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Lions to waive 2023 third-round QB Hendon Hooker

Mon Aug 25 5:03pm ET
Field Level Media

Former third-round pick Hendon Hooker is headed for waivers after two seasons with the Detroit Lions, Fox Sports reported Monday.

The 2023 draft pick was competing in preseason for the backup quarterback spot with Kyle Allen, who has 19 career starts with five previous NFL teams since entering the league in 2018.

Hooker led the Lions with 138 rushing yards in the preseason. He was sacked six times, completing 29 of 44 attempts for 300 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Hooker, 27, spent part of his rookie season in 2023 recovering from a torn ACL suffered during his college career at Tennessee. He played in three games in 2024, completing 6 of 9 passes.

He could still be traded if the Lions are approached by an interested team before making the waiver transaction official. Teams face a deadline of 4 p.m. ET Tuesday to reduce their roster to 53 players after being allowed a maximum of 90 in the offseason and training camp.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Saturday the decision on Hooker would come down to whether the franchise felt he was still developing.

"Because look, we are talking about Hooker right now," Campbell said. "How much development do you believe there still is? Sometimes does the player need a change of scenery? What about our own depth in other areas? I mentioned this the other day, relative to that -- all right, maybe there is room to grow. Is that worth it for the depth we need at O-line, D-line, receiver, DB? And so those are all things you have to weigh."

Starting quarterback Jared Goff passed for 4,629 yards, 37 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games in 2024.

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Player Notes
Hendon Hooker Aug 25 4:40pm CT
Hendon Hooker

The Detroit Lions released quarterback Hendon Hooker on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Hooker came into training camp this summer with an opportunity to compete with Kyle Allen for the No. 2 QB job in Detroit behind starter Jared Goff, but he failed to impress in three preseason games. The 27-year-old former third-rounder (68th overall) in 2023 out of Tennessee went 6-for-11 for 70 yards and an interception in the preseason finale on Saturday against the Houston Texans, which sealed his fate. Hooker will now try to latch on with another organization as quarterback depth, and he's likely to be placed on the practice squad if he signs elsewhere. He made his NFL debut last year and went 6-for-9 passing for 62 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in mop-up duty in only three games.

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D.J. Moore Aug 25 4:30pm CT
D.J. Moore

With the Chicago Bears' running back room currently decimated by injuries, wide receiver DJ Moore was seen taking reps at RB during combination drills with the QBs at practice on Monday, according to Bears reporter Herb Howard. It's not the first time that Moore has taken handoffs out of the backfield in training camp this summer as a wrinkle in new head coach Ben Johnson's offensive playbook. The only RBs that dressed for practice were D'Andre Swift and Brittain Brown. The Bears seem to be trying to manufacture touches for the 28-year-old wideout in Johnson's offense, but fantasy managers realistically probably shouldn't expect him to see more than a handful of carries, at best, on a weekly basis. The former first-rounder had a career-high 98 catches for 966 yards and six scores in 17 starts with Caleb Williams in his rookie season. Chicago's offense could be much better this year, but Rome Odunze is a threat to steal valuable targets. Treat Moore as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3.

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Jason Sanders Aug 25 4:10pm CT
Jason Sanders

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders (hip) is expected to miss the first four to five weeks of the season due to a hip injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Dolphins will now look for a new kicker for the start of the 2025 season. It's unknown at this time if Sanders will be placed on short-term Injured Reserve, which would require him to miss at least the first four games of the season. The 29-year-old will not need surgery and will be able to return at some point this year. With the news of Sanders' multi-week injury, fantasy managers can now safely remove him from their draft boards in 2025. In a Dolphins offense that took a step back last year, Sanders actually finished as the No. 8 fantasy kicker by making 37 of his 41 field-goal attempts while also convering on 26 of his 28 extra-point opportunities in 17 regular-season starts.

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Devon Achane Aug 25 4:10pm CT
Devon Achane

David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that there have been no setbacks for Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (calf), and head coach Mike McDaniel "will bring him back to practice in two weeks before the opener" in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 7. Achane was held out of practice all of last week with a calf injury, and he was also held out of Saturday's preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old may not do much on the field this week, either, but as long as he's able to practice at some point next week, he should be ready to roll for the season opener. Achane's injury situation is worth watching even closer going into the start of the season with backup Jaylen Wright (leg) not expected to be ready for Week 1. If Achane has a setback and can't go, it would be rookie Ollie Gordon II as Miami's lead back in Indy.

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Joe Mixon Aug 25 3:20pm CT
Joe Mixon

The Houston Texans announced on Monday that they will officially move running back Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) from the Active/Non-Football Injury list to the Reserve/NFI list on Tuesday, which means that he will have to miss at least the first four games of the 2025 campaign. The Texans were unable to give an update on Mixon's rehab from ankle/foot injuries that have kept him sidelined for the entire offseason program, training camp and the preseason. The 29-year-old veteran will be eligible to return in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 5, but it remains to be seen if he'll be available. This new is obviously a pretty big hit to Mixon's 2025 fantasy value, and he's down to the RB52 rank at RotoBaller. Most fantasy managers will be avoiding him altogether. With Mixon out to begin the year, Houston is expected to go with a committee RB approach with Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks.

