Welcome to the weekly Fantasy Notebook, the must-stop spot for keeping your finger on the pulse of Fantasy Nation. NFL news and developments drive fantasy values. The Notebook is here to keep you in the loop on all of it throughout the season.
The Wait Is Over
Aaron Rodgers officially has a new team. The veteran quarterback agreed to terms with the Steelers on Thursday and will join the team for a mandatory minicamp this coming week.
As I noted in a Fantasy Fallout article on Rodgers, "The outcome seemed predetermined, even if the timing wasn't."
Go check that article out for the full fantasy impact, but here's a spoiler: Steelers receiver DK Metcalf appears to be the big winner here . . .
Mandatory Minicamp Watchlist
Workouts that matter -- at least to the teams holding them -- begin this week, and we have some situations to monitor. With money, in the form of fines, on the line, we'll get a better feel for the approach of two fantasy-relevant players looking for new contracts:
- In Buffalo, James Cook hasn't taken part in voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) to help convey the message that he wants a new contract. The Bills haven't budged to this point, so it'll be interesting to see how invested Cook is in getting a new deal.
- The same goes for Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. According to FOX Sports insider Jordan Schultz, McLaurin has made it clear to the team that he's frustrated with the lack of progress on a long-term deal.
Again, with fines of up to $100,000 possible, sitting out mandatory sessions can be expensive. . .
On The Injury Front
- Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown told reporters Thursday that he underwent surgery on his knee after the season but expects to be ready for training camp.
- The Colts announced Anthony Richardson will miss this week's minicamp after suffering a shoulder injury. Daniel Jones is standing by, and the value of "Dimes" might be rising. Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will likely be held out of minicamp after injuring a knee during Thursday's session.
I'll be following up on these as needed in coming weeks . . .
Leveraging the Average to Be Anything But
I want to highlight the Footballguys 2025 Average Draft Position Rankings, compiled by our own Clayton Gray.
So far this offseason, I've focused on data from early best-ball drafts on Underdog and BestBall10s as I've compiled my Fantasy Notebooks. But our new average draft position (ADP) rankings encompass a broader range of drafts (including those best balls) to give us an even more accurate understanding of how the draft public sees value.
ADP Is Important
It doesn't tell you when to draft. It tells you when players are being drafted.
There's an important distinction there.
You're still in charge of the draft. ADP just helps you game the room.
If you love a player and the consensus doesn't, ADP makes it easy to leverage the value. Conversely, it helps you know what players you might have to pay up to secure.
Either way, getting maximum value on players you're interested in is the path to fantasy success . . .
With that said, we'll transition into our weekly look at this year's changing play callers and offensive coordinators. In case you missed them, the Fantasy Notebook has covered the changes in Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, and Houston over the last five weeks.
Let's dive into the next one . . .
Getting Coordinated: Flipping Jacksonville
It was a complicated process, but Jacksonville landed their new coach -- albeit with some intrastate drama.
Two days after reportedly withdrawing his name from consideration in Jacksonville, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen was hired as the Jaguars head coach.
Coen was set to remain with the Buccaneers on a new contract, making him one of the league's highest-paid coordinators. Instead, a year after their previous coordinator, Dave Canales, left for a head coaching job in Carolina, Tampa Bay will have to replace an offensive coordinator who became a head coach after one season on the job.
In turn, the 39-year-old Coen becomes the eighth head coach in Jaguars history, replacing Doug Pederson, who was fired after three seasons in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars went 4-13 in 2024, marking the 10th time in Shad Khan's 13 seasons as owner that his team has posted double-digit losses.
Coen, who will handle play-calling in Jacksonville, has spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach, including 10 at the collegiate level. He spent four seasons with the Rams under Sean McVay, serving as an assistant wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator (in 2022), and then spent this past season with the Buccaneers under Todd Bowles.
According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Jaguars weren't the only team interested in Coen, who is respected around the league for his offensive scheme and ability to coach it effectively . . .
A Resume Of QB Rehabs
Coen played a role in getting Baker Mayfield's career back on track when the veteran QB finished the 2022 season with the Rams. Coen then continued the success Canales had with Mayfield in 2023 as Tampa's coordinator last year.
