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Pittsburgh Steelers running back/wide receiver/return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson signed a two-year, $6 million contract this offseason to join the team, almost immediately after the new kickoff rules were announced. Patterson, the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (nine), was surely signed to help in that area, but Mark Kaboly of the Athletic believes he is likely to have a role on offense, too. "It's hard to imagine the Steelers gave him $6 million over two years to be only a kick returner," Kaboly wrote. "An accomplished receiver and running back over his career, Patterson will likely have a bigger role than being a specialist." The 33-year-old enjoyed his best season under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith when the two were in Atlanta in 2021. Patterson rushed 153 times for 618 yards and caught 52 passes for 548 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns. Pittsburgh has a strong running back duo in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, but its wide receiver group behind George Pickens looks weak on paper. That said, don't be surprised if Patterson is mixed in along with Van Jefferson and third-round rookie Roman Wilson. It'd be a surprise the 2013 first-round pick is a weekly fantasy contributor, but he might be a bargain-bin DFS play with upside in 2024.

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Former Georgia running back Daijun Edwards went unselected in April's 2024 NFL Draft before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent. According to Mark Kaboly of the Athletic, he could earn a role on the practice squad in 2024. "Edwards stood out during spring practices and could be a strong candidate for the practice squad," Kaboly wrote. "He was part of two national championship teams at Georgia, and the Steelers have dipped into the Georgia talent pool quite often. It wouldn't be surprising if Edwards leads the team in preseason rushing, but he will likely get caught in a numbers crunch." The 23-year-old racked up 2,083 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns in four seasons with the Bulldogs while competing for touches with Zamir White, James Cook, and Kendall Milton. He's unlikely to be on the fantasy football radar in 2024.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White posted 990 rushing yards last season, the highest rushing total for a Buccaneer since Doug Martin in 2015 (1,402). Heading into Year 3, White aims to go "well above" the 1,000-yard mark on the ground. "Obviously, my goal is to do whatever I can to help the team win," White said. "We've been last, or 25th to last the past five or six years when it comes to rushing, Tampa Bay has been down bad. My goal, and what I expect me to do, is turn that around." The Buccaneers lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales this offseason, so it will be interesting to see the offensive identity under Liam Cohen. The team selected fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving in the 2024 NFL Draft, but White should remain the clear RB1 and could continue to receive a healthy opportunity share. If he keeps a workhorse role, another top-10 fantasy football season is well within reach.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz signed with the organization this offseason after spending the last few months of the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Rams. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft is obviously behind Patrick Mahomes on the depth chart, but Wentz working with Andy Reid could be a great thing for his career. "It was good to get him in this position and if he has an opportunity to play, he has an opportunity to play, Reid said. "Carson looks sharp. He's picking things up fast, smart guy, and he fits in well. Seems like a heck of a person, and he's good in that [quarterback] room." While Mahomes has remained healthy for most of his career, Wentz could be a high-end backup quarterback to stash in deep Superflex and two-QB leagues. The Chiefs now have plenty of weapons, and if anyone can dial up a game plan that leads to solid production from Wentz, it's Reid.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney is heading into a make-or-break year in 2024 as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. Toney missed training camp and the preseason in 2023 while recovering from surgery to fix the meniscus and cartilage in his knee. He struggled in the regular season with drops and was benched in December. Not only must Toney stay healthy, but he needs to rebuild his chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes while also showing he can be a top target for backup Carson Wentz in the preseason. Even after the offseason additions of Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy, there's an argument to be made that Toney is the team's most talented pass-catcher. However, the 25-year-old needs to show consistency in camp this summer and in the preseason to secure a spot on the active roster. If not, he's a candidate to be traded.

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Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has two years left on a four-year, $72 million contract extension he signed in 2021. However, the remaining seasons include zero guaranteed dollars. There's a potentially incompatible $23 million salary cap hit in 2025, with only $6 million in dead cap. Washington drafted defensive tackle Johnny Newton in the second round this year, meaning there's a potential Allen replacement on the roster should another extension or restructure not be in the cards before the 2025 season. A knee injury kept Allen from playing in the season finale last year, but the 29-year-old took part in OTAs this offseason and should be ready for Week 1 this fall. The former 17th overall pick in 2017 out of Alabama dipped to 5.5 sacks in 2023 after recording 16.5 sacks the two previous seasons.

