mix are Jeremy McNichols, Austin Jones and Michael Wiley (thumb). Rotowire.com Friday, 2:33 pm
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    2.85 (295th)
  • Feels more confident in hamstring
    After undergoing eight hours of testing at the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine earlier in the offseason, Watson believes he has solved his right hamstring issues that have caused him to miss several games through his first two seasons, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: "For me, it really was the asymmetry between the legs," Watson explained. "It comes from a lot of things. Obviously, the issues I've had in the past with hamstrings, not fully recovering from those strength-wise. I've been attacking the strength side of it, trying to get that symmetry back and it's been huge for me. I feel really, really good. I gotta continue grinding at it." Watson states he had a 20 percent difference in muscle mass between his right and left legs, but it's now between 8-10 percent. His goal is six percent. Watson was a full participant in OTAs, and getting him through a healthy offseason would be a big first step. He's the most explosive weapon in a deep Green Bay wideout room -- Watson has averaged 15 yards per catch over his first two seasons. Rotowire.com Friday, 6:12 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    8.58 (122nd)
  • Christian Watson finds source of hamstring woes?
    Testing on Christian Watson’s hamstrings revealed an asymmetrical stride was the cause of his persistent hamstring injuries.

    Advice: Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said in March that Watson — who missed eight games in 2023 — was working with a “special lab” to figure out why he has sustained so many soft tissue injuries. Testing at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health showed Watson had a 20 percent muscle mass difference between his right and left leg. That difference has since been reduced to 8-10 percent. “For me, it really was the asymmetry between the legs,” Watson said this week after an OTA session. “It comes from a lot of things. Obviously, the issues I’ve had in the past with hamstrings, not fully recovering from those strength-wise. I’ve been attacking the strength side of it, trying to get that symmetry back and it’s been huge for me. I feel really, really good. I gotta continue grinding at it.” Green Bay coaches said Watson, 24, showed up to OTAs in great shape. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky said Watson “moved in and out of his breaks with explosiveness and without hesitation” during OTA practices. Jordan Love said a fully healthy Watson would bring a dangerous downfield element to Green Bay’s passing attack in 2024. Thirty percent of his 2023 targets came more than 20 yards downfield.

    Rotoworld Friday, 6:12 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    8.58 (122nd)
  • Freiermuth developing strong connection with Russ
    The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly reports TE Pat Freiermuth developed a connection with Russell Wilson during Steelers OTAs.

    Advice: Kaboly said Wilson was precise and accurate, demonstrating effective play action during the team’s OTA sessions. He frequently targeted Freiermuth, who worked closely with Wilson this spring. Freiermuth is healthy, entering his contract year and finally has an accurate quarterback and an offensive coordinator who will highlight the tight end. He could have a breakout year,” Kaboly said. Coming off a disappointing, injury-ridden 2023 season in which he had 32 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns, Freiermuth could benefit from a target spike as the second option in Pittsburgh’s run-heavy offense. Rotoworld Friday, 5:30 am
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    6.12 (197th)
  • Taking part in OTAs
    Eskridge (ribs) has been an active participant at the Seahawks' OTAs, Tim Weaver of Seahawks Wire reports.

    Advice: Eskridge ended the 2023 campaign on injured reserve with a rib injury, but he now appears to be fully healthy at OTAs. The 27-year-old re-signed with Seattle in March after failing to record a reception over 16 offensive snaps in four games last season. The wide receiver has operated primarily as a return-specialist over the last two years, a role that he'll likely remain in with the Seahawks in 2024. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:00 pm
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    0.47 (478th)
  • Active for OTAs
    Okwuegbunam (hamstring) has been participating in the Eagles' team OTAs, Fran Duffy of Big News Network reports.

    Advice: Okwuegbunam was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury in late December, but he looks to be 100 percent ahead the 2024 season, his second campaign with the Eagles. The tight end appeared in four games with Philadelphia last year, failing to catch his only target. Okwuegbunam will likely operate in a depth role this season behind the likes of Dallas Goedert and newly-acquired C.J. Uzomah (knee). Rotowire.com Thursday, 5:54 pm
    Week 1 Projected Points & Rank
    0.00 (495th)