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Eric MoodyESPN
Read ESPN’s fantasy football daily notes every weekday to stay caught up on the news you need to know and get a head start on the fantasy football content coming today and tomorrow to ESPN.com and the ESPN Fantasy App.
The news: Deebo Samuel signed a three-year, $71.5 million extension with the 49ers through 2025.
What it means: Since Samuel’s deal includes $58.1 million guaranteed, he’s now one of the highest-paid receivers in the league, ending the drama around his trade demand and offseason holdout.
Going deeper: Samuel is one of only four players to record 2,500 receiving yards and 500 rushing yards in his first three career seasons. It makes him special in fantasy, and he can be viewed as a WR1 with high upside.
The news: Peter King, of NBC Sports, reported that Mitch Trubisky has been told the starting quarterback job is his to lose.
What it means: Trubisky is likely to open the season as a starter after signing a two-year, $14.285 million contract, including a $5.25 million signing bonus. Since he has a stronger arm and is more mobile than Ben Roethlisberger was in his final season, he won’t limit the Steelers’ offensive potential in 2022.
The news: Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed that Miles Sanders is the team’s top running back.
What it means: Sanders may be the starter, but this is still a running back by committee and Kenneth Gainwell’s practice reps with the first team and at receiver imply he’ll be actively involved in 2022. Since his rookie season, Sanders has struggled to contribute positively to the passing game.
Today on ESPN.com and in the ESPN Fantasy App
ASHBURN, Va. — Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan will retire as a member of the Washington Commanders. Kerrigan will sign a one-day contract with the Commanders Friday afternoon and end his career with the organization that drafted him in 2011.
Kerrigan retires as Washington’s all-time sack leader with 95.5, but he played last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Kerrigan will hold a press conference Saturday morning and attend Washington’s practice.
Washington drafted Kerrigan with the 16th overall pick and he became an instant starter, first as an outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 alignment and later as a defensive end in a four-man front.
In one five-year stretch, Kerrigan recorded 13 sacks three times and finished with 60 overall. He made the Pro Bowl three times in that span — and four overall in his career. He left as a free agent in 2021.
Kerrigan was also known for his durability. He played every game in his first eight seasons and appeared in 139 consecutive games overall before finally sitting out because of a concussion. Kerrigan did not record a sack in 16 regular-season games with Philadelphia in 2021, but did manage 1.5 in a playoff loss to Tampa Bay.
“While I’m thankful for the amazing times and memories I was able to have as a player, I’m equally thankful to now have the wisdom and courage to walk away,” Kerrigan said in a post tweeted by the Commanders.
Kerrigan said it was “cool” to see so many fans wearing his No. 91 jersey during his time with Washington. “And to have had the success that I was able to have? Something I never in my wildest dreams could have envisioned,” he said. “To say I’m thankful would be quite the understatement.”
