San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing had a quiet rookie season after being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Arizona. The 24-year-old produced just four receptions for 80 yards and rushed once for seven yards. Otherwise, he did the majority of his work as a punt returner. Entering 2025, Deebo Samuel Sr. is now with the Washington Commanders, and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is likely to miss the start of the new campaign. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Cowing has a chance to earn touches in Kyle Shanahan's offense. "[Cowing] could take a lot of the departed Deebo Samuel's gadget plays. The 49ers like his toughness, speed, and nose for yards after the catch," Tafur wrote. "Cowing added more weight in the offseason to his once 168-pound frame to handle sweeps and other running plays. He looked sharp at offseason workouts and, with Brandon Aiyuk still sidelined, could carve out an important role at training camp." Add in the fact that Jauan Jennings has requested a new deal or to be traded, and Cowing is now slightly on the fantasy football radar. That said, he's more of a deep-league flier or best ball dart throw. For now, he should be left on the waiver wire in traditional 12-team setups.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins was selected with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after an outstanding collegiate season at Iowa State. As a senior, he tallied 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns despite sharing the field with Texans third-round pick Jaylin Noel. Texans reporter Mike Jones of The Athletic believes Higgins could be the team's breakout player in 2025. "The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver out of Iowa State brings size, athleticism, and speed," Jones said. "Lining up along with Nico Collins and new veteran addition Christian Kirk, Higgins should receive plenty of opportunities to help the Texans. He can win 50-50 balls, gets good separation, and should make a name for himself in Houston this season." While competing for targets with Collins is not ideal, Stroud has shown the ability to support multiple fantasy-relevant pass-catchers in the past, and the Jaguars being willing to send Kirk to a division rival for pennies on the dollar isn't exactly a screaming endorsement for Kirk. At Higgins' WR50-55 price tag in preseason drafts, he presents intriguing upside, especially since Kirk and Collins have missed a combined 21 games over the last two seasons.

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The New York Jets are signing All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The new deal that includes a $30.1 million average salary makes the 24-year-old the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati, Gardner has earned two first-team All-Pro honors and been selected to two Pro Bowls. In 48 career games, he has tallied 181 tackles (128 solo), three interceptions, 41 pass deflections, one sack, and one forced fumble. The team recently reached an agreement on a contract extension for wideout Garrett Wilson, locking up its premier players on offense and defense for the foreseeable future.

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The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. could be poised for his first 1,000-yard season in 2025 with another year of chemistry with second-year quarterback Bo Nix. Mims was selected in the second round (63rd overall) in 2023 out of Oklahoma, and he's already been a Pro Bowl returner on special teams twice. However, the 23-year-old's progress as a pass-catcher could unlock another element in the Broncos' offense. He showcased his ability to win on contested deep balls -- no example greater than his amazing Week 17 touchdown grab against the Cincinnati Bengals to force overtime. Mims had 434 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his final seven games in 2024 and is probably the favorite for WR2 duties behind Courtland Sutton. For his big-play abilities alone, Mims is worth a bench stash as a WR5/6.

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In addition to wide receiver Mike Williams, the Los Angeles Chargers placed receiver Jaylen Johnson (undisclosed), safety Elijah Molden (knee), linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips (undisclosed) and offensive tackle Savion Washington (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday for the start of training camp. The Chargers can activate Johnson at any time during training camp this summer, but if he remains on PUP to start the regular season, he'll have to miss the first four games. The 25-year-old will be competing for a depth role in L.A. whenever he gets back on the field behind Williams, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, rookies Tre Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith and Derius Davis. Johnson didn't see any targets in his rookie season in 2024 and is nowhere near the fantasy radar.

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There are as many as five wide receivers battling for one or two roster spots this summer with the New England Patriots, including Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, according to Patriots.com's Evan Lazar. Bourne could have a leg up, as he has a history with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, posting a career-high 925 scrimmage yards with McDaniels in 2021. However, Bourne has overlapping skill sets with younger receivers on the roster, and the Pats may prefer to go with youth, especially since Bourne carries a $7.7 million salary cap hit. Boutte, who broke out last year for 43 catches, 589 yards and three scores, could earn a roster spot because of his ability to excel deep down the field. He has also developed some nice chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye. Polk and Baker both disappointed in their rookie seasons and will need to show more to get a chance in 2025.

