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.
They're Voluntary, People
As offseason team activities (OTAs) ramp up, we start getting all kinds of information -- mostly about players who are or aren't reporting, taking part in, resting through, avoiding altogether, or suddenly and unexpectedly absent on any given day.
This is my chance to remind you that OTAs are voluntary.
According to Merriam-Webster, voluntary means acting of one's own free will.
Would it be great if everybody showed up for every session? Sure. And each case is different. For some, such as Buffalo running back James Cook and Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, for example, there are real contract-related concerns. But for the most part, we shouldn't read too much into these absences.
That changes when all 32 teams start holding their mandatory minicamps the second week of June (you can get the full schedule as released by the league on NFL.com).
Players missing those sessions are subject to fines, actual cash that can't be recovered.
Unexcused absences cost $16,953 for the first day, $33,908 for the second day, and $50,855 for the third day, or a possible total of $101,716, according to the terms of the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement.
So, as interesting as the absences and possible messages being sent by the players involved are now (and you can track the day-to-day, minute-by-minute reporting on the Footballguys News Feed), reading those same tea leaves will be far more meaningful when the absences come at a cost.
We'll be watching for that . . .
Nothing's Mandatory When You're Unsigned
Of course, Aaron Rodgers would be an exception to all this. At least until he signs a deal with a team.
Like the Steelers.
As Pittsburgh hit the field for their final round of OTAs on Tuesday, the team had nine offseason practices before training camp. Without Rodgers, the quarterbacks will be Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie Will Howard.
Rodgers being the Steelers quarterback this fall is still the most likely outcome, but the window for resolution is closing.
I'll have more on Rodgers and Cook in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly section below . . .
With the preliminaries out of the way, it's time to get back to the task at hand. My weekly look at changing play callers and offensive coordinators continues for a fifth straight week. In case you missed them, the Fantasy Notebook has covered the situations in Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, and Detroit over the last month.
Let's dive into the next one . . .
Getting Coordinated: Texans Look to Right the Ship
As NFL.com's Nick Shook initially reported, "The successful, yet trying 2024 season has cost Bobby Slowik his job."
The Texans moved on from their offensive coordinator the last week of January. Offensive line coach Chris Strausser was also fired.
Slowik's departure capped a mercurial two seasons in Houston, where the coordinator began with a fantastic debut season as Houston's play-caller, directing C.J. Stroud to a stellar rookie campaign that ended in a division title, a home playoff win, a Divisional Round appearance and an Offensive Rookie of the Year honor for the quarterback.
With Slowik calling the shots, Houston finished with a top-12 offense and the seventh-ranked passing offense (in yards per game) in 2023, propelling the Texans to a stunning turnaround season and a bright future.
Unfortunately, the promise went unfulfilled . . .
What Went Wrong in 2024
Theoretically, Houston should've been better in 2024 than they were in 2023.
They added Stefon Diggs to the receiving corps and Joe Mixon to the backfield, and while both produced, the unit's collective lack of consistency held back the entire operation. Mixon's injuries and Diggs' season-ending ACL tear -- plus Nico Collins' absence due to injury and Tank Dell's season-ending knee injury -- didn't help matters.
Making matters worse, Houston's offensive line struggled, limiting their passing game and Stroud's attempt to build upon his stellar rookie season. Slowik failed to find schematic answers to help protect Stroud, who was sacked 52 times, second most in the NFL. He was pressured on 38.6 percent of his dropbacks, third most in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.
Stroud finished the season with lower totals in completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating, while his interception total jumped from five in 2023 to 12 in 2024.
The Texans finished ranked 22nd in total offense (319.7 yards per game), 21st in passing, 15th in rushing, and 18th in points per game (20.5) in 2024.
There was plenty of blame to go around, but it started at the top, when . . .
Adjustments Misfired
While injuries and poor pass protection were front and center, the Texans didn't give themselves the best chance of success when making scheme decisions. That was most notable when it came to halftime adjustments.
Houston averaged 13 points in the first half of games, which was the eighth best, but once defenses countered in the second half, they averaged 7.5 points, which was the lowest in the league.
