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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton has been one of the hottest names this training camp and preseason, and the rookie receiver should be in a good spot to make an immediate impact. Coach Mike Macdonald said earlier this week that Horton has recovered from his ankle injury to return punts beginning Week 1. The fact that he'll be healthy to start the season could be huge for the impressive fifth-round pick, who compiled 167 catches, 2,267 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns in two seasons at Colorado State. He'll start the year as the team's third receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, but he could climb the depth chart with his playmaking upside. He is a nice sleeper to target late in drafts and is the WR73 in the RotoBaller rankings.

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Cleveland Brows tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has played his way into a significant role with the team after a productive training camp and preseason. Quarterback Joe Flacco praised his rookie tight end by saying, "he's going to be...an important piece for us." Fannin worked out of the slot this preseason and played alongside veteran tight end David Njoku, which should make both solid fantasy names to watch coming into the season. The Browns drafted Fannin Jr. in the third round out of Bowling Green, after he racked up 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games last year. Fannin Jr. is the TE30 in the RotoBaller rankings since his role is still uncertain, but he brings enough upside to target late in the draft or off the waiver wire if you need tight-end depth in deep leagues. He would also be a priority pick-up if Njoku deals with any injury issues like he did last year.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet had a great training camp, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, and he could have a larger role in the team's offense after Kenneth Walker III missed significant time while dealing with a foot injury. With Klint Kubiak in place as the team's new offensive coordinator, the team will likely have a renewed focus on the run game, and Charbonnet and Walker could both be solid fantasy options at times this season. Last year, Charbonnet had 569 rushing yards on 135 carries while adding 42 catches for 340 receiving yards, all new career highs in his second season out of UCLA. He also found the end zone nine times. Charbonnet is the RB32 in the RotoBaller rankings and is a very solid RB3 with RB2 upside if he does indeed seize a larger role in Seattle's backfield after his strong camp.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. could be on the move this year, according to the latest report from The Athletic's Jeff Howe. Howe reported that if the Falcons struggle early in the season and Pitts isn't clicking with new quarterback Michael Penix Jr., he could be available before the trade deadline. Pitts is coming into the final year of his huge five-year rookie contract and will earn a hefty $10.878 million salary. While that huge price tag will make a trade tricky, teams have been willing to eat salary to add a playmaker or to add draft capital if the Falcons include a draft pick in the deal. Pitts hauled in 47 catches for 602 yards and a career-high four touchdowns while playing all 17 games last season. He posted over 600 yards in each of the last two years, but he hasn't consistently delivered on the upside that he promised as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. A change of scenery would be interesting for Pitts and his fantasy value as a fringe TE1 before he hits the free agent market after this season.

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The Washington Commanders have been "blown away" by wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.'s "commitment to recapturing as much of his prime as possible," according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Samuel Sr. has reportedly shed weight over the offseason after being acquired by Washington from the San Francisco 49ers. The 29-year-old is coming off an underwhelming season, recording 806 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 93 total touches across 15 games for San Francisco. Recapturing his peak form from 2021, when he recorded 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns, may be a stretch, but Samuel Sr. could conceivably bounce back to somewhere in between his best season and his most recent one. He's the clear WR2 behind Terry McLaurin in Washington, and he may get multiple touches per game as a rusher as well. Samuel Sr. could easily end up being undervalued as a low-end WR3/high-end WR4 in fantasy drafts.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has "taken on more of a natural leadership role, which has impressed those in every corner of (the team's) building," according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe writes that Odunze is "growing in new coach Ben Johnson's system on and off the field." The 2024 first-rounder is expected to make a leap from his rookie-season production, when he posted 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. Odunze enters 2025 as the WR2 in Chicago behind D.J. Moore, but he has the talent to work his way into being the favorite target of quarterback Caleb Williams over the course of the season. The 23-year-old profiles as a WR3/flex option in fantasy with significant upside if he can hit on his full potential and the Bears' offense as a whole improves in Johnson's first year at the helm.

