Chargers sign Marquez Valdes-Scantling

He was cut by the Cowboys at the end of training camp and has been looking for his next opportunity. Valdes-Scantling’s appearance here probably doesn’t bode overly well for Ladd McConkey’s status for Week 2, though obviously that’s just trying to read the tea leaves.

Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys this offseason. He barely garnered more than the veteran minimum and was clearly nothing more than a depth option for the team. With well over 100 career games across six teams to his name, MVS should still find a team willing to carry him on their practice squad in the coming days.

Valdes-Scantling has logged only 78 special teams snaps in his career, with 49 of them coming in his 2018 rookie season. Schottenheimer said that Valdes-Scantling has the “speed to be a gunner,” so it sounds like he will not be returning punts and kicks. Don’t count on any return touchdowns appearing in his box score. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris adds that Valdes-Scantling caught two passes and dropped one on Tuesday. His hands have always been an issue. While he will help out QB Dak Prescott with a few big plays this season, Valdes-Scantling is unlikely to be a reliable fantasy contributor in his age-31 season.

The deal includes a $187,500 signing bonus and appears to simply be a depth move. MVS spent time with the 49ers and Steelers last season, catching 14 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. The veteran speedster has bounced around to four different teams since parting ways with the Chiefs after the 2023 season and hasn’t caught more than 17 passes at any of his stops. He’ll likely be battling to earn a roster spot in camp and carries little fantasy value.

Following Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh after a cacophony of whispers in Mike Tomlin’s ears and a failed second-year leap from Roman Wilson, Valdes-Scantling’s season ends with just 14 catches for 120 yards and one touchdown in split time between the 49ers and Steelers. It is difficult to imagine him sticking on an NFL roster with Rodgers expected to retire considering a myriad of mental errors on the field in 2025, regardless of his blocking ability or veteran status.

Scantling was wide open for what would have been a 30-plus yard gain, but Aaron Rodgers overthrew the pass. The wideout was able to haul in a decent amount of targets, but the yardage leaves a lot to be desired. MVS will be a secondary option at best for the Wild Card Round bout against the Texans.

Four of Valdes-Scantling’s targets came on the Steelers’ final two drives of the game. Aaron Rodgers went to MVS on three-straight tries in the end zone in hopes of securing a game-tying touchdown, but the veteran receiver was unable to make the most of his opportunities. MVS will get another chance to step up for the Steelers with DK Metcalf set to serve his second game of a two-game suspension next week, but he remains a feast-or-famine player even in an expanded role. There’s not much to get excited about here ahead of Week 18’s game against the Ravens.

With DK Metcalf also suspended for this one, the Steelers will need to lean heavily on their tight ends in the pass-catching game, while Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling could also see an uptick in targets. Watt was ruled out before the weekend but was able to practice in a limited capacity this week. Watt should have a good shot at returning in Week 18 against the Ravens.

Valdes-Scantling is on his third organization, and will have a chance to make his Steelers’ debut after signing with the team early in November. The 31-year-old wideout has familiarity with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh wideout corps aren’t exactly spectacular, but it’s hard to invision much fantasy upside for the remainder of 2025.

This is team three for MVS this year after spending time in Seattle and San Francisco. He doesn’t appear to be a threat to playing time right away — it is a practice squad contract — but it’s not like the Steelers have much beyond DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin in the receiver room that has proven to be better than MVS. We wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually became a low-volume part of the offense. You don’t need to spend FAAB on him unless you’re in a 20-team league.