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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner considers Trey Benson a starter. "We're both RB1," said Conner. "He's gonna play a lot this year." Benson was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He appeared in 13 games last season. However, he finished with only 291 yards and one touchdown off 63 touches. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has already indicated that Benson would be more involved during the 2025 campaign. Yet, Conner's latest comment adds more validity to Gannon's statement even more. It appears Benson could be more than an insurance policy this season, although his increased involvement won't be good for Conner's fantasy outlook. If anything, Conner could be the preferred pass-catching option out of the backfield, with Benson in line to handle the bulk of the carries.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo "continues to look like he has an extra gear," according to team reporter JT Ruhnke. The 25-year-old has spent his entire career in Music City since being drafted by the team in 2022. He's appeared in all 17 regular-season games in each of his three seasons. While Okonkwo hasn't been consistently productive, he at least flashed some signs of promise by totaling 138 receptions for 1,457 yards and six touchdowns. He'll have plenty of competition for targets in 2025, with Tyler Lockett, Calvin Ridley, and Van Jefferson all looking for attention. The Titans will also presumably have rookie quarterback Cam Ward under center, although it's realistic to assume he might struggle on occasion. With so much anticipated volatility at the tight end position, Okonkwo could find himself in fantasy lineups this season. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect consistent production from him on a week-to-week basis.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (head) was placed in concussion protocol. The 25-year-old collided with safety Budda Baker during practice on Friday, although both players got to their feet without assistance. Wilson finished last season by amassing 47 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns. While Wilson will need to compete for targets primarily with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride throughout the 2025 campaign, assuming they all stay healthy, there's a good chance he'll improve even more in his third season in the National Football League. Granted, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a consistently reliable fantasy producer, but he could at least draw flex consideration from fantasy managers in the right situation. With that in mind, Wilson should be considered day-to-day, with an update on his health expected in the coming days.

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According to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the team isn't looking to trade defensive end Micah Parsons. "I think the world of Micah," said Jones on Saturday. "What y'all don't know is what I offered him. And it's a hell of a lot more than you think I did. Micah took it off [the table]." The 26-year-old has had a stellar career since entering the National Football League in 2021, totaling 256 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and nine forced fumbles in 63 regular-season contests. Without question, Parsons is certainly deserving of a new deal, although one may not get done anytime soon, considering Jones' history of dragging out contract negotiations in previous years.

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Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan reportedly contacted the Washington Commanders' front office concerning the availability of wide receiver Terry McLaurin. It's unknown how engaged both sides were in discussions regarding a potential trade for the disgruntled wideout. However, with McLaurin not only expecting to be "paid like a true No. 1 receiver," he also wants to be the top option for any club he suits up for moving ahead. The Steelers made a move to acquire DK Metcalf from the Seahawks during the offseason. Not only that, the franchise gave him a hefty five-year, $150 million extension. Naturally, Metcalf is atop the depth chart in Pittsburgh, so bringing in McLaurin wouldn't make much sense for many different reasons. As of now, McLaurin remains in Washington, although that may not change anytime soon, considering the team doesn't appear too interested in trading him after he had a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024. There will be more updates surrounding the 29-year-old in the coming days and weeks. Understandably, until the situation is resolved, some managers may look past McLaurin in fantasy drafts heading into Week 1.

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The Baltimore Ravens have signed running back D'Ernest Johnson, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson joins Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, and Rasheen Ali as depth options in Baltimore behind star running back Derrick Henry. In 14 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season Johnson gained 239 yards from scrimmage on 44 total touches and did not find the end zone. The 29-year-old's most productive NFL season came in 2021, when he rushed for over 500 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games for the Cleveland Browns. Hill is a proven commodity as Baltimore's primary passing-down back, so Johnson could be battling with Mitchell for the RB3 role.

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San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (undisclosed) and running back Isaac Guerendo (shoulder/arm) both left the team's Saturday practice early, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Wagoner writes that Juszczyk was "moving slowly." The 34-year-old is a key piece as a blocker and a receiver in the 49ers' offense, having racked up 2,901 yards from scrimmage over the course of his 12-year career. Juszczyk is uniquely versatile as a player, so there's not a clear replacement for him on San Francisco's roster if he were to miss time. Guerendo is expected to be the primary backup to star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. In 16 games as a rookie in 2024, Guerendo recorded 84 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns. It's unclear how much time (if any) Guerendo will miss, but he now joins fifth-round rookie Jordan James (knee) as 49ers backs dealing with injuries. The team signed veteran rusher Ameer Abdullah on Thursday to bolster its depth at the position. If healthy, Guerendo is a premium handcuff option for fantasy.