In other words, Slowik struggled to counterpunch when opposing defenses adjusted . . .
Turning Point: A Prime-Time Collapse
A Week 9 Thursday night loss to the Jets put Houston's problems in the spotlight.
The Texans were 6-2 going into the game, and Stroud ranked sixth in passing yards (1,948) and tied for 10th in touchdown passes (11).
Houston was without Collins and Diggs, but the Jets were 2-6.
None of that mattered.
Stroud was sacked a career-high eight times and completed a career-worst 37 percent of his passes for 191 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Postgame, the QB said it wasn't "easy" to operate under constant pressure and added that their problems were "bigger" than the absence of Collins and Diggs.
"There's things that, even if they were out there, it wouldn't even help," Stroud said . . .
Help Was Not On The Way
From Weeks 9 to 18, Stroud took contact on 58 pass plays (tied for seventh most in the NFL) and was sacked 30 times (tied for second). During that stretch, he completed 59.8 percent of his throws (29th) and threw for 1,779 passing yards (24th) with nine touchdowns (tied for 24th).
Houston's divisional-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was the exclamation point on a season marred by an inability to protect the quarterback and adjust to opposing defenses.
Stroud was sacked eight times against the Chiefs and pressured on 56 percent of his dropbacks -- the second highest in an NFL playoff game since ESPN began tracking pressure rates in 2009, trailing only former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (63 percent) in 2011.
It was the straw that broke the coordinator's back . . .
New Man, New Plan: Enter Caley
The Texans hired Nick Caley, who spent the past two seasons on Sean McVay's Los Angeles Rams staff, to replace Slowik.
Caley spent this past season as the Rams' pass game coordinator and tight ends coach. Before joining the Rams, Caley spent six seasons as the New England Patriots' tight ends coach.
Caley, 42, has never been an offensive coordinator before, so this will be his first time calling plays.
Still, as ESPN.com's Ben Solak suggested, no offense was held back more by coaching errors last season than Houston's unit.
If Caley is even league average as a Year 1 play-caller, expect the Texans to deliver on their 2024 preseason hype -- assuming they can accomplish one objective:
Rebooting Stroud
As ESPN.com's DJ Bien-Aime noted, Slowik was a positive factor in Stroud's historic rookie season.
In addition to becoming the fifth rookie to throw for more than 4,000 yards, Stroud led the league in passing yards per game (273.9), averaged 8.2 yards per attempt, and had the NFL's lowest interception rate on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, making the Pro Bowl, and finishing eighth in MVP voting.
Stroud finished 2023 as fantasy's QB9 while the Texans ranked 12th in total offense (342.4), seventh in passing yards (4,173), and 12th in completions (114) to wide-open targets that season, a reflection of Slowik's creative play designs.
But it wasn't sustainable . . .
Handing The Keys To The QB
Stroud wasn't allowed to change protections at the line of scrimmage under Slowik. It was the center's responsibility. A lot of the calls were considered "basic," a team source told Bien-Aime, as simple as having three offensive linemen zone blocking to one side while the backside blockers were one-on-one with the backside rushers.
Stroud said that under Caley, he'll be "taking full ownership, running the show" and appreciates how Caley is already giving him that trust.
While Caley and Stroud are working hard to turn things around, they won't do it alone . . .
Offense, Overhauled
It's not a surprise that the Texans made sweeping changes to the roster this offseason.
And the focus was on Stroud.
It started with the offensive line. The Texans traded Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders and released Shaq Mason. They decided to bring in Cam Robinson, Aireontae Ersery, Laken Tomlinson, and Trent Brown along the offensive line.
The Texans also made some additions in the receiver room after Diggs left in free agency -- and with Dell rehabbing from a devastating knee injury that is likely to sideline him all season.
Instead of standing pat, they traded for Christian Kirk before adding Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the 2025 NFL draft.
It's evident that the Texans wanted to ensure Stroud was better supported, so he has no excuses going into the 2025 season.
For his part, Caley said it's about getting the players back into an offense they trust.
"I am excited to evolve this scheme," Caley said. "It's not going to be my spin; it's going to be what's best for our players. We aren't pounding a square peg into a round hole."
