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.
Time To Roll Up Our Sleeves And Get To Work
With free agency and the NFL Draft behind us, we have plenty of information to advance our understanding of player values. The next step is to use the information we glean from voluntary offseason workout programs, Organized Team Activities (OTAs), and minicamps to further refine our views over the next month and a half.
But there's another critical piece of the player-value puzzle: Offensive coordinators and play callers.
Over the coming weeks, we'll use this space to get a better feel for this year's incoming offensive minds, the coaches who play the most significant role in determining the outcomes for players we invest in. I'll mix in pertinent reports on recoveries from various injuries of interest, depth chart battles, and contract issues of interest as we head towards the drafts that matter most to us late this summer and early fall -- mixing in healthy doses of best ball and Dynasty talk for perspective.
It will be a fun run-up to the NFL and fantasy football seasons. Let's dive in . . .
Getting Coordinated: Johnson, Bears All In On Caleb
Less than one week after being hired as the 19th head coach in Bears history, Ben Johnson named Declan Doyle his offensive coordinator.
Doyle, 28, has coached tight ends with the Denver Broncos since 2023. He spent four seasons at the beginning of his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints.
Johnson prioritized finding a coach whose primary responsibility will be helping him game plan for each week's opponent. "The offensive coordinator position is going to have to be somebody that not only I trust but will be extremely detail oriented, organized and structured to set the table and also be willing to work late nights."
Doyle's most recent job in Denver will also help him navigate coaching a young quarterback like Caleb Williams. As tight ends coach, Doyle played a role in developing Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who helped Denver reach the postseason after ranking in the top 10 in the NFL in points per game.
But let's not get too far off track here . . .
Johnson Is Him
What matters for fantasy investors is that Johnson, fresh off a highly successful three-year run as Detroit's offensive coordinator, will continue to call the plays in Chicago.
Known for his innovative approach, Johnson has coached the Lions to top-10 offenses the past two seasons, leading the league in average points (30.1) and yards (402.2) per game over that span.
In 2024, Detroit scored an NFL-leading 68 touchdowns and ranked second with a franchise-record 409.5 yards per game.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini stated the obvious: "Those are unheard-of numbers in Bears history."
The Bears last finished in the top four in total offense in 1977.
The Bears haven't finished top-four in total offense since 1977 and have cracked the top 10 just once this millennium -- eighth in 2013 under first-time head coach Marc Trestman. Their only top-10 scoring finishes since 2007 came under Trestman and Matt Nagy, both offensive-minded first-time head coaches.
More to the point, the Lions averaged at least 26 points per game in each of Johnson's three seasons at the helm. The Bears have had four such seasons in the entire Super Bowl era (1985, 2006, 2013, and 2018).
But Detroit also had arguably the best offensive line in football last year. Footballguy Matt Bitonti ranked them No. 1 on his final 2024 Offensive Line Rankings.
The Bears? Well, it wasn't that good. Chicago's line came in 29th on Bitonti's list. But we have good news here because . . .
Change Was Necessary
The Bears made a real commitment to rebuilding up front after allowing a league-high 68 sacks last year. They also surrendered the eighth-most QB pressures, and Williams had a 65.9 passer rating when pressured versus a 95.5 rating when not.
They started by improving their interior, including trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. They followed up by signing free-agent center Drew Dalman.
The Bears also drafted offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo in the second round and guard Luke Newman in the sixth round. Trapilo will likely compete for a starting tackle job, while Newman will serve as key depth at guard and center.
It's been a pretty impressive effort to shore up a unit among the worst in the league last year . . .
Setting Up For A Year 2 Leap
While the line was most responsible for all the sacks in 2024, getting Williams to process and get rid of the ball more quickly is also essential.
Williams should benefit from the creativity Johnson displayed in Detroit.
For starters, more play-action passes should help the Bears limit the number of sacks they permit in 2025.
The Lions ranked No. 1 in play-action usage last season (36 percent), while Chicago ranked 30th. Detroit used pre-snap motion at the fifth-highest rate, whereas the Bears ranked 19th.
