New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee), who has started camp on the team's PUP list, is expected to be part of a potential trade to the San Francisco 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk. The trade winds have been swirling around Aiyuk in recent days, but it's been reported that the framework for an Aiyuk trade has been agreed to by the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. Bourne tore his ACL in late October of last season but has returned to practice in uniform, but without a helmet or shoulder pads as he continues his rehab. After spending the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, the 29-year-old wide receiver enters his third season with the Patriots and now surveys a much more youthful wide receiver group with incoming rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker added to Demario Douglas and offseason addition K.J. Osborn. Bourne would compete for targets will all of these players, limiting his fantasy upside if he remains a Patriot.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) has been suffering from a hamstring injury which has kept him working on a side field with a trainer. LaPorta missed a second-straight practice on Tuesday, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated that he doesn't expect this injury to be a long-term issue. It would be reasonable to assume that LaPorta will miss Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants due to this minor injury. The Lions will choose to err on the side of caution with LaPorta, who set the fantasy world ablaze with his fantastic rookie season in 2023. The former Iowa Hawkeye set a rookie record for most receptions by a tight end with 86 last season and should follow with another excellent season in 2024. Many view LaPorta as the top fantasy tight end in fantasy drafts and while he faces stiff competition from Travis Kelce for that title, LaPorta has the slight edge as overall TE1.

From RotoBaller

The Seattle Seahawks have signed center Connor Williams (knee) to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million on Tuesday. Williams' 2023 was spent with the Miami Dolphins, where an ACL injury ended his season in Week 14. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said that Williams made a "miraculous" recovery following surgery on his torn ACL, and would be ready in time for the beginning of training camps. As one of the top interior offensive linemen in his time with the Dolphins and before that, the Cowboys, the addition of Williams certainly will fortify the offensive interior for Geno Smith and the skill-position players this season. A healthy Williams should be in the conversation for Seattle's starting center job.

From RotoBaller

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan relayed to reporters on Tuesday that San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) has been dealing with a strained hamstring. While it's unknown if Mitchell will miss any time because of this injury, but the fact that Christian McCaffrey (calf) is also set to miss the preseason with a calf injury and the team adding former 49er Matt Breida to the running back stable raises the level of concern. The pecking order for the backup running back behind McCaffrey has heated up with Mitchell, Jordan Mason, rookie Isaac Guerendo, and now Breida. Mitchell has been the primary backup since McCaffrey arrived in San Francisco in a 2022 mid-season trade, but the hold on that job has loosened by the day. Keep an eye on any news regarding the injury status for Mitchell, but Mitchell does carry a slight edge as the contingency running back for the 49ers in case CMC isn't ready for Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (midsection) suffered an injury in training camp on Monday and was seen walking off the field with a trainer holding his ribs or midsection. Head coach John Harbaugh did clear things up with Bateman's injury, saying it was not serious and that he landed on the ball. Bateman should be able to return to practice in a couple of days, where he'll be competing for a starting wide receiver job. His 2023 was not super encouraging to that end, as Bateman reeled in just 32 passes for 367 yards and one touchdown in 16 regular season games. The former 2021 first-round pick has a ways to go before getting back into fantasy football managers' good graces, but at best, Bateman is a late-round flier this season in the hopes that he can fulfill some of the expectations from when he was drafted.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) exited practice this past weekend and stayed on the sideline with a bag of ice wrapped around his knee. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the injury is deemed "not serious." Fantasy managers can wipe the sweat from their brow as last season's NFL Offseason Rookie of the Year should be good to go for Week 1 barring any further setbacks. After being selected in the fifth round by the Rams, the 23-year-old budding superstar set NFL rookie records for receptions and receiving yards en route to being a league winner for fantasy football in 2023. Nacua will be heavily targeted once again with a healthy Cooper Kupp to form a potent one-two punch at receiver for quarterback Matthew Stafford this season. Nacua is a firm WR1 for fantasy managers this season.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans right guard Saahdiq Charles is set to retire. The 25-year-old appeared to be in the driver's seat to secure the Titans' starting right guard position. Charles was signed by the Titans in March after spending his first four seasons with the Washington Commanders. Charles has had trouble staying healthy during his career. He only played in 35 games over his first four seasons. However, he did bring 18 games of starting experience to the Titans. With the 30th PFF-ranked offensive line in the NFL, the Titans need all the help they can get up front. Fourth-year player Dillon Radunz is now listed as the Titans' starting right guard. The Titans need a solid performance from their offensive line in 2024 to give second-year quarterback Will Levis a chance to succeed. The Titans have several fantasy-relevant players including Levis, DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and Tyjae Spears who could all be negatively impacted if this line is unable to hold up.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (concussion) was back in team drills on Tuesday. Moore suffered the injury during the Browns' final training camp practice. Moore recorded 59 receptions for 649 yards and two touchdowns with the Browns in 2023. He is currently listed as the No. 3 wide receiver on the Browns' depth chart. With the Browns reportedly engaged in trade talks for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, it remains to be seen where Moore will fall on the Browns' final depth chart. The former New York Jet is likely the fourth option on a Browns team, including David Njoku. For now, Moore should be considered a depth piece in fantasy in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The 49ers have granted wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk permission to negotiate a contract with other teams. Dynasty Analysis: It seems the 49ers are finally going to bite the bullet and deal the star receiver at some point here soon. Unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal, it seems San Francisco is ready to move on find him a new home rather than deal with the distraction any longer. Aiyuk is reportedly garnering interest from New England, Cleveland and Pittsburgh at minimum with more teams likely in the mix. Stay tuned.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