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Devin Neal Aug 25 3:13pm CT
Devin Neal

Dynasty | The Saints have released running back Cam Akers. Dynasty Analysis: Devin Neal and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are both still on the roster at this point as the Saints start trimming down to their 53. Akers has spent time with the Rams, Vikings, and Texans over the past four seasons but he just hasn't been able to get his career on track following a multitude of injuries. He'll look to latch on elsewhere but his dynasty value seems just about cooked at this point.

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Jayden Daniels Aug 25 3:13pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Dynasty | Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has agreed to a contract extension. Dynasty Analysis: The deal is reportedly for three years and will pay McLaurin $96 million. The $32 million in an annual salary will make him one of the highest paid receivers in the game and, more importantly for dynasty managers, keep him with Washington as the WR1 for Jayden Daniels. This is a great outcome for all parties as McLaurin's "hold in" was effective and won't have him miss time. McLaurin will turn 30 soon so he remains a solid target for competing dynasty teams as a short-term WR1.

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Jaylen Wright Aug 25 3:10pm CT
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (leg) is not expected to play in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts with a leg injury, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. However, Wright should return in the "foreseeable future" after that, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Fantasy managers can now cross Wright off their list of potential RB options in Week 1, and it sounds like his availability for Week 2 against the division-rival New England Patriots is up in the air. De'Von Achane (calf) also didn't practice at all last week and is dealing with an injury heading into the season opener, so rookie Ollie Gordon III's fantasy stock as a late-round flier/handcuff option is rising. The 22-year-old Wright is fast and explosive and gives the Dolphins an intriguing change-of-pace option for Achane, although he averaged only 3.7 yards per carry for 249 yards and no TDs in his rookie season.

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Quinshon Judkins Aug 25 3:00pm CT
Quinshon Judkins

Zac Jackson of The Athletic writes that it's possible that an NFL announcement of a potential suspension for Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins could come at roster cuts. Judkins remain unsigned and away from the team as the NFL continues to investigate domestic-violence allegations from July in which the 21-year-old second-rounder won't be charged. If Judkins isn't suspended by the league, the Browns "would likely move toward signing him and probably seek a temporary roster exemption." Since he remains unsigned, Jackson didn't include Judkins on his latest 53-man roster projection. Instead, Jerome Ford, rookie Dylan Sampson and Pierre Strong Jr. (head) are projected to be the three RBs the team keeps heading into Week 1 against the Bengals. Judkins could lead the backfield by season's end, but he's currently fallen to the RB45 rank at RotoBaller.

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Jaydon Blue Aug 25 2:40pm CT
Jaydon Blue

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue (ankle) is practicing with the team on Monday, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Blue has been dealing with an ankle/heel injury lately. The 21-year-old was cleared to play in the team's final preseason game on Friday againt the Atlanta Falcons, but he came out of that one early after suffering a low-ankle sprain. The Cowboys are only doing a light practice on Monday, but it's a good sign for the fifth-rounder's Week 1 availability against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4 that he's back on the field. Even if Blue is available for the season opener on Thursday Night Football, he is expected to open the year as the RB3 in Dallas behind veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Blue could lead this backfield in catches in 2025, though, making him a worthwhile RB4 target late in PPR drafts.

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Ricky White III Aug 25 2:30pm CT
Ricky White III

After trading away veteran wide receiver D.K. Metcalf and letting Tyler Lockett walk in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks spent Day 3 draft picks on rookie receivers Tory Horton and Ricky White III. While Horton has all but assured himself of a meaningful spot on the team, White has had an uneventful summer, and he is not projected to make the team's initial 53-man roster. After garnering steam in the pre-draft process following a highly productive college career at Michigan State and UNLV, White fell to the 7th round. He appeared in all three of Seattle's preseason contests, making three catches for 40 yards and failing to register a stat on his 20 special teams snaps. If released, White is a potential practice squad candidate, either in Seattle or somewhere else, but those who drafted him early in dynasty leagues should feel free to move on if facing a crunch for bench spots.

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Jakobi Meyers Aug 25 2:30pm CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has requested a trade, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. According to Rapoport, the Vegas wideout recently met with the team to attempt to negotiate a new contract. While both sides could not come to terms, the Raiders have noted that they do not have any current plans to seek a trade partner for his value to the offense. However, fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case both sides grow further apart. Last season, outside of breakout tight end Brock Bowers, Meyers was one of the stable pieces in the offense.e The veteran wideout caught a career-high 87 receptions for 1,027 yards. If he were to be traded, fantasy managers should expect rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech to have a significant role in the offense.

