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Falcons sign QB Ben DiNucci, release WR DJ Chark

Mon Aug 18 11:57am ET
Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Ben DiNucci on Monday and released wide receiver DJ Chark.

The Falcons also waived/injured quarterback Emory Jones.

DiNucci, 28, was a seventh-round draft pick by Dallas in 2020. He completed 23 of 43 passes for 219 yards that season with the Cowboys, losing his only career start in Week 8 at Philadelphia.

DiNucci has since spent time on the practice squads of the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.

The Falcons already have starter Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins and Easton Stick in the quarterback room as they head into Friday's preseason finale at Dallas.

Chark, 28, was a second-round pick by Jacksonville in 2018 and made the Pro Bowl in 2019. He has 216 catches for 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns in 76 games (51 starts) with the Jaguars (2018-21), Detroit Lions (2022), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Los Angeles Chargers (2024).

Jones, 25, went undrafted in 2024 and has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.

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Player Notes
Kyle Williams Aug 18 12:10pm ET
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New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams (head) will not practice on Monday, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Williams left early from the team's preseason game on Saturday after taking a hard hit to the head. A third-round pick out of Washington State, Williams is competing with Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and others for the WR3 role in New England alongside Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas. He has reportedly shown flashes of brilliance but has largely been inconsistent in training camp. As such, missed time for Williams could set him back in the race for playing time in New England. The 22-year-old has clear upside as a downfield threat, but he's unlikely to factor in fantasy in 2025.

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Stefon Diggs Aug 18 12:00pm ET
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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) is "ahead of schedule injury-wise," according to Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. Diggs tore the ACL in his right knee last October and has yet to play in the preseason. However, the 32-year-old has been a consistent participant in training camp practices and looks like he'll be ready to go for Week 1. Diggs had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games before getting injured in 2024, and should be the top target for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye heading into 2025. He profiles as a low-end WR3/flex option in fantasy with a fairly high floor but limited upside.

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Michael Penix Jr. Aug 18 11:50am ET
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Neither of the team's top two signal-callers has played at all in preseason action. Easton Stick has been Atlanta's most-used quarterback through the team's first two preseason games and figures to get most of the reps against Dallas. With fourth-stringer Emory Jones (head) in concussion protocol, Schefter reports that the team has signed quarterback Ben DiNucci.

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A.J. Brown Aug 18 11:50am ET
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is not practicing on Monday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Brown has already missed multiple weeks of practice due to this ongoing hamstring injury. However, recent reports indicate that the team does not believe it to be a major concern. Hamstring issues tend to linger, so this is definitely a situation to monitor until Brown is back on the field and fully cleared. The 28-year-old profiles as a low-end WR1 in fantasy, and now might be a good time to draft him at a discount if other managers are nervous about his injury status. If Brown were to miss any time, Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith's fantasy value would skyrocket.

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TreVeyon Henderson Aug 18 11:40am ET
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New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson "might already be the Patriots' most reliable offensive player" and is earning more touches with each week of camp that goes by, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Henderson has been one of the stars of the preseason, recording 50 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on eight total touches. He also returned a kick for a touchdown in New England's first preseason game. Henderson figures to split time with veterans Rhamondre Stevenson (undisclosed) and Antonio Gibson when the season begins, assuming Stevenson makes it back from an undisclosed injury that has held him out of recent training camp practices. Even still, Henderson profiles as an RB2 in fantasy due to his explosiveness and receiving ability. If he can ever seize a true lead role in the New England backfield, his potential is sky-high.

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D.J. Chark Aug 18 11:30am ET
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The Atlanta Falcons have released veteran wide receiver DJ Chark, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team signed Chark in late July after wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) went down with a shoulder injury early in training camp. While Mooney has yet to return to the field, Chark's release could be an indication that Atlanta is confident that Mooney will not miss significant time. It could also simply mean that Chark was not part of the team's 53-man roster plans, regardless of Mooney's status. With Chark no longer in Atlanta, veteran KhaDarel Hodge looks like the top candidate to receive more playing time while Mooney is sidelined.

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MarShawn Lloyd Aug 18 10:50am ET
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After leaving Saturday's preseason game in the second quarter, Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is expected to miss some time, and his status for the regular season is now in question. Injuries have hampered Lloyd's young career. After taking only six attempts as a rookie, he had missed parts of his second training camp with a groin injury. In his preseason debut, Lloyd tweaked his hamstring and had to exit the game prematurely following a 33-yard catch. For the second year, Lloyd entered camp as the presumed backup to Josh Jacobs, but if he's unable to work his way back to health, that valuable role will go to someone else, as it did last season. For now, Lloyd should be considered week-to-week until further information emerges.