As a precaution, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) was removed from practice Tuesday. The 49ers rookie wideout was put in a blue non-contact jersey earlier in training camp due to a shoulder injury. Pearsall projects to be the team's fourth wide receiver behind Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Deebo Samuel Sr. in 2024. However, with Aiyuk entrenched in trade rumors, Pearsall could see a leap in his fantasy stock. For now, Pearsall is a solid option to monitor ahead of fantasy drafts for both his injury and role in the offense.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will not play during the preseason. This comes as no surprise as many high-profile quarterbacks sit the entirety of the preseason, especially in recent years. Murray is coming off a season in which he threw for 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions in eight games. Murray added 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns despite coming off a torn ACL. While it is a bummer that we will not get to see Murray throw to Marvin Harrison Jr. in the preseason, fantasy managers should know what to expect from Murray at this point. The Cardinals' offense should be serviceable, with Murray behind center. As the current QB10 in fantasy drafts, Murray should be a target in fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Jameis Winston is set to start the Browns' preseason opener on Saturday versus the Green Bay Packers. It remains to be seen if starter Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will play during the preseason, but this game will give the Browns a chance to see what they have in Winston. The 30-year-old Winston signed with the Browns on a one-year deal with Cleveland during the offseason. Winston spent the past four seasons primarily as a backup with the New Orleans Saints. The former No. 1 overall pick appeared in seven games in 2023 and recorded 264 passing yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He should not be on fantasy radars for 2024. However, with Winston having extensive starting experience, hopefully, he will give fantasy managers a good look at some of the Browns' potential starting wide receivers or sleepers in this game.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report List by the Cowboys on Tuesday. The move creates roster space to allow the Cowboys flexibility while Lamb holds out. Lamb and the Cowboys have been in contract negotiations that have caused Lamb to hold out in protest of the lack of a deal. Lamb is coming off a career year in which he caught 135 passes for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. Fantasy managers should monitor the situation to see how long it may actually drag out. Despite holding out, Lamb is a surefire top-three pick heading into upcoming fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) recently suffered a calf strain and will likely be sidelined for 'a couple of weeks,' according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Fantasy Spin: Shanahan added that McCaffrey will not see any action during the preseason, so he will just over a month to heal up. It is also being reported that Elijah Mitchell dealing with a hamstring injury, which leaves Jordan Mason as the top back in 49ers' camp right now. As far as McCaffrey is concerned, his health will likely be called into question for the foreseeable future as a 28-year-old running back coming off a 417-touch season. Fantasy managers can be forgiven if they opt to go with a younger back like Bijan Robinson or Breece Hall or a receiver such as CeeDee Lamb or Tyreek Hill at the top of the first round.