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League evaluators see "a lot of room for improvement" in Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and "believe he's capable of raising his game," per Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Nix outperformed expectations as a rookie in 2024, throwing for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns in 17 games. He also showed an ability to make plays with his legs, rushing for 430 yards and four scores on 92 attempts. Nix finished the season on a tear, throwing for 19 touchdowns and completing 70.3% of his passes over his final eight regular-season games. He'll be expected to be more consistent from start to finish in his second season under center for the Broncos. Nix profiles as a low-end fantasy QB1 who is helped by his dual-threat ability and the significant talent around him in Denver.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to make more pre-snap reads in new head coach and play caller Liam Coen's offense, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe writes that Lawrence will be sent to the line with two play calls "90% of the time," and that a "trusted QB expert believed Lawrence could turn it on in the second half of the season when he becomes more comfortable." As the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024, Coen engineered the best season of quarterback Baker Mayfield's career. A similar breakout could be possible for Lawrence, who is coming off an injury-shortened campaign that saw him average the lowest amount of passing yards per game of his career. The 25-year-old profiles as a mid-tier fantasy QB2 with upside.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte should not be overlooked coming off a "stunning" offseason turnaround, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Boutte is in the mix with veteran Mack Hollins and rookie Kyle Williams for the WR3 job in New England alongside Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas. In 15 games for the Patriots last season, Boutte recorded 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns. A sixth-round pick in 2023, Boutte is still just 23 years old and showed significant improvement between his rookie and sophomore seasons. If he can take another leap forward, there's a pathway for him to significant playing time in New England. Boutte should not be drafted in redraft fantasy leagues, but he's a name to monitor as a potential early-season waiver-wire candidate.

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According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, teams around the National Football League "aren't tripping over themselves" to trade for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. The Colts have already gone on record by stating the club isn't looking to move him. However, even if Richardson was on the block, most teams wouldn't be interested, considering he'd likely be joining as a backup. In addition, the signal-caller certainly needs more time to develop. Richardson hasn't done much since entering the league as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 Draft. His only positive attribute is seemingly as a runner. On the other hand, he has struggled throwing the ball, tossing for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 picks while completing 50.6% of his attempts. To make matters worse, Richardson was limited to 15 games in his first two seasons. With Daniel Jones under center in Indianapolis, Richardson's value can't get any lower for those participating in redraft formats, although he's still worth stashing in dynasty setups in case he somehow turns things around moving forward.

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According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Houston Texans have been "encouraged with the new group that is charged with protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud." Houston traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders during the offseason. Fortunately, Aireontae Ersery "has gotten off to a strong start to pace" the team's revamped protection unit. Houston's offensive line was among the worst in the National Football League in 2024. While the latest update from Howe is encouraging, things must change drastically or Stroud could continue to suffer. The signal-caller took a step back in his sophomore campaign, finishing by throwing for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 picks. He also failed to find the end zone on the run after doing so three times in 2023. With that said, wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) isn't expected back anytime soon, and Stefon Diggs is now a New England Patriot. As a result, Stroud may not be the safest fantasy quarterback compared to some, although he is still worth starting in most formats, assuming his production doesn't decrease even more moving forward. .

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The Cincinnati Bengals believe that quarterback Joe Burrow "just enjoyed the best training camp of his career," according to Jeff Howe of the Athletic. The 28-year-old is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign, amassing career-highs in passing yards (4,918), touchdowns (43), and completion percentage (70.6). Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough to lead the team into the postseason. Without question, the Bengals defense struggled last season. While not much is expected to change on that front, Burrow is ready to spearhead one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki all received new deals in the offseason. In addition, Chase Brown was one of the league's most improved running backs. All things considered, it appears Burrow has all the tools necessary to finish the year as the top fantasy quarterback. However, the offensive line must keep him upright, especially since he's had issues staying healthy over the years. Chase, Higgins, and Brown will also need to avoid the injury report.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue (ankle) is listed behind Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on the team's most recent unofficial depth chart. The rookie is currently battling an ankle injury, and his availability for the opener versus the Eagles is up in the air. However, even if Blue is cleared for the Thursday night NFC East showdown, he isn't expected to see enough snaps to be relevant from a fantasy standpoint. The 21-year-old, who was the No. 149 overall pick in April's NFL Draft, appears to be in line to get more work at some point during the 2025 campaign, giving him value as a viable stash option for managers. Blue might see action sooner if Williams or Sanders struggle or go down with an injury in the near future. For now, managers should at least consider him questionable for Week 1, although his status against Philly won't matter much either way.