Making the scheme less predictable and giving his line the tools to protect the quarterback will go a long way in helping the Texans take the next step . . .
Making The Case For A Stroud Rebound
Few quarterbacks fell further from meeting expectations than Stroud, who was drafted as QB6 last summer before finishing the regular season as QB18.
And that means the stage is set for a major bounce-back campaign.
This year, Stroud is being drafted two spots ahead of where he finished last year: QB16 going in Round 10.
That's a bit off his QB20 Footballguys Projection, but a reasonable price for bargain hunters willing to bet minimal draft capital on a QB2 who delivered QB1 numbers just two years ago . . .
It's worth noting here that Stroud isn't throwing at organized team activities. He has a tight pectoral muscle that is considered "relatively minor," Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.
Ryans downplayed Stroud's injury, and Caley said he has "no concerns whatsoever . . ."
More Value Available In Houston's Backfield
Although a high-ankle sprain cost him three games in his first season as a Texan, Mixon's 1,016 rushing yards marked his fourth time crossing the threshold, though they were the fewest of any instance. Mixon's 4.1 yards per carry were a step up from the season prior, and he added another 309 yards on 36 receptions.
He also ran for 11 touchdowns, the second-most in his career.
Mixon's role was largely similar in Houston as it was in Cincinnati, and USA Today's Cole Thompson believes it's the Mixon show for another year.
The backfield is mostly unchanged this season, as third-down back Dare Ogunbowale and primary backup Dameon Pierce are still on the roster. The team drafted Woody Marks in the fourth round, and Thompson contends the newcomer could take over as the passing-down back; that aligns with Marks' Fantasy Outlook in the Footballguys Rookie Draft Guide Version 3.0.
Marks could earn an immediate role with sneaky value as a pass-catcher, especially with Pierce and Ogunbowale becoming free agents after the season. But he won't noticeably cut into Mixon's playing time . . .
What Could Limit Mixon?
Mixon will be 29 years old by the start of the season, and his 1,816 career rushing attempts rank second-most behind Derrick Henry among active running backs. For most of his career, Mixon has been durable (though he was seen this offseason wearing a protective boot).
It's possible that, given Mixon's age and previous workload, the team could mix in other backs to keep the veteran fresh.
Still, Mixon was RB10 last year. He is being drafted as RB16 with the 46th pick overall . . .
Catch A Rising Star
Collins, who went into the 2024 season after a breakout 2023 campaign in which he caught 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 regular-season games, has established himself as a strong downfield presence for Stroud.
Despite missing five games with a hamstring injury, Collins caught 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns.
He also set a franchise playoff record with 122 receiving yards in a playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers on seven receptions, as he surpassed DeAndre Hopkins' playoff single-game record.
So, how does Collins stack up against the entire collective of NFL receivers?
Elite Company
In the eyes of Pro Football Focus and analyst Trevor Sikkema, Collins is elite. According to PFF's latest ranking stacking up the top 25 wide receivers in the NFL, Collins was placed right within the second tier of top wideouts at number seven.
"Collins has now posted back-to-back seasons with elite receiving grades -- 91.4 in 2023 and 92.3 in 2024," Sikkema wrote. "His combination of size, speed, and route running makes him a true No. 1 option. Over the past two seasons, his 95.3 receiving grade against single coverage ranks second only to A.J. Brown."
The rest of the players ranked ahead of him, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Puka Nacua, and CeeDee Lamb, are also being selected ahead of him in early drafts.
But like the rest of that group, Collins has something important . . .
A Very High Ceiling
I'll remind you that before his leg injury, Collins was on pace to finish the 2024 season with over 100 catches and 2,000 receiving yards.
The 6-4, 222-pounder, who boasts 4.4 speed, flashed league-winning upside as the WR2 through Week 5 . . .
Beyond Collins? Kirk And Potential
With Collins going at the Round 1/2 turn in early drafts (WR8 overall), taking a late-round flyer on Kirk as your WR4 or WR5 is a reasonable approach.
Kirk, still just 28, knows how to find openings in a defense. He'll be pivotal for Stroud's continued development as long as he stays healthy.