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Patriots.com's Evan Lazar writes that along with wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee), New England Patriots pass-catchers DeMario Douglas and third-round rookie Kyle Williams are "locks" to make the 53-man roster. Mack Hollins also has a very strong chance of making the team. Douglas, 24, was the highest-rated Patriots receiver in ESPN's receiver score metric, finishing 25th among qualified pass-catchers. He had 66 catches for 621 yards and three touchdowns on 87 targets in his second NFL season and is set to reprise his role in the slot for the Pats in 2025. A lot of Douglas' early-season fantasy value will depend on whether Diggs is ready to start the regular season or not, and if he is, how effective he'll be. Douglas should see enough volume to be worth a late-round PPR flier in deeper leagues, but the Patriots also have much more competition at the position than they did a year ago.

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said he expects quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (shoulder) back "at some point" during training camp this summer, and "when he does come back, we'll ease him into throwing and then we'll go from there." Richardson did not require another surgery on his troublesome right shoulder, but he will enter training camp behind Daniel Jones for the open competition under center in 2025. Richardson and Jones were set to split reps evenly during OTAs and minicamp, but Richardson's shoulder injury caused him to miss all of minicamp. "It's really going to come down to who's the most consistent," Steichen said. First and foremost, Richardson is going to need to prove he can stay healthy. The former first-rounder has elite rushing upside, but his health and accuracy are major questions, and he still might need to outplay Jones to win the starting gig back.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin said he hasn't decided if he will report to training camp next week, and he's taking things day by day, according to NBC Sports' JP Finlay. McLaurin has skipped all of the team's offseason workouts so far and could continue that into training camp as he seeks a long-term contract extension. The 29-year-old is heading into the final year of a three-year, $68.2 million extension he signed in 2022 and is seeking more after posting his fifth straight 1,000-yard season in 2024. The two-time Pro Bowler caught 82 of his 117 targets for 1,096 yards and a career-best 13 touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts. McLaurin's arrow is pointing up with quarterback Jayden Daniels looking like the real deal, although fantasy managers will want to expect touchdown regression. He's a firm WR2 target in fantasy, but a lengthy holdout this summer won't boost his fantasy appeal.

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Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder) says that his surgically-repaired shoulder is 100 percent, according to NBC Sports' Mike Berman. However, when asked if he'll be out on the field when training camp begins this month, Loveland said it's to be determined. Despite having surgery on his shoulder back in January, the Bears took the 21-year-old 10th overall in April's NFL draft. Loveland has high-end passing catching potential, but he also missed all of the team's offseason workouts and appears unlikely to be full-go for the start of camp in July. The Bears will most likely play it safe with their first-rounder, especially since they still have Cole Kmet at the position. Loveland is a great dynasty/keeper target, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to temper expectations for the Michigan product. RotoBaller has Loveland ranked as the No. 15 TE.

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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (knee) has the size and athletic ability to become an elite edge rusher, in the opinion of The Athletic's Jon Machota. Williams suffered a season-ending torn ACL and MCL in training camp last summer that caused him to miss the entire year. However, he was able to take part in individual drills during minicamp, and Machota believes that he could be the team's second-most productive pass-rusher in 2025 behind Micah Parsons. The 26-year-old was taken 56th overall in the second round in the 2022 NFL draft and recorded 48 tackles (30 solo), 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 32 games (zero starts) in his first two years in the league. If he can stay healthy, Williams could be a key player in Dallas' pass rush.

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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs said new offensive coordinator John Morton wants him "more involved" in the passing attack this year. "I gotta learn the formations for being split out," Gibbs said. "I'm being split out like way more than I was the past two years. That's good. That's going to be fun. I've been waiting on that." In his first two seasons with Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator, Gibbs caught 104 passes on 134 targets for 833 yards and five receiving touchdowns. In 2024, he spent more time in the backfield than from the slot or out wide compared to his rookie campaign. David Montgomery will still be involved in the Lions' rushing attack, but if the game-breaking Gibbs is used more through the air, it could easily make him the most valuable fantasy RB in 2025. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 3 back, behind only Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson.

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According to CBS Sports' Bud Elliot, Cincinnati Bengals first-round rookie pass-rusher Shemar Stewart has been taking part in workouts with Texas A&M, his former college team, and could be considering returning to college in 2025 after being taken by the Bengals with the No. 17 overall pick in April. The 21-year-old has been holding out over default language the Bengals want him to sign as part of his rookie deal that would void all guarantees in his contract. Cincinnati is known for playing hardball with their players, so this isn't really anything new. If Stewart were to return to play for the Aggies this fall, the Bengals wouldn't receive any compensation for losing him, and Stewart would then be allowed to re-enter next year's NFL draft. It's unclear if a resolution is coming soon in this bizarre saga between Stewart and the Bengals.