In case you weren't following along, Mayfield set career highs across the board in 2024: 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and a 71.4 percent completion rate. Those were all top-three marks league-wide, and he finished fourth in fantasy points per game (21.6), trailing only Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow.
Former Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski will serve as Coen's offensive coordinator.
Udinski helped Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold revive his career in 2024. Darnold set career highs in completion percentage (66.2 percent), yards (4,319), and touchdown passes (35) and led the Vikings to a 14-2 record.
So, is this the right crew to get Trevor Lawrence back on track?
While there are no guarantees, Coen and the Jags have put serious effort into prepping the battlefield for their quarterback . . .
All The Right Moves
As ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco noted, Coen, with an assist from general manager James Gladstone, has followed through on all of the things he said the Jaguars needed to do this offseason to help Lawrence.
After signing a receiver, two tight ends, and four offensive linemen in free agency, the Jaguars landed five more offensive players in April's NFL Draft -- including receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, widely considered the best player available this year.
Coen believes he and Gladstone have the pieces in place to meet the goal of making Lawrence and the offense as "explosive and dynamic as we can be," a goal Coen made during his introductory news conference.
"We've definitely addressed the ability to strike from a distance," Coen said. "That was addressed in both free agency and the college draft landscape.
"Don't think we have to add any more at this point . . ."
We're Talking Serious Firepower
Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was the only dynamic player the Jaguars had as a building block after the team traded receiver Christian Kirk and released tight end Evan Engram in March.
Thomas had 18 catches of 20 or more yards (eighth in the NFL) and seven catches of 40 or more yards. The latter was just one shy of Ja'Marr Chase's NFL lead. Hunter, whom the Jaguars drafted second overall after trading up from No. 5, will add to that.
The newcomer was a big-play threat last season at Colorado with 16 catches of 20 or more yards, which was tied with Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan (No. 8 overall pick) for the second most in FBS. Hunter also recorded 15 touchdown catches, which also tied for second in FBS. Five of those catches came on vertical routes. He did all this while also playing defense and averaging 113.9 yards per game.
Lining up Hunter opposite Thomas will be a problem for defenses and, in turn, create opportunities for big plays, Coen said.
The Jaguars also added big-play potential in the backfield by drafting running back Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round. Tuten had five runs of 40 or more yards last season at Virginia Tech. He had 14 runs of 25 or more yards in his two seasons with the Hokies.
Those two draft picks complement receiver Dyami Brown, who signed a one-year deal in free agency. Brown had 30 catches for the Washington Commanders last season, but 14 came in the last five games. He also had 14 catches for 229 yards and averaged 16.4 yards per catch in three playoff games. His 229 receiving yards were the second-most by any player in the postseason.
It all makes sense when you consider Lawrence's strengths . . .
Starting With His Arm
Adding Hunter, Tuten, and Brown gives Lawrence a significantly different set of pass catchers than he had the past two seasons.
The big-play potential of Thomas and Hunter, in particular, plays into their quarterback's strengths.
As Footballguy Matt Waldman wrote in the 2021 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, "Lawrence has the top-drawer arm strength to deliver for distance and velocity." Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus added to that, advising his readers, "There isn't a bigger arm out there than that of (the) soon-to-be top draft pick."
In his three seasons at Clemson (2018-20), Lawrence went 46-for-126 for 1,968 yards and 22 touchdowns on throws that traveled 25 or more yards in the air. Those numbers ranked in the top six in the FBS over that span, and the only quarterback with more touchdown passes was North Carolina's Sam Howell (23).
Unfortunately, Lawrence has only completed 27.6 percent of his 105 throws of 25 or more air yards for 1,217 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions in his past three seasons with the Jaguars.
That's, at least in part, because he ranks 27th among quarterbacks in time before passing on those throws (3.36 seconds) . . .
Let's Give Him More Time
That's why upgrading the offensive line, particularly the interior, was also a priority in the offseason. Center Robert Hainsey and guard Patrick Mekari were signed to be starters, and Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson, both of whom have played guard and tackle in their careers, were brought in for depth.
