NFL Player News

Judkins has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Browns, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Cabot, Judkins -- who is set to ink his contract Saturday -- is not in line to play Sunday against the Bengals, but once the 2025 second-rounder is ready to join the lineup, he'll bolster a Cleveland backfield that also includes Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders. Cabot adds that the NFL is still reviewing Judkins' domestic battery case even though it was dropped, while Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that the Browns are expected to get a temporary roster exemption (that can last up to two games) for the running back, who would then be able to practice but not play until the exemption is lifted, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Allen finished with seven receptions (on 10 targets) for 68 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 27-21 win over the Chiefs.

Signed exactly one month ago, Allen hopped into the Chargers' starting lineup and balled like he never departed for Chicago last season. The 33-year-old wound up leading Los Angeles in targets (10) and receptions (seven) while securing his 60th touchdown as a member of the Chargers. Allen's fantasy value in drafts matched his free-agent appeal up until Friday's renaissance, but the veteran is definitely worth consideration against the Raiders next Monday.

Hampton rushed 15 times for 48 yards and caught both of his targets for 13 yards in Friday's 27-21 victory over Kansas City.

Hampton was deployed as the every-down starter Friday, generating 15 more combined touches than Najee Harris (eye). The team could have been easing Harris back after he suffered an eye injury that held the back out for all of training camp and the preseason, but the stark difference in touches points the fantasy value arrow strongly in Hampton's direction to kick off the year. If the North Carolina product continues to dominate the backfield work moving forward, he could prove to be an even greater draft day steal than managers originally hoped. Hampton's volume combined with a plus matchup against the Raiders next Monday make him a solid play Week 2.

Johnston finished with five receptions (on seven targets) for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 27-21 win over the Chiefs.

Johnston looked like a fantasy stud in Brazil after cashing in on two of Justin Herbert's trio of touchdown passes. The third-year wideout has had his shares of ups and downs, but this is the kind of performance the Chargers had in mind when they selected Johnston in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It is worth noting that both Keenan Allen (7-68-1) and Ladd McConkey (6-74-0) finished with more targets and receptions in Friday's win. That said, if the Chargers offense continues to air out it out like we saw against the Chiefs, then all three starting receivers theoretically could eat this season. Johnston appears to be a priority addition ahead of next Monday's matchup against the Raiders.

Smith-Schuster brought in all five targets for 55 yards in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.

The veteran wideout took advantage of the opportunity created by the early first-quarter departure of Xavier Worthy (shoulder), finishing as a distant runner-up across the board to Hollywood Brown in receiving metrics. Smith-Schuster was slated to serve as the No. 3 receiver to open the season due to Rashee Rice's suspension, but Worthy's injury, if it carries over into a Week 2 home showdown against the Eagles, could lead to Smith-Schuster operating in a No. 2 role again.

Henley logged eight tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Friday's 27-21 win over the Chiefs.

Henley accrued five takedowns during the Chiefs' penultimate drive of the first half, which was capped off by an eight-yard sack on Patrick Mahomes to force the Chiefs to settle for three points on a Harrison Butker 35-yard field goal. Henley isn't known for his pass-rushing ability, but it took just one game to match his sack total from 2024. The 2023 third-rounder led the Chargers last season with 147 tackles across 17 regular-season games, which was eighth most in the NFL and seventh most among linebackers.

Pacheco rushed five times for 25 yards and brought in two of three targets for three yards in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.

The Chiefs were down by a touchdown after one quarter and trailed throughout, which played a part in Pacheco seeing a modest workload. Additionally, backfield mate Kareem Hunt matched Pacheco's carry total, while Patrick Mahomes paced the Chiefs with both his six rush attempts and 57 rushing yards. Despite Friday's usage, Pacheco still profiles as Kansas City's top running back heading into a Week 2 Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after Friday's loss to the Chargers that the team doesn't have an update on Worthy (shoulder) aside from sharing that the wideout will get an MRI on Saturday, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.

Worthy hurt his shoulder Friday in a friendly fire incident with teammate Travis Kelce in the first quarter. The wideout left the field in apparent pain and was ruled out not long thereafter. The Chiefs have nine days until their next game (Sunday, Sept. 14 against Philadelphia), but if Worthy isn't able to get well enough to play by then, the team would be left with Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster as the top receivers, with Tyquan Thornton, Jason Brownlee, Nikko Remigio and possibly Jalen Royals (knee) adding depth at the position.

Brown brought in 10 of 16 targets for 99 yards in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.

Brown led the Chiefs in receptions, receiving yards and targets, and Xavier Worthy's exit from the game on the third play from scrimmage due to a shoulder injury certainly played a part in the former's boost in opportunity. While Brown's mostly short-area role left him just short of the 100-yard mark despite the significant catch volume, he did record a game-long 49-yard reception. Brown's chemistry with Patrick Mahomes was certainly encouraging after the veteran wideout missed the majority of the 2024 regular season due to a sternoclavicular injury, and his hefty workload could come close to being replicated in a Super Bowl LIX home rematch with the Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 14 if Worthy is sidelined for that game.

Herbert completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for 318 yards and three touchdowns while taking seven carries for 32 yards in Friday's 27-21 victory over Kansas City.

Herbert and the Chargers' aerial attack put on a show in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday, generating five lengthy scoring drives in a decisive victory over last year's AFC Champions. Head coach Jim Harbaugh let his star quarterback air it out right out of the gates, resulting in Herbert's first 300-yard, three-touchdown performance since Harbaugh took over at the start of last season. If this is truly a shift in offensive philosophy from the three yards and a cloud of dust scheme that L.A. implemented in 2024, then Herbert's fantasy ceiling could rise somewhere closer to the elite production we witnessed from 2020-2022. Next Monday's tilt against the Raiders should be telling on whether Herbert can keep up this type volume.