Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is officially back in the fold after signing a four-year contract extension with his team on Wednesday. Soon after the signing was announced, Buffalo GM Brandon Beane told reporters that he views Cook as a three-down back. Beane said, "We do feel he can take more, but we like to use our three options and keep him fresh." Cook often lost passing-down work to Ty Johnson last season and only played on 48% of Buffalo's offensive snaps. It is unlikely that Buffalo installs Cook as their workhorse, as their running game was effective in 2024, but it would be a positive for fantasy managers if the Bills shifted some of the targets in the passing game onto Cook's plate. Either way, he sets up as a solid RB2 in fantasy with an RB1 ceiling if he starts catching more passes.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension on Wednesday. Cook had been holding-in throughout training camp but returned to practice on Tuesday as the two sides were apparently getting close to a deal. The contract extension has a $30 million guarantee and will keep Cook in Buffalo as their primary back for the near future. With Cook back in the fold, fantasy managers can confidently draft him as a solid RB2 heading into drafts later this summer. His return bumps Ty Johnson and Ray Davis back to reserve roles, although they should remain involved as Cook played on just 48% of the team's offensive snaps in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has been dominant in training camp and has moments where he looks like a perennial Pro Bowl player, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. A second-round pick out of Texas in 2024, Mitchell was used sparingly as a rookie. In 17 games, he had just 23 receptions for 312 yards and zero touchdowns. The Colts have three productive wide receivers in Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce. However, none of those three are elite enough talents to keep Mitchell off the field if he can hit on his high-end potential. His fantasy outlook for 2025 is murky due to both the target competition and shaky quarterback situation in Indianapolis, but Mitchell is a name to monitor.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Seahawks WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling will have a significant role in the offseason, according to offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The OC added Tuesday, Aug. 12 that Valdes-Scantling has had 'a really good camp'.

Fantasy Spin: There has been some speculation that Valdes-Scantling might see a decreased role with rookie Tory Horton turning heads in training camp. While MVS might have Kubiak's backing, it's hard to envision the veteran being anything more than a WR5 or WR6 in deeper fantasy leagues at this juncture.

From TheHuddle

The Kansas City Chiefs signed free-agent RB Michael Wiley (Commanders) on Tuesday, Aug. 12, and they signed DE Nate Matlack, while sending S Deon Bush and DE Janarius Robinson to the reserve/injured list.

From TheHuddle

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is showing "improved chemistry" with quarterback Joe Flacco, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Jackson writes that Jeudy had his best practice of the summer last week when the Browns held a joint session with the Carolina Panthers. The 26-year-old had his most productive NFL season in 2024, recording 90 catches for 1,209 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games for Cleveland. Jeudy took off once Jameis Winston replaced Deshaun Watson at quarterback for the Browns, and Flacco profiles similarly to Winston as a high-volume gunslinger at this point in his career. There's a chance that Flacco is replaced by one of the young quarterbacks in Cleveland at some point this season. However, until that happens, Jeudy is a good bet to outperform his early-seventh-round average draft position.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson will "get half of the running back snaps this season," according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Graff writes that Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has "publicly backed (running back) Rhamondre Stevenson several times and seems inclined to at least try out a running back committee." A second-round pick out of Ohio State, Henderson impressed in his preseason debut on Friday by catching three passes and returning the game's opening kickoff for a touchdown. There's no doubt Henderson is an explosive player, but Stevenson is an established veteran who has averaged at least 12 carries per game in three straight seasons. Henderson profiles as a mid-tier RB2 in fantasy, but he has massive upside if he can seize the lion's share of the backfield touches in New England.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields has been "mostly playing it safe" in the passing game in practices, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt notes that Fields has been throwing a lot of "quick slants, dump offs, (and) screens." Fields set a career-high in air yards per pass attempt (7.21) in 10 games last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but has typically been more comfortable checking down to underneath targets than most mobile quarterbacks. If the Jets' plan is for Fields to get the ball out of his hands quickly, it could benefit running back Breece Hall's reception totals. It could also remove some chances for Fields to make plays in scramble situations. A good portion of Fields' fantasy value comes from his legs (career 50.2 rushing yards per game).