"It takes a village," Johnson said. "I don't know what the number was in terms of seconds that [Williams] held onto the ball before releasing it. But we would certainly like to bring that number down. Part of that is, 'How well can we scheme No. 1 or No. 2 in the progression open for him?' The protection up front can get better. The route runners [can] get to their spots faster."
Johnson added moving the pocket and other adjustments will also be part of that process.
That process began on April 7, when the Bears hit the field for the start of their OTAs. Johnson was eager to begin working with Williams so the two could begin thinking as one.
"You need to be able to see the game as a play caller through the lens of the quarterback and vice versa," Johnson said. "He needs to see [the game] through the [eyes of the] play caller as well: Why are we calling certain plays? What is the intent of the play? For me, everything that I do really is to try to set it up within how he sees the game."
Johnson revealed that Williams will take more snaps under center this offseason. Last year, the Bears ran 70.8 percent of their plays from shotgun (16th), while Johnson's Lions did so a league-low 44 percent of the time.
"There are some things that we're going to encourage that he looks to do a little bit differently," Johnson said. "He's been predominantly a shotgun quarterback for most of his high school and college career, so he's very comfortable there. We're going to work to see the comfort level under center and how much of that applies."
But it goes beyond that . . .
Help Is On the Way
The Bears' offense already had talented pass-catching options in wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, tight end Cole Kmet, and running back D'Andre Swift, and the first two rounds of last week's NFL Draft brought them tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Assuming the protection improves, Williams will have many places he can go with the ball on any particular play, and with Johnson drawing the plays up, ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote, "This could be as exciting an offense as there is in the league."
Footballguy Dave Kluge agrees.
A personnel package with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Colston Loveland can theoretically create so many mismatches. They can counter whatever the defense shows.
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) May 1, 2025
Linebackers on Burden in the slot and corners covering Loveland up the seam.
I see the vision.
Graziano can envision all this being enough for Williams to be in the MVP conversation this season . . .
What About The Fantasy Perspective?
Although he finished 2024 as QB14, Williams had multiple weeks in QB1 territory. In fact, the then-rookie had three top-five weeks at his position. He scored well over 20 points in all three (24.9 points in Week 12, 26.1 points in Week 13, and 24.8 points in Week 16).
So, we've seen Williams' upside, and the last three seasons offer ample evidence of Johnson's ability to get the most out of the position.
I expect Williams to make strides in Year 2 with the infrastructure built around him.
He offers league-winning upside at a Round 8 price -- ideal in builds where you fade elite QB early.
That said, there's a lot of value in that same range in ongoing Underdog best-ball drafts.
Williams is going with the 92nd pick overall, just four picks after last year's QB4, Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield (at 88). Also going in Round 8 are Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, who has an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 94, and Denver's Bo Nix, with pick 95. The Jets' Justin Fields is going early in Round 9 (pick 99).
Is the Johnson factor enough to elevate Williams above that group?
I'll want some shares of Williams, but there are other pieces I can invest in to get a piece of this offense . . .
Swiftly Rising?
At running back, Johnson is familiar with Swift, who played under his new boss in Detroit in 2022.
Working as a complementary piece alongside Jamaal Williams, Swift carried the ball 99 times for 542 yards with five touchdowns in 14 games. He also caught 48 of 70 targets 389 yards and another three scores. That's 147 touches working in tandem with a 1,000-yard rusher, as Williams carried the ball 262 times while serving as the clear lead back.
Considering Detroit traded Swift away after his lone season working for Johnson, we were watching for a significant investment in the backfield during the draft.
Instead, in a deep class that included star power at the top, the Bears did not address the position until they selected Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers with pick No. 233 in the seventh round.
But that wasn't for a lack of effort.
The Bears showed strong interest in backs like Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson and Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, reportedly making calls to trade up for the latter, though Henderson was seen as the more realistic target. They weren't the only backs the Bears had interest in. Chicago Tribune staffer Dan Wiederer reports that Chicago was interested in Arizona State's Cam Skattebo, selected by the Giants in Round 4, just four picks before the Bears were on the clock.
Meanwhile, USA Today's Brendan Sugrue suggests there are still questions at the position with Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Monangai, and it remains to be seen what the Bears will do next to address them.
