Week 1 targets a tight end showdown as Sam LaPorta eyes a plus matchup against Green Bay while Ben Johnson’s absence as play-caller adds a wrinkle to Detroit’s offense. LaPorta’s red-zone involvement from late last season and a strong week-to-go stretch suggest hefty usage near the goal line, even with some camp injury chatter. Across the league, Mark Andrews offers redemption odds against Buffalo, leveraging a top red-zone grade (88.9) and a seven-of-10 red-zone TD run to close last season. Bills’ defense allowed red-zone TDs at the sixth-worst clip last year, setting a cliff-face for Week 1 props.

Two TE prop bets stand out: LaPorta at +190 and Andrews at +140. PFF’s Player Props tool adds matchup context, historical hit rates and red-zone leverage to back the angle. LaPorta’s matchup against Green Bay hinges on coverage strength from Quay Walker, who posted a 50.6 PFF coverage grade last season and is coming off ankle surgery. Andrews brings a red-zone toolkit refined by volume and red-zone threat rate, positioning him as a prime play in Week 1’s TD markets. Health and camp signals will steer Week 1 projections as teams seek to feature their top playmakers early.

Brock Bowers leads the August dynasty TE rankings, a standout at the college level whose long‑term fantasy impact dwarfs most, with Trey McBride and Sam LaPorta nipping at his heels in a tight top tier. Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren draw steady dynasty attention, while a deeper group features George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Dalton Kincaid, David Njoku, and Travis Kelce anchoring the respectable floor of the cycle. Kyle Pitts and Evan Engram sit within the next wave, with Chig Okonkwo and the veteran Jonnu Smith among the notable fallbacks. In all, the ranking emphasizes scarcity—elite, healthy targets are scarce, rookie levers matter, and position flexibility is king in dynasty formats.

News notes center on Darren Waller’s PUP status in Miami and Hunter Henry’s undisclosed injury in New England, signaling temporary shifts in TE usage and target distribution. Colston Loveland’s early preseason action with Chicago, AJ Barner’s hot training-camp buzz for Seattle, and Tucker Kraft’s Packers projection as a top TE option add nuance to early-season value. Noah Gray’s rising chatter in Kansas City keeps a watchful eye on the depth chart behind Kelce. Owners should monitor conditioning, depth-chart moves, and scheme changes as big‑picture dynasty value evolves through the year.

Derrick Henry and several underappreciated stars are the banner picks Frank Ammirante sees as 2025 league-winners, spanning early and mid-round value. Henry’s second-round cost in a high-powered Ravens offense creates brick-wall FLEX upside, while Mark Andrews provides a reliable TE floor with a ceiling spike when the offense clicks. JSN, Olave, and Egbuka offer a layered WR strategy—steady volume with breakout potential as the Saints and Seahawks offenses ascend. The piece also flags Baker Mayfield’s weapons as a late-round crosscheck for high-upside weeks.

Zay Flowers heads into 2025 as a confident WR2 floor with upside, even after Baltimore added DeAndre Hopkins and kept Mark Andrews. If Flowers can sustain roughly 25 percent of the target share, he stays firmly in 12-team WR2 territory with a bit of touchdown upside if Andrews regresses in red-zone catches. The Ravens’ run-first attack keeps ceilings modest, but Flowers’ floor remains solid as a high-volume contributor in a diversified passing game.

In 2024 Flowers posted 74 catches for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns, with ADOT rising to 10.5 from 8.8 in 2023, signaling a more efficient, deeper target profile. Projections for 2025 show a still-strong role, listing about 64 receptions on 110 targets for 837 yards and around six touchdowns, translating to a 124-point PPR baseline. The Hopkins signing adds veteran reliability, meaning Flowers remains a compelling value pick as a steady, semi-elite WR2 with room to grow if usage shifts in a red-hot Ravens offense.

Fantasy managers should view Flowers as a safeWR2 with enough juice for weekly volatility if the Ravens lean on Hopkins and Andrews. Consider pairing him with a higher-ceiling WR or a strong RB/TE option to balance risk, but Flowers offers a reliable weekly floor and a plausible path to sustained value through 2025.

Baltimore returned to practice after a spirited, sharp session two days after a preseason win over the Colts. Lamar Jackson showcased elite playmaking, while the passing attack continued to evolve with DeAndre Hopkins and Zay Flowers pairing for big plays in the red zone. Andrews and Kolar connected in back-to-back red-zone drives, underscoring a versatile tight end corps. Keaton Mitchell flashed breakaway speed with 68 rushing yards and a TD, and LaJohntay Wester delivered a punt-return TD and a couple of solid grabs, signaling intriguing depth at WR and special-teams impact. The defense forced a few turnovers, with Wiggins and Awuzie making plays, and Pagano back in a familiar coaching role. Baltimore heads toward Week 2 with Cowboys on the horizon and roster decisions looming, holding a clear path to step the execution up a notch as camp tightens.