Fantasy Football News

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, QB Brock Purdy is expected to receive surgery on his UCL on Feb. 22, which could put him in line to return in time for training camp. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Purdy went 5-0 in regular season starts his rookie year, throwing for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns. After getting injured in the NFC title game, Purdy looks to be able to be ready in time to compete with QB Trey Lance, who missed the majority of his sophomore season with an injury.

Andy Reid told reporters that Patrick Mahomes could do just about everything in the Chiefs' playbook, and he is happy with how the star QB is moving. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mahomes was able to facilitate a fast-paced practice on Monday. He should be as close to 100% as he can be following the ankle injury three weeks ago.

The San Francisco 49ers are hiring former Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks as their defensive coordinator, replacing DeMeco Ryans. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: After Matt Rhule was fired in Carolina, Steve Wilks turned the season around for the Panthers, taking them to a 6-6 record despite trading away RB Christian McCaffrey. Under Wilks, the Panthers only allowed 21 points per game and averaged 2.25 sacks with a turnover forced per game. After failing to get the head coaching gig in Carolina, Wilks ends up in a prime situation with a plethora of talent available.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Las Vegas Raiders have granted QB Derek Carr permission to visit with the New Orleans Saints to explore the team as a suitor. Carr has a no-trade clause and is not permitted to directly discuss a trade. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: More details to Carr’s contract kick in in a week, which puts a timer on the Raiders moving Carr. The Saints have interest in Carr, who had a rocky season after receiving an extension. Carr has a no-trade clause, so his visit with the Saints is an important step in the process of his relocation. Carr has finished between QB10 and QB19 in every season of his career aside from his rookie year.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Minnesota Vikings are hiring Brian Flores as their next defensive coordinator. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Flores last worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a senior defensive assistant and LBs coach and with the Miami Dolphins as a head coach. Flores, who coached up successful defenses with the Dolphins, will have a chance to reconstruct a defense that struggled in 2022, particularly in the playoffs. Flores was also a candidate for the Arizona Cardinals’ head coaching position.

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed WR Mecole Hardman on injured reserve, marking him as out for the Super Bowl. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hardman had returned to action after missing months of games, receiving four touches for 17 yards in the AFC championship game. However, he was seeking clearance to play in the Super Bowl as he dealt with a pelvic injury. He could not get cleared and was placed on IR so the team could elevate RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The Kansas City Chiefs have activated RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire from injured reserve ahead of the Super Bowl. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Edwards-Helaire has not played since Week 11, and during his absence RBs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon have emerged as the key contributors out of the backfield. Edwards-Helaire had just 12 combined carries in his final four games, and the trend may continue in that direction, but he does add another option for the Chiefs out of the backfield.

Long-time Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green, who played with the Arizona Cardinals the last two seasons, has announced his retirement from the NFL. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Green finished his illustrious career with 727 catches, 10,514 receiving yards, 79 receiving touchdowns and seven Pro Bowls. Green played nine seasons with the Bengals, finishing as a top-12 WR four times and as a top-24 WR six times.

Andy Reid said Thursday he is optimistic Kadarius Toney will be healthy in time for the Super Bowl. (Source: Adam Teicher on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Toney left the AFC Championship in the opening quarter and did not return. He was able to return to practice on Thursday after missing practice on Wednesday. Toney should be ready for the biggest game of the season barring any setbacks.

Andy Reid said Thursday that he is optimistic JuJu Smith-Schuster will be able to play in the Super Bowl. (Source: Adam Teicher on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: "He's in a good place," Reid said on Smith-Schuster. He left the AFC Championship early due to a knee injury and missed practice on Wednesday, but with over a week left till the Super Bowl, it sounds like Smith-Schuster is still on track to being able to partake in the biggest game of the season.

