Fantasy Football News | Page 6

For the #Colts and Michael Pittman Jr., it's a 3-year, $70M deal that can reach up to $71.5M max. $46M guaranteed.

Related Players: Alec Pierce, Josh Downs

This is a good look for the Colts to scrap the franchise tag and get QB Anthony Richardson a solid cornerstone as he continues to adapt to the NFL. Look for Indy to continue adding to the pass-catching group in the NFL Draft next month.

Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He’s ready to move on to a new home.

Related Players: Ja'Marr Chase

If Higgins does get shipped, it will almost assuredly be a negative for his 2024 fantasy outlook. The splits with and without Higgins for Chase have been minuscule, so we don't expect much of an upgrade if his running mate leaves town.

Nine-time Pro-Bowl QB and former Super-Bowl champ Russell Wilson plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per league sources. Wilson will sign a team-friendly, one-year deal in which the Broncos will wind up paying $38 million of his salary while Wilson wears the black and yellow.

Related Players: Kenny Pickett

The new pairing of Wilson and OC Arthur Smith is a clear upgrade on the last two seasons of Matt Canada/Kenny Pickett/Mason Rudolph. Though Wilson himself is unlikely to be a weekly starter in typical 1QB leagues, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and even Pat Freiermuth should all get a tick upwards.

Smith should form a gameplan that will include play action and middle-of-the-field targets that were missing from the offense in 2023.

Baker Mayfield confirmed the three-year deal. “I wanted a chance to come back,” Mayfield said. “I love coach Bowles and the staff. I’m happy to be here and I want to win more in the postseason
Baker Mayfield’s deal with the Buccaneers:

2024: $30 million
2025: $30 million, including $20 million guaranteed
2026: $40 million

$5 million per year in incentives

$100 million total, with incentives a max value of $115 million.

Coming off a 9-8 record in his first year in Tampa Bay, Mayfield is back along with his star WR Mike Evans. Consider him a fantasy QB2 heading into 2024.

Trade: Patriots are finalizing a deal to send QB Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, sources tell ESPN. The trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins Wednesday and he passes a physical. The two sides were discussing a 6th-round pick, per sources.

Jones was born in Jacksonville; now he has the chance to go home.

Jones will return to his hometown to backup Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville. He won't be more than a late-round best ball stab in Superflex formats, with no redraft value.

Trade: Broncos and Browns agreed to a deal today that will send WR Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland in exchange for two draft picks, sources tell ESPN.

Cleveland made a run at Jeudy at last season’s trade deadline. Now the Browns finally will get him once trade is processed this week.

The two picks are 2024 5th- and 6th-round picks, per source.

The former first-round draft pick will be competing for the WR3 spot in Cleveland on a historically run-heavy offense. We shouldn't get too excited about Jeudy's potential heading into 2024 and consider him in fantasy WR4 territory.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara left Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers with an ankle injury.

Kamara was taken down with the controversial hip drop tackle. Kamara finished with 45 yards on ten carries and caught two for four yards as the Saints have been in control all day in Tampa. Jamaal Williams will shoulder the load with Kendre Miller inactive today.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play Sunday against the Bengals.

Pacheco suffered the injury during the second half Monday against the Raiders but will end up not missing any games as a result. The Chiefs will have their leading rusher available in Week 17 as they look to clinch their 8th straight AFC West title Sunday. Pacheco moves right back into being a top-12 running back option this week against a Bengals team that has sorely missed defensive tackle D.J. Reader.

The Chiefs activated WR Mecole Hardman from injured reserve.

Hardman had his questionable designation removed and is expected to play Sunday against the Bengals. This will be his first game action since late November. Hardman will step in with Kadarius Toney out this week. Chances are Hardman won’t make enough of an impact to be fantasy relevant, given his lengthy absence and where we are in the fantasy season.

Chargers' game status

QUESTIONABLE — Nick Vannett, Zion Johnson, Deane Leonard

DOUBTFUL — Kenneth Murray Jr., Tanner Muse, Nick Williams

OUT — Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, Joey Bosa

Related Players: Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton, Alex Erickson

The Chargers offense is circling the drain, and one more lost WR isn't going to help things. Avoiding everyone but Austin Ekeler is probably the best course of action.