From TheHuddle

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) is dealing with a calf strain in training camp, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said he will not be taking part in the preseason. Furthermore, Shanahan said that McCaffrey might miss a couple weeks of camp with his calf issue. While CMC may not be in danger of missing the start of the 2024 regular season, this is bad news for the reigning NFL rushing leader and the three-time Pro Bowler. The 28-year-old led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs while also catching 67 passes for an additional 564 yards and seven TDs in 16 regular-season games in 2023, making him the unquestioned top fantasy pick going into 2024 fantasy drafts. However, he's no stranger to disappointment for fantasy managers due to injuries, as he played in a combined 10 games from 2020-21 while with the Panthers. CMC should still be the No. 1 overall fantasy selection as long as he's ready for Week 1, but this is a reminder of the risk that's also involved. Elijah Mitchell is second on the RB depth chart and would become a weekly play in fantasy lineups if CMC misses any time.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers re-engaged in conversations mid-day on Tuesday regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to league sources. As of Monday night, talks between the two teams had stalled, but there have been further conversations on Tuesday in an ever-fluid situation that still involves other teams as well, mainly the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. It was reported Monday night that the Niners had agreed to the framework of trades with both the Browns and Patriots, and Aiyuk reportedly has been given the green light to negotiate a contract extension with other teams interested in trading for him. A resolution on Aiyuk is expected sooner than later, and no matter where he ends up, he's likely to see a decline in fantasy value, especially if he lands in New England with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett. it's unclear what the Steelers might be offering San Fran in a potential deal. Stay tuned.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell doesn't anticipate quarterback Jared Goff playing in Thursday's preseason opener against the hosting New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. That likely means veteran Nate Sudfeld will absorb a significant chunk of snaps in Thursday's exhibition game, with 2023 first-rounder Hendon Hooker also figuring to get in on the action at some point. Goff is coming off a prolific season for Detroit that saw him rank second in passing yards (4,571) and pass attempts (605) in 17 games, but his complete lack of rushing upside keeps in late-round territory of fantasy drafts this summer. Considering the 29-year-old Pro Bowler has far superior splits when playing at home or indoors in his career, it's worth noting that the Lions will only play three out of 17 contests outdoors in 2024, with the first not arriving until Week 9 in Green Bay against the division-rival Packers.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys running back Royce Freeman (groin) might remain out of practice on Tuesday, and Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) likely won't practice either, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. It adds fuel to the breakout case for late-round sleeper Rico Dowdle, who "has been the face of the committee and could be the lead guy during the season. In practices, he's had solid showings in pass protection, flashed receiving ability, and gotten the call to run in high-leverage situations." Starter Ezekiel Elliott remains the best bet for touches and the favorite to lead the Cowboys in carries this year as the incumbent veteran during the early stages of the season, but the speedier Dowdle has stood out at training camp and could push him for work in Dallas' backfield this fall. Sunday's preseason opener against the hosting Los Angeles Rams should offer fantasy managers a clearer picture on the hierarchy here.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) playing in Thursday's preseason opener versus the visiting Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium has yet to be determined, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters at training camp on Tuesday. Although Jones hasn't appeared to be limited by last year's torn ACL in any capacity in practice to begin the year, the Giants may opt to exercise some caution for the first bill of exhibition play on Thursday. If Jones sit outs, Drew Lock figures to draw the start under center for the G-Men, and Tommy Devito would likely play in the second half. Jones is entering a make-or-break season in the Big Apple this fall, and his fantasy appeal to begin the season is relatively muted. In 2023, however, the 27-year-old former first-rounder did rank fourth among eligible signal-callers with 34.3 rushing yards per game.

From RotoBaller

Through just two weeks of training camp, New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is already looking like he can be a playmaker. In nearly every practice, Nabers has shown off with highlight-reel catches. The Giants are already using Nabers in a variety of ways during practice, and head coach Brian Daboll has even turned to the rookie wideout for play-calling input. During a two-minute drive at the end of the first week of practices, Nabers told Daboll he wanted a go-ball. Quarterback Daniel Jones then connected on a deep ball down the right sideline for the kind of catch that fans want to see on a regular basis. Although New York's offense is questionable at best to begin 2024, the 21-year-old No. 6 overall pick should be one of its lone bright spots. Nabers' ADP of 70 on Yahoo may be bargain as an exciting WR2 option this summer, but he'll need functional QB play for weekly consistency.

From RotoBaller