We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most for you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all of the recent happenings around the league.
Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has a chance to cash in again this coming offseason, when he becomes a free agent. Beat reporter Rich Cimini, of ESPN New York, expects Fitzpatrick to sign a new deal for $12 million per season. Let's remember that the veteran passer was given huge money by Buffalo a few years ago. The $12 million number is nothing to get excited about given the lack of quality quarterbacks in the NFL. The annual salary would rank in the bottom half of the NFL for starting quarterback. Like several other teams, the Jets will be rudderless if Fitzpatrick walks in free agency.
As if the equal playing time with rookie Jeremy Langford was not enough of an indication, Bears veteran running back Matt Forte told the Associated Press that there is "nothing really to hope for" in regard to a new deal with the team. He went on to say, "I mean, I want to return … But if you're saying am I hopeful that I do return? There's not much to hope for right now because like I've said, I talked to (GM Ryan Pace) earlier and they haven't said anything back." Forte has repeatedly stated his desire to remain in Chicago but the team has yet to return the interest … and there is good reason. Langford has played well and Forte just turned 30 years old. We expect a team like Dallas or Carolina to be a good match for the veteran's services.
New Orleans running back C.J. Spiller has been an enigma this season. He was signed in the offseason with high hopes of playing a major role in coach Sean Payton's prolific offense. However, there are players like Travaris Cadet and Tim Hightower who are getting snaps over Spiller. Both of those journeyman backs played well Sunday. His inactive status for the Week 16 game against Jacksonville was the topic of much discussion for Saints fans. First, Spiller played more in Week 15 than he had all season, and then was a “healthy scratch” as described by the local beat writers. Payton was quick to point out after the contest that Spiller was still hampered by "health issues lingering from camp." We do not believe the coachspeak after the Week 15 usage. We see the inactive status as a sign that New Orleans wanted to get a long look at other running backs. This latest development only complicates the situation after Spiller signed a four-year contract this past March, which included $9 million in guarantees. With Spiller turning 29 years of age next August, we wonder if there would be a sizable market if Spiller is released this offseason as expected.
A running back to stash this offseason is 49ers Mike Davis. The rookie has been plagued by injuries in his first NFL season, but possesses NFL talent. Davis was drafted in the fourth round of May's NFL Draft. He is a big, physical running back who could provide a great complement to Carlos Hyde. Keep an eye on Davis who could see action this coming weekend. The coaching staff will want to take a long look at the rookie's talent now that he is past his hand injury.
The Green Bay Packers pass offense has been a big, hot mess this season. The loss of receiver Jordy Nelson has been more impactful than most could have imagined. Ty Montgomery is one rookie who flashed a little before suffering a high ankle sprain in the first few weeks of the season. After a couple of setbacks, Montgomery was finally placed on Injured Reserve. We expect the Packers to find ways to utilize the big receiver, who has play-making ability, even though he may never achieve fantasy-starter status. This coming week, Montgomery will have surgery to "clean up cartilage damage" in the balky ankle. Dr. David Chao (@ProFootballDoc) tweeted, “Bad news: surgery and IR, Good news: simple surgery, scope clean up, ankle ligaments healed. Healthy for OTAs.” Montgomery will be healthy for the offseason activities of the team.
One of the rookie wide receivers to watch on dynasty waiver wires this summers is Kenny Bell. Bell was sidelined in training camp with an hamstring injury and could not make it back before the team placed him on Injured Reserve a couple of months ago. Tampa Bay will look to Bell to emerge as the slot receiver. Beat writer Greg Auman tweeted last week that coach Lovie Smith expects “big things” from Bell next season. While this could easily be hyperbole, Bell will have a great opportunity to impress in training camp next year. Auman opined Sunday that he did not expect Vincent Jackson to be back in Tampa Bay at his current salary, almost $10 million. Considering that Jackson will soon turn 33 years of age, we expect him to either take a pay cut or restructure his contract … keeping him in Tampa Bay either way. Bell is a player to watch in case Jackson does leave town. He could see up to 100 pass targets if so.
Since free agency is one of the bigger drivers in player movement for dynasty owners, we decided to list some of the bigger soon-to-be free agents. Some will be re-signed or slapped with the franchise tag by their teams, but many will have the option to move on to a new team. Below are some of the more notable players who are scheduled to be Unrestricted Free Agents this coming offseason. This list does not include players who could be released as cap casualties.
Quarterbacks
Running Back
- Matt Forte
- Chris Ivory
- Doug Martin
- Lamar Miller
- James Starks
- Alfred Morris
- LeGarrette Blount
- Ronnie Hillman
- Chris Johnson
- Tim Hightower
- Robert Turbin
- Stevan Ridley
- Lance Dunbar
- Bilal Powell
- Reggie Bush
Wide Receivers
- Alshon Jeffery
- James Jones
- Anquan Boldin
- Percy Harvin
- Rod Streater
- Jermaine Kearse
- Brian Quick
- Mohamed Sanu
- Andre Holmes
- Travis Benjamin
- Rueben Randle
- Marvin Jones
- Rishard Matthews
- Keshawn Martin
- Nate Washington
- Ricardo Lockette
Tight Ends
- Ben Watson
- Antonio Gates
- Dwayne Allen
- Vernon Davis
- Coby Fleener
- Ladarius Green
- Garrett Celek
- James Hanna
- Zach Miller (CHI)
- Daniel Fells
That will do it for the 2015 season. Keep an eye out for offseason editions of the Dynasty News.
Feel free to email me (Tefertiller@Footballguys.com) with feedback. Also, I am on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/JeffTefertiller), LinkedIn, and Google+, so you can ask me questions on one of these as well.