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    Colts letting Josh Downs lineup out wide, in slot

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    IND Wide Receiver #2
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    Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Moore reports that the Colts were lining up WR Josh Downs out wide and in the slot at mandatory minicamp.

    According to PFF, Downs has logged 1,561 slot snaps and 448 perimeter snaps over the course of his career. Per Colts coach Shane Steichen, the plan this offseason was to get Downs some reps on the outside in spring practices “and see where that goes.” Downs clearly profiles as the second-best Colts receiver behind Alec Pierce, so it makes plenty of sense to see if he can stick on the field in 12-personnel sets. With Pierce (ankle) still sidelined and on a murky timetable for the beginning of the season, there is also a path for Downs to see a heavy target share if Pierce is sidelined early. Downs has a chance to beat his current WR4 ADP.
Lawrence 'running the whole operation' in OTAs
Kyle Dvorchak discusses Trevor Lawrence's development going into the second year under Liam Coen's tutelage with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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  • IND Running Back #28
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    Taylor, 27, has totaled more than 320 offensive touches in each of the last two seasons. His current $14 million annual salary makes him the seventh-highest-paid running back in the league. Taylor has set multiple Colts records, operating as the centerpiece of Indianapolis’ offense for years. FOX 59’s Mike Chappell writes that it is “uncertain whether there’s a mutual desire to keep Taylor in Indy beyond 2025.” Multiple Colts stars, including DTs DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, OG Quenton Nelson and WR Josh Downs, are also entering the final year of their deal. Chappell believes owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon “might believe it’s more prudent to allow the upcoming season to run its course rather than reinvest in lucrative contracts.” Time will tell.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    The Colts’ intent to increase Pierce’s involvement was made apparent by the four-year, $116 million contract he signed last month. Downs produced career lows in targets (84), receptions (58) and yards (566) last year, struggling to compete with TE Tyler Warren as a slot weapon. This is the second positive report for Downs this week, though which is encouraging. Downs currently finds himself in the fantasy WR4 discussion, but could improve his standing by becoming the Colts’ go-to pass catcher in the short-to-intermediate target depth this summer. Pierce has a wide range of potential outcomes as he attempts to transition from a downfield role to being the team’s X-receiver. He can be valued similarly to Downs and may possess a higher upside.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Holder quotes Colts GM Chris Ballard as saying “I think Josh Downs is freaking good. I do. I’ve always thought he’s good. I think allowing him some more opportunities, we’re going to see some of the special stuff you’ve seen in the past, but more.” Downs probably is in line for the WR4 discussion in 2026 with Michael Pittman off to Pittsburgh, in what amounts to a make-or-break season in his walk year. We’d feel more comfortable boosting Downs if we were sure Daniel Jones were going to be healthy in Week 1, but he certainly has demonstrated the talent to be a fantasy factor in flashes.
  • IND Tight End #84
    He also projects some of Pittman’s targets to head to Josh Downs, perhaps elevating Downs to the fantasy WR4 line. Warren tapered off down the stretch as the Colts struggled with injured Daniel Jones and without Really Injured Daniel Jones. It does make sense that he’d take a second-year leap and be the preferred possession receiver in Pittman’s absence.
  • PIT Wide Receiver #11
    Aaron Rodgers’ new No. 2 receiver figures to fit in well in Mike McCarthy’s West Coast system. Because we’re expecting the Steelers to throw less in 2026 than the Colts did, Pittman Jr. probably profiles best as a WR4 going forward. It’s still a huge upgrade for the Steelers on a position where they were desperately trying to find bodies that Rodgers approved of towards the end of 2025. Adam Schefter reports the Steelers will sign Pittman Jr. to a three-year, $59 million extension as part of the trade. The $24 million cap savings for the Colts are the main benefit — it also helps solidify Alec Pierce as the team’s No. 1 receiver and elevates Josh Downs into a bigger role in 2026.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Downs didn’t exactly suffer an efficiency drought. He still caught four touchdowns, he played well when he was healthy. The Colts simply crowded him off the field after drafting Tyler Warren and watching Alec Pierce have a breakout season. Downs played only 58.4 percent of the offensive snaps through Week 17, and only took over 70 percent of the snaps in two games with Philip Rivers towards the end of a doomed season. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Downs is a plausible WR3 if the Colts move on from Michael Pittman Jr. and/or Pierce. He just needs an every-down role to actually have fantasy value.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Downs managed an 18-yard third-down catch on the sideline that was challenged but upheld to put the Colts in field-goal range. Otherwise, well, the Jaguars sat on everything underneath and challenged Philip Rivers to make deeper throws, and he mostly couldn’t. Downs seems like a better bet to play than the other Colts’ wideouts in Week 18 — assuming the Colts want him to — since he’s under contract in 2026 and still on his rookie deal.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    Downs tied with rookie tight end Tyler Warren for the team lead in targets and ranked behind only Alec Pierce in receiving yardage, relied on heavily out of the slot against the heavy zone rates of the 49ers. The 2025 season was not as kind to Downs’ fantasy managers as initially thought heading into the year, with Warren’s breakout a large reason why. He’ll enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2026.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    He’ll be in line for a real role on Monday night, though with Philip Rivers under center the best fantasy managers can realistically hope for is a PPR scam with some touchdown equity. Downs is probably best thought of as a WR4/WR5 in Week 16’s slate.
  • IND Wide Receiver #2
    We fully expect Downs to be available on Monday night, but given WR Alec Pierce’s (Achilles) limited session, this is worth keeping an eye on. The Colts’ pass catchers are now vying for opportunities in a low-volume passing attack. Removing one player makes a difference. Stay tuned.

