49ers WR Deebo Samuel admitted that 2022 contract negotiations contributed to a down season. The 27-year-old signed an extension last July. On Tuesday, Samuel described his play last season as “awful.” He performed at a WR3 level in PPR points per game. "We talked about it. We put it behind us, and [were] just going through the tape to just look how sluggish and how bad it looked on tape," Samuel said of a conversation with HC Mike Shanahan. "I never will put nothing like that back on tape again.” Deebo currently profiles as a top-20 fantasy WR for 2023.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be recovered from his foot surgery "long before training camp." The QB will need to pass a physical, of course, but it doesn't sound like there should be big issues on this front. Garoppolo has tumbled down best ball draft boards since news broke of his spring surgery, but he obviously remains the top bet to start for the Raiders this season. Treat him as a big late value, especially in formats where drafting three QBs makes sense.

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Saints WR Michael Thomas said he expects to be a full participant on day one of training camp. We’ll see if the team pulls in the reigns on a guy with only 10 appearances over the past three seasons. For now, though, Thomas looks to be on the right track. The veteran even took some reps at OTAs on Tuesday. With an Underdog Fantasy ADP of WR47, Thomas is reasonably priced in early drafts.

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Texans RB Dameon Pierce has improved his pass protection ability this offseason, according to RBs coach Danny Barrett. "He can now see the big picture and can identify things quicker to get to his pickups," Barrett said. "That's going to help us out tremendously. When he is in the game, teams think we are going to just run the football. But his ability to pass protect, he understands what is needed in our passing game from him." QB C.J. Stroud has also been impressed by Pierce's pass pro skills, Sports Illustrated's Coty M. Davis writes. As a rookie last year, Pierce ranked 73rd among 81 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grades, allowing a pressure on 21.3% of opportunities. That was part of the reason he averaged a just-ok 3.0 targets and 2.3 catches per game. It sounds like Pierce is a candidate to take on a bigger role in the passing game this year, although he'll need to fend off free-agent addition Devin Singletary. We'll be keeping a close eye on Houston's backfield all summer.

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SI's Albert Breer writes that 49ers QB Brock Purdy is “throwing without pain, and he’s passed every test the Niners have thrown at him.” Breer laid out the next steps for San Francisco’s likely starter. “The plan going forward is to gradually increase the velocity and distance on his throws. But at this point, I’m told he’s come through the rehab process and is now building strength back in his arm, on a track that’d have him ready to go for Week 1.” This is one of many positive updates on Purdy’s elbow this offseason, although we're still not buying him as a priority fantasy target. San Francisco kicks off their season with a Week 1 matchup at Pittsburgh.

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Bucs TE Cade Otton shared some insight on new OC Dave Canales’ offense. “I think it’s a really good opportunity for us to get the ball in our hands,” Otton said. “I think easy completions is a big thing in this offense – making it easy on the quarterback. Then for us tight ends, getting the ball early in the down and trying to make plays down the field. So that’s a really exciting opportunity for us. You know they’re going to give us opportunities to do it, and then it is up to us to make the play and earn trust from the quarterbacks and the coaches.” Otton recorded 42-391-2 as a Round 4 rookie alongside Tom Brady. The 24-year-old won't be on the streaming radar to begin next season.

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Panthers TE Hayden Hurst is back on the field after undergoing sports hernia surgery earlier this offseason. Barring a setback, that procedure won't impact his 2023 campaign. Hurst isn't an exciting pick in fantasy drafts -- but he's a volume-based value at his TE24 ADP.

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WR Treylon Burks has been QB Ryan Tannehill's "favorite target" throughout OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website writes. "It seems like Tannehill connects with Burks at the start of every period, and I haven't seen Burks drop a ball intended for him yet in the open OTAs," Wyatt adds. Frankly, it'd be disappointing if Burks wasn't Tannehill's favorite target considering the sorry state of Tennessee's pass-catching corps. But that's part of Burks' 2023 fantasy appeal: He has a chance to dominate Titans targets. The second-year WR is a legitimate breakout candidate this year.

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Bears RB Khalil Herbert indicated the team will utilize a backfield rotation this fall. “You know how things go in the NFL now. They’re doing things running back by committee,” Herbert said. “You need one, two, three really good guys that really carry the rock and there be no drop-off. I feel like we’ve got a really strong group. We’ve got guys who can take it to the house at any given moment. I’m excited to see what we can do.” After averaging 5.7 YPC last year, Herbert said he’s added five pounds, with a goal of playing between 215 and 220. “Just his ability to hit the home run,” HC Matt Eberflus said of Herbert's strengths. “He’s got great vision. He’s got great cut-back ability. He can take the ball outside and bounce it outside, but he’s really good at cutting it back when it’s there. We’re excited where he is.” Scan the RB rankings to see full numbers for Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, and rookie Roschon Johnson.

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It's no surprise that Seahawks S Jamal Adams and LB Jordyn Brooks have not participated in OTAs. Each is coming off a 2022 leg injury, and HC Pete Carroll said Thursday that it'll be a while before we know when to expect either player back. "We don't have time frames," he said, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. "We won't really know for another good six weeks, eight weeks or something like that. ... They've got their eyes set on getting back and getting ready to go for the season. Whether they can make it, we'll find out." You can tell by our 2023 IDP rankings that we're not betting on Brooks being ready early in the season. He tore his right ACL in Week 17 and doesn't seem like a good bet to return to full strength at any point in 2023. Adams sustained a far less common quad tendon injury in Week 1. That timeline would seem to indicate he has a much better shot than Brooks at being ready by September. But the fact that Carroll is addressing their returns similarly says you should be cautious with your Adams expectations. He sits conservatively in DB3 territory of our IDP rankings.

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