Noel and Higgins, who both finished their collegiate careers eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards with the Cyclones in 2024, already complement each other well and possess the chemistry most rookies are currently looking to find during the offseason program.
The 6-4 Higgins provides a massive target for Stroud, one capable of beating defenders with 4.47 speed, while the slightly faster 5-10 Noel fills more of the Dell mold.
There are also players still looking to find their footing, such as John Metchie III, and at some point, Dell will be ready to return and add his services.
In the future, Caley should have plenty of receiving talent to challenge opposing defenses . . .
Bringing Up The Rear
Entering last season, the Texans' target hierarchy was clear: Collins, then Dell, then Diggs, then Dalton Schultz.
Even with injuries to the wideouts, Schultz had an underwhelming season, leading to Randy Gurzi of Toro Times placing Schultz on notice for 2025 and beyond.
Schultz signed a three-year contract extension with the Texans after an impressive 2023 season but did not live up to it in Year 1 of the deal.
"His first campaign under that deal was a letdown as Schultz had 53 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns," Gurzi wrote. "With the injuries to Collins, Dell, and Diggs, Houston needed Schultz to step up, and he never really did."
Before last year, Schultz was widely regarded as a strength for Houston, essentially serving as the fourth option in the aerial attack. However, his disappointing 2024 shoves Schultz off the fantasy radar. He's being drafted as TE27 this offseason . . .
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 . . .
Murray Wants To Punish Opponents
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray feels sufficiently recovered from his 2022 torn ACL to "do whatever I want to do" on the field this season, and one thing is at the top of that list.
Murray told PHNX Sports that he felt he was still "feeling something" in his knee early last season and that he wasn't as mobile as he'd like to be over the rest of the year. He wound up running 78 times for 572 yards overall and said that he thinks that there's room to do more with his legs to make the offense more effective.
Murray said he's having "conversations" about making that happen.
"I don't want to get too scheme-based, but I do feel like I have to run more next year," Murray said. "I feel I'm one of the best in the league. I think where we get better is making things happen outside the pocket.
"When plays break down, we need to be better there . . . That's where a lot of money's made, (with the) scramble drill and making people hurt, making people pay when the play breaks down. I think that's something we didn't do very well, and I think we're very capable with my ability to make things happen."
When Murray runs, he's an absolute fantasy unit.
He was QB2 in 2020, scoring an average of 24.2 fantasy points per game.
For context, Fantasy Life's Ian Hartitz noted heading into last season that Murray was one of only seven quarterbacks to average more than 23.5 fantasy points per game for a full season in the previous 10 years.
There aren't many options with realistic paths to 4,000-plus passing yards and 500-plus rushing yards . . .
Murray Has That
In his three full seasons since 2019, Murray has finished as QB9 (2019), QB2 (2020), and QB10 (last year). He finished as QB11, playing 14 games in 2021.
He's currently being drafted as QB9.
Could he get closer to that 2020 finish? I think so.
And I'm plenty comfortable landing him as early as his current Round 8 ADP (Average Draft Position) on Underdog . . .
As Profootballtalk.com's Josh Alper noted, Arizona showed improvement in 2024, but a 2-5 finish to the season meant another year without a playoff berth. The pressure is on Murray to do what he can to keep that from happening again. If that means more running, the happier his investors will be . . .
Harrison Muscles Up Ahead Of Year 2 Leap?
Marvin Harrison Jr. added a "little bit of muscle mass" and has "really (gone) to work" on some of the areas of his game he wanted to improve this offseason, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. "I'm not going to speak truth into the universe, but just wait until this guy plays this year," Gannon told Mad Dog Sports Radio.
A little bit?
Marvin Harrison Jr.. is JACKED now pic.twitter.com/ybPQyfGobi
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) May 19, 2025
Harrison confirmed what we all could see with our own eyes, saying the increased mass "just happened naturally" as a result of eating the right foods. The wideout said he'll spend the rest of the offseason figuring out the best weight for him during the season.
"I definitely put on some pounds," Harrison said. "I think I added some muscle to my body a little bit. Still just trying to see how my body feels throughout OTAs . . . Kind of get that specific weight to settle in for training camp and go from there."
