New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty is pushing for the team's RB3 role leading up to the regular season. Hasty is buried behind Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, and Kevin Harris on the depth chart, but his skill set could lend well to New England's revamped offense. According to Hasty in an interview with reporters on Friday, Alex Van Pelt wants to be the best screen team in the NFL. He was also quoted as saying that AVP likes to "mix it up" and that he and the other RBs "run routes like the receivers do." It's an encouraging development that hopefully foreshadows a good amount of passing-game activity for the Patriot's running backs in 2024. The exact way touches will shake out here remains to be seen, but Stevenson will likely handle most of the work, with Gibson mixing in as a change of pace. The mystery is compounded further by the fact that we've yet to see what this offense is about. Hasty is Yahoo!'s RB118 and presents as little more than a late-round deep-league dart throw until this situation changes.

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Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds(leg), who left the team's final day of training camp early Wednesday, appears to have avoided serious injury. The exact nature of the ailment sustained by Reynolds is unclear, though two defenders apparently sandwiched him on a run in the red zone at about the mid-point of practice. It appears he'll be okay and looks to return to the field quickly. Reynolds is currently entrenched in a battle with rookie Sione Vaki for Detroit's RB3 role, and any time away from the field is less time fending off the rookie from supplanting him. Whichever back wins the positional battle would not hold standalone value but rather be a potential handcuff option in deep leagues and best ball formats. This version of the Lions' offense has shown us a propensity to value the use of a dual-RB system, and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) is improving but not fully healthy with the season just two weeks away. Reynolds is Yahoo!'s RB100 off the boards in drafts currently.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (groin) will not play Sunday in the team's preseason finale against the New England Patriots. Mariota was seen on the side during 11-on-11s and is trending toward practicing in full next week. Jeff Driskel will likely get the bulk of the work at quarterback for the Commanders this weekend, and Sam Hartman (shoulder) could mix in if he's recovered enough from his injury. With Jayden Daniels officially named as the team's starter heading into Week 1, Washington head coach Dan Quinn is opting not to push Mariota at this time and allow him to recover fully. While they would prefer not to have to go to him, it would be beneficial for him to be healthy in 2024, as he'll be the primary backup for Daniels to start the year.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) did not participate in practice Friday and was off on the side field instead. Apparently, the veteran wideout has picked up an Achilles injury of sorts, though it doesn't seem to be very serious. When asked about Reynolds, Broncos' head coach Sean Payton said, "he's doing well." "Today, he felt a lot better. He's got some wear and tear on one of his Achilles. He's fine; we just kind of backed off. But today, he was much better." There isn't much concern here as of now, and we'll likely get an update on him over the coming days. Behind Courtland Sutton, the Denver wide receiver room is mostly vague regarding who will be the next man up. If he can stay healthy, the journeyman wideout likely has a shot to do just that. He's Yahoo!'s WR105 and has a decent chance to contribute in a situation that has not yet cleared itself. Reynolds remains a target in best ball and deep-league formats.

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Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round tight end Tip Reiman has established himself as a potential No. 2 option at tight end for the Cardinals behind budding superstar Trey McBride. Reiman was mostly known for his blocking as an NFL draft prospect, but he has showcased his receiving skills during training camp and the preseason. His versatility will help him get on the field sooner than later in his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old can be ignored by fantasy managers in single-year leagues. The 6-foot-5, 271-pounder from Illinois will mostly be asked to do the dirty work as a blocker in his first year in the NFL. It's encouraging that he's shown some interesting pass-catching chops in camp, but don't expect Reiman to be much of a factor through the air in 2024.

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It hasn't taken Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to establish himself as the WR1 with his new team. By the time the Cardinals broke minicam in June, Harrison, the fourth overall pick back in April, was already seen in that role by both his teammates and the coaching staff. Since then, he's solidified his spot as the WR1 and perhaps the second-most important player (behind quarterback Kyler Murray) in this offense. The 22-year-old is expected to be the one person in the Cardinals' offense runs through and the option Murray looks to in "gotta have it" moments. The expectations for Harrison are massive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers. If Murray stays healthy, it's easy to see how Harrison will slot in as an easy top-10 fantasy wideout when all is said and done in 2024.

