"There were no visible limitations, both in terms of workload and the type of throws" Chargers QB Justin Herbert made at Wednesday's practice, The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes. Herbert underwent surgery in January to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He resumed throwing in May. "Herbert is looking healthier and healthier, and he should enter training camp with minimal limitations physically," Popper adds. This should be a non-issue by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp participated in full team practice on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a season-ending high-ankle sprain last November that required surgery. Kupp, though, is still rehabbing and hasn't been fully cleared. "Playing football, you can't simulate this stuff. So I don't know if we'll really know," Kupp said. "I feel right now we've been pushing it pretty hard. I feel like I'm asking for more, wanting to do more and feeling like you're getting held back versus feeling like they're pushing you to do more. We're in a good place now where I feel like I want to get out there and play." We'll continue to keep an eye on Kupp's progress, but he should be back to 100% before Week 1.
The Vikings are releasing RB Dalvin Cook, according to multiple reports. The move (or a trade) has been anticipated all offseason. His departure leaves Alexander Mattison as the top candidate to lead Minnesota's backfield, and there's big volume upside. Cook ranked 11th among RBs in opportunity share last season, the team's first under HC Kevin O'Connell. Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride and Kene Nwangwu will compete for roles behind Mattison. Cook now hits the open market, ready to significantly alter the RB projections for some new team. Check our fantasy football RB rankings for updated numbers.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson is preparing to take on a big workload this season. “Damien [Harriis] is out of here now, so I’m kind of the guy,” Stevenson said. “Just trying to make sure I’m ready for the end of the season this year... Taking care of my body, just trying to be proactive.” Stevenson averaged 12.4 carries and 4.1 catches per game last year -- and that spiked to 14.9 carries and 4.7 catches in nine healthy games with Harris out or limited. With only Pierre Strong, Kevin Harris, James Robinson, and Ty Montgomery behind him on the depth chart, Stevenson could dominate New England's backfield work this season. He sits aggressively high in our RB rankings.
The Athletic's Dan Duggan does not expect Giants QB Daniel Jones' designed runs to decline in 2023. Jones ranked fifth among QBs with 79 designed runs last year. "The zone read figures to remain a major piece of the offense," Duggan writes. "It’s an annual offseason talking point in Buffalo how quarterback Josh Allen needs to limit his carries. Invariably, Allen runs just as frequently when the games start in the fall. I’m expecting the same with Jones." The Bills comparison is apt because Giants HC Brian Daboll was Buffalo's OC from 2018-2021. It'd make little sense for Daboll to limit Jones' running considering how effective it's been. He used a 120-708-7 rushing line to finish 12th among QBs in fantasy points last year and has similar upside in 2023.
Ravens RB Gus Edwards will be "partially ready" for next week's minicamp, HC John Harbaugh said. Edwards played in just nine games last year after his 2021 ACL tear and subsequent hamstring injury. But he played in the final seven regular-season games and Baltimore's playoff loss, so it's unclear what's ailing him now. "No setback," Harbaugh said. "Maybe they're being a little cautious, but that's what they're doing." Harbaugh added that Edwards should be "fully ready" come training camp, but his health is worth monitoring this summer.
Bears WR Darnell Mooney (ankle) is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. "Darnell is working is butt off and he's right on track," HC Matt Eberflus said Wednesday. Mooney suffered a season-ending left ankle injury last November and has been sidelined for the offseason program so far. Barring a setback, it sounds like he'll be back to 100% before the start of the season. His fantasy value took a big hit when Chicago acquired WR D.J. Moore, but Mooney could still provide some spike-week value in best-ball leagues.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel admitted that 2022 contract negotiations contributed to a down season. The 27-year-old signed an extension last July. On Tuesday, Samuel described his play last season as “awful.” He performed at a WR3 level in PPR points per game. "We talked about it. We put it behind us, and [were] just going through the tape to just look how sluggish and how bad it looked on tape," Samuel said of a conversation with HC Kyle Shanahan. "I never will put nothing like that back on tape again.” Deebo currently profiles as a top-20 fantasy WR for 2023.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be recovered from his foot surgery "long before training camp." The QB will need to pass a physical, of course, but it doesn't sound like there should be big issues on this front. Garoppolo has tumbled down best ball draft boards since news broke of his spring surgery, but he obviously remains the top bet to start for the Raiders this season. Treat him as a big late value, especially in formats where drafting three QBs makes sense.
Saints WR Michael Thomas said he expects to be a full participant on day one of training camp. We’ll see if the team pulls in the reigns on a guy with only 10 appearances over the past three seasons. For now, though, Thomas looks to be on the right track. The veteran even took some reps at OTAs on Tuesday. With an Underdog Fantasy ADP of WR47, Thomas is reasonably priced in early drafts.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce has improved his pass protection ability this offseason, according to RBs coach Danny Barrett. "He can now see the big picture and can identify things quicker to get to his pickups," Barrett said. "That's going to help us out tremendously. When he is in the game, teams think we are going to just run the football. But his ability to pass protect, he understands what is needed in our passing game from him." QB C.J. Stroud has also been impressed by Pierce's pass pro skills, Sports Illustrated's Coty M. Davis writes. As a rookie last year, Pierce ranked 73rd among 81 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grades, allowing a pressure on 21.3% of opportunities. That was part of the reason he averaged a just-ok 3.0 targets and 2.3 catches per game. It sounds like Pierce is a candidate to take on a bigger role in the passing game this year, although he'll need to fend off free-agent addition Devin Singletary. We'll be keeping a close eye on Houston's backfield all summer.
