The 49ers might be preparing to hand a high-value job to a player with little NFL experience. According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows, second-year RB Jordan James "appears to be the frontrunner to be the top backup this season." San Francisco drafted James in the fifth round last year, but an injury-plagued summer kept him from competing for a regular-season roster spot. James didn't touch the ball until the playoff loss to Seattle (six carries and one catch at the end of a blowout).

Titans HC Robert Saleh briefly updated the status of QB Cam Ward. "I am not going to put a timetable on anything, but he is progressing really well." Ward avoided surgery for a Week 18 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.

Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II appears on track for Day 2 draft capital. But, a source with access to team insights informed Draft Sharks about potential character concerns that could cause a draft-day fall. “I was told he is the offensive version of James Pearce.” Brazzell wowed at the Combine at 6’4, 198 pounds running a 4.37 40, but fantasy managers should be aware of off-field concerns.

Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said the team plans to build the offense around newly signed QB Malik Willis, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. RB De’Von Achane will remain a foundational piece, but Sullivan labeled Willis “an ascending player.”

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Chiefs' WR Rashee Rice "has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy" and will not face discipline "at this time." The league investigated assault allegations from Rice’s ex-girlfriend spanning an 18-month stretch from 2023 to 2025, but closed the case without action. Rice is now on track to open the season as Kansas City’s No. 1 WR in Week 1.

New Browns HC Todd Monken sounds excited about second-year TE Harold Fannin Jr., and for good reason. The third-round pick led Cleveland in targets, catches, receiving yards, and TD catches as a rookie. He looks like one of the team's few offensive bright spots at the moment. And Monken likens Fannin to a star TE he coached in college.

QB Kirk Cousins agreed to a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders per his agent. With only QB Aidan O'Connell currently on the roster, the Raiders plan to draft QB Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. But, HC Klint Kubiak expressed interest in signing a veteran QB to not force Mendoza into the lineup for Week 1. Kubiak coached Cousins for three seasons in Minnesota, so the fit should be easy into Kubiak's offense. Cousins appears to be the perfect fit to start the season and let Mendoza ease into the NFL. Cousins should be the favorite to start Week 1.

Rams WR Puka Nacua checked into a rehab facility last month. Per Nate Atkins of The Athletic, the Rams were “urging Nacua to grow as a person after a series of controversies off the field.” He's accused of biting two women and making an antisemitic comment on New Year’s Eve.

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid will need to play much more than he did in 2025 if he has a shot at becoming a comfortable weekly fantasy starter. Will it happen? According to Tim Graham, Bills beat writer for The Athletic, HC Joe Brady s "wondering how Buffalo will maintain Kincaid's week-to-week and play-to-play wherewithal." Brady reportedly discussed the possibility of Kincaid sitting out some practices during the season and "stated Kincaid simply might have to play through the pain." The issue is the PCL in his left knee, which Kincaid injured back in November 2024. He has avoided surgery each of the past two offseasons, but 2025 found him aggravating the knee on multiple occasions.

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell was asked on KFAN1003 about the new offense with Kyler Murray at the helm. O’Connell called it the “Justin Jefferson program” and might have revealed some expectations for new QB Kyler Murray. O’Connell also mentioned that defenses will want to have a spy for Murray (and then quickly added, or “any of our other QBs”). But, the comment shows a potential plan for the offense: help Justin Jefferson get open by forcing defenses to respect Murray’s rushing.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said QB Deshaun Watson is in “great shape” and will get a clean slate to compete for the starting job. Watson missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles in October 2024 and undergoing a second surgery in January 2025. Still, Haslam noted that Watson "threw the ball well” late last season despite remaining on the PUP list.

The Bills picked up the fifth-year option on TE Dalton Kincaid. The move triggers $8.1 million in fully guaranteed money for the 2027 season.

Saints HC Kellen Moore says "he plans on having Alvin Kamara in the running back room and thinks he and [Travis] Etienne can fit together well," according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The Saints, of course, signed Etienne to a four-year, $48 million deal -- including $28 million in guarantees -- this offseason. Kamara's heading into the final year of his contract, with a $10.5 million cap hit. He'll turn 31 in late July.

Jets HC Aaron Glenn confirmed that QB Geno Smith will be the starter. "No doubt about it, he's our guy," Glenn told NFL Network's Judy Battista.

The Falcons expect QB Michael Penix Jr. to be ready at some point during training camp, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. Penix aggravated a bone bruise and knee sprain and sustained damage to his ACL in Week 11's loss to the Panthers on November 16th. A recovery for training camp would place him back in action about eight months after the injury.

ESPN's Field Yates is reporting that the New Orleans Saints held a private workout with Georgia WR Zachariah Branch. Per the report, the workout included "some punt return work" for Branch, who is regarded as one of the top returners in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Jets won't fool anyone into believing they're a 2026 contender. But their offseason moves have installed some interesting players around the defense.

The Browns haven't signed or traded for a QB this offseason. As a result, Zac Jackson of The Athletic belives "it's fair to assume that [Shedeur] Sanders will get at least some runway" to be QB1.

Longtime Buccaneers LB Lavonte David announced his retirement Tuesday. He arrived back in 2012 as a second-round pick, and immediately stepped into a full-time role. David started every game in which he appeared from 2012 through 2025 and missed just 14 total games across his 14-year run. David's retirement marks the biggest change to the Tampa Bay LB corps, arguably since he entered the league. But the team already started addressing the situation before David made it official.

Former 49ers RB Brian Robinson Jr. is expected to sign with the Atlanta Falcons as a likely replacement for Tyler Allgeier, who signed with the Cardinals at the start of free agency. Robinson opened his NFL career with three straight 700+ rushing-yard seasons in Washington, peaking with 8 TDs in 2024. He was traded to the 49ers before the 2025 season. After spending a year backing up Christian McCaffrey, Robinson now projects as the No. 2 behind Bijan Robinson.