Jordan Mason, meanwhile, is grouped with the “backups” behind Jones, entering his age-30 season after going for 1,546 total yards and seven touchdowns as the Vikings’ lead back in 2024. Mason, acquired from the 49ers in March, has impressed in spring practices and in training camp, where he’s seen significant work with the first-team offense. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the Vikings will have a “genuine co-RB1 deal” between Jones and Mason. We can expect Jones to take on the pass-catching role out of the Minnesota backfield while Mason — a bigger back — might get first crack at goal line carries. Jones might be the back to have in PPR formats.

It hasn’t been a great summer for the second-year back, who’s dealing with a lingering groin injury that isn’t expected to be long-term, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. The 2024 third-round pick dealt with hip, hamstring, and ankle issues along with appendicitis as a rookie and ended the season with 15 yards on six carries along with one reception for three yards. Meanwhile, Emanuel Wilson — listed as the Packers’ RB2 behind bellcow Josh Jacobs — is dealing with a non-contact knee injury that was thought to be serious until testing revealed he had avoided a major injury. Wilson functioned as the team’s No. 2 back in 2024. For now, Chris Brooks appears to be team’s No. 2 RB by default.

The team has had no contact with Parsons or his agent since Parsons formally requested a trade last week. Parsons, 26, is seeking a contract extension ahead of the regular season opener against the Eagles. Jones had previously said he wasn’t worried about the lack of progress toward a new deal for his star EDGE rusher; on Tuesday he said the situation had become “urgent.” Parsons is under contract for this season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, set to make $21.324 million. “What it is is what it is,” Jones told reporters Tuesday. “We’ll work through it, or we will not work through it.” A Dallas defense without Parsons would be one of the most vulnerable in the NFL.

Love was effusive with praise for the rookie, complimenting his “strong hands” and his “smooth” route running in offseason practices and training camp. “He’s been playing lights out,” Love said of Golden, the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. “He’s gonna be a stud.” Love said Golden has a good grasp of the Packers’ playbook and has proven to be a hard worker off the field. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky said in June that Golden — who had 987 yards and nine scores in his final season at Texas — “should get plenty of playing time right away” in a Green Bay offense that could be without Christian Watson (knee) to start the regular season. In Green Bay’s first unofficial depth chart of the 2025 season, Golden is listed as a WR2 behind Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvian Wicks.

It’s not quite a surprise after the team seemed to prefer Pollard over Tyjae Spears even when Spears wasn’t dealing with one of his many 2024 injuries. Spears is listed as the Titans’ RB2 alongside rookie RB Kalel Mullings, who has drawn consistent praise from head coach Brian Callahan and other Tennessee coaches. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this week that “people I’ve talked to in Tennessee believe Tyjae Spears has positioned himself for an uptick” in opportunities in 2025 after averaging 9.5 touches per game in 2024. Barring injury, it looks like Spears will enter the regular season as the secondary option behind Pollard.

The first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft will make his preseason debut against the Bucs and might get a handful of drop backs before he’s pulled for Tim Boyle or Brandon Allen. Ward has reportedly had an uneven performance in Titans training camp, making impressive throws on the run and sometimes being late with throws into tight windows. On Thursday fantasy managers will get a brief look at Ward, who could be the game’s premiere late-round QB in 2025.

Rapoport said Stafford, who has been sidelined for weeks while dealing with the lingering back issue, has received an epidural for the discomfort of the injury. Stafford, according to Rapoport, “plans” to suit up for Week 1 against the Texans, who sport one of the NFL’s best pass rushes. Rams head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that Stafford, 37, has “been able to kind of increase some things behind the scenes” and that the QB is making progress. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meanwhile, insists Stafford’s absence from Rams camp is nothing more than a “maintenance issue.” If it’s something more than that, we could see Jimmy Garoppolo under center for LA come Week 1.

Allen officially inked a reunion with the Chargers after much speculation he would return to the wide receiver-needy team. The 33-year-old spent 2024 with the Bears, his only season outside of the Chargers’ organization. He tallied 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns, still contributing as a fantasy WR3. The Chargers lost Mike Williams to retirement earlier in the offseason and have question marks at wide receiver behind Ladd McConkey. Allen was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and was Justin Herbert’s No. 1 receiver for six seasons. He will slot back into the wide receiver room on a one-year deal and immediately becomes the No. 2 pass-catching option on the team. For fantasy purposes, Allen will be in the WR3 range.

The suspension stems from a DUI arrest that Addison eventually pleaded down to a lesser charge known as wet reckless. The Vikings were reportedly bracing for a three-game suspension already, so the news isn’t much of a surprise. Still, it confirms that they will be without their big-play WR2 for the first three games, contests versus Chicago, Atlanta, and Cincinnati. Jalen Nailor will likely step in as the team’s second starting receiver for those games, giving him some early-season fantasy appeal for managers who wait at wide receiver. To no one’s surprise, Justin Jefferson will continue to dominate targets in Addison’s absence while T.J. Hockenson could increase his role as well.