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Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman was arrested on Friday night on a felony weapons charge, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. Police reportedly conducted a traffic stop on Perryman and found five firearms in his vehicle. He has a court date set for August 5, and the Chargers said in a statement that the team is in the process of gathering more information. The 32-year-old Perryman is entering his 11th NFL season and is competing with second-year linebacker Junior Colson for a starting role in Los Angeles. In 11 games last season with the Chargers, Perryman recorded 39 solo tackles and one sack. It remains to be seen what the fallout from this arrest will be, both from a legal perspective and in terms of a possible league suspension. If Perryman misses time, both Colson and veteran Troy Dye would likely be in line for increased reps.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that running back Miles Sanders (knee) could miss a couple of days with a left knee bruise, but that the team does not have a lot of concern about the injury. Sanders has been out of action since Thursday, and it appears as though he'll miss the early part of the upcoming week as well. The veteran running back signed with Dallas in March after spending the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. In 11 games (two starts) for Carolina in 2024, Sanders recorded 353 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 79 total touches. He's competing with fellow free-agent signee Javonte Williams and fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue for playing time in the Cowboys' backfield. While there's an opportunity for him to earn a role in Dallas, Sanders probably offers the lowest upside of the three backs and is unlikely to win the job outright.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens has stood out in training camp and looks like "the most talented backup the Colts have ever had" to star running back Jonathan Taylor, according to Destin Adams of A to Z Sports. A fifth-round pick out of Kansas State, Giddens gained over 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 12 games last season for the Wildcats. Early reporting out of Colts' camp indicates that the 21-year-old is leading the RB2 battle over veterans Khalil Herbert and Tyler Goodson. While Taylor is likely to dominate carries in Indianapolis, Giddens could earn his way onto the field on passing downs and make an impact as a receiver out of the backfield. If he continues his strong play throughout the preseason, Giddens could emerge as a valuable late-round handcuff option in fantasy.

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The Dallas Cowboys placed wide receiver Parris Campbell (knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Saturday and officially signed offensive tackle La'el Collins in a corresponding move. Campbell suffered an MCL sprain in training camp practice last season and will now miss the entire 2025 campaign in his first year with Dallas. The 28-year-old was originally taken in the second round (59th overall) in 2019 out of Ohio State by the Indianapolis Colts, and he spent the first four years of his NFL career in Indy. Injuries have played a big part in Campbell being a disappointment, as he played just 15 games in his first three years. After a career year with a 63-623-3 line in his final season with the Colts in 2022, Campbell joined the Giants for a year in 2023 and played in only five games for the Eagles last season.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (hand) got another day off at training camp on Saturday due to his sore throwing hand, but head coach Todd Bowles said that Mayfield will return to practice next week. Mayfield injured his right hand during practice on Thursday when it hit a teammate on a follow-through. The 30-year-old thankfully avoided a serious injury, but the Bucs will give him a little time off this weekend to rest. Mayfield should be back on the field next week and ready to go for the start of the 2025 season in early September. Despite having to work with a new offensive coordinator for yet another season, Mayfield was a Pro Bowler for the second straight season in 2024 and had a career-high 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, but he also led the league with 16 picks. Tampa's offense remains largely intact, and while fantasy managers can't expect another 40-TD season, Mayfield is at least in the low-end QB1 conversation.

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Denver Broncos second-round rookie running back RJ Harvey is a candidate for the joker role in head coach Sean Payton's offense this year, per Zac Stevens of DNVR. Payton is in love with the joker position on offense, but it remains to be seen how much Denver will actually use one in 2025. New tight end Evan Engram has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role. The 24-year-old Harvey has impressed throughout training camp so far as he battles for a big role in the Broncos' backfield in his first year in the NFL with J.K. Dobbins. The fact that Denver is considering Harvey for the joker role means that he could be their primary pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, which in turn could give him immediate RB2 upside in PPR fantasy leagues in an offense that could take a step forward in quarterback Bo Nix's second season.

