RC's Daily Notes 2025: For the Week of 6/9-6/15 (The Week That Was...)

: R.C. Fischer; FreeView; 15 June 2025

RC's daily streaming notes on football, and other, things going on this week...

Just an open page for me to drop notes/ideas/things I'm hearing/seeing/working on or just caffeinated or lack of sleep thoughts on football items.

6/15 SUN

(5:56amET)

-- Here’s two 49ers reports that caught my attention, and I’ve been seeing similar reports like it out on the interweb for a week+

...and take into consideration these two reports are Grant Cohn reports, and he tends to go hyperbolic on things in the preseason that are way off based/don’t come true in the regular season. But he is a camp observer and drives a lot of 49ers narratives that others parrot and he is in target on many things but also can be a little too ‘shock value’ and (ultimately) wrong on some of the items. But he’s got good/entertaining and passionate camp reports, so I like to hear him out.

You be the judge on these two items...and/or note that they are ‘a thing’ right now being discussed in SF...

1) Ricky Pearsall’s constant injuries are frustrating/worrying the 49ers...and has opened the door to a rookie WR who has grabbed attention in the OTAs...Jordan Watkins.

https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/will-jordan-watkins-surpass-ricky-pearsall-49ers-depth-chart

This is something that I have heard from multiple sources in the past week+ too, so I think there is some validity there. The straight line to being Purdy’s #1 target for Pearsall that people think/hope for this year/Week 1...it’s not a straight line right now, not at all.

2) This one I cannot corroborate but it is interesting that it’s another high visibility 49ers injury concern player. Who on the 49ers isn’t a legit injury concern right now?

https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/49ers-concerned-about-defensive-end-mykel-williams

-- Much has been made of Justin Fields reconnecting with his former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson, but did you know/forget...there is another former OSU teammate on the offense -- and he might be somewhat of a shock starter/FF TE for 2025...to the chagrin of Mason Taylor owners. Having a great OTAs/camps this Spring: Jeremy Ruckert.

Ruckert is more of a TE2 type of FF TE, if he becomes the starter for Week 1+...and he probably will, because Mason Taylor is a rookie (and isn’t that great, but Aaron Glenn loves him...so, he will be the starter at some point in 2025 or 2026). Ruckert is not a real receiving weapon or spark...he’s just ‘there’...kinda like a Drew Sample.

-- Two CB/DB things happening for the Rams...

1) The Jalen Ramsey trade just feels like it’s going to happen sometime before training camps officially start.

The latest: https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/rams-latest-move-could-be-preperation-for-ramsey-trade-01jxqeyy0vsz

2) Emmanuel Forbes...memba him? 1st-round pick of Washington, four long years ago...14 picks in 26 games for SEC Miss State, with 6 of the 14 picks returned for TDs. Cut by Washington late last season, picked up by the Rams and been being rehabbed by Sean McVay.

Forbes has been gaining attention in the early camps...gaining attention with his play/coverage, but also his body transformation...the former 166-pound ‘toothpick-looking’ CB has supposedly added 20+ pounds of muscle this offseason and is weighing 180+.

If the Rams get him turned around to a legit CB...that’s a HUGE bump for this defense/for the Rams to win that NFC West...a reformed Forbes + Jalen Ramsey, would be a ‘wow’.

Get a view of what Forbes looks like now: https://www.therams.com/news/grinding-every-single-day-emmanuel-forbes-offseason-bulk-has-helped-restore-confidence

-- The Devy scouting series is something we run every day of July each year...a quick scouting report out from RC and Ross Jacobs on the top names for next year’s draft, as well as top players in CFB in general (whether draft eligible or not), and some top FCS guys and some top high schoolers, etc.

We look at 62 prospects (2 a day x 31 days)...and Ross Jacobs is putting ‘the list’ together, as always, of the 62 we’re gonna do this year. We’re mid-process of locking in the final list...still searching for hidden gems and deciding ‘who is in’ and ‘who is out’ of the 62, like the NCAA basketball tourney.

But as always, we welcome your Devy prospect suggestions you have some knowledge of...players maybe not in the spotlight but you think they may warrant it. Assume we have the obvious ones considered, but for those players not in the top 3-5 at their position or not even being discussed -- send me a note on them and why, and we’ll put them into consideration. We open this door to you every year. It’s now open. Email: rc4metrics and that is a gmail account. Not displaying the email address in its proper form because bots will grab it and spam it if I do.

-- Coming up on FFM today/this week...

-- Dynasty Rookie Draft series 2.0 continues -- going through another run of Five-Round Mock DRDs from each of the 12 draft slots (12 tm lg). Will run from 6/14-6/25. One slot report out per day.