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    ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes Jets WR Omar Cooper “was their most impressive rookie in the spring, all but solidifying a spot in the three-receiver package.”

    The Jets traded up and used the No. 30 overall pick in this year’s draft to select Cooper, but the hype surrounding Adonai Mitchell as the team’s No. 2 receiver has been the biggest piece of offseason news in what is a completely revamped passing game. That said, Cimini praised Cooper for both his route running and physicality this spring while noting that the former Indiana product “should be even better when the pads go on in training camp.” Cooper excelled at generating yards after the catch last season with the Hoosiers, forcing 27 missed tackles on 69 receptions, good for an impressive 39.1 percent missed tackles forced rate. He played 77 percent of his snaps from the slot last season, and seems like the early favorite to lead the Jets in slot snaps this season with Garrett Wilson and Mitchell serving as the primary options on the outside.
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    ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reports the Browns were getting KC Concepcion the ball “in a bevy of ways” during the team’s offseason programs.

    Oyefusi says the plays to Concepcion varied from “deep shots to screens to run plays,” as the versatile receiver has seemingly been all over the place early this offseason. It was reported earlier this month that head coach Todd Monken planned to design touches for Concepcion, who many believed to be one of the best overall playmakers in this year’s draft. It still remains to be seen how he will be deployed in his rookie season, but Concepcion could have a chance to be the most productive receiver in the Browns’ passing game this season, given his ability to operate in the short areas of the field and in the quick passing game. He is a player who will be worth a close watch in training camp, as any reports of significant usage could hint at a quick return in value for fantasy managers who drafted him.
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    ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports Jets TE Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) is expected to be ready by training camp.

    This is more of an update than breaking news. It was reported in May that Sadiq underwent minor hernia surgery and was expected to be ready by camp, and it doesn’t appear anything has changed a month later. The rookie did not participate in OTAs and minicamp and will be behind entering camp, per Jets OC Frank Reich, but they have a plan to get him up to speed once he returns. The Jets used the No. 16 overall pick on Sadiq in this year’s draft, hoping his elite athleticism and 4.39 speed can add another element to an offense that finished 29th in scoring last season. How the Jets plan to use Sadiq in his rookie season will determine his fantasy outlook, but he could turn into a solid late-round value if he factors into the passing game early on.
  • DAL Cornerback #29
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    C.J. Goodwin retired after 12 years in the NFL.

