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Updating an earlier report, the Miami Dolphins acquired TE Darren Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick from the New York Giants in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Waller will come out of retirement to join the Dolphins.

Fantasy Spin: Waller had a pair of big seasons with the Raiders (90-1,145-3 in 2019, and 107-1,196-9 in 2020), but he battled injuries on either side of those standout campaigns, which included appearing in 32 of a possible 51 games in 2021-23 leading up to his retirement. Now 32 and a year removed from the NFL grind, Waller is a true wild card. His best years came under current Dolphins OC Frank Smith, who was TEs coach with the Raiders when Waller was there, and Miami had a void to fill after moving on from Jonnu Smith (88-884-8 last year). That's the good news. The bad news is he's on the wrong side of 30 and has averaged a 45-535-2 line over his last three seasons. If your league is deep enough to carry two TEs, Waller would be a high-upside gamble. In standard leagues, though, you're better off putting him on your watch list than spending a draft pick on him.

From TheHuddle

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac said on the Rich Eisen Show that Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt is in a stalemate with the team regarding a contract extension because he "wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback" in the league. Watt will turn 31 years old in October, so the Steelers don't want to do an extension for anything less than five years in order to spread the money out in terms of guarantees and a signing bonus. The Steelers want to bring Watt, one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, but they know it's not a smart business decision after they noticed a decline in his performance last year when he dropped from a league-leading 19 sacks in 2023 to 11.5 last year in 17 regular-season starts. The Steelers usually don't play hard ball with their stars, but this is something that could stretch well into training camp and the preseason.

From RotoBaller

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia lists Buffalo Bills wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. on the bubble watch heading into training camp. Shenault is likely best suited for the X receiver role behind Keon Coleman, and his run-after-the-catch skills and speed give him a real shot to with the kickoff-return job. The Bills made a low-cost investment in Shenault after liking him in the pre-draft process before his draft year. Despite all those things that Buscaglia mentions, he also writes that the odds are that Shenault doesn't make the team beyond training camp because they'll have answers elsewhere to the value he'd provide. If the 26-year-old doesn't make the 53-man roster, he'll be a prime candidate to be stashed on the practice squad for depth. Shenault caught just five passes for 36 yards as mostly a kickoff returner in 2024 with the Seahawks and Chargers.

From RotoBaller

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia has Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer listed as a sleeper after signing a three-year deal with the team in the offseason. Buscaglia writes that Palmer's potential role and impact in this year's passing offense "are being slept on a bit." He's exactly what the Bills offense lacked last year -- a precise route-runner that specializes in separation who has enough speed to push down the field for deeper targets. The 25-year-old should be a nice fit for the Z receiver role after Buffalo tried to force Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins into the role in 2024. Buscaglia writes that Palmer could win the Hollins award for unexpected player who will play a lot more than most people think. Ultimately, Palmer probably won't see enough volume in this offense to warrant anything more than WR4/5 value in fantasy unless Khalil Shakir or Keon Coleman miss time with injury.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear will "almost exclusively be a special teams player" in 2025 if the team elects to keep a fourth RB around beyond training camp, writes The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow. The Panthers only kept three RBs a year ago. Even with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for most of last season, Blackshear didn't have a single rushing attempt until Week 16. The 27-year-old will primarily be competing with David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Hunter Renfrow for a spot on the team's 53-man roster as a return option. The former undrafted free agent in 2022 has had 68 touches for 341 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on offense for the Panthers in the last three years while adding 66 kickoff returns for 1,734 yards and 23 punt returns for 200 yards. He's off the fantasy radar in the vast majority of leagues.

From RotoBaller

The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle will split carries with rookie Trevor Etienne as the backups to lead back Chuba Hubbard in 2025. Dowdle is coming of a 1,000-yard season with the Dallas Cowboys in his first year as a lead back, but he'll be working behind Hubbard. As the RB2 last year in Carolina, Miles Sanders only had 55 carries, although he was mostly injured and ineffective. Zietlow adds that the Panthers will want to find out what they have in Etienne before Jonathon Brooks (knee) returns in 2026. If anything, the 27-year-old Dowdle will take away valuable pass-catching opportunities from Hubbard on third downs in his first year in Carolina, but it's going to be hard to justify him as an every-week fantasy starter as long as Hubbard stays healthy. Dowdle is ranked as RotoBaller's RB50 going into the 2025 season.