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Draft Guide rankings 1.0 have posted. IDP rankings top 500+ will update/post today.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

**Special reports that pop up will be published all this week.

I’m almost done my REWIND Report on Mr. Bryce Young. Just trying to get the Draft Guide work completed in a day with free time late to edit/clean up my rough draft. May not post this until after the Draft Guide officially drops. Possible Monday 6/17 release being targeted.

=====================

**The FREE FFM APP (notes for those who have not signed up yet...)

-- The App is NOT automatically set up to recognize your FFM site credentials (username/password).

-- Sign up for the App as if you’re brand new to FFM...it’s a separate ‘thing’/brain from the site. You can use your same exact username/password signing up for the App, to keep it easy for you to remember.

-- Enable the App notifications to get a notification sent to your device when key reports are posted, and/or (especially) in-season when we get inside info/intel from sources before anyone else and it might be news we all need to FF-act on quickly before the world finds out.

-- App tip #1 (FYI): Upper Left (three lines) on App home page, click it, then click profile, then click ‘Push notifications’ – and you’ll see all the alerts we’ve sent in chronological order. App tip #2 (FYI)...if you see things posted but you got no device notification, but you are enabled for notifications…go to your phone’s ‘Settings’>Apps>FFM App>Click the Notifications off then on…like a reboot. I don't know why this works but it does to kick the phone back into business.

*Android App version may be unavailable this week as we have to file new papers with Google...there’s no more hassle in the world than the constant twists of paperwork compliance for Apps on Google or Apple. And the process is...they just freeze or disappear your App until you do the most minute thing they decided was needed that week. But it will be up again shortly, if not showing this day.

6/14 SAT

(7:12amET)

-- NBC Headline yesterday: ESPN’s Ryan McFadden says rookie WR Jack Bech has seen “the majority of his reps” with the second-team offense.

Perhaps more notable is that McFadden also adds that rookie fourth-rounder Dont’e Thornton “has spent a good amount of time with the first-team offense.”

RC notes on this...

I have DEFINITELY heard all the hype on Dont’e Thornton. There has been more buzz on Thornton than Bech for the last month at camps/OTAs, but I think (my guess/theory) that comes from people not expecting as much from Thornton...so, there’s a surprise factor happening. And Thornton is big (6’4”) and fast (4.30 40-time).

I have thought, as a scout, Thornton to be more athlete than technician at WR...and I likely won’t be convinced out of that scouting thought until I see Thornton working in real, live preseason game in August.

I canNOT corroborate that Bech has been working more second-team. That’s not what I have heard. I think the Raiders starting trio is gonna be: Jakobi-Bech-Tucker. But could be Jakobi-Bech-Thornton...if Thornton is really ready...but Tucker is a really good WR, so...

If Bech really isn’t a starter, then maybe they go Jakobi-Thornton as outside WRs, and put Tommy Mellott in the slot? That seems way too ahead of it’s time to start the season.

The real answer might be... a lot of Jakobi-Thornton and Bowers-Mayer.

Big changes coming, potentially, next projections and valuation/rankings updates on the Raiders offensive touch counts by player...maybe a lot of changes every month with more info/intel hitting.

There’s also that Pete Carroll/Ashton Jeanty ‘not putting it all on one RB’ comment to deal with. I will, in a separate special report in the next day or two. Trying to get some extra inside info on that one.

OTA Notes from sources or seeing first-hand:

-- (PIT) You know all the Steelers TE trade rumors the past few weeks, about them bringing in a TE -- it’s not good for Pat Freiermuth, right? I mean...what else could anyone deduce than the Steelers aren’t in love with ‘Muth’?

Well, think about this -- one of the buzz players from Pittsburgh OTAs is...Darnell Washington. Aaron Rodgers said he’s like Marcedes Lewis (a Rodgers’ beloved TE/player). Apparently, the coaches spent a lot of time with Washington on his pass game during practices...in part, because Washington has stepped up his receiving game and his personal speed and was showing his improvements all OTA.

If there’s unrest with Pat F...and the Steelers don’t successfully trade for a TE -- could Darnell make some waves this year?

-- (CAR) The Panthers have had several receiving options step up this OTA season...

1) Hunter Renfrow is reborn...either depth behind/for Thielen in the slot, or Thielen moves outside and Renfrow becomes the slot and Leggette goes to the bench with Coker? Still ‘in progress’ on how Carolina will line up their WRs this season. But now there’s a battle of talent causing the question marks.

Current starting trio projection: McMillan, Legette, Thielen...but I think Legette is on very shaky ground as a starter, and as a Panther. Possibly, Legette is the new Jonathan Mingo...

2) Ja’Tavion Sanders leaned up and is looking to become the weapon TE Tommy Tremble hasn’t become. Sanders showing off his new body and new speed/burst while Tremble is missing camp with an injury.

-- (BUF) Finally...hopefully...maybe. Do you know who the ‘buzz’ TE is from Bills camp? It is Dalton Kincaid. Noted to be in the best shape of his career, cleared from his 2024 injuries, and putting on a show receiving in OTAs.

