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.

Next Stop, Training Camp

Offseason team activities have ended, and mandatory minicamps are in the rearview mirror. 

Things will be quiet for a few weeks -- almost four of them.

The NFL on Wednesday announced training camp reporting dates and locations for all 32 teams. The Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, who will face off in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31, will be the first two teams to have rookies and veterans report. Chargers veterans report on July 16, while Lions veterans report on July 19.

The rest of the teams will follow in subsequent days, with the Falcons and Steelers bringing up the rear, with both teams reporting on July 23. 

After the Hall of Fame game, the full exhibition slate starts on August 7 with a Thursday triple header.

Until all that, there's not much going on. Unless . . . 

Off-Field Issues Arise

We see it every year. Idle time can lead to less-than-desired outcomes. Along those lines, there have already been some items of interest. 

Hit The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly section below for more on some legal issues that could cost Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison some time to open the season and a situation that could tarnish Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders' reputation.  

Beyond that, we'll be hoping for quiet vacations with more restful downside than media coverage for all our favorite prospects . . .

And with that, it's time to get back to our weekly reviews of this year's changing offensive coordinators and play callers. In case you're just tuning in, the Fantasy Notebook has covered the changes in  Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, and Las Vegas over the last month plus.

So, let's dive into the next one . . . 

Getting Coordinated: Back To The Future In New England

Mike Vrabel has returned to the Patriots as head coach.

Vrabel, the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2021, replaces Jared Mayo, who was fired after posting a 4-13 record in his one season as Patriots coach.

Vrabel played linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and was an integral member of three Super Bowl championship teams. He served as Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018-23, posting a 54-45 regular-season record and a 2-3 mark in the playoffs, which included a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019. 

But Vrabel isn't alone in making his return to the team . . . 

Round 3

Vrabel hired Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator. 

McDaniels returns to the franchise for a third time to help tutor promising quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft.

McDaniels did not coach in the NFL in 2024 after serving as the Las Vegas Raiders' coach in 2022 and into the 2023 season.

He has never coached on a staff with Vrabel, but the two have a connection from their time together on three Super Bowl championship teams.

McDaniels broke into the NFL in 2001 as an assistant coach under Bill Belichick in New England. After leaving in 2009 to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos, he was fired in December 2010. He then served as the Rams' offensive coordinator for a year in 2011 before returning to New England from 2012 to 2021.

In 2021, McDaniels mentored quarterback Mac Jones to a successful rookie season that resulted in him being named an alternate for the Pro Bowl, and now he will look to duplicate that with Maye, who started 12 games as a rookie in 2024 and went 225-of-338 for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. 

But It Won't Be That Simple

As Fansided.com's Sara Marshall noted, because Drake Maye is a far different quarterback than those McDaniels has worked with in the past, there is a strong belief that the coach will need to adapt and update his playbook, which he reportedly has from taking a year away from the NFL and working with college programs.

But if the talk wasn't enough to convince the skeptics that we'll see a new McDaniels, then one of the latest practices from this week should do the trick.

After one of the final practices of the offseason last week, McDaniels ran a play with the offense that he wasn't familiar with, as it was a play wide receivers coach Todd Downing had come up with.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that a "melding of ideas has been a prevalent theme this spring," with this being a prime example.

It's an intriguing sign for what's ahead for the Patriots' offense and demonstrates the growth of McDaniels that we may not have seen had he remained active in the NFL since the Raiders let him go . . .

The Objective Is Clear

The hope, of course, is that the Patriots will field a dynamic, solid offense that will not only elevate Maye to new heights in his second season but allow them to move down the field swiftly and methodically and be the cohesive unit they had been for the two decades before Tom Brady leaving the team in 2020.

It was one of the biggest struggles of the 2024 season under Mayo and play-caller Alex Van Pelt, but it should be a thing of the past for Maye moving forward with a much more experienced McDaniels on the sidelines.

But there are no guarantees here because . . . 

Development Is Needed

While Maye flashed his potential as a rookie, the club is looking for a significant jump between Year 1 and Year 2.

