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Player Notes

  • The Texans and Nico Collins reach new deal
    The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Texans have re-signed Nico Collins to a three-year, $72 million deal.

    Advice: Collins’ breakout 2023 campaign (80-1,297-8) has paid off as he’s now contractually set as the Texans’ WR1. Even with Diggs being traded to the Texans, this comes as no surprise as Collins is the younger (and home grown) talent. Collins should be considered in the second round in all one-quarterback, redraft fantasy leagues. Rotoworld Tuesday, 2:18 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    62nd
  • Not at OTAs, as expected
    Higgins and teammate Ja'Marr Chase are not present at voluntary OTAs on Tuesday, Ben Baby of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Higgins still hasn't signed the franchise tag Cincinnati placed on him back in February, and with Chase also eligible for an extension, both of the Bengals' top wideouts appear to be vying for new deals. Until Higgins signs the franchise tag, he won't be eligible to report for organized team activities. He formally requested a trade after having the franchise tag placed on him but has since indicated he anticipates suiting up for the Bengals for the 2024 season, and coach Zac Taylor plainly stated that he's not worried about the absence of either Higgins or Chase at this time. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 12:43 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    66th
  • Absent from OTAs
    Chase and teammate Tee Higgins are not present for voluntary OTAs on Tuesday as they continue to negotiate potential contract extensions, Ben Baby of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Chase hasn't yet participated in voluntary workouts for Cincinnati this offseason, and he's now eligible for a contract extension. The Bengals picked up his fifth-year option. Higgins, meanwhile, has yet to sign his franchise tender after Cincinnati placed the one-year tag on him back in February. Coach Zac Taylor stated that he's not worried about the absence of either wideout, saying "they'll be ready and focused when it's time to come back." For now, though, Joe Burrow (wrist) will be taking reps without either of his top receivers present. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 12:38 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    32nd
  • 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 May 25, 8:47 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    433rd
  • 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 May 25, 6:31 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    285th
  • 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 May 24, 3:40 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    58th
  • 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 May 24, 6:12 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    126th