J.K. Dobbins and Nick Chubb are unsigned free agents, though the Chargers placed an unrestricted tender on Dobbins, which complicates things for teams interested in adding him.
But for now?
As Matthew Berry of NBC Sports noted, Swift and Roschon Johnson are the clear front-runners in Chicago. But Monangai could eventually project into that David Montgomery role in Johnson's offense. "Remember," Berry wrote, "during Johnson's three seasons as offensive coordinator in Detroit, the Lions led the NFL in RB fantasy points."
Swift is going at a discount as RB32 with the 100th pick overall on Underdog . . .
Less Moore Coming?
At wideout, Moore has been a consistent producer at the position since his arrival in the league. He might not be on the same level as Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he's not far off at his best. Moore has four top-20 fantasy seasons to his credit in four of his seven seasons; St. Brown has three consecutive top-10 campaigns.
Beyond Moore, Rome Odunze brings a more physical presence than the typical wideout in Johnson's tenure with the Lions.
But the addition of Burden, who Footballguy Matt Waldman is very high on -- the Missouri product ranks first at the position in Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio, could be a limiting factor here. Waldman contends Burden is a more athletically skilled version of St. Brown. Given that, Waldman says we shouldn't be surprised if Burden is on the field for two receiver sets over either Moore or Odunze.
Moore is heading into the final year of his contract, and, as Berry suggests, "We don't know yet how he feels about Moore." On the other hand, we know what the coach thinks of Burden after Chicago used a second-round pick to secure his services.
Meanwhile, Moore is being drafted as WR18 with a third-round ADP, Odunze is going in Round 5, and Burden is being drafted as WR48 in Round 9.
Could the cheapest option offer the most upside?
It seems possible; enough so that I'll acquire more shares of Burden and Odunze than Moore as we watch the situation play out. I'm open to switching that approach depending on reports out of Chicago in the coming weeks, but for now, the discount and upside are appealing . . .
Lofty Comparisons
Based on what we saw from Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, it's also fair to believe Loveland will have a robust role.
In fact, Johnson has openly said the No. 10 overall pick reminded him "a lot" of LaPorta.
The 6-5, 245-pound Loveland, who had 56 receptions, including five for TDs, at Michigan last season, is viewed as a key to unlocking the potential of Johnson's offense -- the same offense that helped LaPorta thrive as a rookie when he caught 86 passes and 10 touchdowns in 2023.
This is when I remind you that LaPorta finished as fantasy's TE1 that season.
While Loveland opens as TE21 on the Footballguys 2025 projections, we'll all be looking for signs that he might play a role in Chicago similar to LaPorta's in Detroit.
Just know that in Johnson's time as Detroit's offensive coordinator, the Lions ranked eighth in TE fantasy points. Over that three-season span, Lions tight ends combined for 32 receiving touchdowns, tied for second most in the NFL . . .
This And That: Around The League Edition
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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 . . .
All Systems Go For McCaffrey
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey appeared in just four games last season, beginning and ending the 2024 campaign on injured reserve. Achilles tendinitis delayed his season debut until Week 10, and a PCL knee injury ended his season in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills.
Speaking to reporters on April 21 as the 49ers kicked off their offseason program, McCaffrey offered encouraging news about his recovery.
"I'm feeling great," McCaffrey said. "This was my goal: to not miss a day of OTAs, be back, ready to go, with nothing hindering me, and that's where I'm at."
Asked when his knee began to feel normal again, McCaffrey replied, "It went by pretty quickly. I don't remember the exact date, but I got to a point pretty early in the offseason when I was training full-speed, ready to go."
As for whether he'll face any restrictions when he returns to the practice field in May, McCaffrey responded confidently, "Correct. Yeah, no restrictions right now."
While McCaffrey finished the 2024 season with just 202 rushing yards and no touchdowns, he was a force in 2023, earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors with 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns. He had 272 carries in 16 games in 2023, tied for the second-most in the NFL. His 17 carries per game ranked fourth in the league. Add in 67 catches, and he got 339 turns to rack up fantasy points that season.
McCaffrey averaged 24.7 fantasy points per game, well ahead of the pack.
The 49ers are counting on McCaffrey returning to form in 2025 as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season.