Drafting tackle Wyatt Milum, whom the Jaguars will move to guard in the second round, and center Jonah Monheim, who has played all three positions in the seventh, completes the offensive line additions.
The objective is twofold.
First, they want to improve the run game after their 70.2 percent run-block win rate ranked 25th last year. They also want to shore up the pass protection. Their 58.6 percent pass-block win rate ranked 19th in the league.
With improved blocking and more potent weapons, Coen believes his offense will be more explosive and dynamic . . .
Lawrence Willing
The good news? Lawrence has been impressive with his ability to pick up the new offensive scheme, according to Coen. "He's done a phenomenal job," the coach said.
Coen specifically praised the work Lawrence has put in on his own time, handling the workload and making play calls.
Regarding the new offensive system, Lawrence likes what he sees. "It's great," the QB said. "It puts a lot on the players; you have to know your stuff, but it gives you all the answers. Without going into too much detail, there are a lot of things I like about it."
One element Coen and the team's staff have worked with Lawrence on is his footwork. On Thursday, Coen told reporters that the quarterback has made solid progress in that area.
"I think his footwork has drastically improved," Coen said. "We're trying to create black and white lines for footwork, for reads, for timing, because when things start moving, oftentimes you have to revert to your fundamentals, your footwork, your timing.
"And so, I think he's taken a step in that area as well as just the overall operation."
There's a long way to go before the Jaguars start the season against the Panthers in Week 1. But Lawrence making these early strides is essential.
There is, of course, another aspect that matters . . .
Good Health
Lawrence feels stronger as he works his way back from shoulder surgery.
He suffered the injury in Week 9 last season and missed Weeks 10 and 11. But when he was subsequently placed on IR due to a concussion, he and the team thought it was best to get the shoulder repaired at that time rather than putting it off until the end of the season.
When the Jaguars reconvened for Phase I of offseason programs in April, Coen said that Lawrence would be on a "pitch count."
However, just five weeks later, Lawrence was able to participate in team drills without issue . . .
What's In It For Us?
Entering his fifth year as a pro, Lawrence completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games last season.
While Coen's arrival could lead to positives, fantasy investors should keep expectations in check. With a 14.1-point per-game average in the 10 games he played, Lawrence ranked 24th in the NFL.
But we've seen the upside.
Lawrence finished 2023 as QB12, scoring 17.2 points per game. He was QB6 in 2022, averaging 18.1 points per game. Since he'll almost certainly be drafted in QB2 territory, Coen's presence and track record make Lawrence's previously demonstrated upside more intriguing.
If you're a believer in the former first-round pick or Coen, or Thomas, Hunter, and the supporting cast, Lawrence is going as QB19 in early drafts . . .
Backfield In Motion?
It remains to be seen how Coen handles the backfield, but fantasy investors will be hoping for a more predictable split than we saw last season. Etienne registered back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, but his workload diminished significantly in 2024.
His carries dropped from an average of 243.5 per year over those first two campaigns to 150 last season, when he missed two games due to injury. Backup Tank Bigsby emerged as the more viable option in what was generally a dreadful Jaguars offense last year. Bigsby finished with a higher rushing total (766 yards) than Etienne (558 yards).
Etienne finished 2024 as RB42 (with an 8.8-point per-game average). Bigsby wound up one spot behind his teammate at RB43 with 8.7 points per week.
Etienne is entering a contract year, which could motivate him to improve, but the addition of Tuten and fellow rookie LeQuint Allen further muddy the waters.
While it is clear what the 5-9, 209-pound Tuten offers in terms of game-breaking speed with his 4.32 40-yard dash, Allen brings something entirely his own to the table: Impact in the passing game.
Allen is one of only two players nationally with 1,000-plus rushing yards (1,021) and 500 receiving yards (521) in the 2024 season.
Still, as a seventh-round pick, the former Syracuse standout has much to prove in a backfield with Etienne, Bigsby, and Tuten . . .
Unless That Changes
This week, Coen denied the Jaguars were interested in potentially trading Etienne, telling reporters that the rumor was "absolutely inaccurate."