Whatever the case, Harrison thinks being stronger will help him this fall.
He said "contested catch situations, run off the catch" when discussing areas that the added muscles could help him with in 2025 . . .
No Shortage Of Mentors
Among the list of those with high expectations for Harrison included the greatest receiver in franchise history.
"I saw a guy who made a lot of plays," Fitzgerald told Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic when asked about Harrison. "He did a really good job. When the ball came to him, he made his plays. He's only gonna continue to get better, so I'm excited to see his Year 2."
Fitzgerald said he's available to mentor Harrison but noted that a player with a father who's a Hall of Fame wide receiver doesn't need a lot of mentoring.
"If he ever needs anything, I told him, I'm always available for him any way I can be helpful," Fitzgerald said. "But fortunately, he has a father who was a heck of a lot better than I was, so he can tap into him whenever he likes."
Whether Harrison Sr. was better than Fitzgerald is open to debate, but what's clear is that Harrison Jr. has the talent to be mentioned alongside either of them.
The 2024 No. 4 overall pick had a solid rookie season with 885 yards and eight touchdowns. Harrison, who finished last year as WR30, has the skill set to be utilized in various ways. As a rookie, Harrison ran plenty of vertical routes. This year, we should see a more varied role to get him involved early and often.
We like him as a WR2 with upside in 2025 . . .
Hampton-Harris The Timeshare We Didn't Need
The Los Angeles Chargers are looking for new contributors at the running back position for 2025. They added Najee Harris to the roster and then used their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on prospect Omarion Hampton.
Hampton believes that his play style, combined with Harris', can be special for the club.
"We know they're going to run the ball, so I'm loving it," Hampton said during a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show. "I'm excited; we got me and Najee, a dominant duo backfield. I'm excited to learn from him. We got a good offensive line, a good quarterback. I feel like we're building something special here."
Hampton has shown at the college level that he can take on a workhorse role. He finished his last college season at North Carolina with 2,033 yards from scrimmage, third-most in the nation.
In 12 games in his final season, Hampton averaged over 175 total yards per contest.
As Bleacher Report noted, the Chargers were high on Hampton heading into the draft, as head coach Jim Harbaugh said the team rejected multiple trade offers to keep their No. 22 selection.
But Hampton sharing carries as the Chargers rely on both their backs to help a rushing attack that averaged just 110.7 yards per game in 2024 isn't ideal for our purposes.
Other rookies, like Ashton Jeanty, Quinshon Judkins, and RJ Harvey, get clearer paths to workload.
Hampton is RB22 on the Footballguys Draft Projections while Harris is RB36 . . .
Maximizing Herbert
In addition to landing Hampton in the first round, the Chargers selected wide receiver Tre Harris in the second round. Head coach Jim Harbaugh claims those picks are primarily about helping quarterback Justin Herbert reach his full potential.
Harbaugh told Rich Eisen that he has a vision for Herbert to be recognized as one of the all-time greats, and he wants the Chargers to do everything possible to put the right pieces around the QB.
"I just woke up the other day and said, I got to get Justin Herbert to the Hall of Fame," Harbaugh said. "That would mean winning a couple of Super Bowls . . . And I think it's necessary that we get him surrounded by as many different football players at his level as possible."
That process started last year when the team drafted receiver Ladd McConkey in Round 2 of the NFL Draft.
McConkey's 15 receptions of 20-plus yards ranked third among rookies and 18th in the NFL while having the third-lowest rate of vertical routes run last season.
McConkey can take short passes and turn them into long gains. He changes direction quickly and quickly became a favorite target of Herbert. In the Wild Card loss to the Texans, McConkey set an NFL record with 197 yards (the most by a rookie in league history) en route to a WR14 finish . . .
That's A Good Starting Point
It's even better when you realize Herbert, who finished the 2024 season as QB11, can be your quarterback at a very reasonable price.
Sitting at QB16 on the Footballguys Projections, Herbert is available as QB14 in the 9th round of early drafts.
Why So Cheap?
I don't know. Herbert's career up to this point suggests he'll outperform those numbers.