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The Indianapolis Colts took rookie tight end Tyler Warren with the 14th overall pick in April's NFL draft, and it hasn't taken him long to impress the coaching staff at training camp this summer. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said, "We're putting a lot on his plate. I think he's going to be a very versatile piece for us. We're going to try a bunch of different stuff with him, give him a bunch of shots at a bunch of different aspects playing offensive football." After a slow start to camp, the 23-year-old is starting to make explosive plays in practice, and he's already lined up in the backfield as well. At Penn State in 2024, Warren had 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns and also ran the ball for 218 yards and four TDs. Warren could immediately become a TE1 in fantasy in his first NFL season, but it's Indy's shaky QB situation that could bring him down.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby was in on the team's entire first drive of their scrimmage on Friday at training camp, and Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie Bhayshul Tuten weren't seen at all. It's just a scrimmage early in camp, but it's worth noting as Bigsby looks to take control of a bigger part of Jacksonville's backfield under new head coach Liam Coen in 2025. During practices, both Bigsby and Etienne have been rotating work with the first-team offense, so the Jags could use a straight committee approach to their running game. RotoBaller has Etienne ranked as the RB33 this year, with Bigby checking in at No. 50. Bigsby was impressive last year, though, rushing for 766 yards and seven touchdowns on 168 carries (4.6 yards per tote). He could command a larger share of touches in 2025, but his lack of passing-game prowess hurts his overall fantasy upside.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan are "still working on their timing in the passing game," according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Person writes that Carolina's defensive backs have consistently challenged McMillan with press coverage, and the rookie is still adjusting to the increased level of physicality. The number eight overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, McMillan recorded 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games for the University of Arizona last season. He has the opportunity to step in and be the Panthers' number one target-earner right away. However, Carolina also has veteran Adam Thielen and 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette in their receiver room. It's no surprise that McMillan and Young are still working on building chemistry this early in training camp, but it's something to monitor throughout the course of the preseason.

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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders (arm soreness) did not participate in team drills during Cleveland's training camp practice on Saturday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Cabot reports that veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel took all the team reps, with quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) joining Sanders on the sideline. It does not sound as though this is expected to be a serious injury for Sanders, but the exact nature of the ailment is unclear. The Browns are holding an open competition for the starting quarterback job in camp, but early reporting indicates that Flacco is the heavy favorite to begin the season under center. Sanders has a long way to go before he's even the primary backup in Cleveland, so any further missed time would be detrimental to his 2025 outlook.

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New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo (hamstring) suffered a "setback" in his recovery from a hamstring injury during the team's practice on Friday, according to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Skattebo is officially considered day-to-day but is expected to miss some time. The Giants had been holding Skattebo out of team drills to manage the injury earlier this week, but it appears as though he'll now need a full shutdown for at least a few days. Skattebo was a workhorse in his final collegiate season at Arizona State in 2024. In 13 games, he recorded 2,316 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns on 338 total touches. Skattebo is expected to share time in the Giants' backfield this season with second-year back Tyrone Tracy Jr. and possibly veteran Devin Singletary as well. With each day he misses due to this hamstring injury, Skattebo is losing out on valuable training camp reps.

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New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis was "making plays as both a runner and receiver" in the team's training camp practice on Saturday, according to Jake Asman of ESPN Radio. A fifth-round draft pick in 2024, Davis recorded 249 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 39 total touches across 17 games for the Jets as a rookie. The 23-year-old is behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen on the Jets running back depth chart, but early reporting from training camp indicates that the team plans to go with a committee approach in the backfield. Davis would likely need an injury to either Hall or Allen to be fantasy-relevant in 2025, but he's a name to monitor throughout the preseason.

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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that running back Breece Hall has the skill set to make a huge impact in the passing game, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. In 40 career games for the Jets, Hall has recorded 152 catches for 1,292 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. It sounds as though New York would like to expand Hall's role in the passing game even further, with Glenn stating that he is "a guy you can split out wide and run a route tree." Previous reporting has indicated that the Jets plan to split the rushing workload more evenly amongst Hall and fellow running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. That would put an increased emphasis on Hall's pass-catching ability to carry him in fantasy. He's currently ranked as RB11 for PPR leagues, and RB13 in standard scoring.

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