NFL: The Insiders

The Baltimore Ravens have officially extended wide receiver Zay Flowers, solidifying his role in the team's passing attack.

Bijan Robinson has secured a record-setting deal with the Atlanta Falcons, signaling his continued status as a cornerstone of their offensive strategy.

The source identifies Bucky Irving as a talented player who has previously served as a league winner, placing him in the tier of desired RB2 options.

Travis Etienne is considered a solid RB2 with RB1 upside, with Michael Florio expressing trust in the Liam Cohen offensive system to maximize his production.

De'Von Achane faces concerns regarding his role following the team's move to Malik Willis, who historically throws to running backs at a significantly lower rate than the previous quarterback.

Jonathan Taylor is highlighted as a reliable high-end RB1 with top-five upside, noting he averaged 23 fantasy points per game with Daniel Jones last year.

Bijan Robinson is viewed as having massive upside, particularly in the passing game, with the potential to reach 'video game mode' if he secures more touchdown opportunities.

Jahmyr Gibbs is ranked as the RB1 by Michael Florio, who cites his league-leading fantasy points per opportunity over the last two years and trust in the Lions' offense.

Bucky Irving is noted as having the talent to be a relevant fantasy asset, appearing in the final tier of running back rankings.

Travis Hunter has added 10 pounds of muscle to handle the rigors of playing both ways. He is practicing on both sides of the ball and has expressed a desire to play 100% of snaps in games, though the team views him primarily as a cornerback who will also contribute at wide receiver.

A.J. Brown is being moved all around the formation in the new offensive scheme, which he describes as being moved around the 'chess board.' He emphasizes a physical, aggressive mentality, aiming to impose his will on defenders in one-on-one matchups.

Kenny Pickett is set to start for the Panthers in the Hall of Fame game as he competes for a roster spot.

Lamar Jackson is taking more snaps from under center in the new Ravens offense, a role in which he has historically been efficient, recording 25 touchdowns and one interception from that alignment.

A.J. Brown is showing high-level performance in Patriots camp, including a notable one-handed catch, and is engaging in physical, competitive reps against Christian Gonzalez.

Mike Evans is dealing with a quad strain during training camp, which has limited his participation.

Deshaun Watson is currently in a hotly contested quarterback competition with Shador Sanders. While he was the initial favorite, he failed to separate himself during the spring, extending the evaluation period into the preseason.

Bijan Robinson is holding in from practice while awaiting a contract deal. He is considered a dual-purpose playmaker who accounted for 2,300 scrimmage yards for the Falcons last year.

Jahmyr Gibbs is currently holding in from practice while awaiting a contract deal; he was previously listed with a back issue last week and stated that only time will tell regarding his return.

Zion Young, a second-round rookie, is part of the Ravens' defensive rebuild under new head coach Jesse Minter, who must get the defense right after Baltimore's defensive struggles last season.

Calais Campbell is part of the Ravens' defensive rebuild under new head coach Jesse Minter, who must get the defense right after Baltimore's defensive struggles last season.

Lamar Jackson's game is expected to reach another level under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle in Baltimore; the franchise quarterback is positioned to benefit from the coordinator change as the Ravens aim to break through in a crowded AFC field.

Cook led the league with over 1,600 rushing yards in 2025, anchoring the Bills' number-one rushing attack. Stacy Dales describes Cook as 'sensational' and notes the Bills' rushing dominance was a key part of their fourth-best overall offense.

Allen had an MVP-level 2025 season with 39 total touchdowns (25 passing, 14 rushing) under Joe Brady's offensive system. Stacy Dales notes the Bills' continuity with Brady as head coach is designed to maintain the trust and foundation between the play caller and the MVP-caliber QB, with the fourth-best offense in football last year.

Young is on the other edge opposite Cam Jordan and 'really came into his own last season' with big things expected from him in 2026. Judy Batista highlights Young's emergence as part of the Saints' strong defensive edge rotation.