Fortunately, as Profootballtalk.com's Myles Simmons noted, while Maye has had some documented struggles during the team's offseason program, he's also made some improvements -- at least on the days when reporters have watched practice. 

Most notably, a June 2 session was one of his best in that regard, with Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reporting that Maye was 14-of-16 in 11-on-11 drills and did not throw an interception.

With Maye having thrown four picks in front of the media two weeks before, McDaniels noted after this session that the young QB has done a good job of making necessary corrections.

"We either make a good play, or we learn from the result," McDaniels said. 

After the team's final mandatory minicamp session last week, Maye summed up his perspective on where things stand as spring practices came to a close. "I think we're catching the stride; I think I'm starting to find a stride," Maye said. "I'm bummed out we're about to leave, but it's fun."

But it could be more fun with . . . 

More Help

ESPN's Ben Solak reminded readers last week just how bad the Patriots' offense was around Maye last season. The problems started up front. 

"He had without question the worst offensive line of the rookie quarterbacks," Solak wrote. 

According to Solak, Maye's overall pressure rate of 37.3 percent was exceeded only by Deshaun Watson -- but it was not the product of extended dropbacks, as Maye got the ball out faster than the league-average passer.

Maye scrambled on 10.8 percent of his dropbacks, second only to Jayden Daniels among quarterbacks. Maye ended up running 54 times for 421 yards and two touchdowns.

Maye's 9.0 yards per scramble exceeded Daniels' 8.1, as did his explosive run rate (37.8 percent to 27.1 percent).

While the results were great, that he so often needed to run wasn't, so . . . 

We Got An O-Line Rebuild

The Patriots overhauled the offensive line for the 2025 season by using the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft on offensive tackle Will Campbell and a third-round pick on center/guard Jared Wilson. They also brought in veteran tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury to help improve the run game and passing attack.

Still, as USA Today's Jordy McElroy noted, Campbell, Mike Onwenu, and Cole Strange are the only sure bets as offensive line starters for the Patriots, so the unit remains a work in progress.

However, the issues weren't just with the blocking . . . 

Upgraded Receiving Room?

I questioned the team's efforts to add to their receiving corps during free agency back in a March edition of the Fantasy Notebook.

DK Metcalf was linked to the Patriots before he was traded to the Steelers. There was also talk of New England trying to sign Davante Adams before he landed with the Rams. 

At the time, NBC Boston's Tom Curran advised readers that the Patriots had reservations about having either player on their roster. Curran wrote that the team has been "exceedingly wary of the negative impact a demanding veteran wideout could have on Maye." 

Of course, the Patriots have also had issues convincing top wide receivers to play for them. They were reportedly willing to offer Chris Godwin much more than the former Pro Bowl wideout accepted to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Instead, as Solak put it, "Nearly all of the eggs in the field-stretching search are in the basket of third-round rookie receiver Kyle Williams. Stefon Diggs, off an ACL tear and entering his age-32 season, is the best bet to lead the team in targets . . ."

What It All Means For Maye . . . And You

Despite playing in just 13 games, Maye finished his rookie season as QB21. But his 14.2 points-per-game average ranked 28th. 

Nonetheless, Maye heads into training camp with a QB16 Average Draft Position (ADP). His 10th-round price has him going ahead of players like Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Matthew Stafford, Bryce Young, Geno Smith, and Sam Darnold, among others.

Remember: Maye averaged a hair over 175 passing yards per game and threw just 15 touchdown passes.

But rushing equity has become the thing we covet in quarterbacks. 

Footballguy Gary Davenport had this sussed out well in his 10 Fantasy Steals to Acquire Before Their Value Spikes This Summer, where he suggested Drake's 32.4 yards per game on the ground stood out. 

How much? 

Our own Alfredo Brown, in his 8 Breakout Players to Draft in Fantasy Football (2025) pointed out that Maye quietly averaged more rushing yards per game than Josh Allen did last year. . .

Something To Prove

A recent article by Pro Football Focus identified running back Rhamondre Stevenson as the player with the most to prove for the Patriots in the 2025 season.

Stevenson, who signed a $36 million extension last year, hasn't reached the heights of his career-high 2022 season, when he rushed for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns.

