Texas A&M's six remaining home games during the 2026 season will serve as critical recruiting opportunities for coach Mike Elko and his staff, especially in the 2028 recruiting cycle, as five-star quarterback Donald Tabron III and four-star Edge Chance Archangel serve as the lone commits in the class and will make their way back to campus this fall.
Plenty of intriguing names in the cycle will visit this weekend when the Aggies host Arizona State on Saturday afternoon, while five-star wide receiver Braylon Clark recently placed Texas A&M in his top 12 program list and will visit College Station on October 3 when the Aggies host Arkansas.
Under Mike Elko, Texas A&M has developed NFL talent at nearly every position, especially after a record-tying 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft back in late April. Elko's background as one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, currently serving as the Aggies' defensive playcaller, has continued to make its way to the eyes and ears of up-and-coming defenders, including 2028 four-star Edge David Dotson.
During his recent interview with Rivals insider Sam Spiegelman, Dotson named Texas A&M among several programs that "have his attention" heading into the fall months.
"Texas, Oklahoma, SMU, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, LSU, and Alabama all have my attention," Dotson continued. "They've each shown me why they want me and how I could fit into their program. The relationships with the coaches, player development, culture, academics, and overall fit are all important to me."

#star #aggies #elko

Fantasy football ****** yst Hayden Winks reveals his WR2 rankings and ****** ysis for Week 1. He'll continue to update his rankings for every position throughout the week.
London was the WR5 on WR5 usage from 2024 through Week 11 of 2025 when he went down with a PCL injury. Only Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase had a higher target share (29.6%) over that span, and the Falcons only added depth in the skill group this offseason in third-round slot Zachariah Branch, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Unfortunately, the QB play hasn't really improved with Tua Tagovailoa playing so poorly this offseason that he was only awarded the starting nod mere days before the season after Michael Penix Jr. (ACL) wasn't going to make it in time. There is also a new coaching staff, and last year's OC Zac Robinson just about did everything right for London's box scores. We can only hope London gets as much slot work as he did last year.
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The good news is the Steelers have turned into a bit of a pass funnel. Last year's unit was third-worst in pass yards allowed and 18th in rush yards allowed. CB1 Joey Porter is an above-average top option and slot CB Jalen Ramsey is still a tough out, even if he's a step slower. Atlanta only projects for 19.5 points this week.

#slot #fantasy #london

The Atlanta Falcons have a supremely talented top option at wide receiver in Drake London, who's considered one of the top-10 performers in the game at his position. Unfortunately, the Falcons also have exactly zero proven options beneath him on the depth chart.
For now, it looks like Jahan Dotson will serve as WR2, even though he's only scored one touchdown over the last two years. Olamide Zaccheaus projects as Atlanta's WR3, but he really should never be more than a No. 4 option.
Rookie Zachariah Branch definitely has potential. However, he'll have to earn his way up the ladder to see real targets - and that will likely take some time. Collectively, this group has been ranked the 20th-best wide receiver room in the NFL, according to CBS Sports.
"If the Falcons had anybody we could remotely rely on behind the fantastic Drake London, they'd rank higher than this. Perhaps rookie Zachariah Branch blossoms early and becomes that guy. But Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson aren't our idea of reliable options."
Matt Ryan deserves credit for some late-breaking moves to improve the Falcons roster, including adding Za'Darius Smith to help plug their holes on the edge with Jalon Walker out and James Pearce suspended. The trade for Gervon Dexter is also a huge deal for their interior defensive line rotation.

#london #jahan #olamide #zaccheaus

The young core of the Atlanta Falcons offense is the same this year as the last. WR1 Drake London, RB1 Bijan Robinson and TE1 Kyle Pitts have all re-signed, so they'll be around for at least the next few seasons.
The depth behind those skill positions has been radically changed this offseason, though. Matt Ryan brought back former Falcons receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and also signed Jahan Dotson and drafted Zachariah Branch at wide receiver.
At tight end Ryan re-signed ex-Falcons star Austin Hooper and at running back Brian Robinson Jr. has replaced Tyler Allgeier as the No. 2 behind Bijan Robinson. Free agent addition Tyler Goodson project as the RB3.
With all those new pieces it's difficult to predict how the rest of the pecking order will go in the passing game beyond the top three Musketeers. Pro Football Focus ****** yst Gordon McGuinness believes the fourth option may fall to rookie receiver Zachariah Branch.
"The concern is that Atlanta doesn't have much else to get excited about at the position. Free-agent additions Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus both earned PFF receiving grades below 60.0 and averaged fewer than 1.00 yards per route run in 2025. They do have Kyle Pitts at tight end and Bijan Robinson at running back, who combined for 213 targets last year, but don't be shocked to see rookie third-round draft pick Zachariah Brand finish fourth on this team in targets."

#falcons #bijan #zachariah #back

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams resumed their training camp activities after having a day off on Tuesday and the welcomed return of Myles Garrett had many ready to watch this team in game action.
With Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams having the day off, the team was able to take a closer look at their backup situation. Here are five observations from practice.
Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon once again put on a display. Yes, it was practice, but they were putting their hands on defenders, and taking them for a drive. They were exposed here and there, but nothing beyond the scope of NFL football and considering the talent on the line, Dotson and McClendon did more than enough to get the job done, had this been a real game.
McClendon has a natural, stout presence about him, absorbing pressure, without surrendering his placement. Dotson's ability to advance to the second level and rake out linebackers continues to impress, with one rep earning Dotson some congratulations from offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
The talk revolving around Garrett and his impact has been mauled over. However, it the impact of others than I'm excited about. Braden Fiske has grown as an every-down player, who constantly got into the backfield and blew up plays all day long.