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring) is "getting close" to returning from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for two weeks, head coach Sean McDermott told the media. Thanks to the injury, Samuel has gotten off to an inauspicious start in 2025 as he looks to rebound from a disappointing first year in Buffalo. After back-to-back solid seasons in Washington, Samuel left for the Bills in free agency and went on to catch 31 passes on 46 targets for 253 yards and a touchdown in 14 games in 2024. He's largely off the fantasy radar now as part of an offense known for spreading the ball around to several targets.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) returned to practice on Tuesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports. Cowing, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of camp, did individual work and mixed in some team snaps in his first practice back. The 5-foot-9, 171-pounder appeared in 15 games as a fourth-round rookie last year and caught a mere four passes for 80 yards. However, he garnered praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan during minicamp, and there was talk of Cowing helping to replace the departed Deebo Samuel Jr. in a gadget role. Now, there may be a path to more opportunities with the 49ers facing issues at the receiver position. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will miss the first several weeks of the regular season, Jordan Watkins (ankle) is out for a month, and Jauan Jennings (calf) is also banged up. Additionally, Demarcus Robinson is staring at a potential suspension from a 2024 misdemeanor DUI charge.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are listed as co-starters on the team's unofficial depth chart. Nevertheless, it was Etienne who looked like the "top option" during Tuesday's practice, according to John Shipley of SI.com. Etienne broke some long runs and looked more comfortable as a receiver than the Jaguars' other backs. The 26-year-old dealt with cramps at the end of practice, but it doesn't seem there's much concern over that. After back-to-back productive seasons from 2022-23, Etienne's output fell off a cliff over 15 games last year. The former Clemson star totaled career-low marks across the board as a runner with 558 yards and two touchdowns on 150 carries. As a receiver, he chipped in 39 catches for 254 yards and no scores. Etienne is now stuck in a crowded RB room with Bigsby and a pair of promising rookies in Bhaysul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr., making him a risky option from a fantasy standpoint.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten has continued to see an increase in team reps in practice, per John Shipley of SI.com. Tuten logged another positive showing on Tuesday, ripping off "the best run of the day" on an explosive play up the middle. The fourth-round pick from Virginia Tech tied Tank Bigsby for the team lead in carries (six) and yards (24) in the Jaguars' preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. He also scored Jacksonville's sole rushing touchdown of the game and caught two passes for 16 yards. Tuten is listed behind co-starters Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. on the Jags' unofficial depth chart, but it's notable that he has impressed new head coach Liam Coen enough to receive first-team work in practice on occasion. He'll have a chance to continue turning heads against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers RBs Hassan Haskins, Nyheim Hines, Raheim Sanders and Kimani Vidal continue to vie for the third-string running back job behind RBs Najee Harris and rookie Omarion Hampton. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Tuesday, Aug. 12, that the race is 'wide open.'

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (undisclosed) was back in 11-on-11 drills at Tuesday's training camp practice, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. "I feel like I'm there now. It's just about building everything back up and...getting my conditioning back to where it needs to be," McConkey said when asked how close he is to 100% health. The Chargers and McConkey haven't disclosed the nature of his injury. Now that the 23-year-old second-year wideout is back at practice, he could play in the team's third preseason contest this Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. The second-rounder in 2024 out of Georgia quickly became quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to receiver last year and finished with an 82-1,149-7 line in 16 games played. McConkey is a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in fantasy going into his sophomore season.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Seahawks NT Johnathan Hankins (back) hasn't practice at all during training camp, and he continues to nurse a back injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Tuesday, Aug. 12 that he doesn't know when the veteran will return to the practice field, but Hankins is in camp and meetings each day.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (head) has moved through the league's concussion protocol and was not wearing a non-contact jersey at Tuesday's training camp practice, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Chubb entered the concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head last week, but he looks to be fine now. The 29-year-old four-time Pro Bowler was among the best RBs in the league on a yearly basis before suffering a gruesome knee injury in 2023. He made it back to play in eight games in his final season in Cleveland in 2024 but had a career-low 3.3 yards per carry and didn't look like the same back. Chubb could have a decent role for the Texans early in the season if starter Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) isn't ready, it could also be more of a committee approach involving Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans RB Nick Chubb (head) practiced Tuesday, Aug. 12, and he shed his non-contact jersey, having moved through concussion protocol.

Fantasy Spin: Chubb had been dealing with a head injury, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. As long as he can stay healthy, Chubb is expected to serve as the No. 2 tailback in Houston behind Joe Mixon. As such, he is worth scooping up as a late-round fantasy option in leagues of 12 or more teams.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that even if running back Najee Harris (eye) isn't ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener, rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton will rotate in with another back. Who the other RB is remains wide open, according to Roman. If Harris isn't ready for Week 1, it would be either Kimani Vidal Hassan Haskins sharing backfield touches with Hampton. With that said, Hampton's fantasy value heading into his first year in the NFL has continued to go up with Harris still on the Physically Unable to Perform list thanks to a fireworks accident that injured his eye. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the No. 13 fantasy RB currently. He's expected to be L.A.'s primary back by season's end, regardless of Harris' health, and he has intriguing big-play ability in what will be a run-first offensive attack.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) has made some progress and was able to do some jogging at training camp on Tuesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Harris has gotten off to a bad start with his new team, suffering an eye injury during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July. The former Steelers RB remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list and has yet to practice with the rest of the team. What initially seemed like a minor injury actually has a chance to keep the 27-year-old sidelined for the start of the 2025 regular season. The former first-rounder has been durable in his NFL career and has recorded 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four seasons, but he's lacked big-play ability and could very well take a back seat to rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton whenever he gets back on the field. Harris has fallen to RB49 status at RotoBaller.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that wide receiver Calvin Austin III (abdomen) and tight end Jonnu Smith (knee) are considered day-to-day. "Hopefully they're back sooner rather than later," Tomlin said. The head coach categorized Smith's injury as knee soreness, while Austin is working through a minor abdominal issue. It remains to be seen if either play will suit up for the second preseason game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but even if they don't, they should be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Austin has the inside track to be the WR2 behind DK Metcalf this year, but that role is still unlikely to give the 26-year-old enough volume to make him an every-week starter in fantasy. Meanwhile, Smith lost most of his fantasy appeal in the offseason trade from Miami to Pittsburgh.

From RotoBaller