For his part, Etienne did not seem particularly fazed by the rumor when reporters asked him about it after Monday's OTA practice.
"I just focus on what I control," Etienne said. "I feel like we all know it's a business, it's a production league."
Etienne is entering the last year of his rookie deal, playing on the fifth-year option that will pay him $6.143 million guaranteed in 2025.
Meanwhile, Florida Times-Union staffer Demetrius Harvey believes Bigsby is not guaranteed a roster spot for the 2025 season. According to Harvey, Coen's scouting report indicates that Tuten could get some playing time as the team's change-of-pace back but can play all three downs if needed.
If we gain some clarity on the timeshare, it's worth noting that Coen oversaw a complete overhaul of Tampa Bay's rushing attack, improving the NFL's worst-ranked rush offense in 2022 and 2023 to a ground game that finished third in yards per rush and fourth in rush yards per game in 2024.
As for values, bargain hunters can take their pick here: Etienne is going as RB38 with a 10th-round price tag; Tuten is RB40 going later that same round. Bigsby is going in Round 12 as RB46.
While ball security is a concern for Tuten, his blazing speed and athleticism make him the most interesting target in this backfield . . .
Wideout Is Where The Power Lies
Thomas was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season for the Jaguars. Despite being the fourth receiver off the board in the first round in last April's NFL Draft, the former LSU star was the most prolific of the class, with 82 receptions, 1,282 yards, and 10 touchdowns. That yardage total ranked third in the NFL and was a franchise rookie record.
He finished the year as WR5 with 280 fantasy points.
Thomas had 13 weeks of WR3 or better production. That includes six games as WR12 or better with three top-5 finishes. He had five WR2 finishes.
He hit those numbers despite a slow start.
Thomas scored just 35.9 points on 11 receptions (3.7 per game) in his first three contests, but only Chase, St. Brown, and Jefferson outscored him over the final 14 games when Thomas averaged 5.4 catches per week.
According to SI.com's Michael Fabiano, only Randy Moss, Chase, Puka Nacua, and Odell Beckham Jr. scored more points in their respective first NFL seasons.
Meanwhile, Cohen told reporters his passing game will "run through" Thomas.
Kirk and Engram are gone, and, as NBC Sports' Matthew Berry pointed out, in the four games both Kirk and Engram missed in 2024 from Weeks 15-18, Thomas averaged 25.5 PPG -- making him WR1 over that span . . .
What About Hunter?
Footballguy Sigmund Bloom explained in his Pre-Draft Bloom 100 that Hunter, the best wide receiver in this draft, also happens to be the best cornerback. So it's fair for fantasy investors to wonder how valuable he'll be this season.
The level of equity sent to Cleveland makes it clear how much the Jaguars believe in the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner. But for those wanting further confirmation, look no further than Gladstone, who told us exactly what the team thinks about the rookie.
"There are players that you can target and acquire who alter the trajectory of a game. There are players that you can target and acquire that alter the trajectory of a football team," Gladstone said moments after making the pick. "There are very few, and it's rare to be able to target and prioritize a player who can alter the sport itself.
"And Travis is somebody that we view has the potential to do that."
Let that comment sink in and realize how bold moving up three spots in his first draft with the team is for a first-time GM who views Hunter as potentially changing the direction of a franchise that hasn't made back-to-back playoff appearances since 1996 to 1999.
At the very least, as Jaguars.com's John Oehser suggested, Hunter joins Lawrence and Thomas as the Jaguars' keystone players.
Gladstone said the plan is to start Hunter on offense and gradually work him in on defense as he becomes more comfortable . . .
Enough To Go Around
Bloom believes head coach Coen's offense has the ability to support two WR1s.
"Even though Hunter won't be a true alpha with Thomas already holding that job down," Bloom wrote, "he still has a quicker path to the top end of his range of outcomes that he would have had in Cleveland or New York, and a better chance of sustained success."
Hunter is going as WR29 in the fifth round of ongoing drafts. That price feels right to me, especially in best ball, where any uncertainty about a consistent weekly role and the potential for spike weeks work in my favor.