    The former 2014 undrafted free agent spent time with the Steelers, Falcons, Cardinals, Giants, 49ers and Bengals before joining the Cowboys in 2018. Per NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk, Goodwin appeared in 108 games with the Cowboys, playing 2,211 snaps on special teams, 62 on defense and one on offense. He totaled 94 tackles, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles over the course of his career.
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    ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports that Patriots owner Robert Kraft would like the Patriots to play a game in Scotland someday, and “the NFL views the possibility as appealing.”

    The Patriots’ Gillette Stadium served as a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup games. Scotland’s Tartan Army fans reportedly “brought spirit” to the point that it caught Kraft’s attention, prompting the Patriots’ owner to tell NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he would like his team to play a game in Scotland someday. Reiss also notes that the “economic stimulus from record beer sales at some local bars probably made an impression on Kraft.” Reiss’ sources say that this isn’t yet an “active” situation, and instead falls in the “conversation” phase between league and owner, at this time. The NFL intends to continue its international expansion, and NFL teams that seek out international fan bases will only hurry that process along.
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    ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes that it is “hard to imagine” Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez will participate fully in training camp without signing a contract extension first.

    Reiss believes Gonzalez “might have been sending a message to the team this spring” by sitting out the majority of the voluntary program and participating only in “the lower-speed/lower-tempo parts of mandatory minicamp.” We think Reiss is probably onto something here. Gonzalez turned 24 today and has already earned one second-team All-Pro nod and Pro Bowl honors, and is under team control for two more years after his fifth-year option was picked up this offseason. It’s in Gonzalez’s best interests to do whatever he can to get an extension now, so a hold-in would not be a surprising result.
  • SEA Quarterback #14
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    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is “really comfortable” with new OC Brian Fleury increasing the team’s shifts and motion rates this year.

    Per Fowler, Seahawks tight ends are “going to be moving all around” the formation this season. Whether Darnold targets TEs AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo more often remains to be seen, but we can take this as a net positive for the offense overall. Shifts and motion give the defense an extra item to monitor. Motion added 0.25 yards per play to the NFL average last year. The 49ers averaged the fourth-highest shifts and motion rate (74.3 percent) in the 2025 regular season, while Fleury served as their run game coordinator and tight ends coach. The Seahawks’ 67.4 percent rate ranked 12th. Fleury will call plays offensively for the first time in his career, and former OC Klint Kubiak will not be easy to replace. This is an encouraging report for the Seahawks’ fantasy-scoring prospects, though.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #22
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    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed “is going to be a big-time player” in 2026 after successfully taking on an expanded route tree this spring.

    Shaheed reportedly had “major” performances throughout spring practices, hitting it off with QB Sam Darnold. Per Fowler, the Seahawks will continue to use WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba on PPR-friendly short and intermediate routes that helped him finish as the overall WR2 in total PPR scoring. But, rather than keeping Shaheed stuck in a field-stretching role, they plan to direct more short-to-intermediate stuff to Shaheed as well. Shaheed still has to go out and score more points this season, but this is the exact type of role change he needs to elevate above a frustratingly volatile fantasy profile.
  • SF Wide Receiver #19
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    ESPN’s Nick Wagoner believes 49ers WR Jacob Cowing has “a chance to carve out a role as a returner with some opportunities in the passing game.”

    This doesn’t exactly sound like a fantasy-friendly role. Wagoner listed him as the 49ers’ player who was the “biggest surprise” of organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, “consistently making big plays down the field in team drills and 7-on-7.” Unfortunately, the wide receiver room is crowded. Despite the solid play, Cowing will have a tough time earning a reliable role in the offense.
  • SEA Running Back #36
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    ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports that Seahawks RB George Holani “is squarely in Seattle’s backfield plans for 2026.”

    It has been tough for some to accept that the former undrafted free agent will have a role this season, but reports continue to indicate that Seahawks coaches trust him. Henderson notes that Holani performed well as a fill-in for RB Zach Charbonnet (knee) as a passing game player during the playoffs. Charbonnet has received positive rehab reports, and a Week 1 return is considered possible. In that scenario, Holani could still rotate in as a backup. If Charbonnet is sidelined to begin the year, Holani should handle the passing down role. Whether that usage facilitates a FLEX-worthy workload remains to be seen.