The Pittsburgh Steelers have named quarterback Russell Wilson their Week 1 starter against the hosting Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, so Justin Fields will begin the season as the team's backup. The Steelers left the door open for Fields to potentially win the starting job after Wilson missed the early part of training camp due to a calf injury, but the incumbent veteran will ultimately get the nod for the opening week of the campaign. Wilson gives Pittsburgh a stabilizing presence under center that should help keep the offense on schedule, but his fantasy value is going to be very limited during his starts in 2024 with a weak receiving corps and a major emphasis on the ground game in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's attack. Fantasy managers shouldn't look at the 35-year-old veteran signal-caller as anything more than a low-upside QB2 option.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson will be the team's starter to begin the season, head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Fantasy Spin: This was always expected, as Tomlin said on numerous occasions throughout the offseason that Wilson was the favorite for the job. Wilson finished as QB14 overall in 2023 and is a QB2 and fringe starter in 12-team leagues.

From TheHuddle

The Arizona Cardinals are re-signing quarterback Desmond Ridder (concussion) to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to sources. Ridder returns to the desert just a day after he was waived as the Cardinals cut their roster down to 53 players. The 24-year-old signal-caller failed to prove to the Atlanta Falcons that he was their franchise QB in his two seasons, and now he'll enter the 2024 regular season as the QB3 in Arizona behind Kyler Murray and Clayton Tune. The former second-rounder out of Cincinnati is no longer on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues after completing only 64% of his 503 pass attempts in his two years in Atlanta while throwing for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In addition to his 12 picks, Ridder was turnover-prone with 15 total fumbles, including 12 in 2023.

From RotoBaller

The Steelers have decided on Russell Wilson to be their starting quarterback to open the season. He beat out Justin Fields for the job.

The Los Angeles Rams are signing defensive end Neville Gallimore, according to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler. The 2020 third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys signed with the Miami Dolphins at the start of free agency, but he was surprisingly released ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown deadline on Tuesday. Gallimore played in 52 games for Dallas from 2020 to 2023 and racked up 90 total tackles (40 solo), four sacks, three pass deflections, and 12 run stuffs during his tenure. He'll now join the Los Angeles 53-man roster and a young defensive line that is tasked with replacing future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Free-agent RB Samaje Perine (Broncos) is signing an undisclosed deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

From TheHuddle

A resolution between the San Francisco 49ers and star left tackle Trent Williams isn't close at this time as he looks for more guaranteed money and a raise on his current deal. Williams plans to continue his holdout until his contract is addressed, and it's possible it seeps into the start of the 2024 regular season. The 36-year-old veteran never reported to training camp this summer, so he's not currently counting towards one of the team's 53 spots on the active roster. One of the best left tackles in the game wants a raise after seeing both Tristan Wirfs and Penei Sewell sign new deals this offseason worth $28 million per year. Williams currently has three years left on his six-year, $138 million deal that carries an average annual value of $23 million. He's scheduled for a $20.5 million base salary in 2024 and $22.5 million next year. Not having Williams to kick off the season will be a major downgrade for Brock Purdy's protection.

From RotoBaller

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing veteran running back Samaje Perine to their active roster on Wednesday, according to sources. Perine quickly lands on his feet after he was cut by the division-rival Denver Broncos on Tuesday. The 28-year-old veteran will slot in as the RB4 for KC behind Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie Carson Steele, but he could have the opportunity to find a bigger role as the season progresses. It's certainly an upgrade for Perine due to the offense alone, but the former fourth-rounder in 2017 out of Oklahoma is still probably no better than a late-round flier in very deep point-per-reception leagues at the moment. In his only year in Denver in 2023, he handled 53 carries for 238 yards and one touchdown on the ground while adding a career-high 50 receptions for 455 yards in 17 games.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remain in a contract standoff with the 2024 regular season quickly approaching. The ongoing offseason saga between the Niners and Aiyuk somehow has not been resolved one way or another with a long-term contract extension or a trade, so we continue to wait. Aiyuk is on the 53-man roster, unlike left tackle Trent Williams, because he reported to training camp this summer. San Francisco will begin their normal practice schedule this week, but it's uncertain whether Aiyuk will actually return to the practice field for the first time this offseason. Either way, the two sides aren't any closer to an extension, and at this point, it seems pretty unlikely he'd be traded with the start of Week 1 just over a week away. Aiyuk's fantasy value remains the highest if he sticks in San Fran, but at this point fantasy managers have to worry about him starting off slow since he hasn't been working with the starting offense at all.

From RotoBaller

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon (hamstring) is practicing with the team on Wednesday. With Sermon returning to practice on Wednesday, he should be ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener in the first week of September. The 25-year-old injured his hamstring in the team's preseason opener on Aug. 11 and sat out the final two preseason contests as a result. Before his injury, though, he was trending as the club's RB2 behind starter Jonathan Taylor. It remains to be seen if that's still the case and if he's ahead of Tyler Goodson on Indy's RB depth chart. The former third-rounder out of Ohio State is probably nothing more than a handcuff option in the very deepest of fantasy leagues for managers that have Taylor rostered. In his first year in Indy in 2023, Sermon had 35 carries for 160 yards (4.6 yards per tote) and caught three passes for 13 yards in 14 games.

