Fantasy Football News

The Ravens signed nickel cornerback Tavon Young to a three-year extension Thursday. The deal is worth $25.8 million, with a max value of $29 million, making him the NFL’s highest-paid nickel back. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Young is coming off a solid 2018 season, recording one interception, two sacks, and three fumble recoveries (two returned for touchdowns) in 15 games.

Patriots safety Devin McCourty said on the Sports Spectrum podcast that he plans to play football in 2019. (Source: Sports Spectrum Podcast)

Fantasy Impact: McCourty said during Super Bowl week that he would consider retirement if the Patriots were to beat the Rams. After having a couple weeks to think about it, he decided he wanted to continue his playing career with the hopes of bringing a seventh title to New England. “I think once you get a chance to step away for a couple weeks now, you’re like, ‘Yeah, man, I still do want to be around these other young guys that come in,'” McCourty said. The Patriots will surely be happy to welcome back one of the key pieces of their defense for at least one more year.

The Jaguars are expected to move on from Carlos Hyde this spring. (Source: WJXL Jacksonville)

Fantasy Impact: Jacksonville traded a fifth-round pick for Hyde last year but he failed to make an impact down the stretch. This news is a positive for Leonard Fournette, who should resume bell-cow duties in 2019.

Matt Verderame of Fan Sided reported Wednesday that the Redskins are “highly unlikely” to use the franchise tag on linebacker Preston Smith. (Source: Matt Verderame on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Smith, 26, is set to become an unrestricted free agent March 13th. He is expected to draw significant interest from other teams. Smith has spent his entire four year career with the Redskins, playing in all 64 games with 50 starts in that time. He had 53 total tackles, four sacks, one interception, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 2018.

Josina Anderson of ESPN reported Wednesday that Giants safety Landon Collins cleaned out his locker and said his goodbyes to teammates, coaches and trainers. Just one day earlier, Anderson reported that Collins and the Giants are not in “active negotiations” on a long-term deal. (Source: Josina Anderson on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The Giants have until March 5th to use the franchise tag on Collins if they choose to. That route would pay Collins about $11.2 million for the 2019 season. The fact that he cleared out his locker indicates Collins doesn’t believe that will happen. Absent the franchise tag or a long-term deal, he will become an unrestricted free agent March 13th.

Adam Beasley of The Miami Herald writes DeVante Parker is "all but gone" from the Dolphins. (Source: Miami Herald)

Fantasy Impact: Parker is due $9.4 million this year but is protected only for injury, so Miami could move on from him rather easily. A former first-round pick from 2015, Parker never developed with the Dolphins. Perhaps he needs a change of scenery.

The Detroit Free Press doesn't expect the Lions to retain running back LeGarrette Blount. (Source: Detroit Free Press)

Fantasy Impact: It could mean it's time for retirement for the three-time Super Bowl champ. Blount's absence could open up bell cow duties for Kerryon Johnson.

Adam Thielen and the Vikings are working on a contract extension for the 28-year-old wideout. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Thielen signed a four-year contract prior to 2017 that pays him peanuts to what he would command now on the open market. Minnesota doesn't appear to have a problem compensating star wideouts as just last off-season they handed Stefon Diggs a five-year, $72 million deal. Thielen is owed just over $10 million combined over the next two years.

Mannish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports Le’Veon Bell reportedly ballooned to 260 pounds during his year away from the NFL. (Source: New York Daily News)

Fantasy Impact: This is according to “word on the street”. Bell had previously played at 225 pounds so this sounds like a significant jump. He is likely working his way back into playing shape as he prepares to be a free agent for the first time in his career.

Emmanuel Sanders posted on social media saying he has no interest in restructuring his contract. (Source: NBC Sports Pro Football Talk)

Fantasy Impact: "It ain't happening. No way Jose" is what Sanders responded with. The 31-year-old tore his achilles late last season and is scheduled to count $12.94 million against the cap in 2019. Denver faces a March 12th deadline to exercise his option for this year. The fact that he is guaranteed some money in the case of injury could mean the Broncos just hold onto him.