Can He Deliver Again?
Last year, McCaffrey got 65 touches in his four appearances. He ended his eighth season with 348 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns while setting career lows in rushing attempts, rushing yards, touches, yards from scrimmage, and touchdowns.
But we saw signs.
In his Week 10 return from IR, McCaffrey played 54 of 61 offensive snaps against the Buccaneers, contributing both on the ground and through the air. He transformed the offense, opening lanes and opportunities that stats can't capture. McCaffrey's six receptions for 68 yards demonstrated his versatile skill set and ability to keep defenses guessing.
Quarterback Brock Purdy explained that having McCaffrey back added a whole new dimension to the team's plays. "Defenses have to scheme that up; they have to acknowledge him," Purdy explained, sharing how McCaffrey's presence offers teammates more opportunities to shine.
The numbers also tell part of the story -- San Francisco amassed 413 total yards and averaged 6.8 yards per play, overshadowing Tampa Bay's 215 yards . . .
Are We Buying A Rebound?
Yes. McCaffrey's Underdog ADP has quietly climbed to RB5. He's going with the 13th pick overall, just ahead of RB6 Derrick Henry, who is going two picks later.
De'Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, and Bucky Irving are going later in Round 2 . . .
Purdy's Pending Payday
Meanwhile, Purdy reported for the first day of the Niners' offseason workout program, an indication that contract talks are headed in the right direction. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted that the sides are having continued conversations about a new deal for the underpaid starting quarterback. The final selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy has been playing for relative peanuts.
He's due a massive pay increase, likely in the $50 million-a-year range.
For our purposes?
Purdy, who finished last season as QB13, is currently being drafted as QB12 in early best-ball drafts.
It makes sense.
With Deebo Samuel Sr. traded to Washington, Brandon Aiyuk returning from a season-ending injury, and McCaffrey still having to prove he can return to past form, there's no reason to overvalue Purdy . . .
Kittle Got His
George Kittle was entering the final year of his contract, but the two sides agreed to a new deal this week. On Tuesday, Kittle announced on the Bussin' With the Boys podcast that he and the 49ers have agreed to a four-year contract extension.
Kittle, who was set to earn a $14.4 million base salary -- none of it guaranteed-- now stands to make $76.4 million under the terms of the deal, and there is $40 million in guaranteed money. The total value and average per year are the most of any tight end.
This wasn't the expectation heading into the draft.
A report indicated that Kittle and the team were far apart in their negotiations, and Kittle did not report on the first day of voluntary work. A tweet from Russini claimed, "Kittle's absence is also contract-related, sources say. And the two sides remain far apart."
Kittle disagreed.
Your source is incorrect
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) April 23, 2025
Early best-ball drafters have been unconcerned. As noted in a previous Fantasy Notebook, Kittle, who caught 78 passes and posted 1,106 yards with eight touchdowns to finish the season as TE3, is being drafted with the 50th pick overall this year behind only Brock Bowers and Trey McBride . . .
Dak Ready For Action
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott says he is progressing in his recovery from his season-ending hamstring injury.
So much so, in fact, that Prescott said he would be able to suit up right now if needed.
"If I had to play a game today, I definitely could do that," Prescott said as the team cranked up their voluntary workout program last month.
Signed to a four-year, $240 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history in terms of annual average value last September, Prescott played just eight games before the hamstring injury. With 11 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, he was on pace for one of his worst statistical seasons.
Prescott said he plans to participate in organized team activities in some capacity after May 19.
Although he finished as a QB1 six times as a pro -- it's happened every year he's played a full 16- or 17-game season, and he was QB3 as recently as 2023, Prescott is being drafted as QB18 in the 11th round of early best-ball drafts.
I'll remind you he plays with one of the best receivers in the NFL and is available as a low-end QB2 . . .
The Lamb Lied Down
It's also worth noting that losing Prescott at the midway point last year was tough for that receiver, CeeDee Lamb, to overcome.
In Lamb's eight games with Prescott under center, he averaged 6.4 catches, 87.5 yards, and 18.5 fantasy points. He was the WR4 during that time. In his final seven games, all played without Prescott, Lamb averaged 6.8 catches, 76.3 yards, and 16.5 points. He dropped to WR11 before missing the final two games with an injured shoulder.
