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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Browns QB Deshaun Watson progresses to 'full speed' throws

Tue Apr 16 4:08pm ET
Field Level Media

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson shed the pitch count and progressed to throwing full speed passes in the latest tier of his rehab from season-ending shoulder surgery.

"Everything is full motion," Watson said Tuesday after reporting for Cleveland's offseason program. "Everything is fluid and motion is really good. The velocity and the strength is really good."

Watson had surgery in November following a season-ending injury to his right shoulder during Cleveland's 33-31 victory in Baltimore on Nov. 12. He landed on injured reserve as the Browns signed former first-round pick Joe Flacco from the couch to lead the team's charge to the playoffs and a wild-card berth.

Acquired from the Houston Texans and signed to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract in 2022, Watson has played 12 total games in his first two seasons with the Browns.

He has three years left on that contract and is determined to prove he's the best man for the job in Cleveland. But Watson won't be pushing to make any offseason statements at the risk of re-injury, a position head coach Kevin Stefanski said the franchise would take to preserve their QB1 this spring.

"This is an injury that, for spring, you want to be a little bit more conservative. This summer you get ready for training camp. That's going to be a time where we can pick that up," Watson said.

Watson, 28, completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions in six games in 2023.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Watson has thrown for 16,756 yards with 118 touchdowns and 45 interceptions in 66 career games with the Houston Texans (2017-20) and Browns.

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Davante Adams Apr 30 5:13am ET
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Dynasty | The Raiders have signed free agent wide receiver Michael Gallup. Dynasty Analysis: Once a very highly thought of dynasty asset, Gallup has seemingly failed to fully recover from an ACL tear he had two years ago. His 34/418/2 season with Dallas last year failed to impress many and he had to wait until after the draft to get signed. Still, it's a decent landing spot and he'll attempt to carve out a role behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Gallups is far off the dynasty map and can stay on waiver wires, however.

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Jamal Adams Apr 30 12:30am ET
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The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are among the list of teams that have shown interest in free agent safety Jamal Adams, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The Seahawks released Adams earlier in the offseason, but general manager John Schneider didn't rule out the possibility of re-signing him. Now, Condotta notes that Seattle has "legitimate" interest, though they'll have to compete with the Niners and other teams. The three-time Pro Bowler has struggled to stay healthy lately, playing in just 10 games over his last two seasons and registering 51 tackles during that span.

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Tee Higgins Apr 30 12:20am ET
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is seeking a deal similar to the one that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. received, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Pittman fetched three years and $70 million on his latest deal, which would suggest that Higgins is looking for a three-year deal worth roughly $23 million on an annual basis. If so, there's a significant gap in negotiations between him and the Bengals, who have not offered more than $20 million annually, according to Conway. The former second-round receiver previously requested a trade, but as it stands, he's expected to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. With Joe Burrow throwing him passes, Higgins ranks as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.

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Zack Moss Apr 29 11:50pm ET
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Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss is expected to have a large role in 2024 after the team opted not to select any competition in the NFL Draft. Cincinnati signed Moss during free agency, shortly before trading Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans. This series of moves made it seem like the Bengals could upgrade their backfield in the draft, but that wasn't the case. Instead, it appears Moss will be Cincinnati's primary running back, barring a surprise signing or trade. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic indicates that Moss has a leg up over Chase Brown heading into the summer, and the former Indianapolis Colt is also viewed as the Bengals' preferred option on third down. Such a favorable outlook (combined with his 70.4 scrimmage yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game last season) puts him in the low-end RB2 range for redraft fantasy football, though his draft position could slip if Brown has a strong camp.

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Chase Brown Apr 29 11:50pm ET
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown remains the No. 2 option out of the backfield after the team opted not to select any competition in the NFL Draft. Cincinnati replaced Joe Mixon with Zack Moss last March, and while it seemed like they could upgrade their backfield in the draft, that wasn't the case. Instead, it appears Moss will be Cincinnati's primary running back, barring a surprise signing or trade. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic indicates that Moss has a leg up over Brown heading into the summer, including on third downs. This isn't necessarily a surprise given that Moss looked great in Indianapolis last year, but Brown also flashed promise as a rookie, totaling 335 yards and a touchdown. He enters the summer as Moss' backup but could push for more snaps with a strong camp.