In Dynasty formats, Hunter's elite athletic profile and dual-threat potential make him a high-upside investment.
And for those invited to play in this year's Scott Fish Bowl, the scoring system this year plays into Hunter's dual role.
Check out Dave Kluge's SFB15 Scoring and Projections to see why Hunter is WR2 in this format . . .
Can Brown Do Anything For You?
While Parker Washington played a significant role after Kirk and Engram were sidelined last year, Brown is a player to watch here.
My SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio cohost, Mike Dempsey, who covers the Jaguars daily in Jacksonville, told me that in every practice he's seen this offseason, Brown has "been hammered with targets."
For those who like to take shots on "free-square" plays with upside at the tail end of your best-ball drafts, Brown, who is currently listed as the starter alongside Thomas and Hunter in three-receiver sets, merits consideration . . .
Stranger Thing
Of course, the same could be said of Brenton Strange, Jacksonville's new No. 1 tight end following Engram's departure.
ESPN.com's Mike Clay noted that we got a preview of this last season with Engram sidelined for eight games. Strange played 72 percent of the snaps in those weeks and handled a solid 14.6 percent target share (4.9 looks per game). That led to one big fantasy outing in Week 15, but he otherwise averaged 6.9 fantasy points per game and failed to clear 12.4 points in any of the other seven outings.
Nonetheless, a 14th-round price tag for a player who totaled 17 receptions for 155 yards over the final four games last year (albeit with 11 of those catches coming in one game) makes him a viable, low-cost option . . .
This And That: Around The League Edition
Time to get a feel for some players and situations of interest as teams start getting to work in advance of the 2025 NFL season . . .
Is The Price Right For Mahomes?
Patrick Mahomes II finished last year as fantasy's QB12. It was the quarterback's worst fantasy finish as an NFL starter.
While Kansas City won 15 games last season to secure the AFC's No. 1 seed and won its third consecutive AFC Championship, Mahomes finished 2024 with a career-low 6.8 yards per pass and 10.0 yards per completion.
Part of that was a receiving corps affected by injury.
Whatever the case, investors aren't dialing back. Mahomes has a QB6 ADP this year, and history suggests he can outperform those expectations . . .
Going Deep Is The Cheat Code
Earlier in his career, when the offense was humming, Mahomes seemed to hit a deep ball every week. In his first year as a starter, Mahomes averaged 8.8 yards per pass and 13.3 yards per completion.
Going into the 2025 season, Mahomes wants to get back to throwing downfield.
"There were opportunities in games for deep shots that I either didn't take, or we missed barely, and I think if we can get back to hitting some of those throws -- we preached about this last offseason -- it opens up the rest of the offense," Mahomes recently said.
And there should be some factors working in Mahomes' favor this season . . .
All The Pieces Are In Place
The Chiefs reached the Super Bowl despite being without wide receivers Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown.
Rice, who tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in Week 4, appeared to be progressing nicely at the end of April.
— Doub11e_R (@RiceRashee11) April 29, 2025
He's gotten better since then.
Mahomes shared his impressions of what he's seen from Rice so far this offseason, telling reporters the last week of May that the wideout was moving with "no limitations" and looking like the one who turned in a strong rookie season. "He's out there playing, he's making plays on the football field," Mahomes said. "He's explosive; he looks fast. You saw the start of last season. I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league."
Rice, who was able to participate fully in OTAs this past week, had 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns in four games after making 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.
Meanwhile, Brown injured his sternoclavicular joint in the preseason, requiring surgery that cost him 15 games.
In his five games, which included three postseason games, Brown made a modest 14 receptions for 141 yards. The Chiefs, though, re-signed Brown to the same deal for 2025, hoping for better health and better results for the 27-year-old player.
With Brown and Rice out most of the season, rookie Xavier Worthy was the team's leading receiver last season, with 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns.
If Mahomes' expectations of a more explosive offense with Brown, Rice, and Worthy come to pass this season, what should we expect?
Trending Up And Back
In 2024, Mahomes completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 3,928 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 16 games. He then completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 679 yards with five TDs and two picks in three postseason contests.