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Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.

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There is a package of plays being carved out for Cincinnati Bengals rookie fourth-round tight end Erick All Jr., and the Bengals have been extremely impressed with him in training camp and the preseason. All had a full workload in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night and continued to impress, including a big block coming in motion to spring a Trayveon Williams run. Sixth-round rookie Tanner McLachlan didn't touch the field in the first half on Thursday, indicating that the Bengals won't be keeping him on the 53-man roster. The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. expects the Bengals to prioritize keeping undrafted free agent Cam Grandy. The 23-year-old All caught his lone target for 10 yards against Indy. All is versatile, but he's likely to be more of a blocker in 2024 as he provides depth behind Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson.

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The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Iosivas will soak up the majority of snaps alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 11 personnel this year. A small supporting cast among tight end Mike Gesicki, Charlie Jones and even Trenton Irwin are expected to rotate in that spot, but Iosivas has earned the WR3 role. Rookie Jermaine Burton isn't expected to contribute anytime soon. There's not enough trust in Burton right now to put him on the field with quarterback Joe Burrow. Iosivas, who caught 15 of 25 targets for 116 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie campaign last year, will have an increased role now that Tyler Boyd is no longer in town. However, the former sixth-round speedster from Princeton probably won't see enough targets behind Chase and Higgins to make him worth stashing on the bench in 12-team fantasy leagues.

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Free-agent cornerback J.C. Jackson has been suspended by the NFL for the first game of the 2024 regular season for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Jackson is eligible to sign and participate in all preseason activities. His suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players. The 28-year-old defensive back is still on the open market, and this won't exactly help his cause. The former New England Patriots cornerback played in only five games in 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers due to injury and spent last year with the Chargers and Patriots, collecting 28 tackles (25 solo), an interception and nine pass breakups in only 10 games played (eight starts). Although Jackson has been a disappointment since making his first Pro Bowl with the Patriots in 2021, he should eventually land with a team and provide veteran secondary depth.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network that wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David will not play in the preseason finale on Friday night against the visiting Miami Dolphins. It's not injury-related at all, with the Bucs just giving them the night off, similar to a veteran's day in practice. Many NFL teams around the league are resting their starters this weekend in their final preseason contests. The 31-year-old Evans will work again with quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2024 after the two showed plenty of chemistry in 2023. Evans saw his most targets (136), catches (79) and yards (1,255) since 2018 and found the end zone a league-leading 13 times. Fantasy managers should expect TD regression, but other than that, Evans should see heavy volume yet again, making him a solid low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target in fantasy drafts.

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Denver Broncos rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix won't play in the team's preseason finale on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Backup Jarrett Stidham will make the start against Arizona before third-stringer Zach Wilson replaces him. "I'd like to see (Stidham) get 8 to 12 plays, and then we'll get a lot of work with Zach (beginning) at some point in that first or early second quarter," said head coach Sean Payton. Nix not starting doesn't come as a surprise after Payton named him the starting QB following the second preseason game last Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old will make his regular-season debut on Sept. 8 against the Seahawks on the road in Seattle. The former Oregon signal-caller could be a nice fit in Payton's offense, but expect growing pains. In fantasy, treat him as more of a QB3 in superflex leagues.

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The Cincinnati Bengals have begun their roster cuts, releasing 11 players, including offensive tackle Jackson Carman -- a second-round pick from 2021. Carman's release marks the end of what has been a disappointing tenure with the team. His demotion to the fourth team during the last two preseason games signaled his likely departure. Despite opportunities to play both offensive tackle and guard, Carman struggled to make a significant impact. The Bengals might consider adding him to the practice squad, but it seems both parties are ready to part ways. Carman's reduced playing time over the past two seasons made him a likely cut candidate. He will enter the waiver wire and could attract interest from teams seeking to bolster their interior offensive line. The Bengals also included receiver Hakeem Butler in the cutdowns.