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Jalen McMillan Aug 18 10:50am ET
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) was in good spirits over the weekend, following a scary-looking fall that took him out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers in the first quarter. After landing awkwardly on his head/neck area while making a catch, he was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game. McMillan seems to have avoided any major injury and is now dealing only with soreness. He finished on a league-winning heater last season, registering seven touchdown grabs in his final five regular-season games. Chris Godwin (ankle) is projected to start the year on the PUP list. McMillan should still have a role in the Buccaneers' high-powered offense while Godwin is sidelined.

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Isaiah Bond Aug 18 10:00am ET
Isaiah Bond

The Cleveland Browns have signed rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond to a three-year, $3.018 million fully guaranteed contract. After garnering a good deal of buzz in the early stages of draft season, Bond went undrafted after being accused of sexual assault in April. The case was no-billed last week by a grand jury, and Bond faces no further criminal charges. Bond announced shortly after this ruling that he would be signing with the Browns, and his deal becomes official. Having missed almost all of training camp, it will be difficult for him to carve out any sort of immediate role as a rookie, but the guaranteed signing would suggest that the Browns have a plan for him. Bond has always displayed impressive game speed, and he is worth stashing in dynasty leagues.

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Malik Nabers Aug 18 9:40am ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (back) has not practiced in more than 11 days as he deals with a minor back problem. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Giants characterized it as "normal camp tightness," but the team continues to play it safe with their second-year superstar. The Giants are scheduled for a walk-through on Monday and a single day of full practice on Tuesday before their final preseason game against the Patriots on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. Given this tight schedule, it's unlikely Nabers will see the field again anytime soon, as the Giants aim to ease him back to full health before their regular season opens on Sept. 7. Nabers looks to follow up a brilliant rookie season in which he caught over 100 passes despite missing two games. He is currently RotoBaller's WR5 and can be drafted with confidence.

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Tua Tagovailoa Aug 18 9:20am ET
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Following a tumultuous offseason, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) has yet to reestablish a working chemistry with his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.. Hill has not caught passes consistently for months due to the wrist injury he played with for the entirety of the 2024 season. When things are going right for Hill, he has been a locked-in WR1. However, coming off his worst year since his rookie season, the hope coming into 2025 was that he and Tagovailoa could once more find the connection that helped him to put up over 1,700 yards in each of his first two seasons in Miami. According to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, that connection has been lacking both on and off the field. Hill is currently RotoBaller's WR13, but with each day that passes without positive news coming out of the Dolphins' camp, drafters will need to think hard about the amount of risk they are willing to shoulder in making him their WR1 or WR2.

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Nico Collins Aug 18 9:10am ET
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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins made his preseason debut on Saturday against the Panthers and hauled in two of three targets for 13 yards and a touchdown. He also almost connected on a deep pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud during the team's first possession, and Stroud said after the game, "It's my job to connect with him, and I owe him one from today." Collins looked strong and ready for another elite season after posting over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. Last year, the 26-year-old from Michigan led the team with 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, even though he missed five games with an injury. He looks healthy and ready to roll as the team's top receiver coming into his fifth season in the NFL, and is once again a strong WR1 to build around for fantasy this year.

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C.J. Stroud Aug 18 9:00am ET
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud played just two series on Saturday against Carolina, but he looked sharp, completing 6-of-8 pass attempts for 44 passing yards and a touchdown to Nico Collins. He wasn't satisfied with his preseason debut, though, expressing frustration that he missed Collins on a deep ball on the team's first possession, which ended in a punt. Stroud only played two series, but did enough to put his Texans ahead in a game they went on to win 20-3. After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, Stroud struggled a little bit last season, throwing for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns but also throwing 12 interceptions. With new offensive coordinator Nick Caley taking over from Bobby Slowik, Stroud will look to bounce back and be a fantasy factor again this season. He's a QB2 with upside coming into the season, but he has the potential to be a borderline QB1 if he can return to his 2023 form with better protection than he had last year.

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Woody Marks Aug 18 8:40am ET
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Houston Texans running back Woody Marks totaled 40 rushing yards on seven carries on Saturday against Carolina, leading the team in both carries and rushing yards. The fourth-round rookie had the longest rush of the day with a 12-yard carry, but he worked with the second unit after Nick Chubb took the reps with starting quarterback C.J. Stroud. Demeon Pierce did not play, either, so it's still not clear exactly where Marks lands on the team's depth chart. At USC, Marks racked up 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and he also thrived as a receiver out of the backfield throughout his five-year college career. With Chubb and Pierce available, along with starter Joe Mixon (foot/ankle), Marks could have a hard time getting playing time in his rookie year. All three of those veterans have dealt with injuries this preseason, though, and Mixon is still uncertain for Week 1 on the Non-Football Injury list. Marks is a dynasty player to watch and could work his way onto the field at some point this season, but he isn't a consideration for standard re-draft leagues at this point.