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Sauce Gardner Aug 25 2:20pm CT
Sauce Gardner

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) is on track to be available for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. Gardner was not spotted at practice on Monday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini, but the lockdown corner has the next two weeks to return to action before the season opener. The 24-year-old returned to practice last week, so the Jets are likely just taking it easy on Gardner early this week. Because opposing quarterbacks often avoid challenging Gardner, he's not much of a fantasy asset in IDP leagues, but he's one of the best defensive backs in football. The two-time All-Pro had 49 tackles (36 solo), his first career sack, an interception and nine pass breakups in 15 starts for the Jets in 2024 in his third year in the league.

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Mark Andrews Aug 25 2:20pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (undisclosed) is missing a second straight practice on Monday but was seen working on a side field, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Andrews was running routes and sprints for about half the field with a trainer. The Ravens haven't specified exactly what Andrews is dealing with, but it sounds minor, and he should be just fine for Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 7. However, with Isaiah Likely (ankle, foot) up in the air to be ready for the start of the regular season, Andrews' health is worth watching even more closely. If neither Andrews or Likely are ready for Week 1 against Buffalo, Charlie Kolar would be the next tight end up. The 29-year-old Andrews is in a contract year and is looking to make up for his crucial fumble and dropped pass in the postseason loss. Andrews is still a midrange TE1 target for fantasy managers.

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Jauan Jennings Aug 25 2:10pm CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) was not practicing on Monday, according to Tracy Sandler of Fan Girl Sports Network. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as it appears Jennings could be in danger of missing the start of the season. However, the 49ers have not placed the wideout on the injured reserve yet, which is leaving the door open for him to suit up in their season opener. With top wideout Brandon Aiyuk (knee) not expected to be ready until after the first month of the season, the San Francisco wide receiver room could be quite empty without Jennings. Last season, Jennings enjoyed a career year, totaling 975 yards and six scores. If Jennings were to miss time, second-year wideout Rickey Pearsall and tight end George Kittle will likely see a majority of the targets.

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Isaiah Davis Aug 25 2:10pm CT
Isaiah Davis

New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (ankle) is on track to be available for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. Davis carried the ball six times for 14 yards in the preseason opener but then sat out of the final two preseason contests due to an ankle injury. The 23-year-old should go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues, as he's expected to open the 2025 campaign as the No. 3 back behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. After he was taken with the 173rd overall pick in th fifth round in 2024 out of South Dakota State, Davis carried the ball 30 times for 174 yards (5.8 yards per tote) and one touchdown while catching nine passes for 75 yards and another score in 17 games in his rookie season. His physical running style should play well in this offense, but Davis likely needs an injury to Hall or Allen to become relevant.

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Stefon Diggs Aug 25 2:00pm CT
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) "looks" ready for Week 1, according to The Greg Hill Show of WEEI. The veteran wideout has been working his way back from a torn ACL during training camp. The Patriots have opted to keep the veteran out of action during the preseason out of precaution. However, seeing him participate fully in the team's recent practice sessions suggests he should not face many restrictions at the start of the regular season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. In the offseason, the Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year deal to lead a weak New England pass-catching room. Given his role as the clear WR1 in the offense, Diggs is an intriguing option as a WR2 in PPR formats, given his hefty projected target share.

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Trey Hendrickson Aug 25 1:50pm CT
Trey Hendrickson

The Cincinnati Bengals have begun to restart contract talks with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Accoridng ot Jordan Schultz, both sides have started to explore a "unique" way to get a deal done. Throughout camp, the star defensive end has participated in a "hold-in" as he signs a contract extension. Schultz noted that a source has expressed optimism regarding the negotiations, but there is "more work to be done." Last season, the 30-year-old was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Cincinnati defense as he racked up 17.5 sacks for the second-straight campaign. He also logged a career-high 46 combined tackles and added six pass deflections. If Hendrickson were to remain sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Joseph Ossai to have a larger role on the defensive line.

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Matthew Stafford Aug 25 1:40pm CT
Matthew Stafford

According to Sarah Barhop of ESPN, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) was seen participating in 11-on-11s during Monday's practice session. This is an excellent sign as the veteran quarterback has been dealing with a lingering back injury throughout most of training camp. Seeing Stafford continue to participate in full during the team's practice sessions suggests the 37-year-old may not be in danger of missing time during the regular season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Last season, Stafford had a bit of a down season, throwing for just 3,762 yards and 20 scores. If Stafford were to face a setback and miss time in the regular season, Jimmy Garoppolo would slot in as the team's QB1.

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Lamar Jackson Aug 25 1:00pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (foot) returned to practice on Monday, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. A teammate stepped on Jackson's foot during training camp practice last Wednesday, and although the issue was never considered serious, the Ravens gave the 28-year-old two-time MVP a few days off to rest last week. Now that Jackson is officially back at practice, he'll have two full week of practice to prepare for the Week 1 regular-season opener versus the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 7. Only the Bills' Josh Allen is ranked higher at the QB position at RotoBaller for fantasy going into the 2025 season, so managers are going to have to pay a pretty penny to secure Jackson as their starting signal-caller in upcoming drafts. The four-time Pro Bowler is as dangerous as they come with both his arm and legs after throwing for 4,172 yards and 41 TDs and running for 915 yards last year.

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