The Carolina Panthers made no move to extend wide receiver Diontae Johnson after trading for the former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout in March, as they prefer to see whether he emerges as the explosive, coverage-separating pass-catcher that quarterback Bryce Young and the offense lacked in 2023. If Johnson proves he's a difference-maker in his first year in Carolina and if he doesn't become a distraction when the ball doesn't come his way, he could be set to cash in next offseason in a receiver market that has exploded in recent years. The 27-year-old disappointed as Pittsburgh's top receiver last year, catching a career-low 51 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns. Johnson will now be competing with veteran Adam Thielen for targets in what was the worst offense in the league last year. Most of Johnson's fantasy value will be tied to how much Young improves in Year 2. Consider Johnson a low-end WR3/high-WR4 target in fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown was a question mark heading into last season after a rocky sophomore campaign. But the 2021 third-round pick answered with authority and played every single one of the team's 1,305 offensive snaps. Pro Football Focus charted him for only two more pressures than Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins. He's now entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Bills will have a lot of salary cap space next year after receiver Stefon Diggs' dead money clears, but Buffalo could save a lot by giving Brown an extension in the next few months and not letting him get close enough to free agency for him to get curious about testing the open market.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey still has three years remaining on the contract extension he signed with the team during the 2020 season. The 27-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler, but he's struggled to stay healthy in two of the last three years and isn't consistently making the impactful plays he did earlier in his career. With his salary cap number rising north of $25 million next year, Humphrey probably needs a strong bounce-back season this fall to remain with the Ravens in 2025 and beyond. The former 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Alabama, Humphrey played in a career-low 10 games during the regular season in 2023 and finished with a career-low 26 tackles (22 solo), one interception and only five pass breakups.

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The Philadelphia Eagles have a new offensive coordinator this year in Kellen Moore and will have a new bell-cow running back in Saquon Barkley. It's a big weapon to add to an offense that already includes one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league in Jalen Hurts. The Eagles could utilize their tight ends more in 2024 in Moore's scheme as well. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has talked to scouts that believe Barkley could see a similar boost that Christian McCaffrey had when he went to the San Francisco 49ers. Barkley is heading to a Philadelphia offense that has never had this kind of supporting cast around him. Injuries have been a concern with the 27-year-old, but if he stays healthy in his first year with the Eagles, Barkley's upside at the RB position is as high as any in the league as a strong RB1 target.

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Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye has not been an ultra-productive sack artist since entering the league as the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Michigan, but his goal is to reach at least double-digit sacks in 2024. "I had (4.0) sacks as a rookie, (6.0) as a sophomore, and now 8.5 in my third season," Paye told the Draft Network's Justin Melo recently. "I definitely want to get at least 10.5 sacks this year. I'm really shooting for 12-15 sacks, but double digits is the goal at the end of the day. I have to get there this year." Paye has gotten better every season and is playing on a talented defensive front, so it's not out of the realm of possibilities. Through his first 43 NFL games, the 25-year-old has compiled 129 tackles, 18.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass deflection.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has not lived up to his status as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Although he has a playoff win under his belt from the 2022 campaign, the rest of his career has been underwhelming. The Duke alum has thrown for 12,512 yards, 62 touchdowns, and 42 interceptions in his first 60 games and has lost 24 fumbles in his career. On the premiere episode of "Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants", general manager Joe Schoen said "This is the year for Daniel. Plan all along was [to] give him a couple years. Is he our guy for the next 10 years? Or do we need to pivot and find somebody else?" After a disastrous 2023 campaign that ended with Jones suffering a torn ACL, the idea that 2024 would be a "make-or-break" season for him was already in the minds of football fans. However, Schoen confirmed it. The 27-year-old will either sink or swim this season, and his dynasty-league value for fantasy football could see an uptick or crater to nearly zero. His pass-catching group of Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Daniel Bellinger, and Theo Johnson isn't pretty on paper, but he could be playing behind the best offensive line of his career heading into a pivotal season.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk reportedly had a great meeting with the organization last week and said he wants to remain with the team, but NFL insider Mike Garafolo said the two sides are "no closer to a deal" following their in-person talks. The wide receiver market is blowing up this offseason, as four pass-catchers have signed deals that include at least $28.25 million annually. Aiyuk, after posting a career-high 1,342 receiving yards last season, likely wants to be the next in line. The Niners are loaded with talent and will have to pay quarterback Brock Purdy in the coming offseasons, so it's a tricky situation to navigate. Aiyuk has been in trade rumors, and this is still an ongoing predicament that will be worth monitoring leading up to the start of the 2024 campaign.

