Trey Hendrickson’s standoff with Cincinnati ended in a $30 million guaranteed extension, anchoring one of the league’s top edge rushers and giving the Bengals a clear, cap-smart path to 2025. The deal averts a costly hold-in season and preserves a high-end pass rush that should translate to steady fantasy and DFS value. Both sides landed a win: Hendrickson secures security and leverage for a future payday, while Cincinnati avoids a disruptive departure and preserves a defensive backbone.

The episode maps a larger market narrative: Browns, Colts, Panthers, Patriots, Rams and Lions all loomed as potential destinations, underscoring how a single extension can reshape the edge-rush market. Garrett’s name sits in the backdrop, highlighting AFC North implications and the broader risk-reward calculus teams face when spending on elite defenders.

In context, Detroit’s reported interest in Garrett and the Patriots’ cap-space potential illustrate how rivals could pivot around Hendrickson’s fate, affecting drafts, trades and future extensions across the league. The Bengals’ resolution keeps the division dynamics intact and signals that big-money edge players remain the league’s premium, game-changing assets.

Trey Hendrickson’s $14M raise lifts his 2025 jack to $30M, anchoring Cincinnati’s pass rush as Week 1 looms. Terry McLaurin lands a fresh extension for Washington, stabilizing one of the league’s top target earners. Joe Mixon is out for at least four games with Houston, reshaping the Texans’ backfield. Amari Cooper signs with the Raiders and Jakobi Meyers asks for a trade, fueling a flurry of WR movement. Micah Parsons and Dallas continue their public back-and-forth, while Shedeur Sanders flashes with five sacks against the Rams. The episode caps with eve-of-cutdown chatter and a crowded horizon for fantasy rosters.

Hendrickson’s raise solidifies his outlook as a sack-centric anchor; McLaurin’s deal locks in volume for a prime target in Washington; Mixon’s absence creates immediate value questions in Houston’s running game. Cooper’s addition boosts Vegas’s aerial attack; Meyers’ trade chatter adds volatility to the Raiders’ WR cohort. Parsons’ feud could influence defensive swagger; Sanders’ performance fuels the college-to-pro pipeline chatter. Rosters tighten as teams sift through 53-man cuts, shaping immediate fantasy and betting angles.

A.J. Brown’s August hamstring scare hasn’t crushed his 2025 fantasy outlook. Philadelphia’s offense is poised to lean more on passing with a tougher schedule, which could lift Brown’s target share and ceiling. Week 1 status appears likely to clear, and Brown remains a high-upside, mid-to-late 2nd round pick if healthy. Still, the injury history keeps risk at the forefront for managers building rosters around him.

Pair Brown with a strong Round 2 anchor (e.g., Lamb or Jefferson) to maximize season-long upside. If Brown shows any re-aggravation, pivot to DeVonta Smith or another Eagles receiver as a contingency. The overall pass-heavy shift in Philly could boost Brown’s per-game value, making him a compelling but slightly-riskier fantasy bet in 2025.

Los Angeles Rams waived Brennan Jackson, a 2024 fifth-round edge, after a sparse rookie year in which he played 7 games and posted 3 tackles with no sacks. In the preseason, Jackson flashed with 3 sacks on 63 rush snaps but didn’t win consistently, sealing his fate as the team pushes for improved edge depth. His departure paves the way for Nick Hampton to grab a 53-man roster spot, a move underscored by Hampton being held out of the final preseason game.

The Rams have already moved on from 12 players and still must pare down to 53 by Tuesday, leaving 25 cuts to come. Sean McVay indicated he knows the 53-man roster but wouldn’t reveal it yet, highlighting the ongoing evaluation phase that fantasy managers should monitor for late-round edge options and waiver-wire potential.

From a fantasy lens, Hampton’s status is the key verse. If he wins a steady rotational role, he could become a worthwhile late-draft/waiver target in deeper leagues or DFS on weeks with favorable matchups. The Jackson cut signals athletic competition at the position and keeps an eye on how the Rams finalize their defensive front ahead of Week 1.