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Dylan Sampson CLE RB
Browns' Dylan Sampson: Getting reps in receiving game
5h agoBrowns running backs coach Duce Staley said at mandatory minicamp in mid-June that Sampson has gotten work "as a running back and a receiver," Dan Labbe of cleveland.com reports.
Staley also said that Sampson has worked with wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea, and that the rookie fourth-round pick "is able to go play in the slot and also he's able to go and play on third down and maybe sprinkle in a little second down." The running backs coach also noted that fellow rookie RB Quinshon Judkins, whom the Browns drafted two rounds ahead of Sampson, will be "able to do a little something [...] at receiver, too." Meanwhile, incumbent Jerome Ford has already demonstrated tangible pass-catching chops, and Staley praised his "speed" and ability to "pick up the blitz and catch the ball." While all three of Cleveland's top running backs could see tangible usage in the passing game, Labbe hypothesizes that as things currently stand Judkins and Sampson project to lead the Browns' revamped backfield, with Ford serving as the No. 3 back. Sampson didn't catch many passes in college at Tennessee, including as the team's starter in 2024, so it would come as a surprise if he in fact beats out Ford for passing-down reps at training camp, but if the rookie fourth-rounder can manage that feat he'll have a clear path to fantasy relevance in Year 1, especially in PPR formats.
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Obo Okoronkwo CLE DE
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: Let go by Browns
6h agoCleveland released Okoronkwo on Thursday, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.
Okoronkwo had been under contract with the Browns for one more season via the three-year, $19 million deal he inked with the team in 2023, so his release is somewhat surprising even after a down year in 2024. He played a sizable rotational role in Cleveland's pass rush in both 2023 and 2024, finishing last year with 23 tackles (15 solo), including 3.0 sacks, plus one forced fumble while playing all 17 regular-season games. Okoronkwo will draw fair interest around the league for teams in need of a rotational contributor, and his departure opens up opportunities behind Myles Garrett with the Browns for all of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire.
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Cedric Tillman CLE WR
Browns' Cedric Tillman: Should have full-time role
11h agoTillman is expected to have a full-time role in 2025, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Other than inking a baggage-heavy Diontae Johnson to a one-year deal with zero guaranteed money, the Browns didn't do much during the offseason to upgrade the receiving corps. Tillman was having a breakout middle portion of the season in 2024 before a concussion forced him to miss the final six weeks -- he was back on the field for OTAs this summer. Following the departure of Amari Cooper last season, the Browns gave Tillman an opportunity, and he delivered. Over a four-game span, he caught 24 of 40 targets with three touchdowns. He's the biggest target (6-foot-3) among the receiving group and could be a factor in a passing game that may incorporate a lot of deep passes if Joe Flacco is the staring quarterback.
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Justin Fields NYJ QB
Jets' Justin Fields: Work ethic standing out
1d agoJets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said during mandatory minicamp in mid-June that his "biggest takeaway" regarding Fields this offseason is that "the guy is just a workaholic," and that "he comes in early, he's here late, and he's trying to digest everything and download all the information and do things the right way," Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Fields has made a positive early impression on Engstrand and new head coach Aaron Glenn, with new top wideout Garrett Wilson also saying at minicamp that "[Fields] trusts me, I trust him, we've got a good communication, we speak to each other well, we know what the other is thinking and that's key." The Jets are hoping the reunion of Fields and Wilson will pay huge dividends, with the two having connected on 66 catches for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns over 22 games while teammates at Ohio State from 2019 to 2020. Rather than splash plays, though, Fields' focus this offseason has been to improve his pre-snap processing and ability to make quick decisions, and Glenn praised the 26-year-old signal-caller's progress in cleaning up mistakes during minicamp, saying the goal is "no negative plays." Rosenblatt also reports that Fields' early leadership has helped him earn the trust of the locker room. Fields is positioned to enter the first season of his two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets as the team's clear starter, and if he can indeed grow as a passer, he'll have a chance to prove himself as a long-term option for Gang Green. Even if Fields' development in the pocket falls flat, he possesses the rushing ability to provide solid QB2 fantasy value with upside as long as he remains the starter.
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Quintez Cephus LAR WR
Quintez Cephus: Let go by Rams
1d agoLos Angeles waived Cephus on Wednesday.
Cephus spent last season on the Rams' practice squad, but he wasn't elevated to the active roster at any point. The fifth-year pro inked a reserve/future deal with the team in January, but he's now lost his grip on a spot on the 90-man roster and will have to search for an opportunity to compete elsewhere. Cephus last suited up for regular-season action in 2022, when he secured two of three targets for 15 yards across four appearances with Detroit.
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DeShon Elliott PIT SAF
Steelers' DeShon Elliott: Inks new three-year contract
2d agoElliot signed a new three-year contract with the Steelers on Tuesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
It was initially reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network mid-June that Elliott and Pittsburgh had agreed to terms on a two-year, $12.5 million extension, but the safety's new deal is officially a three-year contract instead. In any case, Elliott is now positioned to remain with the Steelers long term rather than have his contract expire after the 2025 season. He tallied a career-high 108 tackles (72 solo), six pass breakups (including one interception), two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries across 15 regular-season games in 2024.