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is one of the most promising young players at the position in the NFL, and after catching 81 passes for 825 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, he is aiming for an even better season in 2024. One of McBride's personal goals for his third NFL campaign is to reach 1,000 yards receiving. "It was close last year," McBride said. "But I think that maybe it's realistic this year." The Colorado State product took part in "Tight End U" in Nashville hosted by Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Greg Olsen. Kittle, a five-time Pro Bowler, had great things to say about the Cardinals pass-catcher. "Trey McBride is a young guy who had a great year last year and is just going to keep getting better," Kittle said. McBride is being selected as a late-second-round pick in FFPC best ball drafts, which has tight-end premium scoring. He is in play to be the TE1 overall in 2024.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) sat out offseason workouts last month due to hamstring issues, but the rookie first-round pick looks healthy in an Instagram video showing him working out. While this is not clear evidence that he's cleared and ready to go when training camp begins, it's a great sign for his potential availability. The No. 32 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of South Carolina has every opportunity to be a top-two option in the passing game for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Legette has off-the-charts speed and athleticism at 220 pounds, but since he failed to reach 500 receiving yards in his first four collegiate seasons combined, he is a controversial prospect and fantasy football option. Unless Carolina takes a significant step forward on offense, Legette is likely to be a fringe fantasy-relevant wideout as a rookie.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell was unexpectedly moved into the starting role last season after veterans Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer flamed out and head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. The Purdue product completed 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He played well enough to contend to be the starting in 2024, but he'll have to beat out Gardner Minshew II. Hoyer, a 15-year NFL veteran, isn't counting O'Connell out. "Maybe I'm biased," Hoyer said. "But I think what Aidan did last year -- I know he hasn't shown it as much as Gardner Minshew has throughout his career -- but I know the guys really gravitated to the way Aidan took over and his leadership as a young player." O'Connell has familiarity with the organization and chemistry with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, so he could have a slight edge in the battle for the QB1 spot. If he wins the job, he might have underrated value in Superflex and two-QB formats.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. was the first selection of the Sean Payton era, landing with the organization at the end of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he caught just 22 of his 33 targets for 377 yards and one touchdown. He was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection as a returner, and Jon Heath of Broncos Wire believes he should be more involved in the offense in 2024. "Mims is poised to make a big impact as a returner again in 2024, but his contributions won't end there," Heath wrote. "Mims averaged 17.1 yards per reception last fall, but he was used sporadically on offense. After trading Jerry Jeudy to the Browns this spring, the Broncos will have more snaps (and targets) available for Mims on offense this fall. The 22-year-old special teams ace could be on the verge of a breakout year as a receiver." Mims will compete with Josh Reynolds, Troy Franklin, and Tim Patrick for snaps, all of whom aren't standout pass-catchers. The Broncos are likely to have one of the worst offenses in the NFL under rookie quarterback Bo Nix, but Mims could still be a solid late-round fantasy option considering his price outside the top 75 wide receivers.

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The NFL issued a six-game suspension to free-agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The cause for the suspension is unclear, but it will make his path toward finding a landing spot tougher as the 2024 season rapidly approaches. The 33-year-old has played in 173 career games for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers and has racked up 684 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 33 interceptions, 67 pass deflections, and one forced fumble. He started for the 49ers in February's Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel is set to play with the best quarterback of his career in 2024, and his best season of production came under current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Samuel racked up 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns on 118 touches during his one season with Brady. According to Jacob Robinson of the Athletic, Samuel could be more involved in the offense than many expect. "Still just 27 years old, the explosive Samuel is now in one of the league's best offenses (with over 260 targets available)," Robinson wrote. "It's the best opportunity of his career, yet he's being drafted as the 40th wide receiver or later." Robinson noted that Khalil Shakir is the only wide receiver on the roster to catch a pass from Josh Allen in a game, so Samuel will have the opportunity to become at least Allen's No. 2 target in the passing game. Samuel, who has 121 career rushing attempts, could also see extra fantasy production on the ground.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks didn't make the impact many had hoped for in his first season with the organization. He caught just 54 passes for 657 yards, but his eight touchdowns kept him on the fantasy football radar. The six-time 1,000-yard receiver has now failed to reach 700 yards in two consecutive seasons, but he's reportedly looking like his old self offseason. "The Cowboys were 11-0 in the regular season when Cooks had at least 20 receiving yards and 0-5 when he had fewer than 20," wrote Saad Yousuf of the Athletic. "One of the most underrated players in Dallas, the 31-year-old Cooks still showed his signature speed while blowing past cornerbacks during OTAs." The former Saint, Patriot, Ram, and Texan is being selected outside the top 50 wide receivers in 2024 fantasy drafts, so he could be a steal at cost in the explosive Dallas offense. However, it's tough to ignore the statistical regression in recent seasons.