Will the Bills actually do something with this? That remains to be seen.

-- Dynasty Rookie Draft series 2.0 begins today -- going through another run of Five-Round Mock DRDs from each of the 12 draft slots (12 tm lg).

-- Hottest rookie name rising in DRD ADP...Oronde Gadsden. See yesterday’s notes for all the heat on him from coach and QB. He’s rising from 4/5th-rounder in a DRD (12 team) to steady 4th-rounder, to creeping into some late 3rd-rounds now.

Ice cold...R.J. Harvey. The fall is happening. The Dobbins signing started it, but media reports on Harvey ‘battling to be a 3rd-down back’ is doing more damage. He is starting to fall out of the 1st-round into #13-14 in some drafts of late. Still can go as high as #8-9 range but is really pushing towards #11-12-13 range and falling.

-- Coming up on FFM today...

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Draft Guide rankings 1.0 have posted. IDP rankings top 500+ will update/post today.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

**Special reports that pop up will be published all this week.

I’m almost done my REWIND Report on Mr. Bryce Young. Will now finish now that the Draft Guide officially dropped. Possible 6/17-18 release being targeted...but definitely next week.

=====================

**The FREE FFM APP (notes for those who have not signed up yet...)

-- The App is NOT automatically set up to recognize your FFM site credentials (username/password).

6/13 FRI

(8:01amET)

-- Barring something unforeseen, the 2025 Draft Guide top 600 rankings (offense) and initial player commentaries (350+ players) will release today...somewhere between 11am-5pmET.

This is the debut version for the 2025 season. We update the Draft Guide weekly (approx.) all summer, and more frequently when we get into the training camps and preseason. More player commentaries will hit each week/update the rest of the preseason...new/add players, updates on existing commentaries as news happens, rankings/valuations change.

FFM’s Ross Jacobs assisted in the team-by-team Draft Guide studies and wrote some of the player commentaries. His commentaries have an ‘(RJ)’ noted. And if I had any add-on info on his player commentary, my add-on section has an ‘(RC)’ marker in front of the comments.

Draft Guide subscription things to come:

1) The ‘Holy’ list of players for 2025 report -- my analysis of the elite players for this season (and the ones who are considered elite, consensus-wise, but we don’t see it) and proposed draft strategies on them, including how to handle/strategize the 1st-round, and more.

This annual report will release in the next few days.

2) Mocks Drafts -- As we do each summer, multiple mock draft reports from various draft spots and different scoring systems with round-by-round commentary are coming the week of 6/22 and all the rest of the preseason.

3) Special Reports -- Any draft guide related strategy or player/team info, etc., will post on special reports as we get them all preseason.

*OTA reports/notes of interest told to me by trusted sources or seen by me...

-- (CHI) Kyle Monangai is starting to gain a little momentum in Bears camp. Chicago has been sniffing around the free agent RBs (Chubb, Dobbins) but didn’t sign either, or they didn’t want to sign with them. So, it looks like Swift-Roschon-Monangai for now -- and Monangai is gaining some ground...gaining ground in that backfield we’re all skeptical of just who will be Ben Johnson’s ‘guy’.

Johnson inherited Swift-Roschon. Monangai is his first real RB that he acquired.

-- (SF) UDFA rookie WR Isaiah Neyor is losing a bunch of momentum in OTAs...after a splashy rookie camp and now facing the real defense/DBs in OTAs, Neyor’s lack of technical skills is really standing out -- and people are questioning his heart for the game. Ouch. I liked Neyor pre-Draft, but also had this fear -- fear that he was more athlete and splash than technician.

-- (NYG) Jalin Hyatt is showing signs of life...he’s added muscle in the offseason, he’s making plays in camp, and showing a connection with Russell Wilson.

-- (NYG) The other surprise NYG WR who is making some OTA waves, a WRs tape that I really liked pre-Draft: Notre Dame/UDFA WR Beaux Collins. Collins is reportedly one of Jameis Winston’s best connections in camp among the non-1st-team guys. Good sign of life for the rookie Collins.

-- (TB) Here is what Baker Mayfield is saying about Emeka Egbuka...

“At this level, you have to have talent, and obviously he has that, being a first-round draft pick,” Mayfield said. “The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is. He’s so smart.”

“Right now, I think we could plug-and-play him at every [wide] receiver spot – he understands the offense that well. That’s just him being a pro already. He’s not a rookie – he doesn’t act like it at least.”

“He takes it really [seriously],” Mayfield said of Egbuka at practice. “He’s in constant communication – he always wants to be in the right spot at the right time.”

“He’s much like J-Mac [Jalen McMillan in] the understanding of zone coverage – and like Chris [Godwin], as well – of understanding when to be open, the voids in the zone defense, and how to be friendly to the quarterback. It’s a nice luxury to have.”