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Chuba Hubbard Apr 29 11:10pm ET
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the plan in 2024 is to use all three of running backs Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and rookie second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (knee). The Panthers traded up in the second round to take Brooks. Because he's a rookie and is coming off ACL surgery, The Athletic's Joseph Person has put Brooks initially at third on the Panthers' running back depth chart. However, if he's healthy, he'll have a chance to surge up the depth chart in a hurry, and it's fair to wonder if Sanders will be marginalized with Brooks' arrival. The 26-year-old Sanders just didn't look good at all in 2023, getting a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 yards per tote) and one touchdown. Sanders' fantasy stock is reaching rock bottom.

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Aidan O'Connell Apr 29 11:00pm ET
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The Las Vegas Raiders didn't take a quarterback in this year's NFL draft, which means QBs Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell are set to compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. The Raiders were rumored to be angling to trade up in the first round of the draft for a franchise signal-caller, but instead they stayed put and took Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with their first-round selection. O'Connell held his own in 2023 when he was thrust into the starting role because of Jimmy Garoppolo's injuries and inconsistency, but Minshew should still be considered the favorite this fall given his experience. The 27-year-old Minshew would be a solid midrange QB2 in fantasy if he wins the starting job after making his first career Pro Bowl in 2023 with the Colts. He threw for a career-high 3,305 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions in 17 games (13 starts).

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Joe Burrow Apr 29 10:50pm ET
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Zack Moss Apr 29 10:40pm ET
Zack Moss

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Travis Kelce Apr 29 9:13pm ET
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Dynasty | The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a two-year contract extension with tight end Travis Kelce. Dynasty Analysis: The contract will keep Kelce in Kansas City through the 2027 season, pays him $17 million guaranteed and all but ensures he'll play his entire career in with the Chiefs. This should put to rest the idea he's going to retire any time soon and it looks like Kelce will remain a solid TE1 option for the foreseeable future. While his play took a small step back last season (he failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in eight years), it was clear in the playoffs the Chiefs were just saving him for the postseason. If this is a theme, Kelce may not be the elite option we've come to expect as he ages but he's still a solid TE1 each and every week and a solid target for a contending dynasty team now that we know he has no plans to retire any time soon.

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Marcus Mariota Apr 29 9:13pm ET
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Michael Gallup Apr 29 9:00pm ET
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Despite having Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and Jaleel McLaughlin on the roster, the Denver Broncos selected former Notre Dame running back Audric Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The 221-pound bruiser likely saw his stock fall after posting a 4.71 forty-yard dash time at the NFL combine, but Sean Payton and company stopped the fall. In a media availability after the draft, Payton called Estime a " first and second-down runner" with experience in a pro-style offense. With Williams posting just 3.6 yards per carry last season and Perine having a limited role, Estime could be in play for early-down work right away as a rookie. His fantasy upside will be limited, but any role as a fifth-round rookie would mean exceeding expectations.

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Travis Etienne Apr 29 4:30pm ET
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The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on X that they have picked up the fifth-year options on 2021 first-round picks Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. This move keeps the former Clemson duo under contract through the 2025 NFL season. Lawrence, the former No. 1 overall pick, has played well in spurts and led the team to a playoff win. He seemingly regressed from 2022 to 2023, but he's shown enough to warrant the team rolling with him for at least another two years. After missing his entire rookie season with a lisfranc injury, Etienne has rushed 478 times for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 93 passes for 792 yards and one score as a receiver in 34 games.

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J.J. McCarthy Apr 29 4:20pm ET
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The Minnesota Vikings have exercised the fifth-year option on standout offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft has earned a Pro Football Focus grade of at least 82.4 over the last two seasons and is widely viewed as at least an above-average player at the position. With rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy slated to take over the franchise at some point in the 2024 season, locking up key offensive linemen should be a priority. With this move, Darrisaw will be under contract with the Vikings through the 2025 campaign.

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Brandon Powell Apr 29 3:00pm ET
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Trey Sermon Apr 29 2:40pm ET
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