New York Jets running back Braelon Allen has continued to impress during Jets training camp. Nick Faria of The Riverdale Press noted that Allen was "running through arm tackles" on Thursday, and it appears he is going to " break out in a major way." Last season, Allen was given opportunities in the backfield but was unable to produce much. Across 92 attempts in his rookie season, Allen posted a modest 3.6 YPC. He only found the back of the end zone twice and finished with 336 total rushing yards. While Breece Hall will likely continue to lead the backfield, Allen could carve out a sizeable role, especially if he continues to impress. He is the name to keep a close eye on during training camp and the preseason. For now, Allen remains an intriguing late-round handcuff with upside.

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Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has continued to miss practice. According to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, the running back did not come out during Thursday's session, which marks his fourth-straight missed session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as Cook continues his "hold in" as he seeks a new contract. While it is a good sign to see Cook in the building, seeing him remain off the field could put his availability for the regular season in doubt. In the meantime, fantasy managers should expect Ray Davis and Ty Johnson to see most of the opportunities out of the backfield. Last season, Cook found the back of the end zone an impressive 16 times while tallying 1,009 yards on the ground. If he is able to settle this dispute, he should be viewed as a high-end RB2 playing a potent Buffalo offense.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) is progressing nicely through a high ankle sprain, according to coach Sean McDermott, and the 25-year-old receiver is currently on pace to be ready for Week 1. Shakir had 100 targets in 15 games last season with career highs of 76 catches, 821 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Shakir is expected to be the team's top receiver once again this season, and it's good news that he should be available for Week 1. If he's limited or does miss time, there would be more work for Keon Coleman and newcomers Elijah Moore and Joshua Palmer. While he will likely miss most of the preseason, Shakir's still a WR4 in standard leagues since he has such an established relationship with Josh Allen, but monitor his progress as the preseason continues.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm was listed as the team's second tight end on the first unofficial depth chart, behind only Chig Okonkwo and ahead of Josh Whyle, who was the team's second tight end last year. The Titans drafted Helm out of Texas with the No. 120 pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft after he logged 60 catches for 786 yards and seven touchdowns in Texas's quick passing game. Helm had a bad combine, potentially due to injury, but he has earned playing time with a strong training camp and could become a favorite target for rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Helm and the Titans start preseason on Saturday in Tampa Bay, and it will be important to see exactly how the tight end work is divided going into Week 1 against the Broncos.

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The Houston Texans waived Johnny Johnson III with an injury designation on Wednesday to make room to sign Quintez Cephus to the team. Johnson has appeared in just two games for the Texans after being signed as an undrafted free-agent in 2022. Cephus hasn't appeared in an NFL game since the 2022 season and has 37 career catches for 568 yards and four touchdowns across 22 career games.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard suffered a broken finger in practice earlier in the week and will not play in his team's first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. Head coach Mike Tomlin called the rookie quarterback "week-to-week" when speaking to reporters on Wednesday. Howard has been battling with veteran Mason Rudolph to be the backup to Aaron Rodgers to open the season, but the missed time thanks to the injury will make it tough for him to overtake Rudolph.

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Free-agent safety Tracy Walker has been suspended for 12 games by the NFL for an undisclosed reason according to reports. Walker, a former starter in the secondary for the Detroit Lions, spent some time on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad in 2024 but did not appear in any regular-season games last year. Walker was a third-round pick by the Lions back in 2018 and has racked up 398 total tackles, three interceptions, and four sacks across 79 career games.

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Free-agent running back Myles Gaskin worked out with the New York Giants on Wednesday. Gaskin spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2024 season, appearing in five games for the Vikings. The veteran running back would serve as a depth option for the Giants behind Tyrone Tracy Jr. and rookie Cam Skattebo if he ultimately signs with New York.

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Tennessee Titans WR Van Jefferson is listed as a starter on the team's first unofficial depth chart of training camp, with fellow veteran WRs Tyler Lockett and Calvin Ridley atop the chart.

Fantasy Spin: Jefferson had 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns on 89 targets, all career highs, back in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams, his second year in the NFL. Since, in four seasons with the Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers, he has averaged just 22.7 receptions, 284.7 receiving yards and just five total touchdowns across the past three seasons. Even if he is able to work as a starter, he has a rookie quarterback, so it could be a rocky season. Jefferson is worth a flyer in the final rounds on draft day if he remains a top-three option in Nashville, but don't get carried away. Treylon Burks has a fractured collarbone, but he is expected back in season, too.

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Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews had a pair of touchdown receptions in the red zone during practice, hooking up with QB Lamar Jackson. The quarterback said it's Andrews' 'feel for the game' which makes him a great red-zone target.

Fantasy Spin: Andrews led all NFL tight ends with 11 touchdowns during the 2024 season despite a slow start. He has the chance to get off to a quicker start in 2025, as Isaiah Likely is recovering from a small fracture in his foot suffered in late July. Likely is expected back sometime early in the regular season, but Andrews is the top fantasy option in the Baltimore tight ends' room.

