NFL Player News

Peoples-Jones caught 13 passes (on 25 targets) for 155 yards over 15 regular-season games in 2023.

Peoples-Jones began the year as a near every-down player in Cleveland, where he produced 97 yards in seven games. Upon being dealt to Detroit, the Michigan product only topped 20 percent of the offensive snaps in one game when Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond (knee) got banged up. Peoples-Jones then was barely used in the playoffs, not seeing a single target or more than six offensive snaps in any of three games. Now set to become an unrestricted free agent, he may need to find a new team to help him rediscover his 2022 form when he totaled 839 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 17 games.

Raymond (knee) caught 35 passes (on 44 targets) for 489 yards with one touchdown while rushing seven times for 75 yards over 17 regular-season games in 2023.

While he didn't reach the four touchdowns he scored in 2021 or the 652 yards he totaled in 2022, Raymond put together yet another respectable season as a tertiary option in Detroit's high-flying offense while pitching in at punt returner as well. He rarely needed much playing time to do it, either, given that Raymond topped 30 percent of the offensive snaps in just six games and had more than four targets only twice. With offensive coordinator Ben Johnson surprisingly coming back as Detroit's offensive coordinator, Raymond -- who remains under contract through 2025 -- should be back next season as an interesting gadget player on offense and a key player on special teams.

Reynolds caught 40 of 64 targets for 608 yards and five touchdowns over 17 regular-season games in 2023.

After averaging 56.8 yards with three touchdowns over the first six games of the year, Reynolds only collected 26.4 yards per game since that point. Part of his dip in production was tied to the return and then slight ascension of Jameson Williams, who missed the first four games of the year due to a gambling-related suspension but saw increased playing time as the year went on. While Reynolds is now set to become an unrestricted free agent, he will likely remain a fantasy afterthought wherever he lands.

Williams caught 24 passes (on 42 targets) for 354 yards and two touchdowns while rushing three times for 29 yards and one touchdown over 12 regular-season games in 2023.

While Williams -- who missed the first four games of the year due to a gambling-related suspension -- has not truly lived up to his first-round pedigree through two seasons, he seems to be making strides in the right direction. After starting the season consistently logging less than half of the offensive snaps, the Alabama product finished the year seeing at least two-thirds of them while serving as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams then made a number of catches over three playoff games, ultimately putting together a two-touchdown performance in a loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Unless Detroit brings in significant competition at wide receiver, Williams could be in store for a breakout 2024 campaign as an ascending talent within a high-scoring offense.

Samuel (hamstring) returned to Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Samuel went down with a non-contact injury midway through the third quarter but wasn't forced to miss any time. He'll return to his typical role in the 49ers offense.

Samuel is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Chiefs due to a hamstring injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Samuel pulled up in the middle of a route in the third quarter and received attention from the trainers on the field. He was able to walk to the sideline without assistance and has since been examined in the blue tent. His absence would be a big blow to the San Francisco offense, with Jauan Jennings likely to be asked to step up in Samuel's absence.

Toney (coach's decision) is inactive for Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers on Sunday.

Toney's second season with the Chiefs hasn't gone swimmingly, to say the least. In his second-to-last appearance back in Week 14 against the Bills, he lined up offsides on what would have been a go-ahead touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce. Since his last game action Week 15, Toney has been tending to a strained hip and an ankle injury before sitting out the AFC Championship Game due to personal reasons. Despite operating as a full participant during both weeks of Super Bowl prep, he won't be available to Kansas City's offense, ending his campaign, one where he had 27 catches (on 38 targets) for 169 yards and one touchdown and 11 carries for 31 yards in 13 regular-season games.

Toney is expected to be a healthy inactive Sunday for the Chiefs' matchup with the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, a league source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Toney hasn't played since Week 15, but after turning in a slate of full practices over the two weeks of Super Bowl prep, he appears to have moved past the strained hip and ankle injury that kept him out for the past five games. However, Toney's lengthy absence and underwhelming play when healthy during the regular season appear to be factors in the Chiefs' apparent decision to hold him out for the Super Bowl. Toney likely didn't help his cause by claiming he was "not hurt" in an Instagram Live video posted shortly before the Chiefs' win over the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 28, though he later clarified that his rant was directed toward the Giants, his former team. After scoring a touchdown in last season's Super Bowl win over the Eagles and setting up another score in the fourth quarter with a 65-yard punt return, Toney was expected to take on a featured role in the passing attack in 2023, but he was limited to just 27 receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown while dropping five of his 38 targets over his 13 regular-season appearances.

The NFL will not discipline Adams for the 2022 incident in which he shoved a photographer following a loss to Kansas City, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Adams pushed a photographer as he was leaving the field following the 2022 defeat, and the star wideout was originally charged with misdemeanor assault. That charge was later dismissed, but the NFL's investigation into the incident remained open. It now appears that the league's probe has been closed, with a decision to not dole out any discipline to Adams. From a fantasy perspective, that means managers won't have to ponder whether Adams will need to miss any games as a result of the incident, though his 2024 ADP may be due for a drop after he posted his lowest receiving yardage and touchdown totals in four years this season.

Slayton said Thursday that he had surgery on his right thumb after the conclusion of the regular season but should be ready to play "by the time it matters," Tom Rock of Newsday reports.

Slayton posted to his personal X account Jan. 10 implying that he dealt with a right hand injury throughout the campaign, and it appears that his thumb was the source of the issue. Despite the injury, the fifth-year wideout played in every game for the Giants this season, leading the club with 79 targets (of which he caught 60) and 770 receiving yards while hauling in four touchdowns. If his thumb heals as expected, and depending on what changes the Giants make in the offseason, Slayton could head into the 2024 campaign as the team's No. 1 wideout.