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Harry Ford SEA C
Mariners' Harry Ford: Joining Seattle as insurance
36m agoFord will join the Mariners in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, though it's not certain that he'll be officially called up to the big-league roster, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Ford could end up simply spending some time on the taxi squad rather than getting his first big-league call-up, but he may be needed on the Mariners roster if Mitch Garver, who exited Thursday's game against Minnesota after being hit in the jaw by a foul ball, needs to go on the IL. Ford is one of baseball's top catching prospects and has shined with Triple-A Tacoma this season, posting a .311/.426/.469 slash line with eight homers, 43 RBI and three stolen bases over 60 games. If he does get officially promoted, Ford would probably log just a few starts per week, primarily on days when Cal Raleigh is given a break from catching duties.
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Trevor Larnach MIN DH
Twins' Trevor Larnach: Launches 12th homer
1h agoLarnach went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, an additional run scored and three total RBI in Thursday's 10-1 victory over Seattle.
Larnach broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a 421-foot blast off Emerson Hancock, his 12th homer this season. The 28-year-old Larnach has been swinging the bat well, going 7-for-20 with a pair of homers in his last five games. Overall, he's slashing .259/.328/.436 with 43 runs scored and 39 RBI through 315 plate appearances this year.
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Emerson Hancock SEA SP
Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Falls to Minnesota
1h agoHancock (3-4) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Hancock was sharp early, blanking Minnesota through his first four innings, before giving up a two-run homer to Trevor Larnach in the fifth. While he'd ultimately take a second straight loss, it was a good bounce-back effort from Hancock, after he gave up nine runs and four homers in his last outing against the Cubs. Overall, Hancock sports a 5.30 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and 52:27 K:BB across 14 starts (71.1 innings) this season. He's currently scheduled to face the Royals at home in his next start.
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Simeon Woods Richardson MIN SP
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Another solid outing
1h agoWoods Richardson (3-4) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing two hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.
It was a strong performance from Woods Richardson, who's allowed just three earned runs on seven hits over his last three starts (16 innings). The right-hander's lowered his ERA to 4.63 this season with a 1.39 WHIP and 52:22 K:BB across 58.1 innings. Woods Richardson is currently lined up to face the Marlins on the road in his next outing.
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Griffin Canning NYM SP
Mets' Griffin Canning: Injury is to left ankle
1h agoThe Mets stated after Canning was pulled from Thursday's game against Atlanta in the third inning that he's dealing with a left ankle injury.
Canning collapsed to the ground and had to be assisted off the field by trainers after stepping awkwardly on the mound having completed 2.2 frames. In addition to clarifying that the hurler's injury is to his left ankle, the Mets also stated that Canning will undergo imaging. It's not certain at this point if Canning will have to miss his next start, but it certainly is a possibility given the details of his exit.
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Griffin Canning NYM SP
Mets' Griffin Canning: Departs game with apparent injury
2h agoCanning was removed from Thursday's contest against Atlanta due to an apparent left leg or foot injury, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
Tredinnick notes that Canning's removal came after he took an "awkward step" at the base of the mound. The right-hander had been cruising prior to departing, striking out three batters and giving up just one hit over 2.2 scoreless frames. Canning fell to the grass after getting hurt and needed help from Mets trainers to exit the field, but it will take further evaluation for the team to determine the extent of his injury.
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Amari Williams NBADRAFT C
Celtics' Amari Williams: Picked by Boston
2m agoWilliams was selected by the Celtics with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Williams delivered a solid two-way performance in his lone season at Kentucky, posting averages of 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks on 56.1 percent shooting over 36 games in 2024-25, following a four-year stint at Drexel. While he brings good size and a well-rounded game, there are concerns about his speed and lateral quickness at the NBA level. With Kristaps Porzingis traded and both Luke Kornet and Al Horford heading into free agency, Williams provides much-needed frontcourt depth for the Celtics, though he's unlikely to step into a major role immediately.
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Rocco Zikarsky NBADRAFT C
Bulls' Rocco Zikarsky: Joins Chicago on two-way deal
6m agoZikarsky was selected by the Bulls with the No. 45 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Zikarsky joins Chicago on a two-way deal, meaning he's likely to see most -- if not all -- of his playing time as a rookie with the G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. Zikarsky appeared in 20 games and put up 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks as an 18-year-old in the Australian NBL, one of the most coveted professional leagues overseas.
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Brooks Barnhizer NBADRAFT SF
Thunder's Brooks Barnhizer: Headed to Oklahoma City
12m agoBarnhizer was selected by the Thunder with the No. 44 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Barnhizer was held back by a foot injury during his senior season at Northwestern, finishing out his college career by averaging 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks through 17 games. The 6-foot-6 forward's ticket to seeing the court during his rookie season could be his impressive basketball IQ and his toughness, though he'll face plenty of competition within OKC's frontcourt.
