Team news: Washington Commanders | Page 13

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is apparently dealing with a minor thumb injury that will keep him out of most, if not all, of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Related Players: Jaylen Waddle, River Cracraft, Malik Washington, Odell Beckham

Hill has been spotted wearing a brace on his injured hand, but head coach Mike McDaniel said he is not concerned about his availability for Week 1. Keep drafting him as a top-end fantasy asset.

Now official: The Commanders are rolling with No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels as their starting QB, coach Dan Quinn said.

Last year, Derrick Klassen of Reception Perception identified C.J. Stroud as the most accurate passer in last year's draft class. Guess who charted the best this year? That's right, the so-called "running quarterback" Daniels. Klassen does have some reservations about Daniels' willingness to throw over the middle of the field, but two things are true: 1) Daniels is an accurate passer, and 2) he's going to rack up the rushing yards. John Paulsen's rookie quarterback model predicts 43.9 rushing yards per game for Daniels, which is the third-highest expectation in the 97-player sample behind only Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton. Jackson didn't start until Week 11 of his rookie season, but he was the fantasy QB8 the rest of the way. Newton was the QB3 as a rookie. Rounding out the top five in expected rushing yards were Jalen Hurts (QB8 in his first season as the starter) and Vince Young (QB9 as a rookie). See where this is headed?

Kyle Shanahan is hopeful that Ricky Pearsall will be ready for Week 1 for 49ers.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings

With no movement yet —or possibly at all— on the Aiyuk front, it seems unlikely that the rookie will make much of a fantasy impact unless someone in the offense misses time. He's an interesting (very) late-round dart throw, but nothing more for now.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will play in Washington’s preseason opener Saturday against the Jets.

This was more of a formal announcement. As a rookie, Daniels needs all the early reps he can get. Washington has just the three preseason games compared to the four for the Chicago Bears, which was why Caleb Williams did not play in the Hall of Fame Game. Daniels is currently our QB12.

First day of pads has some good news for the 49ers: Ricky Pearsall is in pads and practicing today.

Related players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing

It's good news Pearsall is back in the lineup for the 49ers. Aiyuk has been a hold-in so far at camp, so this is a chance for Pearsall to get some valuable work. The Aiyuk situation could be an interesting one as some say he could still be moved if the team can't get a deal done with him. If that happens, Pearsall's value could soar as a result. And that would also open the door a bit for Jennings and another rookie, Cowing. Assuming Aiyuk does return, Pearsall could be looking at a WR3 role.

While he’s still seeking a new contract and has requested a trade, receiver Brandon Aiyuk will not hold out.

Per a report from NFL Media, Aiyuk is reporting to training camp.

Related players: Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing

Aiyuk, 26, is slated to make just $14.124 million in 2024 on his fifth-year option. The No. 25 overall pick of the 2020 draft, Aiyuk has demonstrated throughout the offseason that he would like to receive a new contract from San Francisco or be traded to another team willing to give him a new, lucrative deal. But to this point, the 49ers have not expressed a willingness to sign Aiyuk to the deal he desires or move him to another team, the story went on to say. The 49ers drafted Pearsall and Cowing this past spring, but Pearsall is starting camp on the NFI list, according to reports.

Daniel Bellinger will slide back into his pre- DarrenWaller role, and it appears more will be expected from Theo Johnson and former wide receiver Lawrence Cager in the pass-catching tight end role. Johnson and Cager are among the players who have received first-team offense opportunities this spring.

Bellinger was having a decent rookie season in 2022 before a freak injury forced him to miss some time. He then played second-fiddle to Waller last year but looks to be in the lead for pass-catching duties ahead of '24.

This will come at the expense of rookie Theo Johnson, who is nothing more than a deep flier in Giants stacks.

Ricky Pearsall has been easy to pick out in San Francisco 49ers practices.

For one, he’s been the team’s most prominent receiver on the field for most of the spring. Brandon Aiyuk was a no-show on Day 1 of the mandatory minicamp on Tuesday as he continues to hold out for a multiyear contract extension.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing

Barrows went on, “It’s been fun to watch both of them,” Shanahan said of the Purdy-Pearsall connection. “Brock doesn’t always get to watch how the route gets there. But he knows when guys end up in the right spot. That’s when quarterbacks get comfortable, and I think he can make that throw with Ricky right away. He’s been getting to the right spot. And when he has made a mistake, he understands it and corrects it. I think that so far those guys have had a lot of fun working together.”

Pearsall will be very interesting in fantasy should Aiyuk or Samuel miss any time. As it stands, he only profiles as a late-round dart throw

Restricted free-agent WR Jauan Jennings is signing a two-year deal with the 49ers worth up to $15.4 million, including $10.5 million guaranteed.

Jennings did not sign his free-agent tender and instead did this deal, which is akin to a one-year extension.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Ronnie Bell, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing

The 49ers are doing all they can to insulate Brock Purdy with weapons, and that should continue to be the case, assuming they don't move on from Samuel or Aiyuk before next season. Jennings doesn't have any standalone fantasy value as it stands, but boosts the offense as a rotational WR3/4.

Tyler Boyd is signing with the Titans, on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5M

A reunion with Brian Callahan.

Related Players: DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks

This signing makes all the sense in the world with Brian Callahan at the helm. Boyd should have a decent fantasy floor, but he is the third option—at best—with Will Levis at the helm. Slotting him into a lineup in typical redraft leagues will be difficult.