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    ESPN lists Bears WR Thomas as ‘biggest surprise’

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    ESPN’s Courtney Cronin listed Bears WR Zavion Thomas as the team’s “biggest surprise” player in spring practices.

    Thomas turned in a 4.28-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine this year. Per Cronin, he has taken “ample reps as a punt returner this spring and showed that he can be more than a special teams star with his skill set on offense.” Bears coach Ben Johnson said Thomas was regularly making plays, but adds that they need to “make sure that we can trust him and he’s going to align where he needs to and run the route the way we need him to.” It sounds like Thomas is still in the developmental phase, but if he can refine his route running and prove himself reliable, he “could be a big weapon” for the Bears this year.
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  • CHI Wide Receiver
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    The score and the bulk of the yardage came on one play, a 97-yard connection with Tyson Bagent. Thomas has some of the best speed of any rookie wideout — or any wideout regardless of age — and while he’s dealt with injuries in camp, the ability to grab and go is apparent. He’s not likely to be a significant contributor to begin the year, but he’s someone who has to be monitored in this Chicago passing attack.
  • CHI Wide Receiver
    He missed about a week with a knee injury. Thomas has big-time speed and feels likely to connect on a few deep shots this year with Ben Johnson calling the plays, but he’ll likely need injuries in front of him to obtain fantasy relevancy. Especially now that he’s missed a chunk of training camp.
  • CHI Wide Receiver
    According to CHGO Bears’ Adam Hoge, Thomas went down at practice on Sunday, “briefly grabbed his knee and then walked off with a slight limp.” Hopefully, the Bears’ speedy third-round rookie only suffered a minor injury. Bears coaches were likely hoping to get an extended look at Thomas in preseason play after he turned in a strong showing in spring practices. Bears WR Luther Burden (groin) is currently sidelined, leaving the wide receiver corps somewhat thin at the moment.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #14
    Jahdae Walker could position himself as the No. 3 with a second-year jump, and third-round pick Zavion Thomas is also in the mix. This room will probably split the snaps enough to make them unappealing from a fantasy perspective, but it’s possible someone emerges as a WR4-type.
  • CHI Wide Receiver
    Thomas ran the third-fastest 40 (4.28 seconds) at the NFL Scouting Combine. He made the Freshman All-American team as a punt returner at Mississippi State in 2022. After transferring to LSU in 2024, he bagged third-team All-SEC honors as a kick returner. Over the course of his college career, he found the end zone as a receiver, rusher, punt returner and kick returner. He posted career highs in receptions (41) and receiving touchdowns (four) last year, while totaling 488 receiving yards. Thomas (5’10/190) profiles as an impactful special teams player with the Bears as a rookie. He may have to wait until 2027 or later to earn much of a role as a wideout.
  • CHI Wide Receiver
    Thomas is unrated for now, but with a full scholarship from Louisville, he will certainly end up with a star rating soon. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound speedster reportedly runs in the low 4.30s for the 40-yard dash. That figure would be absurd for a soon-to-be pro, let alone someone who has yet to even leave high school. Thomas could eventually become a speed menace for the Louisville offense, similar to Tutu Atwell recently.

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  • DET Defensive Back #32
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    Lions activated Brian Branch from the reserve/PUP list.

    The team also activated center Cade Mays from the reserve/injured list. Week 7 will be the first game of the year for both players. Branch tore his Achilles in Week 14 last year and has been out ever since. Currently in last place in the NFC North, the Lions desperately needed this infusion of talent to get their season back on track.
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    Steelers declared CB Brandin Echols, WR Ben Skowronek, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, RB Eli Heidenreich, and CB Terell Smith inactive for Week 7 against the Saints.

    Echols and Skowronek are the only players on Pittsburgh’s active roster who will miss today’s game because of injuries, though they have several key players on IR. Both players have more snaps on special teams than offense or defense this year.
  • SF Wide Receiver #3
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    49ers activated Christian Kirk (calf) from injured reserve.

    The 49ers would normally have Kirk on a pitch count for his first game of the year. With their top four receivers unavailable for today’s game, Kirk may be thrust into a full-time role right away. He will be in the mix for WR1 duties in San Francisco alongside Brandin Cooks and Jordan Watkins. Kirk is a long-shot FLEX option for his first game as a 49er.
  • CLE Defensive Tackle #96
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    Browns signed Maliek Collins to a two-year, $30 million contract extension.

    According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the deal includes $23 million in total guarantees. Collins has heated up recently with 3.5 sacks over his past three games. He is coming off a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2025 and now has a chance to top that number this year. Collins’ new deal keeps him under contract with the Browns through 2028.
  • NO OFFENSIVE GUARD (SUB) #51
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    Saints declared OG Cesar Ruiz, S Mike Reid, TE Treyton Welch, EDGE Tyree Wilson, DL Nathan Shepherd, DT John Ridgeway III, and QB Zach Wilson inactive for Week 7 against the Steelers.

    Ruiz and Shepard were the only Saints listed as questionable for Week 7. Jeremiah Wright will take his spot at right guard.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #9
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    Cowboys ruled out KaVontae Turpin (ribs) for Week 7 against the Eagles.

    Turpin’s absence will be felt most on special teams, with the team now forced to find a replacement on punt and kick returns. Otherwise, there is almost zero fantasy impact as the team’s WR4.
  • ATL Cornerback #24
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    Falcons activated A.J. Terrell (groin) from injured reserve.

    The Falcons have been attackable on the perimeter while playing most of the season without Terrell. Fellow cornerback C.J. Henderson is listed questionable for Week 7, but the reintegration of Terrell provides a much more difficult matchup for the injury-riddled 49ers.
  • DEN Running Back #20
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    Broncos activated Jonah Coleman (ankle) from injured reserve.

    Coleman missed the minimum four games as he tended to an ankle injury suffered in Week 2. He led the team in snaps in that contest and could return to the primary rushing role considering the inefficient play of J.K. Dobbins in his absence, making him worthy of a start in fantasy circles in a plus matchup against the Cardinals in his first game back.
  • BAL Quarterback #8
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    Ravens ruled out Lamar Jackson (ankle) for Week 7 against the Bengals.

    Tyler Huntley will draw the start under center for the third straight game as Jackson continues to rehab a high-ankle sprain. Jackson reportedly took most of the first-team reps at practice Friday and was close to being able to play in Week 7, with the team ultimately siding with caution for their franchise quarterback. The Ravens enter a 15-game stretch in which they play three games starting in Week 8, which could have influenced their decision to hold Jackson out one more game. Expect him back for Week 8 against the Bills. His absence greatly influences the upside of the remaining skill position players considering Declan Doyle has halved his usage of play action and completely eliminated RPO with Huntley under center.
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    Dallas Goedert (knee) was removed from the injury report Saturday and will play against the Cowboys in Week 7.

    Goedert reportedly aggravated his previous knee injury but got back on the practice field for a full session Saturday before being removed from the injury report. He could be stepping into a massive target share with both DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks ruled out. Fantasy managers can start him as an upside TE1 in a great matchup against the Cowboys in Week 7.