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The Chicago Bears have acquired Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, releasing defensive end Khalid Kareem to make room for him. Taylor, a second-round pick in 2020, missed his rookie season due to a leg fracture but has since made an impact as an edge rusher. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded 21.5 sacks in 49 games, with 13 starts. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Taylor is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024 season. Last year, he played all 17 games with five starts, totaling 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits while participating in 44 percent of the defensive snaps. The Bears, who struggled with pass rushing last seasonfinishing with the lowest sack percentage (4.64%) and the second-fewest sacks (30)are looking to boost their ability to pressure quarterbacks. Taylor and Montez Sweat are expected to play a significant role in addressing this need.

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The NFL has suspended Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones for the first five games of the season due to violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension follows a misdemeanor domestic battery charge from his time with the Jaguars last season, which the Florida state attorney's office eventually dropped. Despite this, the NFL conducted its investigation and imposed a five-game suspension. Last year, Jones recorded 34 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns with Jacksonville. He will be eligible for reinstatement on October 7, following the Cardinals' Week 5 game against the 49ers, meaning his earliest return to regular-season action would be October 13 against the Packers. In his absence, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch are expected to lead the team's wide receiver corps for the season opener on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills. While this impacts Kyler Murray somewhat, Trey McBride and Harrison Jr. will likely receive even more targets.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (toe/foot) was still not spotted practicing on Friday. Shaheed hasn't been seen at practice due to a toe/foot injury since the middle of last week, likely ruling him out for Sunday's preseason finale against the visiting Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome. There's optimism he'll be ready in time for the start of the regular season, though. The 25-year-old deep threat is primed to occupy a significant role in New Orleans' passing game as a volatile WR4/5 bet for fantasy managers this season, considering the Saints' receiving corps is very thin beyond star wideout Chris Olave. Last year, Shaheed put up a strong 9.6 yards per target over 75 targets and 15.6 yards per catch across 46 receptions.

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New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) was still not spotted practicing on Friday. Fantasy managers haven't seen Miller on the field for the Saints since the early stages of training camp due to his hamstring injury, which has proven to be a multi-week setback up to this point. Miller is highly unlikely to be available for Sunday's preseason finale against the visiting Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome, and there have been rumors he could end up being a surprise roster cut before the regular season begins if New Orleans doesn't want to put him on Injured Reserve. Veteran power back Jamaal Williams makes the most sense as lead back Alvin Kamara's handcuff until Miller finally gets healthy again.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has confirmed the team's starters will play in Friday's preseason finale against the visiting Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium, so running back Rachaad White will take the field on Friday. Throughout the preseason, rookie fourth-rounder Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker took the majority of reps with White on the sideline. White was a workhorse for the Bucs in 2023, finishing the year with 1,539 scrimmage yards on 272 carries for 990 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 3.6 yards per attempt. In addition, he showcased his pass-catching ability out of the backfield with 549 receiving yards on 70 catches for an average of 8.6 yards per reception. The 25-year-old's inefficiency on the ground puts him in dead-zone fantasy territory among RBs this summer, but White is certainly a solid RB2 option to begin the year as Tampa Bay's lead back.

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Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (toe) underwent successful surgery for turf toe on Friday and is expected to miss around four months, according to sources. The Colts are hopeful that Woods can return around Christmas in time for a playoff push. We already knew Woods was going to miss significant time, but now his timeline is a bit more clear. It means that fantasy managers can ignore the 25-year-old in redraft leagues, while his injury will open up more opportunities for the rest of Indy's TE committee that includes Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory. Granson, 26, figures to be the Colts' top pass-catching tight end, as evidenced by the fact that he played all five possessions with the starting offense in the preseason finale on Thursday night. Even with Woods out, Granson can be ignored in standard-sized fantasy leagues. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 43 TE in half-PPR formats.

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Washington Commanders rookie third-round wide receiver Luke McCaffrey has not emerged as an obvious top-four wideout to open his first year in the NFL. However, McCaffrey showed the ability to play physical and even helped as a gunner in the second preseason game against the New York Jets, and he can help on underneath routes as he develops. It should come as a huge surprise, as he has played the receiver position for only two seasons. It's disappointing news for fantasy managers that took a flier on the 23-year-old from Rice, especially after the Commanders dealt Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Washington's top four receivers appear to be Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus and veteran Jamison Crowder. McCaffrey still has a lot to learn and can be avoided in redraft fantasy leagues for now.

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