NFL Player News

Hunter (6’3/318) is a heavy-handed, two-gapping interior presence whose evaluation leans on run-game disruption over pure athletic upside, reflected in a modest 4.12 RAS with very poor explosion metrics. Hunter posted 80.9 overall and 84.5 run-defense grades in 2025, pairing that production with 26 pressures, 19 hurries, and 25 run stops, underscoring his ability to muddy interior rushing lanes. He wins with length and violent hands, consistently locking out and creating vertical stalemates versus double teams while showing enough lateral mobility to track the ball outside his gap. Hunter’s profile is that of a “slow-burn” pocket pusher, generating just 7.5 sacks across four seasons with limited burst and a lack of refined pass-rush sequencing. High pads and a narrow base sap his power at times, and his bottom-tier explosiveness testing (21.5” vertical) shows up when he struggles to convert leverage into backfield penetration. Hunter projects as a scheme-diverse 1-tech/2i nose capable of eating blocks and controlling A-gaps, with value tied to his consistency as a run defender rather than impact pass-rush upside.

Smart. Henderson was viewed as a potential passing game contributor as a rookie last year, but veteran RB Rhamondre Stevenson continued to lead the way on passing downs throughout the year. Over the course of the playoffs, Stevenson out-snapped Henderson 54-to-6 on third down and 20-to-17 in the two-minute drill. If Henderson has meaningfully improved pass protection and receiving, he could challenge Stevenson for that role in training camp. Henderson adds that after being tested “physically and mentally” by playing through consecutive extended seasons, at Ohio State and with the Patriots, he has been “refreshed as a full participant in the team’s voluntary offseason program.”

ESPN’s Mike Reiss spoke with Brown this week after the Patriots placed TE Julian Hill (knee) on season-ending injured reserve. Brown complimented Raridon’s long speed, athleticism and acceleration, while noting that he has “pretty good ball skills.” Brown believes that there is “so much more to kind of be captured from his college tape.” Raridon has been a dynasty darling in rookie drafts thus far. Hill’s injury could allow Raridon to compete for the TE2 role this season and potentially contribute to the Patriots’ offense down the stretch. He is worth keeping an eye on this summer.

Fellow Jaguars RB Chris Rodriguez (undisclosed) has not been present at any of the open OTA sessions thus far due to an apparent injury. We do not know if he will participate at mandatory minicamp this week. While Rodriguez rehabs whatever is ailing him, Tuten is earning praise. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said he likes the way Tuten is running, compared to this time a year ago, and added that Tuten “looks like he is more in tune with the scheme now than as a rookie.” Shipley believes that Tuten could use minicamp to further solidify himself on the depth chart. Tuten’s current range of outcomes is quite wide. Beating his current half-PPR RB26 ADP is possible, particularly if he continues to shine while Rodriguez remains sidelined.

Kaye thinks Hubbard “will probably take the lion’s share of the touches out of the backfield early on.” Where his workload goes from there is likely dependent upon RB Jonathon Brooks’ (knee) health. The Panthers spent a second-round pick on Brooks in 2024. They would undoubtedly like to begin getting meaningful contributions from him this season. That said, Hubbard led the backfield in touches in 2023 and 2024, and has been a steady contributor for them. Hubbard may be a smarter pick in re-draft than he is in best ball, because managers can move on from him if need be. The backfield’s rotation in training camp could help clarify things.

If things go well for Brooks this summer, Kaye believes Brooks “will probably be used similarly to Rico Dowdle in the first two weeks of last season.” Dowdle played on 29.9 percent of the backfield snaps, totaling nine carries and four targets during that span. If Brooks “proves that he can stay durable and handle a consistent workload during the first month of the season,” the team could adjust the rotation after the Week 5 bye. Kaye opines that Brooks should not just be limited to passing downs and thinks it would “be fair to expect Brooks to even up his looks” with RB Chuba Hubbard eventually. Banking on a productive season from Brooks, 22, is not without risk, but his current ADP also looks like a decent buy-low opportunity.

Responding to readers on social media this week, Kelly said he believes Coleman is the Dolphins’ best rookie wide receiver, and linked to an article of his from May 8th. In the piece, Kelly argues that Coleman should be the team’s front-runner for the starting slot role. If Coleman can pull it off, he may only get on the field when the Dolphins are in three-wide receiver sets, so he may only end up being a WR5/matchup-based FLEX. Still, Coleman is worth keeping an eye on in training camp next month.

Speaking to reporters after practice last week, Bieniemy said that he wants Walker to understand “that we just have to become a better player when the ball is not in our hand.” That means Walker has to do “a great job protecting the quarterback” and be a “great” route runner on the perimeter. Bieniemy complimented Walker’s abilities as a rusher and said Walker is “doing a heck of a job” in practice, but Walker’s ticket to an elite season likely requires passing game participation. As a Seahawk last year, Walker ceded passing down snaps to RB Zach Charbonnet. The Chiefs already had RB Brashard Smith in-house and bolstered the backfield by adding more running backs with intriguing receiving skillsets. They signed RB Emari Demercado, “one of the better third-down backs in the NFL over the past couple of years,” and drafted RB Emmett Johnson in the fifth round. Walker has the highest upside of the bunch, but a run-centric workload could keep him in the RB2 ranks this season.

With former Buccaneers WR Mike Evans now a 49er, Godwin is the veteran leader in Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps. Godwin was leading the NFL with 50 receptions when he fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in 2024. It was a significant, season-ending injury that required an intense offseason rehab program, and his lower leg remained an issue for much of 2025. This year, however, Godwin’s offseason has been spent training, not recovering. According to Godwin, this understandably makes “a huge difference.” A solid bounce-back season is within his range of potential outcomes. Godwin is currently the WR40 by PPR ADP. While he may lack the high-end upside he once possessed, that ADP sure looks like decent value.

Astute readers might notice that Evans did not put the Broncos’ longtime WR1, Courtland Sutton, on that list. The cost to acquire Waddle from the Dolphins was not cheap, so anointing Waddle as the WR1 makes sense. The former Dolphin spent his career in Miami playing sidekick to WR Tyreek Hill, so it was fair to wonder if he might be slated for a WR2 role in Denver as well. If anything, this could be a 1A/1B situation, with Waddle operating as the 1A. Regardless, Sutton appears unbothered by Waddle’s presence, saying the Broncos’ offense is comprised of “guys that are willing to put their pride aside,” and celebrated the importance of selflessness. Waddle profiles as a WR2 while Sutton is perhaps best viewed in the WR3/FLEX tier.

Wilson began today’s report by recounting a successful fade route Higgins ran from the slot at organized team activities. Per Higgins, the Texans view him as a versatile receiver and plan to deploy him at multiple spots this year. Per PFF, Higgins ran 79.2 percent of his routes from the perimeter and 20.4 percent from the slot. If Higgins can secure the WR2 role and gain frequent slot usage from 11 personnel, that would go a long way toward reliable fantasy productivity. In addition to improving his fitness, Higgins has focused on the game’s “intellectual” aspect as well this offseason. Wilson adds that Higgins has been a standout among the receivers thus far and has “shown upgraded timing and chemistry” with QB C.J. Stroud. He has a chance to return value as a WR3 or better this season.