In 2023, Herbert played only 13 games, but his 17.9-point-per-game average in those contests ranked 12th at the position. He finished as QB11 in 2022, QB3 in 2021, and was QB10 as a rookie in 2020 . . .
Daniels In Command
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels said he has added some muscle this offseason.
It's not hard to see what he's talking about.
spot the difference pic.twitter.com/sVbddOfQD1
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 22, 2025
As USA Today's Bryan Manning suggested, one of the biggest knocks on Daniels ahead of the 2024 NFL draft was his size. While Daniels stands 6-4, he weighed around 200 pounds as a rookie, and there were concerns that he didn't have the heft to hold up for a full NFL season given his style of play.
Daniels quickly put those concerns to rest, leading Washington to a 12-5 record while delivering QB5 fantasy output.
After his inaugural campaign ended, Daniels discussed ways to improve.
"The main thing I'll say this offseason is bulking up a little bit more," Daniels said. "Putting on some more armor, having a full offseason as a pro."
Mission accomplished . . .
Another Year 2 Leap?
Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury noted on Wednesday that Daniels is in line to make significant strides in the coming season.
"[Y]ou can see the comfort level was there this year," Kingsbury told reporters. "I mean, just watching him move around, he's not thinking as much; he's playing fast and letting his natural gifts kind of take over, and that's what we want to see.
"So, I expect him to take a big jump."
Plus, it helps that Daniels is staying in the same offense with the same play-caller that he had as a rookie.
"Yeah, it's huge," Kingsbury said of that factor. "[B]eing able to take the ownership of it and understand it inside and out, where now you're correcting people, you don't even need the coaches. And he's kind of getting to that point."
Daniels completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a rookie. He then completed 66 percent of his throws for 822 yards with five touchdowns and one pick in three postseason games.
We're drafting him as if that upward trajectory will continue.
Daniels' QB3 spot on the initial Footballguys Projections matches his ADP in early drafts, where he's going with the 34th pick overall, a round after Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson . . .
Trade Winds Blowing?
According to Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz, the Falcons are taking calls on the availability of Kyle Pitts, who was featured in last week's This and That section.
In Miami, Jonnu Smith reportedly expressed an interest in reworking his current contract, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the team has countered by opening up trade discussions with the Steelers.
It doesn't seem like anything is imminent, but trade talk is always interesting, and we're here for it. . .
Digg(s)ing A Hole
Diggs was not present for Wednesday's voluntary organized team activity in New England, one day after a video of the recently signed Patriots wide receiver surfaced on social media in which he was on a boat and flashed an unidentified pink substance while surrounded by three women.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, who addressed reporters before practice, was asked if the video is something the team needs to look into.
"It's something we're aware of, and obviously we want to make great decisions on and off the field," Vrabel said.
Although teammates have been impressed with Diggs' work on the field, there's reason to believe things are less than positive behind the scenes.
Scott Zolak on Stefon Diggs:
— Savage (@SavageSports_) May 30, 2025
“I came to the show yesterday with the knowledge that (Stefon Diggs getting cut) is on the table.”
?
?: @NBCSBoston , @ZoandBertrand pic.twitter.com/xoo64TpMoY
The NFL, via a spokesperson, declined comment Wednesday, but don't be surprised if this one winds up in one of the following section in coming weeks.
And I don't mean The Good . . .
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: Chasing A Fast Start
In six seasons under Zac Taylor, the Bengals have gone 1-11 in the first two weeks of the season and 4-13-1 through three weeks. The only year in which Cincy had a winning record through three weeks, 2021, they went to the Super Bowl.
"It sounds like we need to play in the preseason, huh?" receiver Ja'Marr Chase said on Tuesday.
The Bengals have traditionally not played their key players much in the preseason under Taylor. It's something that he's admitted could change as Cincinnati attempts to avoid a seventh consecutive slow start.
"The one thing I do feel good about is playing our guys in the preseason," Taylor told Ben Baby of ESPN.com. "That's always subject to change, depending on health and how things go with our team during training camp, but that's one thing that we've openly talked about with our players, and I think will help us as we do it."
