Unsigned Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Cowboys have given WR Michael Gallup permission to seek a trade, according to The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. Watkins adds that Gallup is unlikely to find much of a trade market because other teams expect Dallas to release him. That would save the Cowboys $9.5 million in 2024 cap space. Gallup has totaled just 842 yards on 11.5 yards per catch in 31 games since tearing an ACL late in the 2021 season. He ranked 77th out of 80 qualifying WRs in 2022 yards per route and then 70th out of 80 last year. We'll see where Gallup lands, but there's little reason to be optimistic for his 2024 fantasy value. His departure would leave opportunity in Dallas for WR Jalen Tolbert -- although we'd expect the Cowboys to add to the position in free agency and/or the draft.

WR Michael Thomas will not be back with the Saints in 2024. The New Orleans Times Picayune's Jeff Duncan wrote on Thursday that Thomas will be released. Thomas fired back on social media that he signed just a one-year deal with New Orleans last offseason and is simply becoming a free agent. ESPN's Kat Terrell reports that Thomas’ contract allows the team to either rework it or release him this offseason. Regardless of the details, Thomas will be playing for a team other than the Saints this season for the first time in his career. Injuries have limited him to just 20 games over the last four years. He averaged 4.2 catches and 49 yards over the first nine games of 2023 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Thomas turned 31 earlier this month. We'll see how much interest he draws on the open market and where he ultimately lands. Thomas no longer possesses an exciting fantasy ceiling, but we're not totally ruling out the possibility of him helping fantasy teams as a depth piece.

The Commanders released TE Logan Thomas, saving $6.5 million against the 2024 salary cap. Thomas caught 55 balls last year -- 14th among TEs -- but averaged just 9.0 yards per reception on a 6.1-yard average depth of target. We'll see where he lands and how much playing time he claims, but Thomas is a low-upside fantasy asset at this point of his career. The Commanders, meanwhile, are left with TEs Cole Turner, John Bates, and Armani Rogers, who have combined for just 71 NFL catches. The team figures to add to that group in free agency and/or the draft.

The Chiefs released WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It was a no-brainer move, saving the team $12 million against the 2024 salary cap. MVS was a major bust in Kansas City, totaling just 1,002 receiving yards and three TDs across 33 regular-season games over the past two seasons. We'll see where the 29-year-old lands next, but he's a long shot for reliable fantasy value. Valdes-Scantling can be ignored in early best-ball drafts.

Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a year left on his contract, but that doesn't mean he's a lock to stay in K.C. this season. The Chiefs have decisions to make on extensions with other players, including DT Chris Jones and CB L'Jarius Sneed. If they need more cap space, MVS looks like a prime candidate to help. He's set to count nearly $14 million against the 2024 cap, whereas cutting the vet would leave just a $2 million dead-cap hit. Valdes-Scantling averaged a career-low 1.3 receptions per game in 2023, his second with the Chiefs. He also set a career low with 15.0 yards per catch and has scored just three TDs across two seasons. Frankly, we'll be a little surprised if Kansas City doesn't at least look to restructure MVS this offseason. You shouldn't be looking his way in best ball drafts right now anyway, so there's low potential fantasy impact to this situation.

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) is active for tonight's game vs. the 49ers. It's a surprise after HC Andy Reid said Tuesday that McKinnon had a "slim" chance to play. He evidently made more progress than expected throughout the week. We're still not expecting McKinnon to play a major role in his first action since mid-December, although he could siphon some passing-down snaps from RB Isiah Pacheco.

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl. He was limited in practice all week. HC Andy Reid said Tuesday that McKinnon had a "slim" chance to play, so we're currently projecting him to miss this one. We'll get Kansas City's inactives around 5 pm ET on Sunday.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Tuesday that chances are "slim" RB Jerick McKinnon plays in the Super Bowl. He was designated to return this past weekend but evidently isn't ready for game action after early-January surgery to repair a core muscle injury and fractured pelvis. RB Isiah Pacheco should continue to dominate Chiefs backfield work vs. the 49ers on Sunday.

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) has been designated to return from IR. That makes him eligible to play in next Sunday's Super Bowl, although it's still unclear if he will. McKinnon has been out since mid-December and had surgery to repair a core muscle injury and fractured pelvis on January 2. He averaged 1.8 carries and 2.7 targets across 12 games this season.

