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“The faster we can play, the more efficient we can play, hopefully the more points we have,” Falcons WR coach Ike Hilliard told team reporter Terrin Waack.

Advice: Drake London reiterated Hilliard’s objectives, saying the “ball’s gonna be in the air” and “slow feet don’t eat.” The Falcons’ new OC Zac Robinson, formerly the Rams’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helped guide the Rams 2023 offense to NFL’s highest 11 personnel (three wide receivers) snap count (1,144) while utilizing a 60.4 percent passing rate in one-score games, 5.6 percent higher than the Falcons’ 54.8 percent rate. Waack noted slot receiver Rondale Moore and downfield specialist Darnell Mooney’s respective 4.29- and 4.38-second 40-yard dashes. The trio, side-kicked by Kyle Pitts (4.44 seconds at Florida’s pro day), possess the requisite speed to achieve Hilliard’s goal. Rotoworld Today, 1:48 pm

Rams HC Sean McVay confirmed Tyler Higbee is a “candidate to begin the season” on the PUP list.

Advice: The update comes passively from team reporter Stu Jackson, who mentions that Higbee’s return-to-play date remains unknown. Isolated ACL tears typically require at least nine months of rehabilitation and Higbee’s combination ACL/MCL injury occurred on January 14th. The PUP list’s minimum four-game stay makes sense. GM Les Snead signed free agent TE Colby Parkinson to a three-year, $22.5 million deal this offseason, ostensibly giving him the first crack at replacing Higbee as the team’s Week 1 starter. Parkinson never earned a full-time role with the Seahawks but tallied 15 explosive pass plays (15-plus yards) as a backup over the last two years. Rotoworld Today, 11:57 am

PHNX Cardinals’ Johnny Venerable said James Conner will “see the bulk share” of the team’s backfield workload in 2024.

Advice: The Arizona coaching staff, Venerable said, “loves” Conner and his tough running and veteran leadership. “The best version of this offense last year ran through [Conner],” Venerable said during an . “James Conner is one of their best players.” Venerable suggested Michael Carter could mix in behind Conner, rather than rookie RB Trey Benson functioning as the clear RB2. Benson, the 66th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is considered an explosive back, though he never had more than 20 rushing attempts in a single game during his college career. We would expect Benson to be the Cardinals’ lead back should the 29-year-old Conner once again miss time with injury in 2024. Rotoworld Today, 9:09 am

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo said the 49ers and WR Brandon Aiyuk are “no closer to a deal.”

Advice: The updates continue as Aiyuk and the 49ers are reportedly not nearing a deal after the two sides met last week. However, Garafolo (via NBC Sports Bay Area) also added a trade has “never been something that [Aiyuk] has explored.” While a new deal does not yet seem imminent, it seems Aiyuk is not demanding out. There is still time for a deal to get done, but for now there is only speculation on when Aiyuk will get a new contract. Rotoworld Yesterday, 6:56 pm

The Athletic’s Matt Barrows believes the 49ers offense could be more pass heavy in 2024.

Advice: Barrows pointed to the team’s investment at wideout — including a potential long-term deal with Brandon Aiyuk — and the drafting of Ricky Pearsall in the 2024 NFL Draft as reasons why the traditionally run-first Kyle Shanahan might lean more toward the pass this season. The team’s postseason run-pass splits, Barrows said, could be instructive for how the Brock Purdy-run offense might operate in 2024. The 49ers “called 109 pass plays and only 77 run plays (non-designed Purdy scrambles are counted as called pass plays) over those three games, a drastic departure from their run-forward ratio of the past,” Barrows said. “Given coach Kyle Shanahan’s trust in Purdy, the investment in the receiving room makes a lot of sense.” In 2023, the Niners had a 56 percent neutral pass rate, the 11th lowest in the NFL. They passed on 60 percent of their plays while trailing last season. An increase in Purdy drop backs would change the prospects for every San Francisco pass catcher in 2024. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:49 am