From TheHuddle

Carolina Panthers defensive back Jaycee Horn (hand) did not participate in Wednesday's practice. According to Adam Schefter, Horn was involved in a car crash prior to Wednesday's practice. Head coach Dave Canales said Horn required stitches on his left hand. The Panthers have already ruled out Horn for the preseason opener on Friday. This doesn't sound like the type of issue that would force Horn to miss any time in the regular season. He's currently projected to be the starting defensive back alongside Mike Jackson. Last season, Horn recorded 49 tackles, two sacks, and one interception in 15 games.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (leg) won't travel with the team for their preseason opener against the New England Patriots. Head coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday that Mariota is dealing with a mild lower leg strain. Luckily, it sounds like a minor injury as Quinn said his level of concern was low. The Commanders will take the cautious approach and rest their backup quarterback. Mariota served as the backup to Jayden Daniels last season. He completed 34-of-44 passing attempts for 364 passing yards and four touchdowns in three games with Washington last year. There won't be any fantasy value here with Mariota while Daniels is healthy. Sam Hartman figures to see the bulk of the snaps in the preseason opener.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is reportedly looking good in training camp. Garoppolo is getting the bulk of the first-team reps with Matthew Stafford (back) currently sidelined. Head coach Sean McVay has downplayed Stafford's back issues and believes he'll be ready to go by Week 1. In the meantime, Garoppolo has looked impressive with the first-team offense. He continues building chemistry with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. It sounds like Stafford is going to be fine, but at least they have a capable backup in Garoppolo if they need to use him.

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Los Angeles Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been impressive during his time running the first-team offense, as QB Matthew Stafford (back) is week-to-week after having an epidural injection for an aggravated disc in his back. He was reportedly pinpoint working with WRs Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. 'I thought Jimmy was awesome,' head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday, Aug. 5 after join practices with the Dallas Cowboys.

Fantasy Spin: Garoppolo is a player to watch closely. Stafford is no spring chicken, and he is already dealing with back issues which could make him a question mark at some point during the regular season. Jimmy G is building solid rapport with his receivers while running the first-team primarily, and it's possible when you need a bye-week replacement, Garoppolo could be a short-term fantasy solution.

From TheHuddle

Updating a previous report, Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota (leg) is nursing a strained lower leg, and head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday, Aug. 6 that his level of concern is 'low'. Still, it's unlikely Mariota will play in the preseason opener Friday, Aug. 8 against the New England Patriots.

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Washington Commanders QBs Sam Hartman and Josh Johnson, vying for the No. 3 QB job, are likely to split snaps in the preseason opener Friday, Aug. 8 against the New England Patriots with QB Jayden Daniels held out and veteran backup QB Marcus Mariota (leg) nursing an injury.

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Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai received the "bulk of second-unit carries" in the team's practice on Tuesday, according to CHGO's Mark Carman. A seventh-round pick out of Rutgers, Monangai rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 games in his final season with the Scarlet Knights. The Bears have veteran D'Andre Swift atop their running back depth chart, but it appears that Monangai could be pushing to unseat third-year rusher Roschon Johnson from the RB2 role. Carman noted that Johnson was still being utilized at the goal line, so it's possible that all three backs could play a role in Chicago this season. Monangai would need an injury to Swift to be fantasy-relevant in 2025, but he could emerge as an intriguing late-round handcuff option with a strong preseason.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins has been receiving reps with the first-team offense since returning from the active/physically unable to perform list, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. New England signed Hollins to a two-year contract this past offseason, and he appears to be in line for a starting role. Hollins turns 32 years old in September, and the Patriots will be his sixth team in eight NFL seasons. In 17 games (13 starts) for the Buffalo Bills in 2024, Hollins recorded 31 catches for 378 yards and five touchdowns. Third-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte could be Hollins' main threat to playing time alongside New England's top two wideouts, Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been "nearly unstoppable" during training camp practices in recent days, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. San Francisco may be leaning heavily on Pearsall to open 2025 with fellow wideouts Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf) both battling injuries. A first-round pick in 2024, Pearsall recorded 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie. The 49ers should also heavily feature tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey in the passing game, but Pearsall is undoubtedly the team's WR1 while Aiyuk and Jennings are sidelined.

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New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is listed atop the team's unofficial depth chart at the position. Veteran Devin Singletary is named as New York's RB2, with rookie Cam Skattebo the RB3. As a rookie in 2024, Tracy Jr. played in 17 games (12 starts), recording 1,123 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns on 230 total touches. The Giants used a fourth-round pick on Skattebo in the 2025 draft, leading to speculation about Tracy Jr.'s hold on the starting role. However, Tracy Jr. has reportedly been the clear leader in training camp, particularly with Skattebo (hamstring) battling a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old Tracy Jr. profiles as a high-end RB3 for PPR-scoring fantasy formats.

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