Mazi Smith enters year three with Dallas amid high expectations for a first‑round pick who has yet to fully meet the hype. His athleticism is unquestioned; The Athletic once named him the freakiest lineman in college football, with jaw‑dropping numbers at Michigan and at the scouting combine. Parsons’ enthusiastic reaction at the draft suggested Smith has the backing of Dallas’ defense, a unit desperate for interior disruption. Smith’s 2023 and 2024 stat lines show growth but not the breakout many envisioned, keeping fantasy folks wary but hopeful for a Year 3 jump. The Cowboys’ historical affinity for Michigan linemen provides a cultural backdrop, while off‑field headlines from college still linger. If he can earn more snaps and translate athletic gifts into consistent pressure, his fantasy floor could rise alongside his role in a Parsons‑led defense.

The piece threads in a wider NFL college‑to‑pro angle, noting the Cowboys’ prior first‑round interior DL picks and a Michigan defensive‑lineman pipeline that has yielded big names in recent drafts. It also touches on Smith’s arrest in college and his creative‑writing background, painting a multidimensional portrait of a player who blends power with rare burst. All told, Smith is positioned for a meaningful, perhaps season‑defining, third year — a pivot point for fantasy managers who have watched him steadily grow but wait for a definitive breakout moment.

Detroit’s joint practice with Miami showed the Lions thriving on defense and punching back on offense in a high- tempo session. Hutchinson led the way with pressure and sacks, while the unit as a whole bottled up Tua Tagovailoa in the pocket. Jared Goff looked sharp, threading throws into tight windows and pairing with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams for impressive red-zone and big-play moments. The Dolphins dealt with some live-action bumps—Chop Robinson’s spin move failed against Sewell, and there were a few skirmishes—but the Lions emerged with clear fantasy takeaways: the defense is elite, the pass rush is relentless, and Lions receivers—especially St. Brown and Williams—look poised for a feature-season boost.

Miami’s 2024 preseason narrative centers on Tua Tagovailoa and a frustrated Miami offense after a Wednesday joint session with Detroit. The Lions pressured the right side heavily, with Aidan Hutchinson creating consistent disruption as Borom and the Dolphins’ line tried to hold up, while Patrick Paul battled to protect in pass sets. Tyreek Hill wasn’t in team drills, and Jaylen Waddle returned on a limited snap count, leaving Miami searching for rhythm. Miami tees up a second day with Detroit as they seek to reestablish timing and energy, with McDaniel stressing turnover avoidance and continued communication on protections and run concepts. The Bears’ recent physical contact during a separate session looms as a contrasting benchmark on how the Dolphins handle elite-front defenses during a long preseason road swing.

Sportsbetting meets fantasy analytics in a sharp NFL futures snapshot. Ravens (+700 at BetMGM) loom as the value play, with Lions (+1000 at FanDuel) and Steelers (+4700 at FanDuel) rounding out the top trio as of July. Bills sit at +700 at FanDuel, and Josh Allen sits +600 to win MVP, underscoring how much one superstar can tilt the market.

Analyst Jimmie Kaylor rode a 55-34-4 run on spreads/overs in 2024 and is leaning championship for Baltimore, citing Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry as the core duo and noting defensive upgrades from Jaire Alexander and Malaki Starks. Detroit’s offense and O-line are praised, Hutchinson potentially chasing DPOY. Pittsburgh’s roster flexibility, with Jonnu Smith and DK Metcalf adding juice, pairs with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback as a surprising path to contention.

The 2026 odds expand the field, spotlighting Ravens, Bills, Eagles, Chiefs, and Lions among early favorites, with Rams, Commanders, 49ers, Vikings and Packers also in the mix. For fantasy managers, the takeaway is to map bet signals to positional upside—watch Allen’s MVP odds, LamarJackson’s offensive environment, and the Lions’ offensive line and Hutchinson’s defensive narrative as you structure long-term rostering and prop plays.