NFL Player News

Henderson’s draft stock has risen considerably over the past two weeks, and ahead of Thursday’s first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, he could go in the top-15 or 20 selections. The Broncos and Steelers have expressed interested in Henderson, and now the Chiefs are doing their due diligence in case Henderson falls to them with the 31st pick in the draft. The versatile Henderson, 22, rushed for 3,761 yards and 42 touchdowns while at Ohio State and ran for 183-1,248-15 as a true freshman in 2021. His addition to the KC backfield would be a major problem for Isiah Pacheco’s 2025 fantasy prospects. Pacheco, coming off a serious 2024 leg injury, would enter a timeshare backfield split at best.

Benson, 23, suffered a knee injury in Week 4 last year. He was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery in-season. Although he resumed practicing, the team never activated him from injured reserve. Unfortunately, Benson appears to be buried on the depth chart behind RBs Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier and James Conner (ankle) right now. Benson is under contract with the Cardinals through 2027.

LaFleur is a Sean McVay understudy, having spent the last three seasons serving as the Rams’ offensive coordinator. He worked with Adams for one year. Harrison (6'3/220) is a natural fit for the X-receiver role in any system, but he has been nowhere near as efficient as Adams was last season, so we can’t simply take this one to the bank. At this point, we’ll settle for reliable fantasy WR3 production. All that said, if LaFleur is saying he plans to feature Harrison in the red zone, akin to the way Adams was used in Los Angeles, we suppose a ceiling outcome could be in play for the Cardinals’ 23-year-old receiver. We’re keeping an eye on Harrison’s development this summer.

Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3 last year. Earlier this offseason, he agreed to a revised contract that pays him $2.35 million this year. The Cardinals signed RB Tyler Allgeier to a two-year, $12.25 million deal one day later, before spending the No. 3 overall pick on former Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. If Conner can resume practicing soon, it might increase the odds of a running back-needy team acquiring him via trade.

LaFleur spent the last three seasons as Nacua’s offensive coordinator with the Rams. Taking on the Z-receiver role means that Wilson, 26, will have an easier time getting free releases because he gets to lineup off of the line of scrimmage. It’s great news, both for fantasy purposes and for Wilson, who is currently hoping for a contract extension. Wilson will also likely get opportunities to run routes from the slot. Wilson broke out in 2025, posting a 78/1,006/7 receiving line. Given the Cardinals’ unsettled quarterback situation, Wilson might prudently be viewed as a reliable FLEX option, but jumping up a tier or two is possible, depending on how the target pecking order shakes out between him, TE Trey McBride and WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

London can make up to $150 million on the new contract, which includes $100 million guaranteed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the deal “makes London the third-highest-paid receiver in the league with the highest average per year in Falcons franchise history.” Over the course of his four-year career, London has caught 309-of-473 targets for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns. A knee injury sidelined him in Weeks 12-15 last year, yet he still led the team with seven receiving touchdowns. London, 24, has not yet been named to a Pro Bowl, nor has he earned All-Pro honors, but it is reasonable to expect him to bring home a few accolades in the coming seasons. London is a WR1 for 2026.

No major cause for concern just yet, but it’s worth monitoring how he rebounds from a hamstring injury. With A.J. Brown now officially on the Patriots, Lemon is ticketed for a fairly big role in Philadelphia’s new offense in his rookie season. We’d be surprised if it had major breakout potential, but a WR3 season is probably in the range of outcomes if everything goes right.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Brooks’ reps were managed even once we get to training camp after his long layoff. Brooks probably figures to be brought along slowly this year when he does come back, making him more of a focus for Week 5 and thereafter in fantasy leagues.

$42 million of this money is guaranteed per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Herbig was entering the final year of his rookie contract and coming off a career-high 7.5 sacks. The extension locks him in next to Alex Highsmith and J.J. Watt, and the Steelers would have three separate edge players on $20 million cap hits in 2027 if they all stayed. This extension sure seems to forecast that either Highsmith or Watt isn’t long for Pittsburgh.

He gets a $5 million raise this year and has a chance to make $5 million more next year if he makes the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams. The “good player pay bump” is getting more and more common in NFL circles. Surtain has been on one of the two All-Pro teams in three of his first five seasons in the NFL, so there’s a good shot he makes it again this year if he stays healthy.

Walley tore his ACL last August in training camp after a promising offseason that seemed to have him as a possibility to start right away. It looks like he’ll be full-go in training camp and should have a decent shot at starting. The 80th overall pick in the draft in 2025, Walley’s absence was a big part of the reason the Colts dealt for Sauce Gardner at midseason last year, and it sounds like he could replace Kenny Moore in the slot for the Colts in 2026.