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New York Giants wide receiver Beaux Collins has the potential to go from undrafted free agent to impact player, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com observes. The former Clemson and Notre Dame wideout made the Giants' 53-man roster after a "spectacular" showing in offseason workouts and training camp. While Collins only caught one pass during the preseason, he made it count on an 80-yard hookup with current starting quarterback Russell Wilson. Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton are locked in as the Giants' top three receivers, but Jalin Hyatt and Gunner Olszewski haven't offered much production. That could open the door for Collins to emerge as the team's fourth WR sometime during his rookie season.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (groin) returned to practice last week and is expected to be ready for the team's Sept. 7 season opener against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, according to Matt Matera of Pewter Report. White dealt with a groin injury earlier this month and missed the Buccaneers' final two preseason games. Thanks to the emergence of Bucky Irving last year, White is heading into this season in a backup role. With Irving as the starter and Sean Tucker expected to receive an increase in touches, White could see diminished opportunities this year. However, having hauled in 50-plus catches in all three seasons of his career, he should still have a role in the Bucs' passing game.

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The New England Patriots have a "strong internal belief" that quarterback Drake Maye will take a step forward in the second season of his career, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, took over the starting job in Week 6 as a rookie and went on to flash his sky-high potential over 13 games. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound dual threat completed 66.6% of passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He added another 421 yards and two scores on the ground, averaging a gaudy 7.8 yards per attempt on 54 rushes. While the 22-year-old will likely experience some growing pains, especially as he gets acclimated to a new system under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, he should benefit from a better supporting cast than he had in 2024. Maye is going into the season as RotoBaller's 14th-ranked QB, but his upside is significant.

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has been non-committal on whether he will use quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. in short-yardage and red-zone packages this year after he lost out on starting QB duties to Daniel Jones. "We'll see," Steichen said when asked if the former first-rounder could contribute in short-yardage/red-zone situations. "I want to make sure he crushes his new role, takes it in stride and does a hell of a job there." The Colts aren't giving up on the former fourth overall pick, but even if he is used in short-yardage/red-zone packages, it won't suddenly make him start-worthy in two-QB superflex fantasy leagues. He has always had elite rushing upside -- his 10 rushing TDs since 2023 are third among QBs -- but injuries and accuracy issues have made him a bust so far for Indy. The Colts didn't use Richardson as a runner when Joe Flacco took over QB duties in 2024.

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The Philadelphia Eagles hosted former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Brenden Rice for a tryout on Friday, according to NFL.com. The son of Hall of Fame wideout Jerry Rice didn't make the Chargers' final 53-man roster out of training camp and was waived earlier this week. After clearing waivers, the 23-year-old former seventh-rounder (225th overall) in 2024 out of USC is free to sign with any team for the 2025 season. He appeared in all three of L.A.'s preseason games and caught three passes for 32 yards. Rice played in just three regular-season games for the Bolts last year and didn't see a single target while playing only three offensive snaps. If he latches on with the Eagles, he'll almost certainly be assigned to their practice squad as receiving depth to open the season.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams is listed as the team's RB1 on their first depth chart of the 2025 season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Williams is followed on the RB depth chart by Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue (ankle). Williams saw most of the team's reps with the first-team offense during training camp, so this initial depth chart for Dallas has no surprises. Blue impressed the coaching staff during the summer, but he was never realistically going to enter his rookie season higher than RB3 on the depth chart, and an ankle/heel injury also cost him valuable reps near the end of the preseason. The 25-year-old Williams will get the first shot at lead-back duties in his first year in Dallas, but Sanders and Blue will also be involved, making him no better than a low-upside RB3/flex target in fantasy. Williams hasn't shown the same burst since tearing his ACL in 2022 with Denver.

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NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes the Miami Dolphins might have grabbed a hidden gem in rookie running back Ollie Gordon II when they took him in the sixth round back in April's NFL draft. Gordon is an old-school RB1, Brooks writes, and ran for 43 yards on eight carries as the starter in the team's preseason finale. He has been praised by head coach Mike McDaniel for his rugged running style between the tackles, but the Oklahoma State product has also showcased soft hands on the perimeter this summer at training camp. The 21-year-old finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy race back in 2023 and could easily become a dominant force in the NFL. He's still young, but with both De'Von Achane (calf) and Jaylen Wright (leg) banged up at the start of the 2025 season, Gordon is worth a peek as a late-round RB flier in most fantasy formats this weekend.

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