NFL Player News

One of Guyton’s missed connections was a first quarter end zone look. He was barely heard from after as the Pats played a tough defensive game in the rain. Guyton is probably going to pop up for a long score at some point, but there is little point in trying to predict when. He’s not much of a WR5 heading into Week 14 against the Broncos.

Neal is entering his third year in the league and has yet to live up to the potential that made him the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Presumably still rehabbing from an ankle injury that required surgery back in January, Neal was believed to be ready to return close to camp. Instead, he was placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp, and little has been said of when he may return to the field. When he does return, it’s possible Neal will be without a starting job after it was reported earlier that Jermaine Elumenor would man the right tackle spot while Greg Van Roten slots in at right guard.

Brown suffered a torn ACL in Week 18, so a return before Week 1 would be surprising. When asked by a reporter if Sirianni expected Brown to return at some point in the preseason, Sirianni said it wouldn’t be fair to put a timeline on Brown’s return, given the nature of his injury. In his first season as a pro, Brown started six of the 14 games he appeared in, totaling 45 tackles, one forced fumble, and an interception he returned 99 yards for a score. He’ll likely open the year on injured reserve, making him a candidate to return after the first month of the season.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s a clear message nonetheless. The No. 2 overall pick of this year’s draft will see his first taste of NFL action next weekend as he prepares to take the mantle as Washington’s franchise quarterback. Daniels enters 2024 with high expectations, coming off a Heisman campaign in which he threw for 3812-40-4 while adding another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Commanders haven’t rushed to officially name Daniels the starter, as he and Marcus Mariota have both seen snaps with the first-team offense this offseason. With that said, if Daniels isn’t named the starter for Week 1, it would be a surprise.

The deal includes $11.25 million in guaranteed money. The former first-round pick has yet to fully live up to his No. 16 overall selection, with the timing of the extension hinting more at necessity than a true fit schematically. Arizona previously declined his fifth-year option but chose to extend him for two years the day after BJ Ojulari suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury. Either way, look for Collins to see his snap rate increase dramatically off the edge.

Havenstein is the leader of an offensive line that has seen a lot of turnover during the previous three seasons, making his absence something worth monitoring as the 2024 regular season approaches. The team would do well to give Havenstein the required time to get fully healthy before games begin to count. The nine-year veteran has made 130 starts for the franchise since entering the league with the then St. Louis Rams, starting more than 13 games in all but one season.

Brown suffered a career-altering torn Achilles in 2022 and was released by both the Cowboys and 49ers before signing with the Panthers. He is likely to serve as a camp body as he pushes to make the team at the nickel corner position. The Panthers currently lack depth in the secondary behind starters Jaycee Horn, Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, and Dane Jackson, meaning the veteran could work his way into a backup role if he shows out in camp.

The deal includes $65 million in guarantees, bringing his four-year guaranteed total to a robust $106.5 million, the most ever for a wide receiver. Notably, there were no additional years added to his contract, keeping the speedy wide receiver under team control through the 2026 season. Hill has finished as fantasy’s overall WR2 in consecutive seasons while playing for the Dolphins and remains one of the safest first-round selections in drafts this season.

Smith had just 155 yards on 37 carries in 2023 after rushing for 366 yards on 68 carries the year prior, including just 10 rushing first downs after amassing 24 in 2022. “Last year, really midway through the season, I felt I could have used my legs a little bit more,” Smith told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “That’s something I want to continue to do. I’m still very athletic. I play within the pocket, that’s the base of my game, but I think I can add an extra element to what defenses have to account for if I get a couple extra first downs or a couple extra touchdowns.”

Things were already trending in this direction after the Panthers placed Brooks on the NFI list to open training camp. Brooks suffered a torn ACL late in his final season at Texas and has been on the mend ever since. Despite early hopes that he would be ready by the start of training camp, those hopes quickly faded after Brooks failed to get much work in during OTAs and minicamp. As long as he remains out, the Panthers figure to lean heavily on Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, with Hubbard expected to operate as the lead back. Canales has put emphasis on the running game all offseason and utilized Rachaad White heavily last season in Tampa Bay. Hubbard could have some nice value as a late-round fantasy pick that figures to see plenty of work in both the running and passing game.

Fowler also adds that Mims “will also be a key component in the passing game.” The second-year receiver struggled to crack the depth chart last year despite the team trading up in the second round to acquire him and him averaging a solid 17.1 YPR while posting a 22-377-1 line on 33 targets. Mims made the Pro Bowl as a returner last season, totaling 709 kick/punt return yards on 34 returns while also scoring on a 99-yard kick return touchdown. Courtland Sutton is expected to remain in his typical WR1 role for the Broncos this season, but Mims’ explosiveness should add another element to the offense in the second year under Sean Payton. If he truly is a key component in the passing game, Mims could turn into a nice fantasy value after going in the late double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts all offseason.