His totals have slipped below the 1,000-yard mark in back-to-back years. He recorded 801 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season with an average of 3.9 yards per carry. However, the most problematic statistic was his seven fumbles.

Stevenson was demoted for portions of last season due to his failure to secure the ball.

Given all that, PFF's Zoltan Buday made his case for Stevenson being the Patriots player with the most to prove.

"Stevenson should have a better season just by eliminating fumbles. However, having to run behind arguably the worst offensive line in 2024 certainly did not help," Buday wrote. "A strengthened offensive line in front of him and a better passing offense led by Maye could certainly contribute to Stevenson once again playing at his best in 2025."

Of course, having something to prove and proving something are two very different things. Especially given the circumstances in New England . . .

There Will Be Competition

As McElroy noted, there are expectations that Stevenson will come out with more fire in 2025 after the Patriots used a second-round draft pick on rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson. 

Touted for his electric running style (Henderson averaged 7.1 yards per carry) and elite pass protection skills, FOXSports insider Jordan Schultz cited an NFL personnel director as saying Henderson is "One of the most exciting players in the draft and a very clean prospect. Home run threat every touch who can hurt you lining up out wide. Very dangerous in space. Multiple Pro Bowl caliber talent."

While Henderson has the talent to overtake Stevenson as the starter, McElroy doesn't believe it will happen right away.

Stevenson is a talented workhorse back who should still lead the Patriots in carries. If he cleans up the fumbling and the offensive line protects better, he could experience a resurgence and further cement himself as the Patriots' No. 1 running back option.

But We're Not Drafting Him Like That

Henderson's RB22 ADP has him going in the fifth round, well ahead of Stevenson, who is being drafted as RB39 in Round 10.

Why the disparity? 

It could be that playmaking ability that Schultz's source described.

The Athletic's Chad Graff saw the same, advising readers this week that Henderson brings "a dynamic New England just hasn't had" in recent years. 

Footballguy Cecil Lammey contends that Henderson is a player who has some Christian McCaffrey to his game.

If he comes to the forefront, the investment in Henderson will pan out. But given their relative prices, I'm likely to have more Stevenson at cost -- at least until I get a better feel for how the workload will be divided when the snaps matter come September . . .

And What About Those Wideouts?

Diggs is still rehabbing from the torn ACL injury he suffered late last October, but his recovery appears to be well ahead of schedule.

There are always questions surrounding an athlete's ability to bounce back from a devastating knee injury. The Patriots obviously believed in his talent and work ethic enough to sign him to a three-year, $69 million deal in the offseason.

There was a speed bump (no pun intended) in the form of a well-documented incident based on a viral video that showed Diggs providing a baggie of pink powder to women on a boat. 

Despite considerable media uproar, Diggs was present for the Patriots' organized team activities the next week, working on a limited basis. 

In a subsequent Instagram post, Diggs admitted that football is taking precedence over everything. "Trying [to] find a balance between family and work, but it seems like work is taking precedence over everything else," Diggs posted on Instagram.

Diggs could play a dual role in New England, serving as an elite receiving target while also helping coach up some of the younger receivers on the roster.

But it's fair to wonder if Diggs will be ready to hit the field in Week 1 . . .

We'll See About That

In the meantime, I'll remind you that Diggs was on pace to have at least 100 catches and 1,000 yards before he was hurt last year. 

ESPN.com's Mike Reiss pointed out that Diggs became more of a short/intermediate option in Houston last year. His air yards per target were only 8.84 in 2024, down from 10.19 yards in his final year with the Bills and 14.73 in his last year with the Vikings. He also had a career-high 18.6 percent of his routes short and to the outside.

Reiss also points out that Diggs lined up in the slot 43 percent of the time last year. He averaged 27 percent during his Buffalo stint.

That role wouldn't be great news for DeMario Douglas, who had been penciled in as the top slot option pre-Diggs.

That said, Douglas was a favorite target of Maye as OTAs wound down this month, and McDaniels made fantasy stars out of slot receivers in New England in the past.

While slot receivers have been their forte, rookie receivers have not . . .