-- (LAC) Here’s what Justin Herbert is saying about Oronde Gadsden...

"He's picked up the offense really well and has been getting a bunch of reps with us,"

"Anytime I can get out there and get him the ball to see what he can do, he's made some big-time plays.”

"We've an exciting tight end group and he's a big part of the puzzle for that.”

Wow. The Gadsden hype train got a boost the last 24 hours from Herbert and Jim Harbaugh crowing about him.

-- (CAR) 2nd-year CB Chau Smith-Wade is being named the best/standout player in OTAs by Panthers’ observers...and I think Dave Canales may have said it in the press too. He is running as the starting slot CB in OTAs.

-- I was doing some research on KaVontae Turpin yesterday, and I just went out on YouTube to watch some of his plays from 2024...just to get a re-feel on what we were seeing last year...a guy we made some good prop bet money on.

I have a link below of a highlight video of Turpin’s...and I have it set to open up to/start halfway through the video to start showing a series of plays that I think you’ll enjoy watching. Eye-opening to watch on some of his plays.

https://youtu.be/CjaY-MQP5Eg?si=lB5VnGZAkD3gKqKI&t=222

-- Coming up on FFM today...

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Top 600 Dynasty and Best Ball top 600 + IDPs have all updated. Next update later this week.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

**Special reports that pop up will be published all this week. I’m almost done my REWIND Report on Mr. Bryce Young. Just trying to get the Draft Guide work completed in a day with free time late to edit/clean up my rough draft. May not post this until after the Draft Guide officially drops. Possible Monday 6/17 release being targeted.

=====================

**The FREE FFM APP (notes for those who have not signed up yet...)

-- The App is NOT automatically set up to recognize your FFM site credentials (username/password).

6/12 THU

(7:46amET)

-- There’s new ownership for the Colts...Jim Irsay’s three daughters are now in charge. The three of them held a press conference the other day and one of them dropped a truth bomb on Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard (finally).

Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who has been designated to be the lead of the trio (she is the head decision maker), said the following leading off the press conference:

“Chris and Shane know that they have things they need to fix,” Irsay-Gordon said Tuesday in a news conference that introduced her and her sisters as the team's new owners. “We have a standard here, and it hasn’t been good enough. Winning is great, but I would even take it a step further and say we’re really committed to being the best. If we’re the best, we will win games. I think Chris and Shane are totally capable of doing that.”

If Jim Irsay or some outsider new owner had said this at a press conference last week, it would likely be major news around the league. But I think the fact that Irsay’s unknown-to-the-public daughters (outside of Indy) said it, and probably the fact that they are females with an undertone of ‘not to be taken seriously...because they are not football guys’ -- it’s not really getting the heat that it should. Some of the quotes at this presser that Irsay-Gordon dropped should’ve gotten more attention...nor did the new owners quite get the attention, in general, they should’ve. It’s actually a fascinating story with these daughters, and we’ll get into that in a moment.

I am taking Irsay-Gordon’s comments seriously. I applaud them. Someone needs to call out Chris Ballard for this ongoing mess in Indianapolis...the team has been ‘OK-ish’ but always falling short of expectations, Ballard always choosing the wrong QB or wrong head coach...but always spoken of reverence by the media over his now nine years running Indy (a 62-69-1 regular season record with a 1-2 playoff record under Ballard). I never understood ‘why?’ Ballard gets the eternal reverence by the football media. Well, Carlie Irsay-Gordon isn’t playing games it seems. This is a make-or-break year for Ballard and Steichen, now...I believe.

You want more evidence that Irsay-Gordon ain’t playing around? She fired Senior Personnel Exec. Morocco Brown. After 8 years with the Colts, he’s out. You know what helped get him fired? He was the tip of the spear, the man in charge of scouting and pushing for Anthony Richardson (if you wanted more proof the Colts are done with Richardson).

I think if Richardson didn’t have the shoulder issue, Irsay-Gordon might demand (behind-the-scenes) that Richardson be traded right now...or she might let Ballard have this final year with to make it right with AR, and when it didn’t succeed...she’d have that failure to extra help run Ballard out of town in January 2026.

This all prompted me to check on the background of the new Colts’ owners...and I found out just how much they had been groomed by Jim Irsay to take over this team. Check out their football backgrounds (below). They aren’t out-of-touch owners...they look way more capable of running the team than their father was.

From GROK:

Carlie Irsay-Gordon has been involved with the Colts since 2008, initially interning in football operations and marketing while earning her degree in religious studies from Skidmore College. She has served as Vice Chair/Owner since 2012 and has been active in all aspects of the organization, with a strong focus on football operations, digital content, and social media. She has represented the Colts at NFL meetings since 2004, serving on multiple NFL committees, including the Media Owned & Operated Committee, the 32 Equity Committee, and the Security & Fan Conduct Committee. Her hands-on approach includes observing practices, wearing a headset on game days, and working closely with coaching and front-office staff, preparing her for her new role as Owner & CEO.

