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The Athletic's Jeff Howe writes that Seattle Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori "should be considered a dark-horse candidate to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year." Emmanwori has been "a playmaking force in practice" and will eventually "take on a similar role as the one Ravens superstar safety Kyle Hamilton played in Mike Macdonald's scheme when the coach was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore." Howe thinks that Macdonald's defense should be better in his second year with the team. The 21-year-old has been lining up all over the defensive formation this summer, including playing at safety, nickel cornereback and outside linebacker. So far, Emmanwori has lived up to the hype of being a second-round pick with lots of versatility. If that continues into the regular season, he could become a houseful name in IDP fantasy formats sooner than later.

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The Dallas Cowboys and standout cornerback DaRon Bland agreed to terms on a four-year, $92 million contract extension on Sunday that includes $50 million guaranteed, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Cowboys were unable to keep All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons in town, but they have managed to lock up a key defender in Bland. The Cowboys selected Bland in the fifth round (167th overall) in 2022, and he's been a key member of their secondary in three seasons. Bland was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2023, when he had a career-best 69 tackles (53 solo), a league-high nine interceptions (five returned for touchdowns) and 15 pass breakups in 17 games (15 starts). A stress fracture cost him the first 11 weeks of last season, though, and he ended up playing in just seven games. Dallas will need a healthy Bland in 2025 with Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel likely unavailable to start the year.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm logged five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on and was PFF's highest-graded player at the position this preseason. The Titans invested a fourth-round pick in the Texas product, and it could prove to be a steal should Helm continue to impress. While Chig Okonkwo is expected to start in 2025, he is entering the final year of his rookie contract, potentially opening the door for Helm to take over next season. Still, Helm's strong preseason suggests he is likely to have a role as a rookie as he works to build rapport with quarterback Cameron Ward early on. He shouldn't be prioritized in most redraft leagues, but Helm belongs on the radar for all fantasy managers heading into the regular season.

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Carolina Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans was listed on the team's initial 53-man roster released earlier this week. While second-year pro Ja'Tavion Sanders is expected to operate as the starter and primary pass-catcher at the position, Evans could still carve out a role for himself on offense. The fifth-round NFL Draft selection currently sits third on the depth chart behind Sanders and Tommy Tremble (back), but the latter was recently activated from the PUP list and hasn't made much of an impact through his first four campaigns. Evans is unlikely to provide fantasy value as a rookie, but he is worth a flyer as a deep-league dynasty stash.

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Despite making the Carolina Panthers' initial 53-man roster earlier this week, rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. was initially a long shot to see early playing time. That changed quickly after Carolina traded veteran Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings for draft capital and placed promising second-year pro Jalen Coker (quad) on Injured Reserve. With Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and David Moore listed ahead of him on the depth chart, Horn will battle Hunter Renfrow and Brycen Tremayne for snaps. The undrafted Colorado product has been a summer standout, and his speed could earn him immediate opportunities in the Panthers' aerial attack led by quarterback Bryce Young. He's a worthwhile dynasty stash and a name to monitor in deeper redraft formats.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton had a chance to make an early-season impact, but that is seemingly out the door with the addition of Adam Thielen. The Vikings brought back the 35-year-old earlier this week to shore up depth concerns at the position. Jordan Addison (suspension) will miss the first three games of the season, and Jalen Nailor (hand) is a question mark for Week 1. If Nailor is active on game day, Felton is, at best, the fourth wide receiver in the rotation. The third-round pick will fall further down the depth chart when Addison's ban is lifted. Minnesota has largely had a concentrated passing attack when all options are healthy, so it's unlikely Felton will make any noticeable impact in 2025. He can stay off draft boards in redraft formats.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Savion Williams has suffered various injuries throughout his first professional training camp and missed all three preseason games. The Green Bay coaching staff had gadget plays in mind for the third-round speedster, but he has been unable to stay on the field. The Packers have a crowded wide receiver room, even with injuries to Jayden Reed (foot) and Christian Watson (knee). If Reed, who is questionable, misses Week 1, Williams still has first-round pick Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Malik Heath to compete with for snaps. Williams may have a play designed for him here and there, but it won't be consistent enough volume for redraft fantasy managers to spend a roster spot on him.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy secured a spot on the team's practice squad after failing to make the initial 53-man roster. The sixth-round pick in 2024 spent his rookie season with the Cowboys, recording 10 catches for 102 yards on 14 targets. The Cowboys currently only have four wide receivers on the active roster: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin. WR5 Jonathan Mingo (knee) will open the season on injured reserve. Unless Dallas adds a free-agent wide receiver, Flournoy has a decent chance at getting a game-day call-up early in the season. He and Jalen Brooks, who appeared in 14 games for the Cowboys last year, lead Dallas' practice-squad wide receivers.

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The Chicago Bears have an established lead running back in D'Andre Swift, but the backup role is seemingly up for grabs. Incumbent Roschon Johnson (foot) has missed the majority of training camp. Reserves, like veteran Travis Homer and seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai, have also missed practice time in August. The latter has a chance to secure the backup role with Johnson's less-than-impressive rsum thus far. The Bears were one of the teams to keep an eye on to add another running back after cut day, but nearly a week has come and gone without a new face on the practice field. Monangai, who ran for 1,200+ yards in his final two seasons at Rutgers, is an interesting watch candidate and possible bench stash. However, there may not be any clarity about the Chicago backfield until a few games into the regular season.

