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Smith-Schuster didn't look explosive at spring practices even though he says he's healthier than he was last year, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic.

Advice: Graff notes that Smith-Schuster may end up competing with Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for one or two roster spots, with the locks at WR likely being DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne (knee), K.J. Osborn and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. The final math will partially depend on whether the Patriots keep Reagor as a kick return specialist or prefer to deploy a returner that also has a considerable role on offense (e.g. Douglas or RB Antonio Gibson). Either way, Smith-Schuster's guaranteed $7 million salary won't necessarily ensure him of a spot on the team after he had 260 receiving yards in 11 games last season. Knee surgery last offseason may have impacted his speed and strength, but it was head and ankle injuries that ultimately led to six absences. Rotowire.com Saturday, 11:09 am

The Athletic’s Chad Graff says DeMario Douglas “was by far the Patriots’ best and most explosive playmaker in practice this spring.”

Advice: Douglas was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots last season and went on to lead them with 561 receiving yards. The speedy receiver played 67.7 percent of his snaps from the slot and has a chance to once again lead a receiver room that returns many familiar faces. Currently going in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, Douglas has the making of a PPR steal if the Patriots’ offense can take a leap in their first year under head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Douglas had four double-digit PPR performances last season, playing in a broken Pats offense as a rookie. Rotoworld Friday, 2:16 pm

The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo says Russell Wilson “has clearly been the better quarterback” during the Steelers’ offseason.

Advice: DeFabo added that there doesn’t be much of a competition at quarterback at this time, noting that Wilson “has taken the overwhelming majority of meaningful reps, including on the final day of minicamp, when almost every veteran took off.” He also said Fields “doesn’t often shine in seven-on-seven situations,” which isn’t a great endorsement for him with training camp a month away. Both Wilson and Fields are in career-rebuilding mode after flaming out at their previous stops. Neither is going particularly high in fantasy drafts, with Wilson currently going outside of the top 24 in most best ball drafts. Fields’ rushing ability makes him a potentially high-upside fantasy stash whenever he gets a chance to start, but it sounds like Wilson has a good grip on the job heading into training camp. Rotoworld Thursday, 10:41 am

Brandon Aiyuk posted a video to his TikTok saying the 49ers “said they don’t want me back.”

Advice: There’s a good chance this is a negotiation tactic by Aiyuk, who skipped out on mandatory minicamp amidst his contract dispute with the team. The veteran wide receiver is set to play out 2024 on the fifth-year option the 49ers exercised earlier this offseason, but he appears steadfast in his desire not to play without a long-term extension. Aiyuk caught 74 passes for a career-high 1,342 yards last season and found the end zone seven times. The 2020 first-rounder has strung together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and has been a focal point of the offense. However, the lack of movement on an extension, coupled with their selection of Ricky Pearsall in the first round of this year’s draft, could be spelling the end of Aiyuk’s time in the Bay Area. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the 49ers ‘’ to extend Aiyuk, “but the sense is things have stalled.” We’ll see what comes of this situation in the coming weeks, but with training camp a month away, it’s fair to say Aiyuk is a legitimate threat of a holdout if he and the team can’t agree to terms on an extension. Rotoworld Monday, 9:53 am