*(RC Note) I think Carlie is going to be one of the big stories of the next few months and/or years...a story football insiders will probably be slow to chase, but the outside media should love this story about a female really being groomed to run an NFL team. The NFL should be trumpeting this right now, but...well...you can probably guess why not. They will, but likely a step late versus outside media.

Casey Foyt joined the Colts in 2007 after graduating from Indiana University with a degree in sports marketing. She worked for the NFL in London, planning the first regular-season game outside North America in 2007, gaining experience in special events and logistics. As Vice Chair/Owner since 2012, she has focused on marketing and community relations, including revitalizing the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. Her background equips her for her new role as Owner & Executive Vice President.

Kalen Jackson began working with the Colts in 2010 after graduating from Indiana University with a degree in sports management and marketing. She has served as Vice Chair/Owner since 2012 and oversees the Irsay family’s community and philanthropic efforts. She leads the "Kicking the Stigma" initiative, which has committed over $31 million to mental health causes since 2020, demonstrating strong management and leadership skills. She also represents the Colts at NFL owners’ meetings and serves on the league’s Employee Benefits Committee, preparing her for her role as Owner & Chief Brand Officer and President of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation.

Are there other NFL teams run by females? I think there are four teams run primarily by females -- two are a debacle, two are legit...50/50...about the same success rate as their male counterparts approx. across the league/history.

Those 4 teams are (bio from GROK):

Tennessee Titans: Amy Adams Strunk is the controlling owner, having inherited and maintained control within the Adams family.

New Orleans Saints: Gayle Benson is the principal owner, taking over after her husband Tom Benson's death.

Seattle Seahawks: Jody Allen oversees the team through a family trust following Paul Allen's death.

Detroit Lions: Sheila Ford Hamp is the principal owner and chairman, succeeding her mother Martha Firestone Ford.

But none of those female owners have the pedigree of Carlie Irsay-Gordon, and the four of them are not that visible or outspoken...maybe unrightfully so that I think/feel that. But I think Carlie has been prepared/is ready to do battle with ‘the boys’ and many of them probably won’t like it. I’m not being ‘woke’ about this...but think of how fascinating a story this could be -- you got the ‘old boys network’ with the ‘questionable character’ owners like Robert Kraft (arrested for solicitation of prostitution) and all the rumors of things about Jerry Jones, and so much more...and Carlie Irsay-Gordon may come in like a subtle hurricane trying to get into their club.

Will the old guard owners want her to succeed? Will they not make trades with Indy for fear of losing a deal to a woman? Which one of them will make the first dumb, demeaning comment about her? And what if she goes in and takes Indy to the top in a few years, builds a dynasty in their faces...they’ll make movies about Carlie Irsay-Gordon if she rises to the top of the successful ownership ranks. If she fails...then it will be a whole other story with her as the punchline.

I think this is gonna be fascinating over the next few years.

-- In further ‘Anthony Richardson is going down the tubes news’...

We have the shoulder thing from last week. Well, guess what the Colts did Tuesday? Worked out Desmond Ridder. Someone must think they need an extra QB...wonder why?

We might see Richardson go on IR for the season, which would make some sense for letting that shoulder heal naturally, if an option...or another surgery may demand an IR stint...and it would also allow Richardson to have another year of maturing...and being on IR would get Richardson away from the every week media whining for AR to replace Week 1 starter Dan Jones.

-- Draft Guide 2025 release timeline...

I’ve been releasing some individual reports for the Draft Guide over the past two weeks, but the entire draft guide and rankings and commentaries are still being worked on. Annually the actual draft guide ‘drops’ sometime in the 1st-half of June....same goes for this year.

The current completion/posting pace that we’re on has an estimated release date of: Somewhere between June 13-14th. More specifically, June 13th midday release is the more exact pace I think we’re on right now, FYI.

-- Coming up on FFM today...

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Top 600 Dynasty and Best Ball top 600 + IDPs have all updated. Next update later this week.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

=====================

**The FREE FFM APP (notes for those who have not signed up yet...)

-- The App is NOT automatically set up to recognize your FFM site credentials (username/password).

6/11 WED

(6:18amET)

-- JK Dobbins signed with Denver...which instantly pierced all those with R.J. Harvey hopes & dreams...and all those with Audric Estime hopes & dreams.

I think JKD looked pretty bad as the 2024 season went on...a ton of inefficient, negative runs with an occasional decent run (thanks to the LAC O-Line more than JKD, my opinion)...and just looked slow on tape. Maybe he gets faster the more time removed from all his ACLs. Either way...not good for where the hopes were for Harvey or Estime for FF 2025.

