The Dallas Cowboys welcome back RB Ezekiel Elliott with a 1-year deal, $2 million guaranteed and worth up to $3 million.
Zeke is back home! After not drafting a RB in this year’s draft, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys brought back one of their all-time best rushers. After a brief hiatus with the New England Patriots last season, Elliott returns to the team that drafted him 4th overall in 2016.
Over Zeke’s career with Dallas, he has totaled 8,262 yards and 70 TDs, solidifying his legacy as their workhorse back over 7 seasons. Throughout his career, Elliott has been known for his exceptional combination of speed, power, and agility, making him a key player for the Cowboys’ offense. With the Patriots last season, he totaled 955 yards and 5 TDs as his heavy workload has started to catch up with him.
It’s been a while since Zeke has been a perennial 1st round fantasy pick, plus the Dallas RB room is now “crowded” with middling talents Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and newly signed Royce Freeman. Elliott has also recently dealt with a number of nagging injuries. Even with all these concerns, the departure of Tony Pollard and Zeke’s extensive experience in the offense means it’s likely he will still be very much involved this year.
The Las Vegas Raiders and WR Michael Gallup have agreed on a 1 year, $3 million deal.
Michael Gallup was once regarded as a top receiver in the NFL. In 2019 he posted 113 targets and 1107 yards in the Dallas Cowboys offense. Gallup recorded similar numbers in 2020 and then an ACL injury derailed what was once a promising career. Gallup hasn’t had a season with over 445 yards receiving since 2020. Gallup and the Las Vegas Raiders have agreed on a free agent deal that could pay Gallup up to $3 million in 2024.
Gallup joins a WR room that includes Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers as the main targets. 2nd year wideout Tre Tucker looks to improve on a rookie season which saw Gallup-level targets in 3 of the final 4 games of 2023. Gallup and Tucker will compete for the WR3 looks.
Were Gallup a few years younger, or not joining an offense with 1st round pick Brock Bowers and 2nd year TE Michael Mayer, he might be considered a post-hype target in fantasy. With the number of mouths to feed in the Raiders offense, Gallup checks in as a possible late-round sleeper/waiver add.
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Travis Kelce to an extension worth $34.25 million over the next two years
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Travis Kelce to an extension worth $34.25 million over the next two years. Kelce, 34, came just 16 yards shy in 2023 of posting his 8th, 1000 receiving yard season in a row. On a down year Kelce still managed TE1 numbers posting 93 receptions for 984 yards and 5 touchdowns, finishing as the TE3 in just 15 games. Kelce came through for the Chiefs when the team needed him the most, in the postseason, Kelce went off for 32 receptions for 355 yards and 3 touchdowns in 4 postseason games.
Kelce, the future first ballot hall-of-famer and former third round pick of the 2013 draft, at 34, is the Chiefs all-time leader in receiving yards with 11,328 and has 75 career touchdowns. Kelce will remain an elite top tier tight-end option in redraft leagues in 2024. This move puts to rest any chatter of Kelce retiring and will move Kelce up in dynasty rankings, Kelce is once again a top 10 tight end dynasty asset. The Chiefs continue their busy offseason by ensuring another cornerstone piece of their dynasty stays intact.
The former Florida State tight end was also utilized as a running back during his time in Tallahassee.
With the 231st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots have selected tight end Jaheim Bell out of Florida State. In 2023, Bell registered 39 catches for 503 yards and a pair of touchdowns, helping the Seminoles complete an undefeated regular season. Listed at 6’2″ and 242 pounds, Bell figures to challenge for a roster spot with the hopes of providing rookie quarterback Drake Maye with an additional weapon in Foxborough.
Having also taken snaps at running back in college, Bell boasts a unique combination of speed (4.61-second 40-yard dash) and athleticism that makes him a threat after the catch. With the Patriots adding two wide receivers in the draft as well, Bell will compete for a spot on the final, 53-man roster with fellow tight ends Austin Hooper and Mitchell Wilcox behind presumptive starter Hunter Henry.
Although Jaheim Bell has the physical profile of a productive tight end, there are a number of things working against him in terms of his potential value in fantasy. For starters, New England is coming off a season in which its offense averaged a meager 12.9 points per contest. Furthermore, an entirely new coaching staff makes it difficult to forecast any kind of success for Patriots pass catchers, let alone its seventh-round draft pick. Perhaps improved quarterback play with Drake Maye as the new signal-caller will raise the offense’s ceiling, but until that happens, Bell can be left alone in all formats.
The five-year Texas A&M wideout is coming off a career season in which he caught 53 passes for nearly 800 yards.
Looking to add depth to an already strong wide receiver room, the Philadelphia Eagles have selected former Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. After spending five seasons in college, Smith will hope to challenge for a roster spot on the Super Bowl-hopeful Eagles.
While Ainias Smith was far from elite at Texas A&M, he has the potential to provide Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts with yet another deep threat. In 2023, Smith averaged a whopping 15 yards per reception after a career-high 19.4 yards per catch in 2022. While he is not a high-volume receiver, the Eagles already have two Pro-Bowl-level talents atop the roster in Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown, who just received a massive extension.
Although there are certainly reasons to be excited about this pick if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan, the harsh reality is that Smith is far from a shoo-in to make the final, 53-man roster come September. As a result, his fantasy prospects aren’t all that promising. Only in dynasty leagues should Smith garner any form of attention, and even then, it’s best that he’s left on waivers.
Tampa Bay adds much-needed depth behind second-year starter Rachaad White.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added another promising weapon to their potent offense, selecting former Oregon star running back Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Irving produced his best college season in 2023, a campaign in which he rushed for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging a stellar 6.3 yards per carry.
Although Bucky Irving possesses a slight frame compared to other NFL running backs at 5’10,” 195 pounds, his unique blend of speed and elusiveness make him a threat on both the ground and in the receiving game. Still just 21 years old, Irving steadily improved in each of his three college seasons (one at Minnesota, two at Oregon) and played a big part in Oregon’s run to the Pac-12 Championship Game.
While Rachaad White figures to remain the starter in Tampa Bay after a strong 2023 season, Irving should be able to compete for the backup spot, which was previously held by the oft-injured Chase Edmonds. Although he might begin the season on waivers in most fantasy leagues, Irving merits late-round consideration in all formats and is especially appealing in dynasty.