RB Kareem Hunt recently underwent sports hernia surgery to repair a ruptured adductor, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hunt was on the injury report with a groin for much of the season, which might have played a part in his career-low 3.0 yards per carry. Hunt is set to hit free agency in March. He's unlikely to capture a significant backfield role or be a major fantasy factor in 2024.

Ravens RB Dalvin Cook has been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster. RB Melvin Gordon was released in a corresponding move. Cook is expected to play in Saturday's Divisional Round game vs. the Texans, according to his agency. Cook was abysmal with the Jets this season and joined the Ravens just a couple of weeks ago, so we're not optimistic about his odds of making a major impact this weekend. But his presence certainly doesn't help the fantasy outlooks of RBs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.

The Bills released RB Leonard Fournette from the practice squad. He was not elevated for the Wild Card win over the Steelers, so the news isn't a big surprise. Buffalo will continue to roll with RBs James Cook, Ty Johnson, and Latavius Murray. The 29-year-old Fournette's NFL career is on the ropes.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh was asked Wednesday if RB Dalvin Cook is an insurance policy or a legitimate competitor for playing time this postseason. His response: "We view him as potentially a very valuable weapon for our offense. Dalvin Cook is a high-pedigree player, a highly decorated player. He's still got talent, ability, he's smart, he's in great football shape. He looked very good in practice today. So I think he's going to be a very valuable part of our team in the playoffs." Cook is certainly a big name, but he was one of the least effective runners in the league with the Jets this season. Cook mustered just 3.2 yards per carry, ranked dead last among 68 qualifying RBs in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, and ranked 57th among those 68 in Elusive Rating. We're not excited about Cook the player. But the fact that he has a chance to carve out a role for a team with a good shot at getting three playoff games makes Cook worth a shot as a flyer in some fantasy playoff contests.

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon is unlikely to play this postseason, according to Chiefs Digest's Matt Derrick. McKinnon had surgery on January 2 for a core muscle injury and a fractured pelvis, per Derrick, which is expected to sideline him at least 6-8 weeks. McKinnon's absence leaves Clyde Edwards-Helaire as Kansas City's No. 2 RB -- and Isiah Pacheco in a workhorse role.

Bills RB Ty Johnson sustained a concussion in Sunday night's game vs. the Dolphins. He's out for the rest of this one and is in danger of missing next weekend's Wild Card game. We'll track Johnson's progress through the protocol.

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill will start Sunday's finale vs. the Jaguars, HC Mike Vrabel said. Rookie Will Levis (foot) will be the No. 3 QB for the game. Tannehill has some DFS tournament appeal against a pass-funnel Jacksonville defense that ranks 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.

Ex-Jets RB Dalvin Cook is expected to sign with the Ravens ahead of the playoffs, according to multiple reports. That's a sensible addition for a Baltimore backfield down to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill as meaningful contributors. We'll see how Cook fits in. But unless Ravens coaches say so, there's no reason to expect Cook to leap ahead of either Edwards or Hill in role. Cook averaged just 4.5 carries and 1.0 receptions per game across 15 appearances this year with a Jets offense that hasn't been good. His 3.2 yards per rush and 5.2 yards per catch both sit well below his career marks in those categories. If you're playing playoff fantasy football, you can stash Cook late. We like the Ravens' chances of making a deep run. Just don't expect big things from Cook.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Jets are releasing RB Dalvin Cook. There's no fantasy impact here, because Cook didn't touch the ball the past two games and totaled just 2 touches the week before that. Rookie Israel Abanikanda carried twice and caught four of seven targets as the No. 2 RB in last Thursday night's loss to the Browns. Breece Hall is the only member of the Jets backfield you should be paying attention to if you're playing in Week 18. The timing of this release gives Cook a chance to catch on elsewhere, but we'd be surprised if he lands a meaningful role with a playoff team. Beyond that, we're not expecting much from Cook in 2024 either. The 28-year-old doesn't appear to have much left.

The Rams released K Lucas Havrisik. He missed five FGs and three XPs over the last nine games. We'll see who the Rams sign to replace Havrisik.

The Chiefs activated WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) from IR, setting him up to play vs. the Bengals on Sunday. Hardman will add some depth to Kansas City's WR corps but isn't a realistic fantasy play. He averaged 2.5 targets, 2.0 catches, and 10 receiving yards across four games with the Chiefs earlier this season.