Just a side thought -- I just think RBs in FF are getting to be so little of ‘value’. For me, most all of these RBs are ‘one-year deals for my heart’, and then we’re ‘done’ come the next offseason...the slate is clean, time to reassess and worry about everything. It’s best not to assume any current RB is ‘the guy’ for the next 3-5+ years for their teams. There’s too much RB talent in the NFL now, so all team’s rosters are getting crunched/clustered with talent...a current established lead RB is one easy free agent signing or a team’s savvy draft pick away from being in some kind of split...and then they are one knee sprain or tear away from opening the door to the ‘new hot thing’.

When Joe Burrow misses a game or two, I know his backup isn’t coming in and suddenly may have stolen the job for the rest of the season...or maybe they split/rotate series. But I’m not 100% sure the next time Bucky Irving fumbles twice in a game or Chase Brown gets a high ankle sprain or De’Von Achane gets a concussion...I’m not sure what their in-season/rest of the season status will be when they return because the RB taking over for 2-4 weeks may have changed everything. Top 10 WRs don’t worry about this, nor top 10 TEs or QBs...but many top 10 (and beyond) RBs are literally week-to-week in-season, even if no one from the coaching staff thinks it’s true today.

What seems like the main workhorse back today could be in splitsville next year...and every year going forward it’s gonna get worse, more talent on rosters...more teams with three #1 RBs on the roster. It used to be there were like three good RBs in the NFL...but soon every team will have three #1 talent RBs on their depth chart. Tampa Bay already has three #1s. The Jets might. The Ravens might (Ali being the third). Miami might. The Rams almost are there or are there. Kansas City might. Cleveland might. Just off the top of my head...

It’s a whole different FF into the future, and I love it! So much talent...it’s gonna be totally fluid and week-to-week not year-to-year or longer...and it’s gonna extend beyond the RBs soon into the WRs and TEs, it’s kinda setting to happen with WRs starting now, or in one more year/wave of talent into the league. The future of FF is gonna be great, gonna be ruled by those who can properly scout the ever changing, fluid NFL output landscape. Who do I know that’s a great place for fluid scouting?

Could it be FFM? This guy thinks so: https://youtu.be/KLANLzerfa0?si=mE1ek3Y_OJUtW8RB&t=1

*Random OTA notes on things I’m seeing/hearing...*

-- My Dallas source is telling me that Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray are looking like they will be the starting ILBs in Dallas’s 3-4 scheme under Matt Eberflus. Murray seems to be trending to be the ‘green dot’ of the group, but we’ll see if Sanborn doesn’t wrest that away.

DeMarvion Overshown might take one of their spots when he returns, but he may not be back until December or maybe even not until next season.

Marist Liufau and Damone Clark are fading into NFL backups. Last year, Mike Zimmer was trying to push Liufau to the moon, but that rocket ride seems to have been cancelled.

-- The Patriots rookies are ruling...

TreVeyon Henderson is already alternating heavily with Rhamondre.

UDFA FCS RB Lan Larrison is trying to force his way onto the 53-man/RB depth chart with an impressive rookie camp and now so far at OTAs.

Kyle Williams is their best WR, and I think they know it...starting to make plays against Christian Gonzalez and Calton Davis.

Two guys I didn’t have a great pre-Draft impression of but are constantly being told to me what great rookie camps/OTAs they had/are having -- UDFA FCS WR Efton Chism and SAF Craig Woodson. I will be taking a second, deeper scouting look at them after the Draft Guide 1.0 launches...because I didn’t have them rated as high as the impression they seem to be leaving with people as early pros (in practice).

A ‘rookie’ in terms of his first time playing for the Patriots...Stefon Diggs went from ‘maybe back from his injury midseason’ and ‘what kind of drugs is he on/should we cut him?’ to reporting camp and looking like he’ll be ready for Week 1...which may or may not help Kyle Williams’ story for starting Week 1...I’m still trying to ascertain how I feel about it/find out what the Pats are thinking/what a healthy Diggs Week 1 one means for Kyle’s hopes for Week 1 and beyond.

-- Devaughn Vele has become the talk of camp, at WR, so far for Denver. Warms my heart to see, but how Pat Bryant affects the Vele story is a concern -- will Sean Payton try to force a ‘point’ on his drafting of Bryant and split snaps with Bryant and Vele come the regular season?

And more importantly -- how Marvin Mims is affected by a Vele re-uprising. Possibly not a factor at all.

I know this...it’s all good news for our Bo Nix stock, and our Broncos bets.

-- Momentum and praise picking up for Commanders 7th-rounder RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, not only is he getting noticed for his abilities but also coaches are noting his work ethic and professionalism.

From NBC the other day: (headline) Commanders running backs coach Anthony Lynn considers RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt an “A running back.”