#dotson

Kevin Dotson landed at No. 5 and Steve Avila checked in at No. 13 on Pro Football Focus' 2026 ranking of the NFL's top 32 guards, giving the Rams one of just a handful of teams with two players in the top 15.
Dotson's case starts in the run game. Since the start of the 2023 season, his 90.9 PFF run-blocking grade ranks third among all guards, trailing only Chicago's Chris Lindstrom and Denver's Quinn Meinerz. He backed that up in pass protection last season, too, posting a 66.8 grade while allowing 22 pressures and three sacks across 17 games.
Avila's climb has been steadier. The 2023 second-round pick posted a career-high 75.0 PFF grade last season, 11th among qualified guards, and set another career mark with a 72.3 run-blocking grade. He allowed just two sacks all season, including the playoffs.
The PFF ranking arrives as something of a rebuttal to how the duo was viewed elsewhere this offseason. Neither made the top 10 of ESPN's annual survey of coaches, executives and scouts, landing only among players "also receiving votes." That snub came despite Dotson finishing with an 86.4 overall PFF grade — third-best among 81 qualified guards — and the Rams' rushing offense dropping from 4.8 yards per carry with him on the field to 4.0 without him after a Week 16 ankle injury. Avila's 76.8 grade, meanwhile, ranked ninth among qualified guards.
Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame took a different view, naming Dotson and Avila the NFL's third-best guard tandem and pointing to the interior line as a driving reason the Rams enter the season as Super Bowl favorites.

#grade #season #avila #players

The Los Angeles Rams are going to be a problem this year, both on Sundays and in "Madden NFL 27". They're the highest-rated team in this year's edition of Madden, coming in with a 91 overall rating – three rating points better than every other team in football.
Their roster is loaded from top to bottom, as evidenced by the initial ratings for Madden 27. Matthew Stafford and Myles Garrett are both 99 overall, and Puka Nacua isn't far behind at 98 overall.
With the full ratings now released, we can take a look at other players on the team, including Davante Adams and Kevin Dotson, who are both 90 overall. The Rams have a whopping six players who are at least a 90 overall, and even more impressively, 17 players who are at least an 80.
Below are the top 25 Rams players in Madden 27 based on overall rating.
QB Matthew Stafford: 99 overall

#players #stafford

The Seattle Seahawks' offensive line showcased terrific growth in 2025. That improvement was a massive reason why the Seahawks won Super Bowl 60. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, we've ranked all four offensive lines in the NFC West division from best to worst.
The Seahawks' offensive line was a legitimate ***** et last season and they return all five starters in 2026. Position coach John Benton was also retained despite offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak leaving for the Las Vegas Raiders. From left to right, Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abe Lucas should form a formidable starting five once again.
Future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams returns to the San Francisco 49ers after an offseason contract dispute. Dominick Puni has already signed a lucrative extension and the 49ers have an answer at right tackle in Colton McKivitz. This is a well-balanced unit for Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
The Los Angeles Rams have two high-quality guards in Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. Both tackle spots are questionable (Alaric Jackson, Warren McClendon Jr.). The Rams are a complete roster, but the offensive line has some question marks.
Paris Johnson Jr. has developed into a franchise left tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. They also just drafted starting right guard Chase Bisontis with an early second-round pick. The Cardinals are getting better on the offensive line, but they are still a rebuilding unit.

Neither of the Los Angeles Rams' starting interior offensive linemen made the top-10 of ESPN's annual survey of NFL executives, coaches and scouts. Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila were left off the list, but were included among players "also receiving votes."
The omission is notable given how the duo was ranked by Sports Illustrated. Both had sensational seasons in their own right, too. Dotson, the right guard, finished with an 86.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade, third-best among 81 qualified guards, while playing 885 offensive snaps. His run-blocking was a strength, and the Rams' offense visibly missed him when a Week 16 ankle injury sidelined him for three-plus games — Los Angeles averaged 4.8 yards per carry with Dotson on the field compared to 4.0 without him. He was also elite at the end of games.
Avila, working at left guard, posted a career-high 76.8 overall PFF grade, ninth among qualified guards, to go with a 74.1 run-blocking grade that ranked 11th at the position. He allowed 14 total pressures on the season — including one sack and five quarterback hits — while being flagged for just one penalty across 835 snaps, marking his most efficient pass-blocking season since entering the league as a 2023 second-round pick out of TCU.
Together, Dotson and Avila give the Rams one of the more productive if unheralded guard tandems in the league, even without a top-10 nod from evaluators. Both are entering the final years of their respective contracts in 2026, setting up a significant offseason decision for Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams have two of the NFL's best guards, but an ESPN survey disagrees

The Los Angeles Rams have been building their offensive line for some time, with the 2025 edition being the best unit the team has had since their victory in Super Bowl LVI. The Rams have gone about building their line in a unique way. While most other NFL teams have built theirs through expensive signings and top draft selections, the Rams have developed and acquired overlooked talent, giving them a platform to emphasize their strong suits.
As a result, Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame named Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson as the third-best offensive guard duo in the NFL.
"The Rams are the overwhelming favorite to not only reach but win the Super Bowl, and the power on their offensive interior is one reason why," wrote Verderame.
"In Avila, Los Angeles found a gem in the second round of the 2023 draft. Initially, Avila went from guard to center (his collegiate position) before sticking at guard in ’25 after the trade of Jonah Jackson to the Bears. Since making the transition, Avila has become one of the league’s top linemen regardless of position, starting 40 games over his three-year career. Last season, he allowed only two sacks and six quarterback hits.
"As for Dotson, he was a middling player in Pittsburgh before blossoming into a star with the Rams. Since coming to Los Angeles before the 2023 season, Dotson has played in 45 games, anchoring the line in front of MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford. If he’s allowed to hit free agency next winter, the 29-year-old is in line for a major payday."