The consensus WR1 heading into 2024, Lamb went from averaging an NFL-best 23.8 fantasy points per game in 2023 to 17.6 points per game this past season.
Lamb is currently the fifth player off the board on Underdog as the WR3 . . .
Slim Pickings After That In Big D
The double-edged sword of fantasy theory comes from our desire for top players -- like Lamb -- to get volume. The conflict is the need for other weapons dangerous enough to keep opposing defenses honest. Some of the NFL's most productive offenses field multiple high-end fantasy threats at wideout.
The Cowboys are not one of those offenses.
Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin are next up on the depth chart behind Lamb at wide receiver in Dallas. As Berry noted, Dallas hasn't had a single receiver other than Lamb reach 700 receiving yards since 2021. While former Cowboy Amari Cooper is still available in free agency, the Cowboys skipped the position altogether in the draft.
It's starting to look like Lamb will be on an island again this season . . .
Godwin Good To Go?
According to general manager Jason Licht, Chris Godwin will not need to rush back to the field, thanks to the addition of rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Immediately after the Buccaneers took Egbuka in the first round last week, Licht said that the selection had nothing to do with how Godwin's rehab from a dislocated ankle is going.
The Bucs were looking to the future with the Egbuka pick, but Licht noted that's also the case for Godwin. Light explained: "Three years in the NFL is long-term," in reference to Godwin's new contract, and that timeline is all the more reason not to overemphasize how quickly he is back in action.
He reiterated that stance this week.
"Chris is still on track; we're still shooting for Week 1 with him," Licht told the team's website. "This had nothing really to do with Chris's injury rehab right now."
Instead, it was all about drafting the best player on their board.
The Bucs now have Evans, Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Egbuka, with McMillan and Egbuka the future No. 1 and No. 2 receivers for the team.
"It's exciting to add him to the mix. We've got J-Mac and him now for the future, but also the present, and still we have an elite room with Chris and Mike."
But the injury issues can't be ignored.
The selection of Egbuka absolutely adds insurance after the 2024 injuries to Godwin and Evans, who missed three games with a hamstring injury.
And Godwin's progress in the coming weeks will be something to monitor closely . . .
The Vikings' New Hope?
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy told reporters he is back up to 215 pounds after getting as low as "the high 180s" during his recovery from last season's knee injury.
It's now been over eight months since McCarthy, the tenth overall pick in last year's draft, suffered a torn meniscus that ended his rookie season before it could begin.
Speaking to local reporters on Tuesday for the first time since before that injury, the 22-year-old said he's back to full strength and is excited about the opportunity this year. "Overall, I feel 110 percent because I feel better than when I got hurt eight months ago," he said.
The question is, will McCarthy be ready to fuel the fantasy fortunes of teammates like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson?
Head coach Kevin O'Connell is one reason for optimism.
Since arriving in Minnesota, his offenses have been productive regardless of the quarterback. For the record, Jefferson's ADP in early best balls—he's going as WR2 with the fourth pick overall—is an indication that most drafters aren't worried . . .
Playing It By The Book
Titans quarterback Cam Ward won't be handed the starting job despite being the No. 1 overall pick, according to general manager Mike Borgonzi.
"Yeah, it's a great room we have right now with those four guys," Borgonzi said about Will Levis, Brandon Allen, Tim Boyle, and Ward. "'And that'll be up to Brian [Callahan] and his staff in terms of reps as we go through the offseason and get into training camp. But we'll take it step-by-step here . . . We're not going to name any starters here, though, right now here in the offseason."
While their public stance makes sense, all signs point to Ward taking the reins as the Titans' franchise quarterback of the future. Anything else would be a shock.
Levis went 2-10 during his 12 starts last season, finishing with 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Realistically, given those numbers, investing the first pick overall in Ward suggests the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Ward is QB26 on the current Footballguys 2025 Projections . . .
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. This week, we'll keep it draft-related.
The Good: Embracing The Challenge
The Colts started their offseason program on April 21, and, as PFT's Josh Alper notes, they set the table for one of the storylines of the coming months: Their quarterback competition.
