NFL

Gabriel took the bulk of the first-team reps over Shedeur Sanders in rookie minicamp. The Browns have been mixing up the starter reps in OTAs and head coach Kevin Stefanski has said repeatedly not to read into the order of quarterback reps this early in the process. Joe Flacco looks like the best bet to be the team’s Week 1 starter, but at least one of the rookies, if not both, will start at some point this year. As the team’s first quarterback selection in the draft, Gabriel should get the first crack at the job once Stefanski benches his veteran of choice. Whether they want to admit it or not, this is a rebuilding season for Cleveland.

The Chargers placed the UFA tender on Dobbins, meaning he has until training camp to negotiate with other teams. LA retains his rights if Dobbins doesn’t sign a deal elsewhere. The Broncos are extremely thin at running back even after spending the No. 60 overall pick on RJ Harvey. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime are currently the candidates to back him up and both backs struggled to earn work in a talent-depleted backfield last year. Dobbins would provide a legitimate backup option for Sean Payton and could even steal some work from Harvey on early downs.

Mitchell was a home run waiting to happen as a rookie, turning 56 touches into 489 yards and two scores in 2023 before going down with a torn ACL late in the season. He returned late in the following season but didn’t have the same burst. He ran 15 times for 30 yards in five regular season appearances and did not touch the ball on offense in the playoffs. Even if Mitchell returns to form in 2025, there isn’t much room for him to carve out a meaningful role. Derrick Henry put together a career year in his first season with the Ravens and just re-upped his contract with the team. Justice Hill is also coming off a high-water mark campaign, racking up 42 receptions as the team’s third-down back. Mitchell may pitch in the occasional splash play, but fantasy managers don’t need to dig that deep in most formats.

A former UDFA, Gardeck spent the first seven years of his NFL tenure in Arizona, working his way up from a special teams role as a rookie to pass-rush specialist duties later in his career. He broke out with seven sacks in 2020 and reached six sacks in 2023. Primed for a 2024 breakout, Gardeck notched three sacks before tearing his ACL in Week 7. Assuming his recovery goes well, Gardeck projects for a part-time role on the Jags defense to open the year.

For what it’s worth, McDowell also noted that Rice had a good day. Patrick Mahomes told reporters last week that Rice had “no limitations” after suffering a season-ending injury in 2024. Rice, however, was held out of practice with an illness but is back in action as of Wednesday. All signs point to Rice being a full-go heading into Week 1 if his legal situation remains in limbo. Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two scores in three games before going down with the knee injury last year. Even with an ADP quickly making its way into the third round in early drafts, Rice looks like a clear breakout target this summer.

Johnson most recently signed with the 49ers on a reserve/future deal but was cut in May. His last NFL snap came with the Bears in 2023. He appeared in nine games and played primarily on special teams but did manage one interception.

“I’ll probably be one of those guys that it would be out of nowhere. I’ll probably just wake up one day, whether it’s next year or two years or four years and just be like, ‘Yeah, it’s over,’” Barkley, 28, said during a recent podcast appearance when asked about how he might end his playing career. Having a very public and active offseason, Barkley enters the 2025 season after leading the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 278 receiving yards and three additional scores. Barkley is signed with the Eagles through the 2028 season. He’ll be 32 years old headed into the 2029 season.

Wolfe said “both sides” want to keep Smith in Miami for the long run. The report comes amid various reports that the Steelers could acquire Smith after his breakout 2024 season with the Dolphins. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Tuesday that the Steelers have had “renewed conversations” about trading for Smith, who’s set to make $4.1 million this season. Smith in 2024 ranked fourth among all tight ends in both targets and receptions. He was ninth in yards after the catch per reception. His fantasy prospects would plummet if he ends up in Arthur Smith’s conservative, run-heavy offense.

After the Bears chose not to trade up in the 2025 draft in pursuit of Ashton Jeanty, Swift appears to be the team’s No. 1 back headed into 2025. Swift is coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign in which he notched a career-low 3.8 yards per carry and posted a lowly 44 percent rushing success rate. Swift, per Bair, said he “reviewed the tape and wasn’t happy” with his 2024 performance. Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who worked with Swift in Detroit before Swift left for the Bears, complimented Swift as a “fierce competitor.” “If you tell him that you’re going to need one yard, four yards, whatever that is, he’s going to find a way to put his shoulder down and move the pile and get that done for you,” Johnson said of Swift. Though Roschon Johnson could take valuable goal line touches in the Chicago offense, Swift should be the nominal lead back in the new-look Bears offense.