From RotoBaller

The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard "will still get the overwhelming majority of the touches" this year. Hubbard was the team's bell-cow back in 2024 with 712 snaps. He carried the ball 250 times, which ranked 11th in the NFL and second among all RBs who played 15 games or fewer. Zietlow thinks that number will drop a bit this year as the Panthers look to keep Hubbard fresh, with Rico Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne splitting change-of-pace carries. The 26-year-old had his first 1,000-yard rushing season with a career-high 10 touchdowns in 15 starts, adding a carer-high 43 catches for 171 yards and a score through the air. There's a good chance 2024 ends up being Hubbard's career year, as Dowdle should be much more effective than Miles Sanders was behind Hubbard last year. Fantasy managers should target Hubbard as an RB2.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson (Achilles) could be ready to practice sometime in October, according to a source via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Fantasy Spin: It remains highly unlikely that Watson will ever take another snap in a Browns' uniform again, but Cabot suggests the team has been "thrilled with his participation and mentorship" this offseason in addition to being an "awesome teammate inside the quarterback room and meeting rooms." Watson's fall from grace was so swift that it seems possible he will return to prominence at some point, but fantasy managers need more than hope and reports of being a great teammate. He is not worth holding in any format.

From TheHuddle

New York Jets running back Breece Hall has had a turbulent start to his NFL career. The first ball carrier selected in the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 36 overall) suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 of his rookie campaign after an excellent start. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 11.5 yards per reception on 99 total touches. He has flashed upside in his last two campaigns, but New York's offensive environment with Zach Wilson or Aaron Rodgers was not conducive to high-level production, and he's averaged fewer than 4.6 yards per carry since the start of his sophomore campaign. Heading into Year 4, Hall is determined to put his name back in the "high-end" running back discussion. "Just proving that I'm still the guy and still one of the best in the league," Hall said. "Just trying to go out there every weekend and prove that I deserve to be out there." While quarterback Justin Fields has plenty of question marks as a passer, his rushing skill set could open running lanes for Hall behind a potentially improved Jets offensive line. New York's coaching staff has hinted at a split backfield with second-year pro Braelon Allen, but Hall should continue to be viewed as the starter for Gang Green. That said, Fields likely won't target running backs often in the passing game based on his previous trends.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt has been in the thick of trade rumors this offseason, and the team's activity on the trade market on Monday has only fanned the flames of those rumors. However, NFL.com's Bobby Kownack reports that the Steelers have no intention of trading Watt and remain focused on agreeing to a deal with the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Watt is heading into the final season of his four-year, $112 million contract extension that he signed ahead of the 2021 campaign, and the Wisconsin product has tallied at least 11.5 sacks in each of the three full seasons he has played in since. Watt is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL, so it would be a surprise if the Steelers did not eventually come to an agreement with their 2017 first-round selection. In 121 career games, Watt has tallied 462 tackles (331 solo), 108 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, 50 pass deflections, and 75.5 run stuffs.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins are finalizing a trade with the New York Giants on Tuesday for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, who is coming out of retirement, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Waller retired last summer after catching 52 of his 74 targets for 552 yards and just one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) with the G-Men in 2023. Miami was desperate for an addition at tight end after trading Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins and Giants are also swapping late-round draft picks in the Waller trade. Waller will turn 33 in September and hasn't played more than 12 games since his Pro Bowl season in 2020, but he should automatically become Miami's top pass-catching tight end. The volume alone should make him at least a TE2 target with upside in fantasy, but don't expect him to replicate Smith's numbers from last year in Miami.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan that the team has had talks with free-agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd. It comes a day after Boyd said he's "absolutely" be interested in playing for the Steelers. It's unclear if a formal offer was made to Boyd, but the money that he's been offered around the league this offseason hasn't been in the neighborhood of what he's looking for. The Steelers acquired tight end Jonnu Smith in a trade on Monday with the Miami Dolphins, but they could still use additional receiver depth behind DK Metcalf. As things currently stand, Calvin Austin III is set for WR2 duties with Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek also on the roster. After eight seasons with the Bengals, Boyd caught 39 passes for 390 yards and no touchdowns in 16 games (eight starts) for Tennessee in 2024.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants TE Darren Waller was acquired by the Miami Dolphins Tuesday, July 1, in exchange for a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick

Fantasy Spin: The Dolphins had a gaping hole at tight end after trading Jonnu Smith, and this is one creative way to fill it. Waller didn't play last year while in retirement. He had 52 grabs for 552 yards and 1 TD with the Giants in 12 games in 2023. He turns 33 Sept. 13. He'll be a low-end TE1 option or a high-end TE2 in this offense, but he had injury concerns before taking a year off.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent WR Tyler Boyd (Titans) had conversations with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, according to team insider Mark Kaboly on 93.7 The Fan. Kaboly said he was not sure if a formal offer was made during those conversations. He added that the money that Boyd has been offered around the league this offseason from any team has not been in the neighborhood he's looking for and that he's continuing to wait to see if a better offer can come his way.