Tom Brady announced Wednesday that he is officially retiring "for good" from the NFL after 23 seasons. (Source: Tom Brady on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brady retires a seven-time Super Bowl champion and the all-time leader in touchdown passes with 649. Brady appears now to officially be retired despite coming back last season after retiring last offseason. Tampa Bay will likely look to the draft and free agency to address the loss of Brady as right now the only quarterback under contract past this season is Kyle Trask. Who the Buccs have under center will have a rippling effect across the fantasy value of Tampa Bay's offense, i.e. Evans, Godwin, Fournette, etc. It is worth noting, a reminder, Tom Brady retires with more Super Bowls, personally, than any other franchise.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Houston Texans have agreed to a six-year deal with San Francisco's defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as their next head coach. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ryans signs a long-term deal to be a part of the Texans' rebuild as they currently sit with the No. 2 pick and the opportunity to draft a franchise cornerstone. Ryans coached successful defenses with the 49ers, and the Texans have a defense that has been proficient at creating turnovers over the last couple of seasons. Ryans was also previously a member of the Texans' organization as a player.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Denver Broncos have agreed to trade a 2023 first-round pick and an "early pick next year" to sign former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Broncos made a move for QB Russell Wilson in the 2022 offseason, and after an unsuccessful season, have made another for Payton. The Broncos, who have no shortage of talent, pick up the splash coach hire of the offseason as they look to resurrect the team's playoff aspirations. The exact details of the deal are Denver’s 2023 first-round pick and next year’s second-round pick for Sean Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

According to Ian Rapoport, QB Lamar Jackson is expected to receive the exclusive franchise tag from the Baltimore Ravens for the 2023 season. (Source: Doc Kleiman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The exclusive tag locks Jackson out of free agency in 2023, as the two sides have failed to come to terms on a deal to this point. Jackson, who represents himself, played in 12 games in 2022, going 8-4 with 3,016 all-purpose yards. Jackson’s status in Baltimore is not certain, though, as the two sides still must agree to terms on a deal and Jackson could always threaten a hold out.

Josh Johnson has taken over for the injured Brock Purdy late in the first quarter of the NFC Championship game with the Eagles. (Source: Ed Kracz on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Purdy is officially listed as questionable with a right elbow injury. Purdy was seen sitting on the bench after the punt that ended the last 49ers’ possession. It remains to be seen if Purdy will be able to return, but for now the veteran Josh Johnson is in at quarterback for San Francisco.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert underwent shoulder surgery to repair a tear in his left labrum. He’s expected to be cleared for offseason activities. (Source: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Herbert had a solid junior year campaign, throwing for over 4,700 yards and 25 touchdowns. The surgery was on his non-throwing shoulder and he is expected to be able to return soon. A new offensive coordinator will be coming in for the Chargers in 2023. Hebert has three top-12 QB finished and could look to expand upon that in his fourth season.

Despite being listed as questionable, the San Francisco 49ers are listing Elijah Mitchell as inactive for the championship round against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Source: San Francisco 49ers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mitchell, who dealt with injury all year, was slowly working his way into an increased role as he carried the ball 14 times against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round. However, a groin injury will hold him out again. Christian McCaffrey and Deebo a Samuel can be expected to receive a major workload, and Tevin Coleman, who was elevated, could see some action as the backup.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Green Bay Packers would “prefer” to trade QB Aaron Rodgers this offseason due to financial reasons, a fact Rodgers is “well aware of.” (Source: Adam Schefter, ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Rodgers signed a large extension that is tricky for the Packers to deal with unless traded away, as the team is well over the cap limit and has plenty of key free agents. Rodgers’ media presence also insinuates that the two sides may be parting ways. Previous reports stated that the Packers would prefer to trade Rodgers to an AFC team, and with the deadline for Jordan Love’s fifth-year option creeping up, the move could happen sooner rather than later.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, who underwent ACL surgery, is not expect to be available by the start of the 2023 NFL season. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Rapoport reports that Murray could miss as much as half the season as he recovers from both an ACL tear and a meniscus. The two-time Pro Bowl QB missed six games in 2022 due to injury, and QBs Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley were the team’s starters in his place. McCoy is still under contract in 2023, and with the Cardinals in need of a head coach, the QB situation is less than ideal.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, RB Tevin Coleman is being activated by the San Francisco 49ers ahead of their matchup with the Eagles. (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Coleman returned to San Francisco earlier this season, though he has only played in five games this year, just one of which came since Week 7. Coleman’s involvement could be an indication toward RB Elijah Mitchell’s health, who is questionable to play, though it dos not rule out Mitchell entirely.