SI's Albert Breer writes that 49ers QB Brock Purdy is “throwing without pain, and he’s passed every test the Niners have thrown at him.” Breer laid out the next steps for San Francisco’s likely starter. “The plan going forward is to gradually increase the velocity and distance on his throws. But at this point, I’m told he’s come through the rehab process and is now building strength back in his arm, on a track that’d have him ready to go for Week 1.” This is one of many positive updates on Purdy’s elbow this offseason, although we're still not buying him as a priority fantasy target. San Francisco kicks off their season with a Week 1 matchup at Pittsburgh.
Bucs TE Cade Otton shared some insight on new OC Dave Canales’ offense. “I think it’s a really good opportunity for us to get the ball in our hands,” Otton said. “I think easy completions is a big thing in this offense – making it easy on the quarterback. Then for us tight ends, getting the ball early in the down and trying to make plays down the field. So that’s a really exciting opportunity for us. You know they’re going to give us opportunities to do it, and then it is up to us to make the play and earn trust from the quarterbacks and the coaches.” Otton recorded 42-391-2 as a Round 4 rookie alongside Tom Brady. The 24-year-old won't be on the streaming radar to begin next season.
Panthers TE Hayden Hurst is back on the field after undergoing sports hernia surgery earlier this offseason. Barring a setback, that procedure won't impact his 2023 campaign. Hurst isn't an exciting pick in fantasy drafts -- but he's a volume-based value at his TE24 ADP.
WR Treylon Burks has been QB Ryan Tannehill's "favorite target" throughout OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website writes. "It seems like Tannehill connects with Burks at the start of every period, and I haven't seen Burks drop a ball intended for him yet in the open OTAs," Wyatt adds. Frankly, it'd be disappointing if Burks wasn't Tannehill's favorite target considering the sorry state of Tennessee's pass-catching corps. But that's part of Burks' 2023 fantasy appeal: He has a chance to dominate Titans targets. The second-year WR is a legitimate breakout candidate this year.
Bears RB Khalil Herbert indicated the team will utilize a backfield rotation this fall. “You know how things go in the NFL now. They’re doing things running back by committee,” Herbert said. “You need one, two, three really good guys that really carry the rock and there be no drop-off. I feel like we’ve got a really strong group. We’ve got guys who can take it to the house at any given moment. I’m excited to see what we can do.” After averaging 5.7 YPC last year, Herbert said he’s added five pounds, with a goal of playing between 215 and 220. “Just his ability to hit the home run,” HC Matt Eberflus said of Herbert's strengths. “He’s got great vision. He’s got great cut-back ability. He can take the ball outside and bounce it outside, but he’s really good at cutting it back when it’s there. We’re excited where he is.” Scan the RB rankings to see full numbers for Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, and rookie Roschon Johnson.
It's no surprise that Seahawks S Jamal Adams and LB Jordyn Brooks have not participated in OTAs. Each is coming off a 2022 leg injury, and HC Pete Carroll said Thursday that it'll be a while before we know when to expect either player back. "We don't have time frames," he said, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. "We won't really know for another good six weeks, eight weeks or something like that. ... They've got their eyes set on getting back and getting ready to go for the season. Whether they can make it, we'll find out." You can tell by our 2023 IDP rankings that we're not betting on Brooks being ready early in the season. He tore his right ACL in Week 17 and doesn't seem like a good bet to return to full strength at any point in 2023. Adams sustained a far less common quad tendon injury in Week 1. That timeline would seem to indicate he has a much better shot than Brooks at being ready by September. But the fact that Carroll is addressing their returns similarly says you should be cautious with your Adams expectations. He sits conservatively in DB3 territory of our IDP rankings.
Chiefs WR Justyn Ross missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury. But he's had a healthy 2023 so far and has impressed at OTAs. “Justyn is coming along," HC Andy Reid said. "He feels good, his foot feels good (and) the surgery that he had worked out well up to this point. He’s made some nice plays for us out here. I know Pat (Mahomes) has trust in him, so that’s good to see." Mahomes said back in April that he was excited about the progress he'd seen from Ross, who went undrafted last year due to medical concerns but totaled 1,865 yards and 17 TDs over his first two seasons at Clemson. His progress -- and standing on the depth chart -- are definitely worth monitoring this summer.
Eagles RB Rashaad Penny (leg) is participating in this week's OTAs. His 2022 season ended with a fractured fibula in October, but he was medically cleared in March. Being able to get on the field for these OTAs is good news for Penny as he settles into a new offense. How snaps and touches will be divvied between Penny, D'Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott this season will be one of the more intriguing fantasy storylines to track this summer.
Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker is dealing with a case of plantar fasciitis. He was seen wearing a protective boot on his right foot at OTAs. The Round 2 pick enters the summer looking to earn snaps for a Cowboys squad now without Dalton Schultz.
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