Lynn uses the “A-back” label to denote big running backs who can be used as “a volume ballcarrier,” capable of running between the tackles. The “B-back” label is conversely used to describe quicker, scat-back and pass-catcher types. The “A-back” labeling puts Croskey-Merritt in a group with Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Lynn reportedly told Ben Standig that Croskey-Merritt is “bigger than he thought” he would be. Croskey-Merritt (aka Bill) has a long way to go before the coaches would seriously consider him as a replacement for Robinson, and Lynn recently complimented Robinson’s “good mindset” at organized team activities. Still, it’s a positive start for a seventh-round rookie. Stay tuned.

See our full scouting report on JCM on FFM in the pre-Draft reporting. It’s an interesting backstory.

-- Draft Guide 2025 release timeline...

But just to stay in touch on the timing, I will put the current ‘wait time’/timeline estimate here every day until release...for an FYI and to keep myself on schedule.

The current completion/posting pace that we’re on has an estimated release date of: Somewhere between June 12-14th. More specifically, June 13th release is the pace I think we’re on right now, FYI.

-- Coming up on FFM today...

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Top 600 Dynasty and Best Ball top 600 + IDPs have all updated. Next update later this week.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

=====================

**The FREE FFM APP (notes for those who have not signed up yet...)

-- The App is NOT automatically set up to recognize your FFM site credentials (username/password).

6/10 TUE

(7:21amET)

-- One of the big news stories from yesterday had to be the Packers release of star CB Jaire Alexander.

Jaire is still in his prime, age-wise, at 28+ years old this season. BUT he’s missed as many games as he has played the past 4 seasons -- 34 game appearances and 34 games missed. Still, his coverage numbers have been strong mostly his entire career...and he was considered/voted the #26 best player in the NFL going into the 2023 season, (per the players vote in the offseason)...and he was decent in 7 games played last season.

Alexander is up for grabs to the highest bidder, and he could change the trajectory for some contender that lands him. I don’t think he wants to sign a one-year deal with a contender, although he will probably need to do a 1-year deal in order to reprove himself and show himself able to play an injury-free season.

He could be bought by any team that throws around the money, but likely no one is gonna jam him a ton of money given his recent history of injuries and erratic actions off the field/in the press, etc.

My guesstimates as to where he lands...

1) The Seahawks...Josh Jobe listed as one of the CB starters right now...Seattle goes nowhere for 2025 if he is a Week 1 starter. They desperately need a CB to keep up in the NFC West.

2) The Vikings...one of several teams that want Jalen Ramsey but could settle on Jaire.

3) The Falcons...they want Jalen Ramsey, but they may settle for Jaire.

4) The Bills...if they can’t get Jalen Ramsey to go there, then they might just go with Jaire...who is used to playing in cold weather a lot. Buffalo has almost no CAP space right now. #32 in the league in available space.

5) The Raiders...if they think they can compete this year, they need another corner...maybe two of them. Pete Carroll isn’t afraid to try to rehab ‘problematic’ players.

6) The Jags...they might think they are legit now, and they could gamble on Jaire having Travis Hunter as insurance if it goes wrong.

-- When I saw this NBC headline yesterday: Colts QB Anthony Richardson will seek another opinion from surgeon Neal ElAttrache later this week... I was like: https://youtu.be/-OQcglFoL_Y?si=T83djgNrntVuqs2m

Yes, that really was Willie Nelson...pre-braids and bandana...and other medicinal things...also wearing the single worst shirt that I have ever seen.

Maybe it’s just a precautionary step for Richardson, but my experience says that a QB fighting for his NFL starting job/NFL life who has to miss (critical for him especially) OTAs with a shoulder injury that is said to be ‘precautionary’ by a team that has lied in the past about QB shoulder injuries...and then that QB is suddenly seeking to go get a recheck by a noted shoulder surgeon...my experience says this is ‘not good’. Not. Good. All.

-- Nick Chubb did sign with Houston yesterday on an embarrassing (for him, his talents) 1-year deal of $2.5M (up to $5M possible with probably farfetched, unreachable incentives...unless Mixon goes down in September).

Not good for Chubb for FF.

Not good for Joe Mixon for FF.

Not good for Woody Marks for FF/DRD.

Rico Dowdle got $2.75M guaranteed from Carolina this offseason. Ty Johnson $2.49M.

Nick Chubb getting $2.5M guaranteed...embarrassing.

This is great news for Houston to pull another step forward/further from the pack in the AFC South.

-- Draft Guide 2025 release timeline...

But just to stay in touch on the timing, I will put the current ‘wait time’/timeline estimate here every day until release...for an FYI and to keep myself on schedule.

-- Coming up on FFM today...

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Top 600 Dynasty and Best Ball top 600 + IDPs have all updated. Next update is planned for today.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

=====================

**The FREE FFM APP (notes for those who have not signed up yet...)

-- The App is NOT automatically set up to recognize your FFM site credentials (username/password).

