Kendall Valenzuela runs through the fantasy football-relevant offseason NFL news, including updates on George Kittle, Marvin Harrison Jr., and more.

It may be early May, and while many are preparing Star Wars-themed and Cinco de Mayo celebrations this weekend, the NFL news machine can't stop, won't stop. Here are some news items with a sizable fantasy football impact going into the 2025 season.

George Kittle gets PAID

Yes, that's right! George Kittle got paid and we didn't have to wait until days before the NFL season started for the news. He announced this week that he signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him with San Francisco 49ers through the 2029 season. The deal is worth $76.4 million, which includes $40 million in guaranteed money. This makes him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

Kittle will turn 32 in October and is entering his ninth season with the 49ers, but most fantasy managers know he is coming off one of his best seasons. Per ESPN, Kittle ranked third among tight ends in receiving yards (1,106), tied for second in touchdowns (8) and was first in yards per reception (14.2). He also has the second-most yards ever for a tight end through eight seasons.

With the departure of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk continuing to rehab from his ACL and MCL tear, we should expect Kittle to continue getting peppered with targets. The offense will also feature Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall, but Kittle should still be the third tight end taken off the board in fantasy drafts this season (behind only Brock Bowers and Trey McBride).

The big question now for the 49ers is what will quarterback Brock Purdy's new contract look like?

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the 49ers and Purdy are "inching closer" to a deal that would make him one of the 10 highest-paid players in the NFL by average annual value. 

If we look at the AAV, that would mean the floor for a potential Purdy contract would be around Jalen Hurts' deal that pays him $51 million annually (total value $255 million). Dak Prescott is the highest-paid quarterback in the league averaging $60 million per season, but it feels like the sweet spot for Purdy will be somewhere in the middle between Hurts and Prescott. I could see him falling in the range of Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow range ($55 million).

Back on the Marvin Harrison Jr. train?

I mean listen, you already know I'm going back to the Kyler Murray hype train for 2025 so why not include Marvin Harrison Jr. as well?

Last season was … not great, Bob. Harrison scored 8 touchdowns, but finished 37th in catches and 30th in both yards and fantasy points (41st in PPG). YIKES. Murray also wasn't a huge help either, but he has come out and said that his injury was still bugging him during the beginning of the season. I am going to believe that Harrison's 62 receptions, 885 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns is his floor. 

I'm buying into all the hype as well, even if it's from Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. Here's what he said in a recent interview with Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio:

“When the staff’s in place, the jump from Year 1 to Year 2, I think that’s where guys make a huge jump … And this guy played unbelievable ball for us. But if you talk to him, he’d be the first to tell you, I need to get better at these couple of things. And man, he has went to work on them. He’s went to work on them. I’m not going to speak truth into the universe, but just wait until this guy plays this year.”

In a recent roundtable, most Fantasy Life analysts have Harrison around WR21 because his 2024 target share, air yards share, and PFF grade all align with ideal WR2 output.

New landing spots, new fantasy outlook? Probably not …

Browns sign Diontae Johnson

No, no, you definitely read that name right. The Cleveland Browns reached agreement on a one-year contract with Diontae Johnson—yes, the player who came with a ton of drama in 2024.

Let's recap, shall we?

  • Johnson starts the season with the Carolina Panthers and leads the team with 30 receptions and 357 receiving yards in the first two months of the season before he was traded to the Ravens.
  • Johnson goes to the Ravens and lasts seven weeks, totaling 1 catch, 6 receiving yards AND a one-game suspension for refusing to play in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • No really, there's more.
  • Baltimore waives him and then Johnson gets claimed by the Texans. He then was waived by the Texans on Jan. 14 after ESPN reported that he was "visibly upset" after playing 15 snaps in a wild card playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Now maybe this is the fresh start that Johnson needs, but I'm not willing to bet a ton on it. The quarterback room in Cleveland is messy. Between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders I do not think they are a Diontae Johnson away from winning. Whoever the quarterback is for 2025, just remember he is leading a pretty awful offense that ranked just 28th in QB fantasy points. 

More Help in Buffalo?

Bills sign Elijah Moore

Help is on the way! Kind of … maybe …

The Buffalo Bills signed Elijah Moore to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. He's coming off a career-high 61 passes for 538 yards and 1 touchdown last season for the Cleveland Browns. I like that the Bills have given Josh Allen another weapon in this offense, but he'll be competing for more of that depth role.

This offense has Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, and Curtis Samuel—there could be upside if Moore is able to come away with a solid connection with Allen, but I'm only snagging him in deeper fantasy leagues if it makes sense.