However, NFL.com's Kevin Patra pointed out that the preseason is a delicate balance of giving stars reps while avoiding injuries that could completely crater a season.
Sometimes, however, getting in sync is a matter of putting in the time necessary to get there.
Joe Burrow's health and contract issues have been obstacles.
Last year, Chase's contract hold-in kept him from practicing with Burrow and his teammates until opening week. Adding to the intrigue, Burrow was coming off season-ending ligament surgery on his right wrist performed in November of 2023.
In the summer of 2023, Burrow suffered a strained right calf on the second day of training camp. The injury caused him to miss the majority of camp and the entire preseason.
The year before that?
Burrow underwent an emergency appendectomy that forced him to miss almost all of training camp. And the year before that? Burrow spent the 2021 preseason recovering from a torn ACL.
The good news this year is that Chase and fellow wideout Tee Higgins -- as well as tight end Mike Gesicki -- have new contracts. Burrow is healthy and ready to work at full capacity.
It would be great to see the Bengals get off to a fast start that would also jumpstart many a fantasy season in the process . . .
The Bad: Cooking Up Trouble
Almost the entire Buffalo Bills roster is accounted for as the team begins organized team activities, but Cook was not in attendance, head coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday.
Cook is coming off his best year, finishing with a franchise record-tying 16 rushing touchdowns after scoring two in each of his first two seasons. Cook has publicly shared his desire for a new contract, including going live on Instagram and pinning "15 mill [per] year."
Whether it was intended to make a point or not, Cook recently put his Orchard Park home up for sale.
Bills running back James Cook has listed his Orchard Park house for sale, coming just days after GM Brandon Beane indicated they weren't close on a contract extension and said he didn't foresee "doing any deals anytime soon." https://t.co/4hOQJLm8P5
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) April 2, 2025
General manager Brandon Beane has reiterated that Cook will be ready to go for the season, but Beane has also made it clear the Bills aren't ready to give Cook the deal he wants.
The Bills will hold a mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. Cook will be subject to fines if he misses those sessions.
For now, the two sides will sit and wait . . . Along with Cook's home.
Again, I've got a feeling this one could go from bad to ugly in short order . . .
The Ugly: Who's The Real Punchline Here?
Terry Bradshaw isn't a fan of the Steelers' prolonged pursuit of Rodgers.
The four-time Super Bowl-winning Steelers quarterback didn't hold back in his assessment of the seemingly never-ending flirtation between Rodgers and Bradshaw's former team. In a radio interview with 103.7 The Buzz in Arkansas on Tuesday, Bradshaw lambasted the Steelers for their interest in signing the 41-year-old.
Here is audio of Terry Bradshaw going off on the Steelers considering Aaron Rodgers on 103.7 The Buzz's Morning Mayhem Show ???? #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/j2YdPryRCP
— Steelers Depot 7? (@Steelersdepot) May 27, 2025
"That's a joke. That, to me, is just a joke," Bradshaw said. "What are you going to do? Bring him in for one year. Are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there."
One could say the same about Bradshaw's track record when it comes to assessing quarterbacks. Denver Sports 104.3's Andrew Mason (via Footballguy Matt Waldman) reminded his X followers about Bradshaw's opinion of another high-profile QB a few years back:
Terry Bradshaw on John Elway, 1983:
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) June 22, 2022
“… in my opinion, he's not the kind of guy you win championships with. He never did it when he was at Stanford. I don't think he'll do it in Denver, & personally, (I) don't care if he ever does it."pic.twitter.com/vl7NavZQJ2
So there's that.
But Bradshaw isn't alone in his view of Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers is a legendary talent who seems to now care far more about being obstinate and individualistic than being a good teammate. #Steelers should move on. They’ve horribly botched this situation. No need to make it worse.
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) April 17, 2025
Local media, Steelers fans (and even some potential teammates) aren't sure Rodgers' juice is worth the squeeze.
If the situation drags out much longer, and the quarterback and team don't have some immediate success this season, things will get ugly in the Steel City . . .
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. In addition, subscribers will find the 2025 Rookie Draft Guide Version 3.0 updated with post-NFL Draft insights. Also, 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.