Time For A Change

Williams is viewed as the "X-factor" here. According to Graff, the rookie "excels off the line of scrimmage, was great against man coverage in college, and wins downfield," which Graff stressed were "three traits the Patriots sorely lacked last season."

Lammey notes that Williams has the speed to flip the field on any catch. Given that, Williams is WR9 on the Footballguys Rookie Rankings . . .

Following The Fantasy Relevance

While Diggs, at WR44, and Douglas, at WR80, are the top Patriots receivers in the Footballguys Projections, Williams is rising and currently sits at WR87.

I'll remind you that a healthy Diggs, who finished as a WR2 or better (including five WR1 finishes) every season from 2017 through 2023, is currently being drafted as WR42 in Round 8. Even if he misses the first month of the season as some have predicted, he could easily outproduce the discounted price once he's on the field . . .

The Back Bench Of The Receiving Room

Per Reiss, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Douglas, and rookie Williams are locks to make the final roster. The next tier, all of whom made consistent plays in OTAs: Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, and Efton Chism III. 

Reiss went on to suggest that Ja'Lynn Polk's status as a 2024 second-round pick could help buy him another year -- assuming he buys into the "effort and finish" mentality of the new staff. 

Even then, Reiss believes Polk would open the season deep on the depth chart if he makes the final cut. . .

Hunt(er)ing For Bargains At TE

Hunter Henry has been one of the Patriots' most productive and reliable players since Bill Belichick targeted and signed him in 2021. However, in Maye's rookie season, Henry had career highs in catches and yards (66 catches on 97 targets for 674 yards and two touchdowns). As Curran suggested, to see that kind of production in his 30-year-old season was encouraging. 

There's an obvious connection brewing between him and Maye, and it's reasonable to expect that connection to grow in Year 2.

Of course, Austin Hooper, a 2024 free-agent signing, was also a factor last season. He caught 45 of the 59 balls sent his way in his 30-year-old season with three touchdowns.

With McDaniels back as offensive coordinator, Curran believes the tight end crew could be in line for even more production. Currently sitting at TE21, Henry is available in Round 14 with the 165th pick -- making him a strong free square with scoring upside . . .

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 Culture Miami's Vice?

South Florida Sun Sentinel staffer Chris Perkins recently advised readers that Miami head coach Mike McDaniel could use a one-year turnaround similar to Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni's turnaround last season.

McDaniel has a 28-25 record, including an 0-2 mark in the playoffs and a 4-16 mark against playoff teams. 

Perkins contends that McDaniel, with the benefit of more talent than most coaches in Dolphins history, hasn't done a good job taking advantage of his bounty. 

It's not a stretch to believe McDaniel must be better in 2025, or he'll be fired . . .

What's The Starting Point?

According to Perkins, McDaniel must change the culture of his team and change its fortunes against the best teams on its schedule.

Solak wrote, "First, McDaniel's work building an offense around Tua Tagovailoa is some of the best offensive scheming in the league. Second, his offense fades against truly great defenses, in cold weather, and on the road -- in short, playoff football."

It's all connected.

The Dolphins regularly get pounded by the best teams on their schedule, which prevents them from securing a home playoff game and, ultimately, from winning a playoff game . . .

Relieving The Pressure

McDaniel doesn't have to win a Super Bowl to keep his job, but a playoff win would go a long way toward ensuring he returns for 2026.

Perhaps hiring Bobby Slowik, the ex-Houston offensive coordinator, as senior pass game coordinator is a step in the right direction.

If Slowik takes some of the midweek load off of McDaniel's shoulders, something coaches Andy Reid and Zac Taylor, who have both made Super Bowl appearances, said is essential; his presence is a huge positive.

If, on the other hand, Slowik reassures McDaniel that everything he's doing offensively is okay, that injuries and poor guard play are to blame for everything that afflicts this offense, then his presence only deepens the bog.

The Issues Are Stark

Ideally, Slowik can figure out why the best teams have shut down the Dolphins' offense for the last two years. Over that span: 

• Miami has gone 2-10 against playoff teams, with Tagovailoa totaling 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
• Neither Tyreek Hill nor fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has had a 100-yard receiving game against a playoff team in the past two years.
• The Dolphins have averaged a measly 17 points per game (actually 16.8 ppg) in that 12-game sample.