Tyson was drafted in the first round by the Saints to address the need for explosive receiving options. Judy Batista notes the Saints 'got two guys who can really go' with Tyson and Chris Alave, and Deuce McAllister emphasizes the critical importance of adding speed on the outside to help the young QB and take pressure off the running game.

Alave is one of two top receiving options for the Saints alongside first-round draft pick Jordan Tyson. Judy Batista notes the Saints 'got two guys who can really go' with Alave and Tyson, addressing the need for explosive plays on the outside.

Etienne joins the Saints as a newcomer to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Deuce McAllister expects Etienne to add explosiveness to the Saints running game and take pressure off Kamara, giving the offense the one-two RB duo it has lacked in recent years.

Kamara reworked his contract to remain with the Saints in 2026 after his status was uncertain. Deuce McAllister notes Kamara 'still has something left in the tank' and will partner with Travis Etienne to give the Saints the one-two RB duo the offense has lacked. McAllister expects Kamara's partnership with Etienne to take pressure off Kamara as the lead guy.

Cousins is named the current starter for the Raiders by head coach Clint Kubiak, who coached him to a Pro Bowl in Minnesota. Stacy Dales notes Kubiak has stated Cousins will teach and mentor rookie Fernando Mendoza, with the expectation that Mendoza will eventually take over. Cousins is being paid to mentor and lead while Mendoza develops.

Mendoza, the Raiders' top draft pick, is expected to eventually become the starter despite Kirk Cousins being named the current starter. Mark Ross argues Mendoza 'has to be the guy' and that Clint Kubiak took the Raiders job specifically for Mendoza, not Cousins. Mendoza had significant college success and playing time, and recent rookie QB trends (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Drake May) show year-two success after year-one struggles.

Pitts is described as 'rejuvenated' in the Falcons offense and has shown good chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. Mark Ross highlights the connection between Penix and Pitts as part of the promising offensive potential.

London is part of the Falcons' receiving corps and has shown good chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. during the QB's limited time on the field. Mark Ross mentions the 'rejuvenated' connection between Penix and London as a positive sign for the offense.

Tagovailoa is competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons starting job after a disappointing 2025 season. Mark Ross notes Tua looked 'almost like a shot fighter' last year, lacking the quick mind and quick release he showed earlier in his career. Stacy Dales adds Tua is roughly 9 months into ACL rehabilitation (his third career ACL injury) and will need to be eased back in despite being cleared to throw in March.

Penix, drafted 8th overall by the Falcons, is competing with Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job. Mark Ross notes Penix showed promise in his limited time, particularly with connections to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but the competition will come down to health—Penix is coming off injury and Tua has a long injury history.

Jefferson experienced a down 2025 season with career lows in efficiency despite staying over 1,000 receiving yards. Stacy Dales highlights his 12.5 yards per catch and just 2 receiving touchdowns as frustrating production, noting the key question for the Vikings is which QB (Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy) will have the best chemistry with Jefferson going forward.

McCarthy, drafted 10th overall by Minnesota, is competing with Kyler Murray for the starting job. The Vikings' investment in McCarthy at that draft position suggests they want him to be the long-term starter, but he's sharing 50-50 reps in training camp. Stacy Dales notes the reduced reps mean less room for error as McCarthy learns the new offense.

Murray is competing with J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings starting job and is viewed as giving Minnesota the best chance to win, especially given their strong defense. Mark Ross notes Murray needs to get more comfortable and consistent, but his playmaking ability is valuable. However, Murray is in an unusual situation sharing 50-50 reps as a veteran who has always been a starter.

Watson is favored to win the Browns QB competition over Shador Sanders despite Sanders' youth and recent flashes. Mark Ross notes the Browns' $233 million investment in Watson makes him the likely starter if the competition remains open, though Sanders showed promise in OTAs with improved mobility after back-to-back Achilles injuries.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is back for another season with New Orleans, continuing his tenure with the team.

Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard suffered two injuries on MetLife Stadium artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.