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Edge rusher Matthew Judon to sign with Dolphins

Mon Aug 18 7:53pm ET
Field Level Media

The Miami Dolphins are signing veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon to a one-year contract, according to multiple reports on Monday evening. The deal is with the four-time Pro Bowler is valued at up to $6 million, per the reports.

Judon, 33, spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons and recorded 5.5 sacks in 17 games, his lowest total while playing a full season since his rookie campaign of 2016.

A 2016 fifth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens out of NCAA Division II Grand Valley (Mich.) State, Judon earned a starting role and amassed 34.5 sacks in five seasons.

He signed a four-year, $56 million contract with New England and produced tremendous seasons in 2021 and 2022, totaling 28 sacks.

Judon suffered a torn biceps in the fourth week of the 2023 season and was traded to Atlanta for a 2025 third-round pick in August 2024.

Judon earned Pro Bowl honors in four consecutive seasons (2019-22).

The Dolphins have struggled to keep their pass rushes health over the past two seasons. Jaelen Phillips tore his Achilles in 2023 and suffered a partial tear of his ACL last season. Bradley Chubb, a two-time Pro Bowler (Broncos in 2020, Dolphins in 2022), missed all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL. Chop Robinson, a 2024 first-round draft pick, suffered a rib injury last week during a joint practice with the Lions. He has since returned to practice.

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Player Notes
Daniel Jones Aug 19 11:01am ET
Daniel Jones

The Colts have named Daniel Jones their starting quarterback for the start of the 2025 season. Anthony Richardson will serve as the top backup.

Jalen McMillan Aug 19 11:00am ET
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) will not be ready for the season opener, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Stroud reported that McMillan suffered a neck sprain. McMillan sustained their injury during their preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. While reports earlier on Tuesday suggested that McMillan was only to be held out of practice, it appears the second-year wideout has suffered a more serious injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could miss multiple games if he is unable to progress. Chris Godwin (ankle) is also trending toward missing the start of the season, which would leave veteran Mike Evans and rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka as the top options in the passing attack. After a slow start in his rookie season, McMillan emerged as a breakout as he caught at least one touchdown pass in each of his final five games. When he does return, he will likely slot in as the No. 4 option behind Egbuka, which will limit his upside.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Aug 19 10:40am ET
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (back) is not practicing on Tuesday, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. The 23-year-old has been held out of action since suffering a back injury during the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be in danger of missing the remainder of the preseason if this injury begins to linger. Last season, McMillan enjoyed a productive second half in his rookie campaign. After catching just 13 passes throughout the first eight games, McMillan would go on to score at least one touchdown in each of his final five games of the regular season and average a stellar 19.8 PPR points per game over this stretch. However, with first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka gaining traction during camp, McMillan may take a step back during his sophomore season.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Aug 19 10:30am ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is still viewed as a "key" piece of the offense, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Earlier this week, reports suggested that the Commanders were actively looking to find a trade partner for running back Brian Robinson Jr. During training camp and the opening weeks of the preseason, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has flashed immense upside and appears to be in the running to take the starting job over Robinson. Last season, Ekeler served as the primary third-down running back in the offense. While he missed five games, he was rather productive when on the field. During his first 10 games in D.C., Ekeler averaged a solid 12.3 PPR points per game with solid 5.1 YPC. Even if Robinson were to stay on the Commanders, Ekeler would likely have a significant role on passing downs. He is worth a look as a late-round depth RB as he could even carve out a more substantial role if Robinson were to be traded.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Mingo Aug 19 10:20am ET
Jonathan Mingo

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (knee) is expected to start the season on injured reserve after leaving Saturday's preseason game with a knee injury. This was to be Mingo's first full season with the Cowboys after he was acquired via mid-season trade in 2024, with Dallas sending a fourth and a seventh round pick to the Carolina Panthers. Mingo is now expected to miss the next four to six weeks, if not longer. Teams can place up to two players directly onto injured reserve when finalizing their 53-man rosters one week from Tuesday. If this is the route the team takes with Mingo, he will be eligible to return to the team as early as Week 5, though his recovery timeline would suggest it will be later. Mingo was battling Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin for the team's third wide receiver spot behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and whoever lands in that role should see spike weeks of fantasy relevance in a pass-heavy Cowboys attack.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Aug 19 10:20am ET
Terry McLaurin