In the three-year McDaniel era, the Dolphins have been outscored by playoff teams by an average score of 29-20 . . .

Rebound Required

Over the past two years, the Dolphins are 11-0 when Hill has 100 or more receiving yards and 7-16 (.304) when Hill has 99 or fewer receiving yards.

Hill told reporters late last month he had shifted his mentality after a disappointing 2024 season that made headlines on and off the field.

"I've got to prove myself," Hill said. "I've got to show up different. The mindset's got to be different."

ESPN.com's Marcel Louis-Jacques reports that the veteran wideout looks noticeably slimmer and said he's down to 183 pounds after playing at 197 pounds when he first arrived in Miami.

Hill recorded 959 receiving yards last season, averaging 56.4 yards per game -- his lowest totals since 2019 and 2016, respectively.

He played the entire season with a wrist injury he suffered in August, which doctors told him required season-ending surgery. Hill deferred the surgery until after the season, and McDaniel told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that the goal was for Hill to be ready by the summer.

He's on pace for that. 

Hill didn't participate in team drills during minicamp, but this was still a positive step forward for the receiver after a down year in 2024 . . .

Reason For Optimism

Hill showed up with little fanfare at a track meet in California last Friday and won the 100-meter dash with an impressive time of 10.15 seconds.

Tyreek Hill runs a decent 10.15s to win his 100m at the Last Chance Sprint Series!

His first official 100m since 2014 and a new Personal Best (PB) for him.

? athlete.x || IG pic.twitter.com/Yy9K4BxBfO

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) June 13, 2025

For context, athletes typically need to run 10.00 seconds or faster to qualify for the men's 100-meter at the Olympics. Hill's time is especially impressive considering he's 31 years old and hasn't run track competitively since college. . .

Mixing It Up

To help get Hill (and Waddle) on track, Slowik must help McDaniel diversify the scheme. 

The problems with the offense extend far beyond Hill and Waddle being jammed at the line of scrimmage, disrupting the timing of short and intermediate passes, and then facing the two-high safety look to take away the deep passes.

However, it has been an issue over the last three years, with a run game that lacks effectiveness in third-down, short-yardage, goal-line, and red-zone situations . . .

Tua Can Also Help His Coach

On one level, there's no pressure on Tagovailoa. He's already won via a second contract that fully guaranteed $93 million at signing, and that saw another $54 million in 2026 injury guarantees convert to full guarantees earlier this year.

That's 147 million reasons that Tua will make it through 2025.

But here's the question: Will he make it to 2026?

They have to pay him, but they don't have to keep him. 

And if the 2025 season goes poorly, McDaniel, Tagovailoa's biggest supporter, might not be around.

Given the tendency of teams that fire a head coach to hire a replacement who is the exact opposite from a personality standpoint, Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio believes the next coach would be "far closer to Brian Flores than McDaniel on the overall continuum of hardass/nice guy."

And the new coach will arrive believing that Tua is the problem, not the solution.

And even if a new coach decides to keep Tua around for 2026, he'll be in an up-or-out season, given that as of 2026, only $3 million of his 2027 pay will be fully guaranteed . . .

Playing It Safer

Tagovailoa said he has focused on getting the ball out quicker this offseason. The quarterback said he tried to run over people last season to prove his toughness, but he understands that his availability is key.

Tagovailoa missed six starts last season. That brings his total to 15 games missed due to injury in his five-year NFL career, with 2023 remaining as the only season he started every game. The Dolphins' record in the 10 games that Tagovailoa has missed because of injury the past three seasons is 3-7, so he understands the importance of staying in the lineup. 

For our purposes, Tua isn't of direct interest. He currently has a QB21 ADP, which seems about right. 

But having him under center offers the best chance for the Dolphins we're invested in -- De'Von Achane, Hill, Waddle, and Jonnu Smith -- to return value. 

So it matters to us, too . . .