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Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, meaning he has plenty of pressure on him to become a high-end blindside protector for quarterback Kyler Murray. Johnson was credited with giving up eight sacks last year while playing right tackle, according to PFF, but he's ready to make the Year 2 leap at his more natural position on the left side. "Yeah, I think personally, just Year 2, being able to fulfill all of the expectations that I have for myself, expectations that the team has for me being here," Johnson said. "My goal ultimately is to be the best tackle in the game." Johnson developing into at least an above-average left tackle in 2024 would be a significant boost for a potential ascending offense. Kyler Murray is back and healthy, and the team added Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey Benson to bolster its skill position group this offseason. Arizona could be an underrated offense for fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

The New England Patriots gave emerging star linebacker Jahlani Tavai a three-year contract extension on Tuesday, according to league source. The extension has a base value of $15 million and can be worth up to $21 million, according to sources. Tavai tied for second on the team in tackles last year while emerging as a key cog for one of the league's top-rated defenses. He was entering the final season of the two-year extension he signed in November of 2022 that was worth up to $4.4 million. Tavai was scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.625 million in 2204. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder entered the league as a second-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2019. He's appeared in all 17 regular-season games in each of the last two years for New England and has made 28 starts. Tavai's 107 tackles last year were tied with safety Kyle Dugger.

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Green Bay Packers rookie second-round linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has a decent shot to work his way onto the first-team defense at linebacker in training camp this summer after what he showed during offseason workouts heading into his first NFL season. Cooper has absorbed new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's scheme seamlessly after being taken as the first off-ball linebacker in this year's draft at No. 45 overall. The 6-foot-2, 229-pounder has showed impressive speed this offseason, and his eight sacks in his final season at Texas A&M stood out. Cooper has a clear path to earning the starting middle linebacker spot in Green Bay this year after the departure of De'Vondre Campbell. A duo of Cooper and Quay Walker in the middle of the Packers' defense could be nasty in 2024.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack has seen some improvement from second-year back Tank Bigsby this offseason after a disappointing rookie campaign in 2023. "I think now things are starting to slow down for him. He understands his role in this offense. He's understanding the ins and outs of the offense a lot better as well," Mack said. Bigsby had only 132 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries in 2023 behind bell-cow Travis Etienne Jr. The 22-year-old lost some confidence during his tough rookie season, but Mack says Bigsby came in this offseason "with a revitalized type of attitude." The Jaguars continue to say they want to get Bigsby more involved on offense this year, too, as a way to lighten the load on Etienne. Even if Bigsby sees more touches in his sophomore season, he's going to need to improve his 2.6 yard-per-carry average to be more than just a deep-league handcuff to Etienne.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco 49ers were remarkably balanced and efficient with their passing offense last year, but they attempted fewer passes (491) than any team in the league during the regular season. Despite that, the 49ers finished fourth in passing yards (4,384), and both Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark. Last year was the beginning of the team's evolution into a more aggressive pass offense, one that put more of an emphasis on big shots downfield to its receivers and Kittle. After taking wideouts Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing in this year's draft, the offense is more capable against man coverage through the air. And given head coach Kyle Shanahan's trust in quarterback Brock Purdy, the investment in young receivers makes sense. The Niners called more pass plays than run plays in the playoffs, which could be a sign that Purdy will get more opportunities to make things happen with his arm in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is apparently not going to attend training camp without a new contract. Dynasty Analysis: Lamb has spent the Spring watching receivers get paid and now he wants his piece of the pie. That piece is going to be a two-plater as Lamb comes off a career-best 135/1,749/12 monster season. Dallas has little choice but to pay him and any trade rumors have been quickly shot down. Look for Lamb to eventually get his new deal. At this point, there's little to worry about a player many believe could be dynasty's greatest asset.

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