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Washington Commanders Terry McLaurin may not find a team willing to give him the desired contract of $30+ million per year. Instead, Russini's sources tell her that most teams view McLaurin as a $27-$28 million player. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor McLaurin's status as he continues a "hold-in" with his team. McLaurin has been seeking a contract extension with the Commanders, but the team has been unwilling to pay him the figure he is seeking. Last season, the former Ohio State Buckeye enjoyed a career year with Jayden Daniels under center. McLaurin found the back of the end zone an impressive 13 times and tallied at least 1,000 yards for the fifth-straight campaign. With McLaurin continuing to hold out, fantasy managers should expect Deebo Samuel Sr. to continue to serve as their top pass catcher.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Aug 19 10:00am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) was spotted on Tuesday morning, putting in rehab work on a side field. The 28-year-old has been held out of practice for multiple weeks, but the team has maintained that he will be ready for Week 1. Seeing him run at half speed is a positive step and a reassuring image to those who have already drafted him. Brown is currently RotoBaller's WR9, and his ADP saw very little dip even as he continued to miss practice. The Eagles threw the ball on under 45% of their offensive plays last season, which is good for 32nd in the league. Even with another successful season projected, that number is bound to move closer to the norm, and Brown should be the greatest benefactor. Soft tissue injuries tend to linger, but if he can slowly ramp up over the next few weeks, he enters 2025 as a very safe WR1.

From RotoBaller

Ainias Smith Aug 19 9:50am ET
Ainias Smith

Second-year Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Ainias Smith has enjoyed a healthy training camp, and his coaches have taken notice. Last season, as a fifth-round rookie, he struggled through camp with a stress fracture in his shin that would eventually land him on Injured Reserve for two months. This year, he is healthy and competing for one of the Eagles' last receiver spots on the 53-man roster. He has played in each of the team's first two preseason games, catching a touchdown in both and returning punts and kicks, as his path to the roster may run through special teams. Smith has been competing with fellow second-year wideout Johnny Wilson and undrafted rookie Darius Cooper for one of the team's final roster spots, and on Sunday, the Eagles acquired former second-round pick John Metchie III from the Houston Texans. Whoever can win the camp battle will have little relevance in managed redraft leagues, but could be worth a stash in deep dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Aug 19 9:50am ET
Gabriel Davis

The Buffalo Bills are expected to host 26-year-old free agent wide receiver Gabe Davis this week, following the former Bill and Jaguar's visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. The most productive seasons of Davis' career came in Buffalo, where he twice topped 700 yards and never scored fewer than six touchdowns in any of his four campaigns. Coming off a down season in Jacksonville, where he recorded career lows in all major receiving categories, he is looking for a career resurgence. Whether he lands in Pittsburgh or Buffalo, neither team is currently loaded at the receiver position. He could plausibly work his way into a usable role and potential fantasy relevance, especially in best ball formats, where he has always been most valuable.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Aug 19 9:40am ET
Caleb Williams

After sitting out of his team's first preseason game, Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams led the Bears on a seven-play, 92-yard opening drive on Sunday Night that ended with a 35-yard TD pass. Over his 13 total snaps, he completed six of 10 passes for 107 yards and a 103.6 passer rating to go with his lone TD pass. According to head coach Ben Johnson, William's preseason debut came during his best stretch of training camp. "I thought really the three days of practice we had this week and this game were the most he's stacked up good days in a row right now," said Johnson. "The challenge is going to be keep pushing that direction." Williams enters year two after a disappointing rookie season with notable improvements to his pass protectors, playmakers, and playcaller. If he can continue to make strides in Johnson's fantasy-friendly system, he could be a late-round steal as RotoBaller's current QB12.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Aug 19 9:40am ET
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is approaching year two differently from his rookie season, and his connection with quarterback Kyler Murray continues to strengthen. Harrison entered training camp physically transformed, packing on about ten pounds of muscle, and he has worked closely with wide receivers coach Drew Terrell, adding nuance to his route running. Harrison and Murray connected several times in a recent joint practice against the Denver Broncos, showing enough for head coach Jonathan Gannon to rest his starters in the team's second preseason game. Harrison's first year in Arizona was solid, if unspectacular. However, he left many drafters feeling burnt after seeing the highest ADP ever for a rookie wideout. He is currently being drafted as the WR15, but he could easily turn in a WR1 season if he can earn the same year two trust from Murray that we saw from teammate Trey McBride in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Aug 19 9:40am ET
Kyle Pitts

Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Hugh Douglas was a guest on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, and he is bullish on the 2025 Falcons offense. He boldly predicted fireworks, and he believes second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is the key to unlocking fifth-year tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. Pitts exploded onto the scene with a 1,000 yard rookie campaign after being the highest drafted tight end in NFL history, but he has yet to top 55 receptions or 700 yards in any of his three seasons since, and his four touchdowns in 2024 were a career high. His raw talent and intriguing physical profile will keep him on many a draft radar, despite the scars of the past. His current Yahoo Fantasy ADP of TE17 is the lowest of his career, and if his connection with Penix can match what he had with Matt Ryan in 2021, he may finally reward drafters willing to take another shot on him.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Aug 19 7:40am ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed nine of 14 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in the 31-17 win against the Washington Commanders. Burrow led a nine-play, 58-yard scoring drive, where running back Chase Brown punched it in on fourth-and-goal. After going three-and-out on his second drive, Burrow drove the backups down the field for another touchdown, this time to wide receiver Charlie Jones. The Bengals advocated that the starters would see more reps in the preseason, believing that's part of the reason for the team's slow starts in the past. For the first time in his six-year career, Burrow played into the second quarter in a preseason game, playing more snaps than he did last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2024 league-leader in passing yards has now led the team to touchdowns on four of his five drives during this preseason. Burrow and the starters will have one more chance to get preseason reps next week against the Indianapolis Colts before they face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Aug 19 7:40am ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase hauled in one reception for 11 yards in the 31-17 win against the Washington Commanders. Chase caught a quick pass from quarterback Joe Burrow and drew a 25-yard pass-interference penalty that set up running back Chase Brown for a one-yard touchdown run. The 2024 "Triple Crown Winner" has now caught five passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, as well as scoring a touchdown that got called back due to a holding penalty. Chase enters the 2025 season as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts, and if this preseason is any indication, he should be in line for another monstrous season.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Aug 19 7:40am ET
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown carried the ball five times for 16 yards and a touchdown in the 31-17 win against the Washington Commanders. Brown was able to find the endzone on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, which is a sign that the Bengals trust him in short-yardage situations. Brown has now carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards and a touchdown, adding three receptions for 25 yards through the air in the first two preseason games. The 2023 fifth-round pick has league-winning upside as the starting running back for one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Brown's last chance to get preseason reps will be Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Aug 19 7:30am ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was again held without a reception in the 31-17 win against the Washington Commanders. Higgins has had only one target in the first two preseason games, while his running-mate Ja'Marr Chasehas racked up five targets in both games. Higgins is currently being drafted as the WR12 on the current RotoBaller half-PPR rankings and is the only projected WR2 on his respective team to be ranked inside the top 20 of wide receivers. Higgins' last opportunity to see the field is next week when the Bengals host the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Mitchell Tinsley Aug 19 7:30am ET
Mitchell Tinsley

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley was dominant, hauling in five receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-17 win against the Washington Commanders. It was the Tinsley show against his former team, scoring touchdowns from 21 yards and 13 yards, thrown by backup quarterback Jake Browning. The third-year receiver adds some depth in the Bengals' wide receiver room behindJa'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Tinsley is fighting for a roster spot, but with performances like this, he will secure it with ease. The former undrafted free agent will have another chance to shine next Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Aug 19 1:20am ET
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 62 yards on six carries Monday night against the Bengals. Rodriguez ripped off a 40-yard run on Washington's opening drive, with the offensive line executing perfectly and him bursting through the hole. Rodriguez is a downhill runner who consistently falls forward and gains yards after contact. In a small sample of 35 carries last season, he led all running backs in success rate and ranked fifth in yards after contact per attempt. The Kentucky product profiles as an early down, hammer back that should be a good eventual replacement for Brian Robinson in Washington. He should now have a solid chance of sticking on the 53-man roster and complements Austin Ekeler and Jacory Croskey-Merritt well. Rodriguez is worth monitoring in deep leagues and as the Washington backfield gets sorted out.

From RotoBaller

Jaylin Lane Aug 19 1:00am ET
Jaylin Lane

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane led the team in receiving with three catches for 42 yards in a 31-17 loss to the Bengals. The Virginia Tech product looked impressive as he used his speed to threaten defenders deep before settling down into space and then delivering yards after the catch. One of the highlights of the night was Lane making a difficult diving reception for a first down with a defender draped all over him. Interestingly, he has mostly been tabbed as a slot receiver, but he lined up outside on multiple plays tonight and recorded a reception. His ability to take the top off of defenses and as a vertical threat for Daniels could make Lane an important player for their offense. In addition, his ball-in-hand numbers were impressive during college and can be used in similar ways to Deebo Samuel. With the lack of depth in the Washington receiver room, Lane has the opportunity to produce, and the profile makes it an exciting swing to take near the end of fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Aug 19 12:40am ET
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 46 yards on 11 carries and added two receptions for no gain against the Bengals. Croskey-Merritt, more commonly known as "Bill", followed the hole that was beautifully created by the Washington offensive line and tight end John Bates before showing off his explosiveness in the open field to finish for a 27-yard touchdown. He was mostly stuffed on the rest of his carries as the game went on, and as Washington's reserve offensive lineman came into the game. His stock is on the rise, however, with the recent news surrounding Brian Robinson's future in Washington. The glowing reports coming out of training camp point to Croskey-Merritt having a sizable role in Washington's backfield this season. While Croskey-Merritt is the most dynamic runner on the team, veterans like Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, and possibly Jeremy McNichols are well-regarded with the coaching staff as well and will likely form a committee in the short term. Attached to Jayden Daniels and an offense that should score plenty of points, he is a great upside bet to make in your drafts.

From RotoBaller