Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) is currently banged up and missed practice on Tuesday, but FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz says he's a name to watch during Rashee Rice's six-game suspension to begin the 2025 season. Wideout Tyquan Thornton is another name to watch after he had an exceptional training camp to earn himself a 53-man roster spot. Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown and tight end Travis Kelce should be quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top aerial targets through the first six games with Rice suspended, but both Royals and Thornton could also get involved. The 22-year-old Royals is currently battling knee tendinitis that caused him to miss the preseason finale, and his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 5, is in question. JuJu Smith-Schuster is another receiver who could benefit from Rice's suspension.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that tight end Cade Otton (leg) is dealing with a leg injury and soreness, and will miss "a little bit." Buccaneers.com writer Brianna Dix reports that we should know next week if Otton's injury will impact his status for the Week 1 regular-season opener versus the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. This is something fantasy managers in TE-premium leagues need to monitor heading into the season opener. If the 26-year-old misses practice time next week and cannot go against Atlanta, the Bucs would likely mix and match at the position with Payne Durham, Devin Culp and Ko Kieft, with none of the trio being very reliable for DFS lineups. Otton was sidelined for a lot of training camp with a hamstring issue, too, so he hasn't gotten a lot of reps with the starting offense going into the regular season. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 22 tight end in fantasy.

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The San Francisco 49ers are signing veteran free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, a source tells Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Valdes-Scantling was unable to make the Seattle Seahawks' final 53-man roster heading into the regular season, but he'll remain in the NFC West division and join a 49ers team with a banged-up receiver room. MVS was choosing betwen the 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The 30-year-old still shouldn't be drafted in 12-team fantasy leagues, but he should have a better shot at playing time early in 2025 in the Bay Area. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will miss at least the first four games (and possibly more), while Jauan Jennings (calf) is also up in the air for Week 1 against Seattle. MVS has never had more than 42 catches, 690 yards or six touchdowns in a single season, though, and most likely will just give San Fran an extra body for receiver depth.

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Updating a previous report, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is accepting and will serve a six-game suspension to start the 2025 regular season, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The league and the NFL Players Association are working to finalize the settlement, which will end the limbo surrounding Rice's off-the-field issues. He will be eligible to return for a Week 7 divisional clash against the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 19. This is obviously a big hit to the 25-year-old's fantasy value this year, but managers already knew a four- to six-game suspension was coming, and Rice sitting out games to begin the year is actually better than him missing key games down the stretch into the fantasy playoffs. Despite the suspension, Rice is worth stashing in all fantasy formats, and he could even come at a nice discount. Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown will see more targets in the first six weeks.

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The Baltimore Ravens and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton are finalizing a four-year contract extension on Wednesday that will be worth over $100 million, sources tell FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. The former first-rounder has quickly become one of the best safeties in the league and has been a Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons. The 24-year-old is one of the top IDP safeties to target for fantasy because of his abilities in coverage down the field and in the run game. In his three seasons in Baltimore to begin his NFL career, Hamilton has recorded 250 tackles (186 solo), seven sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 27 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 48 games (36 starts). For a strong Ravens defense, Hamilton is one of their most important players.

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The Buffalo Bills are signing former All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to his agents, Drew Roenhaus and Kyle Lincoln. After a year with the Miami Dolphins, Poyer will return to the team that he played for from 2017-23. In 16 regular-season appearances for the Dolphins last year, the 34-year-old veteran defensive back had 98 tackles (51 solo) and three pass breakups while missing one game due to injury. He was an every-down player for Miami's defense, although he didn't record any interceptions or sacks. Poyer was an All-Pro in 2021 with Buffalo and was a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career in 2022. He probably won't be a standout defensive back in his return to the Bills, but he clearly has some juice left and will be a valuable and experienced addition to their secondary.

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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL is aiming to place at least a six-game suspension on Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice. According to Schefter, this suspension would begin at the start of the season. The 25-year-old is scheduled to have a disciplinary hearing with the league on September 30. While this date appeared to have pushed a potential suspension until later in the season, this recent update suggests the league is looking to suspend Rice earlier in the season. Fantasy managers should continue to closely monitor this situation as Rice could be in danger of missing at least the first six weeks of the regular season. Despite suffering a season-ending LCL tear in Week 4, Rice appears to be on the fast track to a breakout season, tallying 288 yards and two scores in the first three weeks. If Rice were to miss six games, second-year wideout Xavier Worthy would likely see a significant increase in targets.

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The Miami Dolphins will sign kicker Riley Patterson to their practice squad, general manager Chris Grier said Wednesday. Miami will spend at least the first four weeks without starting kicker Jason Sanders (hip) and needs a bit of help at the kicker spot. Patterson kicked for three teams in 2024, going 16-for-16 on extra points and 4-for-7 on field goals. As long as Sanders is injured, Patterson should have a solid chance to work his way onto the 53-man roster, but he will be no more than a shaky deep-league streamer at the kicking position in fantasy.

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Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said the club should have running back De'Von Achane (calf) available for Week 1, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. The star back's status for the start of the season has been something of an open question, but the club's optimism Wednesday certainly was a good sign. Achane piled up 78 catches and six receiving touchdowns last season to go with 907 rushing yards and six more scores on the ground, making him one of the most dynamic fantasy assets in the league. He looks ready to go for the Dolphins' opener against Indianapolis.