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The best and perhaps most direct way for Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit, a speedster and former rugby star, to earn a spot on the initial roster is by excelling as a kickoff returner. However, he will also compete with Deneric Prince and Keaontay Ingram for the third RB spot on the depth chart this summer in training camp. "He's done above and beyond what I've expected," special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Rees-Zammit in late May. The 23-year-old's chances of making the Chiefs roster are aided by new rules allowing an extra 17th practice-squad spot during the regular season for international players. It will be interesting to see how offensive mastermind and head coach Andy Reid utilizes Rees-Zammit, but expecting the former Welsh rugby star to make an immediate impact in fantasy would be foolish.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle) said he will do his trip with his pass-catchers before training camp kicks off at the end of July as he has done the last several years. Prescott said the plan for now is for receiver CeeDee Lamb to be in attendance. The 30-year-old caused a stir over the weekend when he was seen wearing a walking boot while on vacation, but he was wearing it strictly as a precaution after some soreness developed in his surgically repaired right ankle following two hard workouts. Prescott was just being cautious and does not anticipate it being an issue when camp begins. He had surgery on his ankle back in 2020 due to a compound fracture and dislocation. Prescott should be 100% for the start of the 2024 season and should be considered a solid midrange QB1 target after coming off a great 2023 campaign.

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Free-agent running back Leonard Fournette is motivated to continue his NFL career and intends to sign with a team before the 2024 season. Fournette has hired former agents, Ari Nissim and Pat Capra, to help in that pursuit. "Leonard's in the best shape of his career and I expect he will have a new home soon," Nissim said. It would be a surprise to see the 29-year-old veteran latch on with a team after training camp begins, but expecting Lenny to become fantasy relevant this year is a different story. His last 1,000-yard rushing campaign came back in 2019 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, although he did have over 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2021 and 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fournette played in just two games with the Buffalo Bills in 2023 and had 12 carries for 40 yards. At best, Fournette will be a complementary depth option for a team's backfield in 2024.

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According to ESPN's Jeff Darlington, the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have had "active negotiations" regarding a new contract. Although this situation has been ongoing for months, both sides have remained amicable through the process. With Tyreek Hill also looking for more money, Miami has been busy. However, the team is prioritizing Tagovailoa's demands, considering he's entering the final year of his rookie deal. The signal-caller is coming off a solid 2023-24 campaign, throwing for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while completing 69.3% of his attempts. Without question, the Dolphins would love to keep him around for years to come, especially since he proved he can stay healthy by appearing in all 17 games last season.

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Dynasty | The Washington Commanders have been linked to wide receiver. Brandon Aiyuk. Dynasty Analysis: Aiyuk posted a cryptic message including him reviewing Washington Commanders game film so the Internet expectedly lost its mind. Rumors will swirl constantly until Aiyuk is either traded or signs a new long-term deal with San Francisco, so this is likely much ado about nothing. Still, Aiyuk remains in a dynasty hold pattern as nobody seems to truly know what's going to happen here.

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Dynasty | Patriots rookie tight end Jaheim Bell has been chosen as a potential rookie producer by several media outlets. Dynasty Analysis: This latest story pegs him as the second most likely rookie tight end to produce behind only (predictably) Brock Bowers. Bell has been a bit of a sleeper in most rookie drafts so these stories are at least worth noting. If you're in the midst of a late rookie draft, there are worse players to take a flier on, especially at the tight end position.

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Dynasty | Browns running back Nick Chubb was selected as the second best running back by NFL executives in a recent ESPN poll. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb was ranked as the second best running back in the NFL behind only Christian McCaffrey. He has a lot to prove this season as he attempts to return from a gruesome knee injury but time will tell if he can regain his form and justify this lofty ranking. From a dynasty value perspective, few players have the upside of Chubb and with a ranking of RB37, he seems like a worthy high-risk proposition for contending teams at the moment.