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Nick Chubb Aug 18 8:30am ET
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Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb made his Texans' preseason debut on Saturday against the Panthers, taking five carries for 25 yards while working with the starting unit and quarterback C.J. Stroud. Chubb recently cleared the concussion protocol and could be lined up to start the year with the top unit of the offense, depending on the status of Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) for Week 1. Mixon is dealing with a lingering ankle/foot injury and remains on the Non-Football Injury list. Chubb was brought to Houston this offseason after he struggled in his return from his devastating knee injury in 2023. When he's fully healthy, Chubb has a superstar ceiling, but Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks will also potentially be in the mix. Houston's backfield remains a key situation to watch for the rest of the preseason.

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Tyrell Shavers Aug 18 1:30am ET
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers turned in his second straight solid preseason performance in a 38-0 defeat against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. On a night that saw few Bills contribute anything of note, Shavers caught two of his three targets for 29 yards. The lone miss came after Shavers beat cornerback Jeremiah Walker on a 25-yard pass down the sideline. Quarterback Mike White's throw was catchable but slightly out of Shavers' reach, and it fell incomplete. To cap off his night, Shavers drew a 23-yard pass interference penalty on a third-and-18 play in the third quarter. Undrafted out of San Diego State in 2023, Shavers has played in just three regular-season games (all last year) and caught one pass (a 69-yard touchdown), but he has garnered rave reviews in camp and stepped up in preseason action with four receptions for 99 yards. The 25-year-old helped his cause again on Sunday in his bid for a roster spot.

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Frank Gore Jr. Aug 18 1:20am ET
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Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. was one of the team's few bright spots in a 38-0 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The 5-foot-8, 195-pounder led the Bills in total yards (81) for the second week in a row, amassing 51 on eight carries and adding another 30 on four receptions. Unfortunately for Gore, there was one costly gaffe - a lost fumble late in the third quarter. With Buffalo finally marching toward Chicago's end zone, Gore had the ball punched out around the 10-yard line, killing the Bills' best drive of the night and keeping them off the scoreboard. Still, there's no denying that Gore has looked like a capable dual threat in both exhibition games this month. He piled up 71 yards (50 receiving, 21 rushing) in last week's loss to the New York Giants and now has 152 on 22 touches this preseason. Gore is still fighting an uphill battle to earn a roster spot, though, with fellow RBs James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson locks to make the team. The 23-year-old Gore spent last season on Buffalo's practice squad and could open 2025 in the same position.

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Mitchell Trubisky Aug 18 1:10am ET
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky wasn't able to generate much offense during a 38-0 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. After Mike White played the first half and struggled mightily, Trubisky entered in the third quarter and was also unable to put points on the board. The former second overall pick ended his night a forgettable 7-for-13 for 56 yards against the team that drafted him, though Trubisky did lead Buffalo's only productive drive of the night late in the third quarter. That march ended with a completion to running back Frank Gore Jr., who lost a fumble near the Bears' 10-yard line. Trubisky delivered a much better showing in a start against the New York Giants last week, and he certainly didn't lose any ground on Sunday in his battle with White. The two have been competing this summer to serve as the backup to starter Josh Allen. Trubisky held the role last season and looks like the favorite to win the job again this year.

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Mike White Aug 18 1:00am ET
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Mike White had an opportunity to make hay in the race for the No. 2 job on Sunday night, but he fell short in a 38-0 preseason shellacking at the hands of the Chicago Bears. White, who's competing with Mitchell Trubisky to serve as the backup to Josh Allen, started the game and played the entire first half. The 30-year-old didn't look ready for prime time, though, as he finished 4-for-11 for 54 yards and took a pair of sacks. In White's defense, he got little help from an offensive unit laden with backups. Miscues from the O-line, particularly a couple of false starts from reserve left tackle Ryan Van Demark, and dropped passes made life more difficult on the signal-caller than it should have been. Even with that in mind, White wasn't sharp. He lacked touch on his passes and missed open targets on multiple occasions. Trubisky was hardly Allen-esque when he took the field in the third quarter (7-for-13 for 56 yards), but in all likelihood, White lost ground on Sunday.

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Rome Odunze Aug 18 12:20am ET
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze went without a reception in his preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills. Odunze was targeted once on the game's second drive, but dropped his lone target on a curl route on a third down. Despite the dull night from the second-year receiver, Odunze ran half of his routes from the slot and could slide into the coveted Amon-Ra St. Brown role in head coach Ben Johnson's scheme. Odunze is having an impressive training camp and continues to see his fantasy stock rise this offseason. Even with a subpar night, the 2024 first-round pick remains a breakout candidate in fantasy this season.

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