Speaking Of Smith

Smith was excused from the mandatory minicamp and has received permission to seek a trade, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Smith is seeking a new contract in Miami after setting a club tight end record with 884 receiving yards on 88 catches with eight touchdowns last year. He is set to earn $4.1 million in 2025. While the Dolphins had some discussions about trading Smith, no deal has come to pass. 

As NFL.com notes, McDaniel has acknowledged Smith is a vital cog in the Dolphins offense, and Miami would be hard-pressed to fill that role if it were to trade the 29-year-old. 

We'll continue to watch for more . . .

Hall A Pass Or A Value?

Jets running back Breece Hall is entering a contract year, knowing his production will dictate how much he gets paid for 2026 and perhaps beyond. As ESPN.com's Rich Cimini notes, what makes his situation compelling is that his numbers could be impacted by a new time-share in the backfield, with first-year coach Aaron Glenn looking to get Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis more involved.

Instead of complaining, Hall is using the circumstances as fuel.

"I'm not [entitled] to anything," Hall said. "I'm around a new GM, new coaches, a lot of new faces. So, for me, I've got to prove that I'm 'the guy' every day. "

There are times when Hall looks like an elite back. 

Those times were less frequent last season, a frustrating year in which he posted career lows in rushing yards per game (54.8) and yards per carry (4.2). According to Cimini, some of that was because of a pass-heavy offense that catered to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, although Hall acknowledged, "I didn't have a good season."

In fact, Hall, who finished the 2023 season as RB2 with 288 fantasy points, closed out 2024 with 1,359 scrimmage yards (14th among running backs) and eight touchdowns.

He ran for 876 yards, 54.8 yards per game, in 2024. His receptions fell to 57 on 74 targets. 

His RB16 finish fell far short of his RB3 ADP last summer when he was selected with the sixth pick overall.

Hall's name surfaced in trade rumors around the draft, but the Jets want to be a run-oriented offense, so it wouldn't have made sense to trade their most accomplished back. 

It could be a different story around the mid-season trading deadline. 

If they fall out of contention, Hall will be a prime candidate to be dealt. We already know how much Glenn likes Allen and Davis.

"I'm excited about all three of those guys, I really am," Glenn said. "I don't know if there are three backs in this league that have the potential like these three."

From a fantasy perspective, having three running backs means you don't have any -- at least until or unless one of them demands a front-line role. 

While Allen and Davis showed flashes as rookies, neither were that impressive statistically, particularly when breaking tackles. If Hall doesn't return to form, the Jets' room looks dangerously thin . . .

No Worries For Nabers

Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers has been sidelined by a toe injury this spring, and head coach Brian Daboll gave an update on the wide receiver's condition during a Thursday press conference.

Daboll said earlier this spring that Nabers had been bothered by the issue since he was at LSU and that the team did not believe it was a serious problem. That remains the case, and the coach added the wideout is getting better.

"He did a little bit of walkthrough here, but he's progressing," Daboll said. "He'll be OK."

In a perfect world, the Giants would have Nabers catching passes from Russell Wilson and building chemistry for the coming season. The limited work now may improve his chances of being 100 percent in the fall, however, and that's more significant to Daboll's hopes of turning things around in 2025.

For our purposes, Nabers is still being drafted as WR5 in Round 1 . . .

Aiyuk Ready . . . For More Rehab

As noted in last week's Fantasy Notebook, Christian McCaffrey is in a good spot after missing all but four games last season with Achilles and knee injuries. Brandon Aiyuk, on the other hand, is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Although his timeline is unclear, Aiyuk was spotted lightly jogging and coaching up teammates during Tuesday's practice, a positive sign in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last October.

"He's making his way back," Shanahan said. "He's still in the middle of it. So, he's working through that. He's been around, been rehabbing for the most part, but he's been out to some practices, and it was good to have him out today."

Still, with Aiyuk likely sidelined at the start of the 2025 season, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are projected as the Week 1 starting wide receivers . . .

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, the focus will be on how some players are spending their downtime before training camp.

The Good: Checkmate

For the second consecutive year, Justin Reid has beaten Kyler Murray in the finals of a chess tournament for current and former NFL players.