Esteemed NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus appeared on ESPN NFL Live on Tuesday and said that he anticipates his client, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, to make his decision on his playing future in the "next couple of weeks." (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Right around the Super Bowl, reports loomed stating that Gronkowski was expected to make a decision on his playing future in "1-to-2 weeks." However, now that the window is just about to close, we have now seen reports stating that Gronkowski has been present at Patriots facility as well as today's remarks from Rosenhaus, suggesting that the future Hall of Fame tight end will need more time to come to a conclusion. “He’s thinking it through, he’s giving it a lot of thought... I imagine a decision will happen in the next couple of weeks," Rosenhaus said via NFL Live. The longer Gronkowski sits and ponders his future, the more time he has to reflect on this performance in the final two games of the postseason, heal from his nagging injuries and convince himself that he has at least one more year left in him. Regardless of Gronkowski's decision, I do expect the Patriots to be in the tight end market in April's Draft. In fact, with 12 picks, it wouldn't surprise me if they took multiple tight ends a la the 2010 draft -- Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting former Bills TE Charles Clay signed with the Cardinals on Tuesday. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's a one-year deal that could be worth up to $3.25 million and includes a $350,000 signing bonus for Clay, who was released by the Bills last week after a four-year tenure with the club. Following five straight seasons with at least 49 receptions, 528 yards receiving and two touchdowns, Clay's numbers plummetted in 2018, finishing the year with a 21/184/0 line. Clay will add depth behind Ricky Seals-Jones.

In a recent social media post, NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller said that he sees "too much" of Michael Thomas and Alshon Jeffery in Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown, (Source: Matt Miller on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Miller also stated that he "might have to bump this dude [Brown] to WR1." While he is currently overshadowed by Ole Miss teammate D.K. Metcalf entering draft season, Brown was actually the more productive player in college with his team-leading 85/1,320/6 stat line and could take a tremendous leap with a strong showing at the combine. If Brown could showcase top-end speed and create separation, Miller believes " there's absolutely a chance he's the first wideout off the board in 2019."

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown underwent surgery last month to repair a LisFranc injury that will prevent him from participating at the NFL Scouting Combine and his Pro Day. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brown's surgery repaired an injury suffered in the National Championship Game. And although he will miss the NFL Scouting Combine and Oklahoma's Pro Day, Schefter reports that he is "expected to be ready for summer training camp." Despite the setback, Brown is still expected to be a day-one selection in the 2019 NFL Draft in April.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the Cowboys have declined the option on WR Terrance Williams' contract. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: No surprise here. Despite all of the issues at wideout for the Cowboys prior to the Amari Cooper acquisition, Williams not only failed to step up and contribute, but he also failed to take the field. After battling off the field issues -- he was suspended by the league for three games in November -- and a nagging foot injury which landed him on IR in October, Williams will end his career in Dallas with a 2/18/0 stat line on three targets while only appearing in three 2018 contests. This, nearly one year removed from signing a four-year $17 million deal last March to remain with the Cowboys. Williams will attempt to rekindle his stalled career with a new club in 2019.

Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report writes Chris Godwin could play more slot receiver in 2019. (Source: Pewter Report )

Fantasy Impact: Tampa Bay might be looking to replace Adam Humphries snaps from the slot and Godwin could be a candidate to replace him. It's noteworthy because slot receivers have done well in the past with Bruce Arians. Godwin totaled 842 yards and seven touchdowns in . 2018.

The Broncos are not expected to try and restructure Joe Flacco's contract. (Source: Mike Klis on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Flacco is owed $63 million over the next three years, though none of it is guaranteed. It's a lot to pay a quarterback who hasn't been wildly productive for some time now, but the Broncos have planted their flag with Flacco. He'll enter 2019 as nothing more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy.

The Lions released veteran safety Glover Quin Friday. They also cut wide receiver Bruce Ellington and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Releasing Quin saves the team $6.25 million in cap space for 2019. The move is not a surprise considering the cap savings and the reality that 2018 rookie Tracy Walker began to cut into his playing time over the course of the season. Quin entered the league as a fourth round pick of the Texans in 2009. He played four seasons in Houston before joining the Lions in 2013. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014 while leading the league with seven interceptions.

The Broncos have informed linebacker Brandon Marshall that they do not intend to exercise his contract option for 2019. He will become an unrestricted free agent March 13th. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Marshall would have made $7 million in 2019 had he returned to Denver. He expressed his disappointment and love for the organization to Mike Klis of 9News - Denver. “I love the organization, they gave me my first chance to play,” Marshall said. “I love all my teammates. I really love [the] city. I felt embraced on and off the field. I’m just sorry I was injured two of the last three years…It’s a really great organization so we’ll see what happens.” Marshall, 29, will draw interest from other teams in free agency.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports Nick Foles and the Jaguars have mutual interest. (Source: NFL Network on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Foles' market has shrunk with Denvers' recent trade for Joe Flacco. The Jaguars are an obvious fit and right now have to be viewed as the front runner for the former Super Bowl MVP. NJ.com has also reported Foles is keeping tabs on the Giants' quarterback situation in case they move on from Eli Manning.