Daniel Jones was signed as a free agent to compete with 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson.
Still, the 22-year-old former No. 4 overall pick is not shying away from the challenge of winning back the starting gig he's primarily held when healthy over the last two years. "Competition brings the best out of you," Richardson said. "That's just how life works; you just gotta compete and get better because somebody to the right, left, or in front of you is trying to out-work you and be better than you.
"Competition, I love it."
Consistency in performance and availability is why Richardson is competing with Jones. Richardson completed 47.7 percent of his passes in 2024 and missed four games due to injury; he was benched for two games in the middle of his second year in the NFL.
Richardson, though, has taken the critiques from general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen not as an attack on who he is but as fuel for the work he's focused on continuing throughout his career.
"Every single day is a day for progress."
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 22, 2025
"I definitely don't take it personally," Richardson said. "I definitely love working, I love getting better, so whenever there's an opportunity for me to go and chase that, why not do it."
The winner of this quarterback competition will come down to whose performance and consistency give the Colts the best chance to win.
Ballard and Steichen have been clear: There's no favorite to win the job, nor is there a timetable for when a QB1 will be named.
But having a good attitude about the challenge and realizing every day is an opportunity are positive signs from Richardson . . .
The Bad: The Genesis Of A Contract Dispute
James Cook was not present for the start of the team's voluntary offseason program, general manager Brandon Beane confirmed the week before the NFL Draft.
Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Cook is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.
Beane addressed the issue again this week and said the Bills want Cook on the team beyond the 2025 season. However, the GM added that making that happen would require using the franchise tag or an agreement on a long-term contract.
Cook made his desired salary of $15 million a year known early in the offseason, and Beane said in March that he didn't see a deal coming together anytime soon, so it wasn't surprising to learn that Cook is not taking part in the voluntary portion of the team's offseason program. During an interview with Tyler Dunne of Go Long, Beane said he isn't concerned about Cook's absence because he's confident that the running back knows what's required in 2025 to get the kind of contract he wants.
Beane said, "There are very few" running backs on the tier of Saquon Barkley, McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry when asked about his view on big investments in running backs in general.
Cook's target suggests he feels he is in that tier after 2,834 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns over the last two seasons (with 18 coming last year). Beane's comments suggest that the third season will have to be the charm.
This could go from less-than-ideal to ugly in short order . . .
The Ugly: The Joke's On Who?
Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was fined $100,000, and the team was fined $250,000 for the fraudulent phone call Ulbrich's 21-year-old son admitted making to Shedeur Sanders at the NFL Draft.
The Falcons said in a statement Sunday that Jax Ulbrich wrote down the number from his father's open iPad while visiting his parents' home "to later conduct a prank call."
Sanders, widely expected to be selected in the first round before the NFL draft started, had to wait until Day 3 for his slide to end when the Browns picked him in the fifth round. In a conference call with Cleveland-area reporters after the draft, Sanders said he wasn't bothered by the prank.
Nonetheless, the NFL said the fines in Atlanta were for "failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club before the NFL Draft."
That might have been effective had Sanders been the only player pranked.
He wasn't.
Several others, including Abdul Carter and Kyle McCord, received similar prank calls.
And if the only outcome here is financially punishing a single team, an assistant coach, and his son? The NFL almost guarantees the prank-call phenomenon will be an even bigger problem next year.
Whether it's league-provided burner phones for all potential draft picks or making the pick and then calling, there needs to be a more robust plan in place.
Otherwise, this situation will get downright ugly . . .
The Final Word
That's it for this week's Fantasy Notebook. First-time readers will be pleased to learn you're only scratching the surface of what's available at Footballguys. We're hard at work year-round to help our subscribers gain an edge on the competition.
Our 2025 Player Projections and Preseason Draft Rankings are now live, along with the usual array of interesting strategy and news articles. In addition, subscribers will find the 2025 Rookie Draft Guide Version 3.0, released this week, awaits. And with the NFL Draft behind us, the free Daily Email Update has resumed. Get the biggest stories in football. Summarized, explained, and delivered straight to your inbox -- every day.
Remember: It's never too early to start, so head back next week for another edition of the Fantasy Notebook.
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.