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Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne did a nice job during the preseason. He showed he has breakaway speed to make a big play at any moment. Despite that, Etienne is unlikely to have a significant role to begin the season. Chuba Hubbard is going to be the lead back to begin the season. The Panthers brought in Rico Dowdle as a viable second option, so he'll likely be the second string. That means, Etienne probably isn't going to see much action right away. According to the team's official website, Etienne is penciled in as the third string back. However, the 21-year-old could wrestle away the second string job from Dowdle with more consistent play. For now, Etienne is a dynasty stash and someone that is unlikely to make an impact right away.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough lost the quarterback battle to Spencer Rattler heading into Week 1, but the team's uncertain footing could lead to a chance later this season. The rookie had a strong final year at Louisville, and the team making a move due to Rattler struggling is well within the realm of possibility in 2025. The better question for a manager is whether they want to use a fantasy roster spot on any Saints quarterback. With a projected Vegas win total of 4.5, the team is firmly in the mix to secure the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft, which would mean a long year is ahead.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith made the 53-man roster in Kansas City, and could have a pathway to the field during his first season with the team. The rookie cleared the first hurdle by sticking around through training camp, which is no guarantee as a seventh-round pick. But with Isiah Pacheco less than a year removed from a broken leg, Smith's competition for time is veterans Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell. As a former wide receiver, the rookie has a skill set the Chiefs like, having featured similarly skilled Jerk McKinnon in prior years. Smith has some lottery ticket appeal playing in Andy Reid's offense.

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Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson showed some flashes of receiving ability during the preseason, but his blocking remains a work in progress as Los Angeles approaches Week 1. Though that might not be top-of-mind from a fantasy perspective, it will impact how much the rookie sees the field and ultimately how much he gets targeted. Tyler Higbee is still L.A.'s top tight end, but the Rams clearly saw the promise in Ferguson by using a second-round pick to acquire him. As something of a project, Ferguson has more value in dynasty formats, but his receiving ability could present deep sleeper appeal in redraft leagues, too.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe is expected to see the field, albeit sporadically, as a rookie, with coach Mike Macdonald this week saying the club will have a package of plays designed specifically for him. The rookie, as expected, remained raw throughout the preseason, according to a report from Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. From a fantasy perspective, Milroe's only real value is in dynasty formats, as his usage likely won't be high enough to roster in redraft leagues with Seattle projected to start free agent signee Sam Darnold.

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Dynasty | The Panthers have re-signed wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. Dynasty Analysis: This move makes sense after they traded Adam Thielen back to Minnesota and have lost the services of Jalen Coker for a while due to injury. Renfrow is attempting to make a comeback after sitting out last season due to an unspecified illness. He should be a good receiver for Carolina but this may be a better fit in reality than fantasy. We'll need to see something from Renfrow before recommending him on dynasty rosters.

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract during the offseason. The signal-caller has had his share of ups and downs throughout his career thus far. However, Jets general manager Darren Mougey appears to have confidence in the 2021 No. 11 overall pick. "I do believe Justin can be one of those guys," said Mougey during a recent interview. "I've seen progress during this camp and look forward to seeing the progress throughout the season as they all come together." Fields spent his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears before suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. In 50 regular-season contests, he's thrown for 7,780 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 31 picks while completing only 61.1% of his attempts. Although his accuracy hasn't been the best, he's at least made up for it by finding the end zone 19 times on the run. With that said, Fields should be considered a starting fantasy option in two-QB formats. On the other hand, he has a way to go before earning a routine spot in 12-team fantasy lineups, especially since it may take him time to get acclimated to his new squad.

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Rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson has made the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' initial 53-man roster after an impressive preseason. A seventh-round draft pick, Johnson earned his spot over Trey Palmer, who had flashed in his two seasons with the team but has since landed in New Orleans. With Jalen McMillan (neck) on Injured Reserve and Chris Godwin (ankle) expected to miss the first month of the 2025 campaign, Johnson could earn opportunities immediately. Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka should be quarterback Baker Mayfield's top weapons, but the Buccaneers will need more pass-catchers to step up if they hope to repeat the success they found through the air last season. Johnson's utilization in the early weeks is worth keeping an eye on in all fantasy formats.

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The Tennessee Titans signed wide receiver Xavier Restrepo to their practice squad after the rookie failed to make the team's initial 53-man roster. Restrepo, who signed with Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in April, appeared in three preseason contests and logged three receptions for 26 yards on six targets. He could eventually reunite on the field with his college quarterback, Cameron Ward, but the 23-year-old still needs to prove he's NFL-ready. It's worth noting that the Titans lack established receiving options outside of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, but rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike did make the roster heading into Week 1. For now, Restrepo should be viewed strictly as a deep dynasty stash.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III (ankle, foot) returned to practice earlier this week after missing some time due to an injury he suffered in the team's second preseason game. The Eastern Washington product told reporters he is "absolutely healthy" on Wednesday, a day after he officially made the Patriots' 53-man roster. Veterans Stefon Diggs (knee) and DeMario Douglas are expected to lead New England's receiver corps, while Chism will compete with fellow rookie Kyle Williams (head/undisclosed), Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins for snaps. With Kendrick Bourne recently released, Chism could see early opportunities, making his usage worth monitoring across all fantasy formats.

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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard (hand) told the Pat McAfee Show that he is taking an important step in his recovery from a broken bone in his right hand. "I'm back to throwing this week," Howard said on Friday. "So it's feeling good, going in the right direction." Howard suffered the injury to his throwing hand on Aug. 5, knocking him out for most of training camp and the entire preseason. The Steelers placed Howard on Injured Reserve on Thursday, meaning the sixth-round pick from Ohio State is guaranteed to miss at least the first four weeks of the season. Even if Howard returns in 2025, it's doubtful that the 23-year-old will see much action as a rookie (if any). The Steelers are entering the season with Aaron Rodgers as their starter and an experienced backup in Mason Rudolph, leaving Howard in a developmental role.

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