From RotoBaller

The Los Angeles Chargers claimed running back Hassan Haskins off waivers from the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, according to the league's transaction wire. The former Michigan product wasn't able to make the Titans' 53-man roster out of training camp and will now join the Bolts for the 2024 campaign, most likely starting on the practice squad. In LA, Haskins will provide extra RB depth behind Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson and rookie Kimani Vidal. The 24-year-old former fourth-round selection in 2022 missed all of last season due to an upper-body injury after seeing 25 carries his rookie season that he turned into 93 scoreless yards in 15 games (one start). He also caught 11 passes for 57 yards in 2022. Haskins remains well off the fantasy radar for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook signed with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to his agency. It's a big addition to a Cowboys backfield that currently has veteran Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle listed as co-starters. Cook will start his tenure with Dallas on the practice squad and will need to work his way to the active roster after missing all of training camp and the preseason while on the open market. It means the 29-year-old won't immediately challenge for a substantial role in Dallas' backfield and he may not even be active in Week 1. The 29-year-old was coming off injury in 2023 and averaged a meager 3.2 yards per carry with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens. However, he's had a fully healthy offseason and enters a RB picture with plenty of opportunity. At best, Cook will a late-round flier in very deep fantasy leagues to begin 2024.

From RotoBaller

Former New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, who has plenty of starting experience in the NFL, has a deal in place to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad, according to a source. The Patriots just cut Zappe on Tuesday to get down to 53 players, and he lands on his feet quickly with the defending Super Bowl champions to give them QB depth behind Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz. Zappe, a former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of Western Kentucky, wasn't able to stick around in New England after the team drafted both Drake Maye and Joe Milton III in April. The 25-year-old played in 14 games (eight starts) in his two seasons with the Pats, going 192-for-304 (63.2%) for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. If Zappe ends up starting for the Chiefs in 2024, they're probably unlikely to three-peat.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent DT Lawrence Guy (Patriots) is working out for the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, Aug. 28, per source.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent RB Boston Scott (Rams) is signing to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad, per source on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent RB Dalvin Cook (Ravens) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Fantasy Spin: Cook is 29 and just two years removed from a 1,173-yard campaign when he rushed for 4.4 YPC in 2022. He could still be a factor, and let's face it, Zeke Elliott and Rico Dowdle aren't really imposing threats ahead of him. Grab him in deep leagues and keep him on the watch list otherwise.

From TheHuddle

New York Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick was dealt to the organization from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, but he made it clear he wanted a long-term deal, and the Jets have not signed him to one. This has led to Reddick requesting another trade, but the team is still holding out hope that he will play in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. "I'm assuming he's in phenomenal shape," head coach Robert Saleh said. "He's a veteran. He knows what he needs to get ready. He's had success in multiple buildings and multiple schemes with multiple coaching staffs, so he's going to know what he needs to do to be ready for Week 1." Reddick has sneakily been one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL, ranking fourth in total sacks (50.5) since 2020 despite playing for three different teams during that stretch. The New York defense was already one of the best units in the NFL last season, so getting Reddick on the field could make the team even more dangerous in 2024. The Jets are looking to go all in for a Super Bowl, so they should be motivated to work something out for the two-time Pro Bowler.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent outside linebacker Tyus Bowser visited with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans next, according to Adam Caplan. Bowser was released by the Baltimore Ravens after missing the entire 2023 season due to a knee injury. The 2017 second-round pick out of Houston played in 89 games for the Ravens and tallied 152 tackles, 19.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, four interceptions, and 16 pass deflections. NFL squads can never have enough depth on the edge, and Tennessee has not been shy about bringing in pieces for its revamped defense. Tennessee's defensive additions include cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, and linebackers Kenneth Murray and Ernest Jones, among others. If Bowser signs with Tennessee, he could serve as the first edge rusher off the bench behind Harold Landry and Arden Key.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson signed with the organization on a three-year, $22.5 million deal this offseason following four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. The former fourth-round pick out of Stanford caught 57 passes for 618 yards and four touchdowns in his first 54 career games. With veteran Tyler Higbee (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL, Parkinson will serve as the team's TE1 in 11-personnel packages to begin the season, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. While the 25-year-old is unlikely to see a healthy target share while competing with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp for targets, he could be a factor in the red zone early in the 2024 campaign. Fantasy managers shouldn't count on him as an every-week starter, but he could be in streaming contention in favorable matchups.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb ended his holdout on Monday after signing a four-year, $136 million contract extension, making him the second-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Lamb has been away from the team for most of the offseason and preseason, but he is not worried about returning to form quickly. When asked if he could play 60-plus snaps in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, Lamb said, "Yes, bro. No question. I'll be ready." While there remains at least a small risk that Lamb could get out to a slow start, he has plenty of chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott, and he maintains his target hog role. The former first-round pick out of Oklahoma caught 135 passes (most) for 1,749 yards (2nd) and 12 touchdowns (3rd) last year and finished as the overall WR1. Dallas did not add any impact pass-catchers this offseason, and with Brandin Cooks getting a year older, Lamb should be set up to post monster numbers again in 2024.

From RotoBaller