Le'Veon Bell

According to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell will miss training camp but will be ready for the start of the regular season.

Fantasy Impact

If this sounds familiar, the plan outlined by Fowler is exactly what Bell did in 2017 after the Steelers franchise tagged him. Fowler did tweet that Bell's plans could change but, for now, it sounds as though Bell plans to play all 16 regular season games in 2018. Feel free to draft him as a top-three running back.

According to a report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Le'Veon Bell turned down a five-year, $70 million contract extension from the PIttsburgh Steelers on Monday.

Fantasy Impact

Monday was the final day for the two sides to work out an extension and it appears the Steelers made a good-faith effort to do so. Bell will instead earn $14.5 million under the franchise for another year and is likely to become a free agent in 2019.

Le'Veon Bell is set to play another season under the franchise tag, according to ESPN. Bell and the Steelers are not expected to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension.

Fantasy Impact

This isn't unexpected, as the Steelers have been hesitant to meet Bell's asking price. As a result, the top fantasy running back will again be playing in a contract year. This should only benefit him in 2018, as he's returning to a familiar offense where he fills a huge role, both in the receiving and rushing games. However, his dynasty status remains murky given the unknown of where Bell will be playing beyond 2018.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell told NFL.com that he is "optimistic" about being able to reach a long-term contract extension with the Steelers this offseason.

Fantasy Impact

Bell, of course, sat out all of the 2017 preseason and appeared ready to do the same ahead of the 2018 campaign. Bell told reporters, "I don't want to have the replications of what happened last year. But if that came down to that, obviously I got to do what I got to do. Take my stand and protect myself. I don't want to have to do that. I want to go to camp and play for the Steelers long term." Regardless of whether the two sides come to an agreement, Bell will be the team's primary tailback at the start of the 2018 season and a locked in RB1 in fantasy.

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell has reportedly lowered his long-term salary demands to $14.5 million-per-season, which is the approximate value of his unsigned franchise tag. Unless the two sides come to terms on an extension by July 16, Bell will be locked into that $14.544 million one-year deal, but under no obligation to show up until that tag is signed and finalized.

Fantasy Impact

Bell has proven himself to be one of the best running backs in football but the current landscape makes it difficult for a team to pay so much money on a position that is considered replaceable. Bell's unsigned tag value would make his the league's highest-paid running back, but the 26-year-old wants a long-term deal that will keep him in that range for the foreseeable future. Don't expect Bell to report until September unless both sides can work out the impasse. Bell remains a top-3 fantasy target in every 2018 fantasy draft.