So, what if we see the Kansas City offense trend back to leaning more heavily on Mahomes and the deep ball?
In that case, the quarterback's sixth-round ADP starts looking like a value for a player who has finished inside the top 10 every season he has been the starter, except for last year, and who has finished inside the top five in four of the previous seven seasons. . .
Turning Back Time?
Travis Kelce looks like he feels better than he did at the start of last season, according to Mahomes.
"If it's the last ride, you would never know," Mahomes said, adding that Kelce is motivated to improve on a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Last year was Kelce's 11th season as the Chiefs' starting tight end, and it was his least-productive season, with all-time lows in receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per catch. At age 35 and appearing to be in decline, it's easy to imagine him walking away soon.
But Mahomes thinks Kelce may be primed for a bounce-back year.
We'll see if that's the case. But even as things stand, Kelce has plenty of fantasy value.
With the quality of the Chiefs offense and the volume of targets he should still be in line for, Kelce could catch around 80-85 passes and finish as a top-10 fantasy tight end -- just like he's done annually, including last year, for the last 11 seasons . . .
Bigger + Faster = Value
Running back Isiah Pacheco is in unfamiliar territory heading into his fourth NFL season.
Pacheco started last season with 15 carries in Week 1 and 19 carries in Week 2 before suffering a broken leg. Upon his return, he never eclipsed 14 rushing attempts, and he amassed just 175 yards with no scores over his final five regular-season games.
Pacheco's explosiveness and efficiency noticeably diminished, and the Chiefs took notice. The team didn't hand off to him more than five times in any of its three playoff games. After averaging 4.7 yards per carry through his first two seasons, Pacheco finished 2024 with a mark of 3.7 YPC.
To recapture his peak form, Pacheco put on some muscle this offseason, replenishing weight shed and speed lost during last year's midseason efforts to rehab while missing Weeks 3-12.
"Just going back to 216, 4.37 Isiah Pacheco-style," he said of his goal with the weight gain, via the Kansas City Star's Jesse Newell.
Those numbers were Pacheco's weight and speed at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine when he first caught the Chiefs' attention.
Kareem Hunt is back on a one-year deal, and the Chiefs spent a late-round pick on a converted receiver in SMU's Brashard Smith.
But if a bulked-up Pacheco can regain past momentum, his current RB29 ADP will be a great value . . .
A Dreaded Vote Of Confidence
If there was any lingering notion that a healthy Darnold could be beat out for the Seahawks' starting quarterback job, coach Mike Macdonald put it to rest decisively Tuesday.
Asked whether anything other than an injury between now and the start of the season could lead the Seahawks to go with another quarterback, Macdonald replied: "No, you guys are crazy . . . It's just not going to happen.
"Sam's our starting quarterback. We love him. He's doing a tremendous job."
The question came a day after Darnold delivered an up-and-down performance -- including two interceptions across three plays during red-zone drills -- in the Seahawks' fourth day of OTAs, the first that was open to reporters.
MacDonald emphasized that it's still early in the offseason program and that some mistakes will inevitably occur. The Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rookie Jalen Milroe and veteran backup Drew Lock are the other options here . . .
That Guy
Panthers rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan has what it takes to succeed in the NFL, according to teammate Adam Thielen.
"He's a big long receiver that has phenomenal body control and can make contested catches and can play a lot of different spots, which, in this league, in my opinion, to be a great receiver in this league, you have to be able to play in the slot, you have to be able to play outside, you have to be able to run a lot of different routes and make contested catches. So, from the little I've seen, he's that guy," Thielen told the team's website recently.
It's high praise from a veteran like Thielen, and for good reason.
McMillan might be the best wide receiver from this draft class. He's got a dash of Mike Evans to his game, and McMillan can win in many different ways.
As Footballguy Cecil Lammey noted, with McMillan's natural talent -- and with a big enough body to be a significant red-zone threat, fantasy GMs like him as a WR3/WR4 with upside . . .
Pats On The Hook, Or Nah?
Following up on the ongoing story . . . Former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, now a member of the local media, said last week that Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' release was "on the table."