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If convicted during his trial on Tuesday that stems from his 2024 DUI citation in the Superior Court of California, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison could be facing a baseline three-game suspension this year, per NFL policy, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Addison has pleaded not guilty. Even if the 23-year-old isn't convicted in court, the NFL could still suspend him to begin the 2025 season. The 23-year-old former first-rounder in 2023 out of USC took a slight step back in his second season last year with a 63-875-9 line on 99 targets in 15 regular-season starts. Addison is still a very dangerous No. 2 wideout behind All-Pro Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, but the potential for a suspension is hanging over his head this year. Fantasy managers also have to wonder if he'll be as efficient with quarterback J.J. McCarthy running the offense. Addison is a low-end WR3/high-end WR4 target in fantasy.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) suffered a superficial eye injury during a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July, but he isn't expected to miss significant time and should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season in early September. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Harris is likely to miss limited time to begin training camp this month. It's not the way the 27-year-old would have preferred to enter training camp in his first year in L.A., but it shouldn't affect his regular-season availability as he looks to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth straight season to begin his NFL career. Harris should have a key role in the Chargers' run-first offense in 2025, but his fantasy upside will be limited due to the presence of first-round rookie Omarion Hampton. Hampton has more big-play ability than Harris, who should be viewed as an RB3/flex target in fantasy drafts.

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Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has really benefited from the addition of new defensive coordinator Al Golden, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. Taylor-Britt has been unable to find consistency and was benched multiple times in 2024, but Dehner writes that his energy, athleticism and playmaking ability have shown up during the offseason. The 25-year-old former second-rounder (60th overall) in 2022 out of Nebraska has played at a high level before in Cincy's secondary and could become a true No. 1 cornerback for the Bengals in 2025. Although he had a career-high 77 tackles (58 solo), half a sack, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a career-high 16 pass breakups in 17 starts a year ago, Taylor-Britt was a liability in coverage and gave up 734 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. The Bengals need him to be better in 2025.

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The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze should be much better in 2025 with a better offensive scheme and improved quarterback play out of Caleb Williams. Fantasy managers were disappointed with Odunze last season after he was taken ninth overall by the Bears out of Washington. However, Fishbain points out that the 23-year-old pass-catcher was fifth among all rookies in receiving yards (734) while catching 53.5% of his targets. He was most definitely inconsistent and scored only three times in 17 games (12 starts), but there remains plenty of upside, and he should be better in new head coach Ben Johnson's offense with Keenan Allen gone. Odunze's after-the-catch abilities and physical prowess make him a nice WR3/flex with upside to target in fantasy drafts.

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Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is expected "to play a significant role in the passing game," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver selected Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft and he enters training camp in a battle with free agent addition J.K. Dobbins for backfield touches. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime could also be in the mix. Harvey had just 20 receptions for 267 and three touchdowns last season at UCF, but it sounds as though he'll be relied upon as a pass-catcher in Denver. Broncos' head coach Sean Payton has designed offenses that heavily feature running backs in the passing game before, so Harvey's usage in that role could be a significant boost to his value in PPR league formats.

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Washington Commanders receiver Luke McCaffrey impressed during the team's offseason practices and should have a more meaningful role in 2025, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. Jones writes that McCaffrey "demonstrated an improved understanding of the playbook and improved confidence." A third-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, McCaffrey logged just 18 catches for 168 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie. The Commanders have Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel entrenched atop their depth chart at wide receiver, but there could be playing time available via the WR3 role. Veterans Noah Brown and Michael Gallup, as well as fourth-round rookie Jaylin Lane, are among the names McCaffrey will have to beat out for the job. He'll need to earn consistent playing time to become fantasy-relevant, but it appears as though McCaffrey will have that opportunity.

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New York Jets running back Braelon Allen will "have plenty of opportunities in 2025 to make his mark and prove he can be the long-term starter with (current starter Breece) Hall in the last year of his contract," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt notes that Jets' first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and play caller Tanner Engstrand would like to emulate the two-back model that was so successful in their last stop with the Detroit Lions. Allen was the clear RB2 behind Breece Hall last season, earning 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games played. A more even timeshare with Hall would be a highly fantasy-relevant development in the Jets backfield. That's especially true if Allen, as the larger back, gets more of the team's work around the goal line.

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