We finally made it; football is back! College Football Week One concluded last night with a thrilling matchup between Notre Dame and Miami, and NFL Week One kicks off on Thursday with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Philadelphia Eagles! With some last-minute headlines to catch up on before the season begins, let's dive into the NFL News & Rumors This Week!

 

 

 

Top NFL News & Rumors This Week: 

Today's top NFL News and Rumors feature an update on Travis Hunter's Week One usage, Jaylen Warren's new contract, and much more!

Jaylen Warren Contract Extension

Could the Kaleb Johnson hype train be coming to a stop before it even left the station? Pittsburgh Steelers veteran running back has agreed to a two-year extension with the team, paying him over $17 million over the next three seasons. 

This offseason, the Steelers let former first-round pick Najee Harris walk in free agency and added Kenneth Gainwell from the Philadelphia Eagles and rookie Kaleb Johnson via the 2025 NFL Draft in the third round. With Warren being the only incumbent member in the backfield, he could be due for a heavier workload in a run-first, Arthur Smith-led scheme.

Travis Hunter Usage Update

When trading up to the second overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars organization and their fanbase were expecting Travis Hunter to be a generational two-way player and game-changer. That being said, fans might need to temper their expectations, as head coach Liam Coen said they are still evaluating his "usage time" for the Jaguars Week One matchup against the Carolina Panthers. During NFL training camp and preseason, Hunter has been seen working with both the wide receivers and cornerbacks, being listed as a starting receiver and backup corner on the unofficial depth chart.

49ers WR Updates - Kendrick Bourne, Jauan Jennings

After being released by the New England Patriots, it was expected that the San Francisco 49ers would have interest in bringing veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne back to where he started his career. As a result, the 49ers did bring him in for a visit today to help solidify their wide receiver group that is currently dealing with several injuries, including injuries to Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk. If a contract is not agreed to, Bourne is expected to visit the Washington Commanders tomorrow

Possibly feeling the pressure from Bourne's visit, Jauan Jennings returned to the practice field today after weeks of absence. Jennings has been dealing with both a calf injury and contract negotiation struggles.

 

 

 

Fantasy Football News & Rumors

Make sure to set your lineups, because with the start of the NFL season comes the start of the fantasy football season; so let's dive in! Check out our latest Fantasy Football News & Rumors below, including a Quinshon Judkins update and changes coming to the Bengals' run game. 

Quinshon Judkins to Join Cleveland Browns

This offseason has been a strange one when it comes to the Cleveland Browns. A four-headed quarterback battle, a trade request from their superstar pass rusher, and legal troubles for their second-round pick in the NFL Draft before he even signs his rookie contract. Well, the Browns managed to work their way through the first two situations, and it seems like the third conflict might be coming to a close as well. 

Reportedly, Quinshon Judkins could be back with the team as soon as this week, which shakes up the fantasy outlook for the Browns' backfield. The only other two running backs on the roster, Jerome Ford and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson, are being drafted as the RB50 and RB52, respectively. Judkins is being drafted as the RB40 due to the talent, expectation that he would be the starter, and draft pedigree. Whoever ends up starting most of the season for the Browns could be a fantasy football steal. 

Cincinnati Bengals Adjust Run Game for Chase Brown

Last season, Chase Brown finished as the RB14 in points per game with seven top-10 finishes after not starting for the Cincinnati Bengals for half of the year. Now, Brown could be in for an even bigger year, as the Bengals have reportedly restructured the run game specifically around his skill set. While he was already expected to take a jump this year as the full-time starter, being drafted as the RB10, he could wind up being a league winner in what was already one of the NFL's top offenses.

Fantasy Football Injury Report