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The Houston Texans re-signed veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes on Monday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The 35-year-old is heading into his 15th NFL season, but he'll likely act as a rotational pass-rusher after the team signed Danielle Hunter to play on the opposite side of Will Anderson Jr. this offseason. Hughes has 69.5 sacks and 19 forced fumbles in 218 games with the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, and Texans. Should Hunter or Anderson Jr. have to miss time, he could become a major contributor to one of the league's fastest-rising teams.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton is being suspended for the first eight games of the 2024 season, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The stems from Sutton's arrest related to a domestic violence situation. He was charged with misdemeanor battery after he turned himself in at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Florida on March 31. The 29-year-old struggled mightily last season with the Detroit Lions, and the team released him just before he turned himself in. He signed with Pittsburgh this offseason, where he spent the first six seasons of his professional career.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus signed with the organization this offseason on a one-year, $1.28 million contract. His salary would suggest he's not guaranteed to make the roster, but Ben Standig of the Athletic believes he is close to being a lock. "The first three (wide receivers) are locks, and Zaccheaus probably adds that distinction over time," Standig wrote. Zaccheaus has collected 104 of his 171 targets for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns through his first 72 career games with the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. It'd be a surprise if he's a fantasy football contributor in 2024, but it sounds like he could occupy the WR4 role behind Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Luke McCaffrey under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was once one of the most productive players at the position. While his numbers have been on the decline over the last few years, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports that he looked good in offseason activities this summer. "Ertz, 33, showed more speed than expected in practices," Standig wrote. "Injuries are more concerning than the three-time Pro Bowler's remaining talent." The 2013 second-round pick could be heavily relied on by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early in his NFL career, especially while rookie tight end Ben Sinnott makes the transition to the next level. Ertz is unlikely to possess TE1 upside at this stage of his career, but he might produce mid-range TE2 numbers, making him worth rostering in deep PPR setups. The former Stanford Cardinal enters 2024 in 12th place on the all-time receiving list by a tight end with 7,434 yards.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has reportedly been impressive this offseason, but not all organizations want to start their rookie quarterback right away. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU could sit behind veteran Marcus Mariota to begin his career, though Commanders reporter Ben Standig believes that will not be the case. "Daniels' development is the story. The competition for Week 1 starter isn't," Standig wrote. "Quinn will maintain lineup battle talk. There's a daily progression coaches have planned for the rookie, yet it's clear the dual-threat talent is the clubhouse leader to be QB1 thanks to his sizzling potential and Mariota's limitations." Daniels threw for 40 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,100 yards in his Heisman-winning 2023 campaign, and if his skills translate to the next level, he's a future high-end QB1 in fantasy football in the making. He's being selected as a high-end QB2 in preseason drafts, but if he starts right away and plays all 17 games, he has a clear path to beating his ADP.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (knee) suffered a torn ACL during last year's training camp and has been limited this offseason, but he was seen working out and moving well in an Instagram post this week. This is a great sign for his potential training camp availability later this month. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Malone University has hauled in just 33 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns through his first 55 NFL games, but he was named a second-team All-Pro in 2021 for his special teams ability. Dulin is unlikely to see meaningful action as a wideout behind Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell, and Alec Pierce, so he can be ignored in fantasy football.

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Free-agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. was handed a six-game suspension by the NFL last week, and although the veteran is not expected to appeal the punishment, he is looking to play in 2024. "During this offseason, I took a supplement one time, which I thought to be completely safe and well within any of the NFL's policies," Gipson wrote in a statement. "It was in no way related to performance, training, or gaining an advantage of any kind at any time. It is with great disappointment that I accept this suspension, and I do so knowing that I have never even attempted to cheat the game. I look forward to returning for my 13th NFL season and helping a team compete for a championship." Gipson, who has played in 173 NFL games, may have to wait a while to find a home, as the safety market has been stagnant this offseason.

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