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Jamir Watkins NBADRAFT SF
Wizards' Jamir Watkins: Taken by Washington
17m agoWatkins was selected by the Wizards with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Watkins put together a highly productive 2024-25 campaign at Florida State, posting averages of 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc over 32 games. While he may not project as a go-to scorer at the next level, the former Seminole is a strong athlete with excellent instincts and feel for the game. Watkins becomes the third player selected by the Wizards in the draft, joining Tre Johnson (No. 6) and Will Riley (No. 21).
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Maxime Raynaud NBADRAFT C
Kings' Maxime Raynaud: Selected by Sacramento
23m agoRaynaud was selected by the Kings with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Raynaud didn't start playing basketball until his final year of high school, making his continued progression as a player even more impressive. He had a monster year at Stanford in 2024-25, averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 35 percent from deep on 5.5 attempts per contest. The Kings have Domantas Sabonis as their starting center and Jonas Valanciunas as the backup, but Raynaud should find a way to see minutes in the rotation. He isn't expected to do much in fantasy in the early stages of his career, but he might be a prospect worth stashing in some formats if he finds a way to crack the rotation on a steady basis.
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Koby Brea NBADRAFT SF
Suns' Koby Brea: Headed to Phoenix
26m agoBrea was selected by the Suns with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Warriors traded this pick to the Suns, who end up landing Brea. The 6-foot-6 guard is regarded by many as one of the top shooters in the draft class, hitting at a 43.5 percent clip from downtown during his final college season at Kentucky. However, he generally struggles on the defensive end of the court, which could limit his potential at the next level.
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Gabriel Carriere SJ G
Sharks' Gabriel Carriere: Signs two-way contract
2h agoCarriere signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Sharks on Thursday, per PuckPedia.
Carriere had a 3.06 GAA and an .894 save percentage in 22 regular-season appearances with AHL San Jose in 2024-25. The 24-year-old is expected to start the 2025-26 campaign in the minors, though it's possible that he'll make his NHL debut during the season, depending on the Sharks' injury situation.
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Justin Sourdif FLA RW
Capitals' Justin Sourdif: Flipped to Washington
2h agoSourdif was traded to the Capitals from the Panthers on Thursday in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Clearly, the Capitals think Sourdif has something to offer in the NHL by giving up two picks to get him while he's still a restricted free agent. The 23-year-old forward put up 34 points in 43 regular-season games with AHL Charlotte last season and added 10 points in 18 playoff outings. Sourdif will need a new contract, but the investment by the Capitals suggests he could push for a bottom-six job in 2025-26.
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Henry Rybinski WAS RW
Capitals' Henrik Rybinski: Inks two-way deal
5h agoRybinski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Capitals on Thursday.
Rybinski had 10 goals and 35 points in 60 regular-season outings with AHL Hershey in 2024-25. The 24-year-old hasn't appeared in an NHL game. He'll remain in the minors for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
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Brendan Gaunce MIN C
Blue Jackets' Brendan Gaunce: Involved in trade
6h agoGaunce was acquired by Columbus from Minnesota on Thursday in exchange for Cameron Butler.
Gaunce had an assist, four PIM, 11 shots, 18 hits and seven blocks in 12 regular-season appearances with Minnesota in 2024-25. He also recorded 15 goals, 29 points and 20 PIM in 39 regular-season outings with AHL Iowa. The 31-year-old will be competing for a bottom-six spot with the Blue Jackets during training camp, but it wouldn't be surprising if he started the season in the minors.
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Noah Gregor SJ C
Noah Gregor: Doesn't get qualifying offer
6h agoGregor won't receive a qualifying offer from San Jose, which means he'll become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports Thursday.
Gregor had four goals, seven points, 28 PIM, 60 shots and 94 hits in 52 appearances between Ottawa and San Jose in 2024-25. The Sharks would have needed to present him with a qualifying offer of $892,500 for 2025-26 to retain his rights and make him a restricted free agent. Gregor would have also had arbitration rights. The 26-year-old has a decent shot of remaining in the NHL next season as a bottom-six forward.
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Daniil Tarasov CLB G
Panthers' Daniil Tarasov: Acquired by Cats
8h agoTarasov was brought in via trade by the Panthers from the Blue Jackets on Thursday in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
Tarasov heads into the offseason as a restricted free agent, so the Panthers still have to get him under contract ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The 26-year-old backstop saw action in 20 games with Columbus this year in which he posted a 7-10-2 record to go with a 3.55 GAA, .880 save percentage and one shutout. Tarasov will head into the upcoming season as the No. 2 option behind Sergei Bobrovsky, who is entering the final year of his contract and is 36 years of age -- opening the door for Tarasov to potentially be the netminder of the future in Florida.