Fantasy Spin: Boyd had a 39-390-0 season with Tennessee last year and could still command some fantasy merit in the right spot. Keep tabs on him as a potential PPR WR5.

From TheHuddle

New York Giants QB Russell Wilson faces a daunting first four weeks with games against the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Chargers. If Wilson looks 'competent' and wins 'at least one' game during that four-game stretch 'he could start all of 2025,' in the opinion of The Athletic's Jacob Robinson. If not, however, Robinson suggests that rookie QB Jaxson Dart 'could start earlier than anticipated.'

Fantasy Spin: Even while helping the Steelers reach the playoffs last year, Wilson rarely put up the type of numbers fantasy owners are looking for across his 11 starts, topping 300 yards just once and logging one or zero TDs six times. Now playing for a team with long-shot postseason aspirations and suspect receiving talent outside of Malik Nabers, Wilson holds nominal appeal unless you're planning on rostering three QBs.

From TheHuddle

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley totaled 436 carries, including the playoffs, during the 2024 season, which matched the highest number of carries in a season since 2000 -- former Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray logged an identical 436 carries in 2014.

Fantasy Spin: While Barkley was an absolute beast last year, so was Murray in 2014, finishing with 1,845 yards and 13 TDs on 392 carries during the regular season. The following year, he managed just 702 yards and 6 TDs while averaging 3.6 yards per carry. In the process, he went from the overall fantasy RB2 (behind Le'Veon Bell) to RB15 in 2015. There are certainly extenuating circumstances, not the least of which was a switch from Dallas to Philly from Murray following his monster year, but there's a cautionary tale to be found there. Although whether that's enough to knock Barkley from top-3 status is debatable, it's at least worth adding to the equation when valuing Barkley, though, who at 28 has a lot of miles on his odometer.

From TheHuddle

The Pittsburgh Steelers see new cornerback Jalen Ramsey as an outside corner, a slot corner and potentially as a safety, according to Mark Kaboly. The Steelers acquired Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a seventh-round pick in 2027 from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-rounder in 2027 on Monday. The presence of cornerbacks Joey Porter and Darius Slay will allow the Steelers to get creative with the 30-year-old Ramsey, who could be more of an IPD fantasy asset if he plays more slot corner and safety in 2025. The former first-rounder and seven-time All-Pro continued to play at a high level last year with the Dolphins, racking up 60 tackles (39 solo), one sack, six tackles for loss, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 17 starts. Despite losing Fitzpatrick, the Steelers' secondary should remain strong this year.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers view new tight end Jonnu Smith as a tight end, a slot wide receiver and a fullback and will use him in a hybrid role in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense. Despite already having tight end Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers acquired Smith, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Miami Dolphins on Monday in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Smith will reunite with Arthur Smith after posting a 50-582-3 line in 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons. At the time, the 582 receiving yards were a career-high for Smith until he went off for 88 catches, 884 yards and eight TDs with Miami last season. The 29-year-old will now be working with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers in what's expected to be a run-first offense. The move to Pittsburgh is definitely bad news for Smith's fantasy upside as a TE1 in 2025.

From RotoBaller

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are not interested in trading tight end Michael Mayer. It comes after reports that the Miami Dolphins were interested in acquiring Mayer from the Raiders after trading tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Mayer is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2025 and $2 million in 2026 and took a back seat in 2024 to rookie Brock Bowers, catching just 21 of 32 targets for 156 yards and no touchdowns in 11 games (eight starts) in his second year in the NFL. The 23-year-old Notre Dame product caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. There have been reports suggesting he'll have a bigger role in 2025 in two-tight end sets in new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's scheme, but as long as Bowers is healthy, he'll be the second fiddle at the position if he stays in Vegas.

From RotoBaller

ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday that there is no update on contract talks between the Washington Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, "and that's the problem." "There is quite a gap between what both sides want right now and they have not made any progress," Schefter said. Schefter goes on to say that he'd be surprised if the Commanders look to move on from McLaurin via a trade, regardless of how disgruntled the wideout might be. McLaurin is entering the final season of a three-year extension he signed in 2022 and is looking for a hefty extension after posting his fifth straight 1,000-yard season with a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024. He's reportedly seeking a deal that would pay him around $30 million a year, but the Commanders seem hesitant to give that to a receiver that will turn 30 this September. In fantasy, McLaurin is a solid WR2 target going into 2025.

From RotoBaller