The tournament, known as Blitzchamps, saw Reid top Murray to emerge victorious from an eight-man field that also included Justin Herbert, Mack Hollins, Richard Sherman, Rashawn Slater, A.J. Dillon and Harrison Phillips.

Reid, the first two-time champion of the annual event, said he sees the mental approach to chess as similar to the mental approach to football.

"I play my best when I'm calm and thinking clearly, rather than when I'm jacked up on emotion," Reid said. "So in those two ways, the games are very similar. You get too emotional and you make mistakes, a blunder here and there. 

"If you stay calm under pressure, it ends up translating pretty well."

While Murray and Herbert fell short, the fact that a couple of quarterbacks were in the mix has to be a good thing for their respective offenses . . .

The Bad: Need To Speed

Browns rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, was cited for speeding after being pulled over for driving 101 mph this week. It turns out that it wasn't the first time he had been cited for speeding in Ohio this month.

According to a Medina [Ohio] Municipal Court record that was filed June 6, Sanders was pulled over by the Ohio State Patrol earlier this month. In that alleged violation, which took place June 5 in Brunswick Hills, Ohio, the Ohio State Patrol told WJW-TV that Sanders was stopped for driving 91 mph in a 65 mph zone.

According to the record, Sanders failed to appear for an arraignment on the citation on Monday and faces fines and court costs totaling $269. He was then stopped by an officer for the Strongsville (Ohio) Police Department at 12:24 a.m. Tuesday morning, for driving 41 mph over the posted 60 mph speed limit in a black Dodge TRX truck.

The Browns addressed the citations with Sanders, according to Cleveland.com. Appearing Thursday night at teammate David Njoku's charity softball game, Sanders addressed the situation.

Shedeur Sanders said this about his speeding violation:

“I’ve made some wrong choices, I can own up to it—I learn from them”? pic.twitter.com/RUTa1IJ20f

— GUCCE??‍? (@gucceCU) June 19, 2025

Written out, the words look good. But, as Florio suggested, the delivery hardly conveyed a sense of contrition (I encourage you to watch for yourself).

All in all, it's a bad look, and you have to wonder if that's the reaction the Browns front office was after . . .

The Ugly: Suspension Coming?

Vikings receiver Jordan Addison reportedly attended a hearing in a California court this past Monday, June 16, in connection to his DUI citation in 2024. 

Addison, who pleaded not guilty last December, is now scheduled to appear in court again on July 15.

As Athlon Sports noted, the 23-year-old receiver is facing DUI charges for an incident where he was found asleep behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce in Los Angeles last summer. There has been continued speculation about when and if Addison might face a suspension from the NFL, which is awaiting the ruling of his trial. 

If the July 15 date is a jury trial, that would expedite resolution. 

A guilty verdict -- or an admission of guilt by way of a plea agreement -- will likely lead to league punishment.

Still, Footballguy Drew Davenport, our in-house legal analyst, noted this week, "There are all kinds of reasons for getting a Jury Trial date, and only one of them is to... Have a Jury Trial."

You can review Davenport's full X thread on the case -- with his opinion on the most likely outcome for all the details.

As promised, here is your Jordan Addison #FFLegalUpdate on his prospects for 2025.

What does the Jury Trial mean for a possible suspension to start the season? Here are my current thoughts on the young Vikings wide receiver...

1/? https://t.co/OoV0N6qYhf

— Drew Davenport (@DrewDavenportFF) June 17, 2025

Bottom line? Addison could miss some time to start the season. The Vikings are expecting a three-game suspension, which would be an ugly start to his season. 

But for fantasy investors? 

Even the possibility of missed time could suppress Addison's draft value to a point where the discount becomes appealing . . .

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 live, along with the usual array of interesting strategy and news articles. Also, the free Daily Email Update has resumed. Get the biggest stories in football. Summarized, explained, and delivered straight to your inbox -- every day.

Heads up, I'll be off this coming week, so head back in two weeks for the next 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 on weeknights at 8 p.m. ET starting July 7 on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio's The Football Diehards show on Sirius channel 87.

Follow @footballdiehard