6/9 MON

(7:33amET)

-- News hit last night that Nick Chubb was headed to Houston to take a physical to sign with the Texans...a letdown for those of us hoping Chubb would land in a better place to possibly be an instant co-starter in some backfield.

But then news hit soon after that it’s not necessarily a done deal, and that the Saints are in the mix vying for him. But I also believe the Bears and Broncos are looking at a move as well. Why they all waited until now and are letting there be a bidding war, I have no idea. But look at Kareem Hunt or D’Onta Foreman not able to hardly (or at all) find work last preseason...the NFL never fails to blow my mind on how bad most teams are with their personal moves and salary cap management.

Odds are, it will be the Texans for Chubb...because the other teams waited too long to make a move after most of them met with Chubb already. If with the Texans, Chubb goes in as a backup, a better than most backup for touches and talent.

I went ahead and inputted Chubb to the Texans for the Dynasty rankings update yesterday, and for the Best Ball update today...and I slashed Joe Mixon down some, a big loser here, and took down Woody Marks more than the down we already had him at. We’ll undo Chubb to Houston if/when needed.

The other teams rumored to be involved in this...if they lose out on Chubb, it still tells us things about them...

The Saints -- I think we’re nearing the end of Alvin Kamara as a Saint, and/or AK is losing effectiveness fast...just look at his last few years of meager yards per carry. It also would show a lack of excitement, perhaps, for Kendre Miller and Devin Neal, which I think is real...they are not excited by them.

The Broncos -- Talked with JK Dobbins last week. If they choose JKD over Chubb, Sean Payton makes a MAJOR scouting mistake. It’s also more realization that RJ Harvey is a ‘Sproles’ passing game back, not a lead...in Denver’s eyes.

The Bears -- It looked like they were getting Chubb weeks ago, but it never happened. Chicago may be feeling better about Roschon Johnson and/or Kyle Monangai after seeing them in OTAs...especially Roschon is catching some momentum.

Based on a conversation late last night -- I believe it’s down to Houston or Denver, because Chubb wants to play for a contender. Very likely Houston locks this down because everyone else pussyfooted around and Houston is coming in with some love/purpose.

-- News blurbs hit from Seattle...that Cooper Kupp is being used in the slot more and being moved all over, as is Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

This is bullish for Kupp...more and more evidence and smoke from Seattle that is getting me less and less negative on wanting to throw in the towel on Kupp’s career or 2025 (just following McVay’s lead). We have raised Kupp projections/valuations.

This is bearish for JSN...you want him in the slot getting the easy targets from Sam Darnold. I do not see JSN as a great outside WR. He’s not even that good of a WR (as people think), but he FF-works in the slot here. But if Seattle is shifting Kupp into the slot some or a lot...then it shows the team is trying to create opportunity for Kupp and take away the overreliance on JSN. We lowered JSN projections in our latest update yesterday and for today.

-- This report will make your head spin on a few LAC RBs...

https://boltbeat.com/unexpected-chargers-rb-impressing-coaches-with-asserting-himself-in-otas

Bullish for Najee...the thorn in my side always.

Bearish for Omarion for 2025, at least early on...if they’re gonna kiss Najee’s arse.

But what about Vidal getting mentioned? He actually still plays there, almost forgot about him existing. He’s just not that good.

-- Coming up on FFM today...

*Next scouting report will publish ASAP.

*Top 600 Dynasty and Best Ball top 600 + IDPs have all updated. Next update is planned for today.

*Next DRD top 300 rankings update will be Thursday/s all summer.

=====================

*FASTDRAFT is opening up more, new all-rookie Best Ball type contests and tournaments...and some lower cost ones to have fun with. Put your rookie studies to the test in a contest available in most states. More info on FastDraft and promo codes for initial deposit matches below:

***For those into playing DFS or Best Ball style tournaments for prize money, we have Promo Code (FFM) for matching funds deposited with our friend, The Podfather and Playerprofiler for their new tournament prize drafting App FastDraft.

Link to learn more and get the Promo Code: https://ffmetrics.com/total-football-advisor/5363-upcoming-rc-interview-video-who-what-why-ff-contest-promo-code

I think FFMers could do quite well in the unique contests they have…especially jumping on things early, ahead of the curve -- like the all-Rookie (2025 class) FF draft/lineup contest and the D-Up/all IDP Best Ball tournament play. They are trying to bring unique game play to the DFS/Best Ball draft world, I think you might enjoy.***

*TWO NOTES OF INTEREST* On the FastDraft App/prize tournaments...

1) The FFM Promo Code opportunity has now been doubled by FastDraft for a stretch of time...matching funds of +$50 when you deposit $50 when you use the promo code FFM.

2) Also, there is a free to enter contest just opened on FastDraft...it’s an abbreviated Best Ball type draft...open for a limited time.