On Monday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Patriots have no plans to release the veteran wideout.
Welcome to the NFL news cycle in June.
The uncertainty began the week before last when a viral video showed Diggs providing a baggie of pink powder to women on a boat.
Nonetheless, Diggs was present for the Patriots' organized team activities on Monday, working on a limited basis. But an important question remains open: Has Diggs passed the all-important physical mentioned in several portions of his contract?
The Patriots have declined to answer that question.
The physical, if passed, will clear Diggs to practice and play fully. More importantly, Diggs' $12 million signing bonus is expressly tied to getting that clearance. Until Diggs passes the physical, the Patriots have a potential escape hatch from his contract -- even if they have "no plans" to move on . . .
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Every week, the NFL delivers a remarkable range of stories. I like to use this spot to encapsulate that broad expanse here.
The Good: Motivating The King
During an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," Derrick Henry said rushing for 2,000 yards last season wasn't that important to him (he came up 79 yards short). Now, he has added incentive to get to the 2,000-yard mark this season.
After Henry noted that Adam Sandler is his favorite actor, Patrick, who is friends with Sandler and has made cameo appearances in several of his movies, said he would get the Ravens running back a role in a Sandler movie if he reaches 2,000 yards.
#Ravens RB Derrick Henry told Dan Patrick that Adam Sandler is his favorite actor.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2025
Patrick made a deal: Rush for 2,000 yards again this season, and he’ll get Sandler to put him in a movie.
Henry’s response: “Say no more.” ??
(via @dpshow, @KingHenry_2) pic.twitter.com/vL5mNLrvCw
"Say no more. Remember that now," Henry said. "The bet is on. No pressure at all."
Sandler acknowledged Patrick's request and confirmed he would indeed make the movie role happen -- and have dinner with Henry -- if the running back does his part.
Adam Sandler's keeping his side of the bet... now it's your turn @KingHenry_2! @Ravens RB Derrick Henry reacts to his favorite actor, @AdamSandler, promising him a spot in an upcoming movie with a 2,000 yard season in 2025 ? pic.twitter.com/5PaSboZczI
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) June 6, 2025
If he pulls it off, Henry won’t just make a movie -- he’ll make history.
Nine players have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, including Henry, who had 2,027 yards with the Titans in 2020. No one has done it twice.
Henry being the first would be a very good thing for those investing in the elder statesman of NFL running backs . . .
The Bad: Escape Plan?
In a discussion nobody wanted to hear, Saquon Barkley told former Eagle Chris Long that when he retires, it will be a sudden decision that takes people by surprise.
Saquon Barkley was asked about retirement. His answer might surprise you:
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2025
"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.'"
(via… pic.twitter.com/BW8R1B1lrJ
Barkley compared his view on how long he should play to that of Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, who announced his retirement on the eve of training camp in 1999 while coming off a Pro Bowl season.
Sanders was 30 years old when he retired. Barkley is 28.
While fantasy managers would love more than two years left in him, that's not something Barkley is going to promise. While it's not necessarily bad news, it's not great, either . . .
The Ugly: Game Of Throne
As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio put it: "When making more than $60 million per year, it's hard for anyone to have a bad week."
Still, last week wasn't great for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Two of his pet projects -- the tush-push ban and playoff seeding changes -- fell flat with owners. His contract extension also stalled.
According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, an extension is still expected, but owners want Goodell to groom a successor.
The problem?
As Florio notes, there is no clear bench -- setting the stage for potential Succession-level intrigue.
Too much money and influence are at stake.
Goodell has said he won't still be working at 80 -- just 14 years away. He's mastered the role, knows every player in the power game, and commands both cash and control.
Why step down from the top of the mountain?
Still, the owners know they need a plan. The longer they don't have one, the more indispensable -- and perhaps powerful -- Goodell becomes.
Could it get ugly?
There's no sign of that at this point, but we can always hope . . .
The Final Word
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Bob Harris was the first-ever Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year and is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. You can catch Harris' "On The Hotseat" every Tuesday on the Footballguys Audible channel and listen to him during the season on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio's The Football Diehards show on Sirius channel 87.