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Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said newly signed tight end Darren Waller is not injured, but rather taking things "cautiously," according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. The veteran came out of retirement to sign with Miami, so the club has opted to take things slowly in practice as they approach the first week, according to Grier. Jonnu Smith had a breakout season playing for the Dolphins a year ago, piling up 88 catches and eight touchdowns, but was traded to Pittsburgh during the offseason. Waller figures to be the team's top receiving option from the tight end spot.

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Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio was non-committal on whether running back Joe Mixon (ankle) will play during the 2025 season when asked at a Wednesday press conference, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The veteran back is on the reserve/non-football injury list, meaning he will miss at least the first four games, but the Texans haven't seemed especially optimistic about his return. Caserio said Mixon will be evaluated after four weeks, but ultimately answered, 'We'll see,' when asked if the running back would come back this season. Houston signed Nick Chubb, still rosters Dameon Pierce, and drafted Woody Marks earlier this year to round out its backfield.

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With wide receiver Adam Thielen headed back to Minnesota in a Wednesday trade, the Carolina Panthers are planning on an enhanced role for receiver Jalen Coker, as reported by Jordan Schultz. A former undrafted free agent, Coker put together a solid rookie season on a bad Panthers team in 2024, accumulating 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in just 11 games. Carolina added Tetairoa McMillan in the draft, but Coker figures to be in the mix to see an increased target share without Thielen, who averaged more than seven targets per game during his two years with the Panthers.

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The Minnesota Vikings are trading for their own former star wide receiver, Adam Thielen, Ian Rapoport reports. Carolina receives a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, and Minnesota gets Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Thielen gets to return home, as not only did he spend nine years with the Vikings from 2014 to 2022, but he is also from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and attended Minnesota State University, Mankato. Although at 35 years old and perhaps a few steps slower than he was a handful of years ago, Thielen still produced at a reasonably high level in 2023 and 2024, where he had 615 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 48 receptions in 2024 and 1,015 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 103 receptions in 2023. Thielen will join a somewhat depleted receiver room with Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games, Rondale Moore out for the season (knee), Tai Felton (arm), and Jalen Nailor (hand). Thielen should produce early on, and his fantasy value is expected to increase with the move to a more explosive offense. Thielen also played alongside Justin Jefferson from 2020 to 2022 and scored 30 touchdowns during those three seasons.

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ESPN is reporting the Panthers are trading WR Adam Thielen to the Vikings. Minnesota gets Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, and Carolina receives a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

The Las Vegas Raiders waived rookie quarterback Cam Miller on Tuesday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. A sixth-round pick out of North Dakota State, Miller showed some flashes during the preseason. His release comes as somewhat of a surprise, with Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (wrist) set to miss significant time after fracturing his wrist. However, Las Vegas solidified its backup QB role by acquiring Kenny Pickett from the Cleveland Browns, and chose not to put O'Connell on injured reserve to begin the year. Miller could potentially find his way back to the Raiders as a practice squad signing or be claimed elsewhere.

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Zac Jackson of The Athletic expects Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. to "play a lot, immediately" in 2025. Jackson also writes that Fannin Jr. and veteran tight end David Njoku will be both deployed together and moved around in different offensive formations. A third-round pick out of Bowling Green, Fannin Jr. recorded 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns across 13 games in his final collegiate season. He may not be ready to overtake Njoku as Cleveland's TE1 right away, but it appears that the Browns are searching for ways to utilize Fannin Jr.'s obvious talent as a receiver. The 21-year-old is definitely a name to know in dynasty leagues, and he could become a priority waiver-wire target in redraft formats if Njoku were to get injured.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens could be in a prime position to open the season as the team's RB2 after Indianapolis released veteran back Khalil Herbert on Tuesday. With Herbert off the roster, Giddens and Tyler Goodson (elbow) are the Colts' running backs behind Jonathan Taylor. Goodson may miss the start of the regular season as he recovers from an elbow injury he suffered during preseason play, leaving Giddens as the likely passing-downs back early in the year. For fantasy managers looking for a handcuff option for Taylor late in drafts, Giddens appears to be the clear choice.

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Veteran running back Khalil Herbert has been released by the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Herbert signed with Indianapolis in free agency this past March, but is now likely headed elsewhere. In 14 games split between the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals last season, Herbert logged 36 carries for 130 yards and one touchdown. With Herbert out of the picture in Indianapolis, Tyler Goodson (elbow) and rookie DJ Giddens now make up the depth behind star running back Jonathan Taylor. Goodson is currently dealing with an elbow injury, but is expected to return early in the season.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper told Kevin Patra of NFL.com that he still has "some juice left" and that signing with the Raiders will allow him to show it. Cooper signed a one-year deal with Las Vegas on Tuesday. The 31-year-old recorded 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns across 14 games split between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills in 2024. However, before 2025, Cooper had reached 1,000 receiving yards in five of the six previous seasons. He should slot in as the WR2 in Las Vegas next to Jakobi Meyers, although Cooper may eventually be surpassed by rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech. As a late-round flier, Cooper could end up being a solid depth piece for fantasy managers.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have acquired veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The 31-year-old recorded 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games with Detroit last year. The Lions' decision to move on from Patrick signals an internal belief in third-round rookie Isaac TeSlaa, who was a standout performer in the preseason. In Jacksonville, Patrick will likely step into the team's WR3 role next to Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

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