Fantasy Football News

New head coach Matt Nagy went on record during the Bears mini-camp saying, "Forget about the whys of what happened. What matters is about right now. He’s young. He has a big ceiling." (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Fantasy Impact: If you can close your eyes for a moment, you can likely picture thousands of Bears fans rolling their eyes after they've been continually told that White "has a high ceiling." But if you take a step back and look at it - there's a reason he was the No. 7 pick in the draft. His size/speed combination is something that cannot be taught, though you have to wonder if he lost some of his burst with the lower-body injuries. The odds are stacked against him after playing just five games in his first three seasons, but if there's anyone who gets another shot, it's a former top-10 pick. Playing opposite Allen Robinson, the pressure is now off White to become the franchise player, but rather someone who simply contributes to the franchise.

Former sports agent Joel Curry is reporting that star interior lineman Aaron Donald will not be an unrestricted free agent in 2019 like some have suggested. (Source: Joel Curry on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: He states that even though Donald will have played five seasons, he doesn't get a year towards unrestricted status because he didn't report to the team 30 days prior to their first game in 2017. With that being the case, Donald would become a restricted free agent in 2019, a position that is a lot better for the Rams than most initially thought. It may be a moot point, though, as the Rams continue to work on a long-term contract with Donald, who just might be the best defensive player in the game.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting that wide receiver Brandon Coleman has re-signed with the Saints. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: He was a non-tendered restricted free agent, so this is odd considering the Saints now have Coleman, Willie Snead, and Cameron Meredith competing for one spot. Meredith was paid the most and should be considered the favorite to win the job, but the Saints all of a sudden have a bevy of wide receivers on the roster. It's no guarantee that Coleman even makes the roster at this point, so feel free to ignore in standard leagues.

Pro Football Talk is reporting Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten is committed to playing football in 2018. (Source: Pro Football Talk )

Fantasy Impact: Although Witten auditioned for a role with Thursday Night Football and garnered interest from Fox Sports, Witten quickly cleared the air and said that he is not only committed to playing in 2018, but he also intends to remain on the field until he turns 40. The future Hall of Fame tight end, who is entering his age-36 season, has been one of the most durable players in the NFL since entering the league in 2003. And while he put up the fewest amount of yards (560) since his rookie year last season, he still caught 63 passes and scored his most touchdowns (five) since 2014. From a fantasy perspective, he may not be the same player as he was in the past, but he remains a quality streamer in standard formats, a solid option in PPR scoring formats and a fine No. 2 option in tight end premium leagues.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting New England Patriots QB Tom Brady has yet to commit to playing in 2018. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Although Brady has yet to commit to playing in 2018, sources close to the future Hall of Fame signal caller told Schefter that they believe he will indeed be on the field for Week 1. Still, they'can not say that for sure," per Schefter. Schefter cites that while Brady has the want to play football for the foreseeable future, he also wants to spend more time with his family -- he turns 41 in August. Brady was not in attendance at the start of the Patriots offseason program, but I wouldn't read too much into it. He missed the program at three different points in his career. His plan is to spend more time working with his controversial body coach Alex Guerrero. As of now, I'd assume Brady will, in fact, play this season. Though from a fantasy perspective, it wouldn't surprise me if he finally began to regress. For the first time, there seems to be dissent within the Patriots organization and we all know how that can trickle down to the field when it matters most. Still, without question, he'll remain in the QB1 conversation. But similar to Drew Brees, we may have to taper him back a tier.

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com is reporting that Joe Mixon reported to mini-camp at 225 pounds, down from the 238 pounds he came in at last year. (Source: Geoff Hobson)

Fantasy Impact: He apparently wants to drop five more pounds, though he's been described as "svelte" where he is right now. While some running backs look to add weight when going into a workhorse role, Mixon is choosing to go the Le'Veon Bell route and lose weight. If you recall, Bell weighed in at 244 his rookie season, but then checked in at 224 for his sophomore campaign. He looked like a different running back with the weight-loss and we're expecting similar results from Mixon. He was already one of the best buy-lows in all of fantasy football and this definitely doesn't hurt. If the Bengals add another offensive lineman on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, Mixon could be looking at RB1 status in 2018.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Cowboys are expected to release Dez Bryant today. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: We've heard whispers around the league that this would be the case, but it's still shocking none-the-less. If he is released, we expect Bryant to find a home relatively quick so that he can get in and learn a new offense, as the first year in an offense is difficult for a wide receiver. Some teams may view Bryant as someone who can fill a void in the slot, a la the route that Larry Fitzgerald took later in his career. The Cowboys are definitely in the conversation to take a wide receiver early in the NFL Draft.

Art Stapleton of northjersey.com is reporting that Giants safety Landon Collins will require on his surgically repaired forearm. (Source: Art Stapleton)

Fantasy Impact: Collins suffered the injury in late December and his first surgery apparently didn't go as well as planned. The second surgery will require 6-8 weeks of recovery time, so he's still expected to be ready by the time training camp rolls around. Heading into his fourth season, Collins was one of the lone bright spots in the Giants secondary last year and they'll need him back to full strength if they want to turn things around. While the surgery isn't ideal, this should have no effect on his impact in 2018.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that teams around the league "no longer believe" that the New York Giants will trade WR Odell Beckham Jr leading up to or during the 2018 NFL Draft. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Schefter is reporting that teams around the NFL, that once thought there was a legitimate chance that the Giants would deal Beckham, have changed their mind from their original though-process. They "no longer" think a deal will come to fruition. However, while Beckham reported on the first day of offseason workouts on Monday, he wasn't there for long as he had a flight scheduled out of the NY/ NJ area later that night. But I wouldn't read too much into it at this point. He is still recovering from his ankle injury and wasn't going to do much anyway. Beckham remains with the Giants for now, but if he is ultimately dealt, it wouldn't surprise me.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Bears will not match the Saints' offer sheet to restricted free agent Cameron Meredith, meaning he will be on the Saints roster in 2018.

Fantasy Impact: This has pretty big fantasy implications, as Meredith is going to play with Drew Brees in the "big-slot" role for the Saints, a role that used to be occupied by Marques Colston. It seems he'll have to compete with Willie Snead, but after signing a two-year, $10 million deal, we're banking on him taking the job. Don't forget that the Saints did exactly what the Bears did with Snead, putting an original-round tender on the former undrafted free agent. It shows how much they valued him and the signing of Meredith further confirms this. Prior to tearing multiple ligaments in the preseason last year, Meredith excelled in the slot role for the Bears, totaling 888 yards and four touchdowns on just 97 targets. Surrounded by playmakers on the Saints offense, it's unrealistic to think Meredith is a weekly fantasy option, but he's someone to target in the late rounds of best-ball leagues.

Detroit Lions beat writer Dave Birkett is reporting that the Lions plan to use a running back by committee approach under new head coach Matt Patricia. (Source: Dave Birkett)

Fantasy Impact: This should have been expected all along, as the Lions have one of the oddest groups of running backs in the league. When LeGarrette Blount was acquired, most expected him to take the early-down work from Ameer Abdullah, but the Lions were never going to abandon their second-round pick from just a few years ago. With that being said, the Lions could also be drafting a running back in what's considered to be a stacked class at the position. If they do, don't be surprised to see Abdullah's name be floated out there in a trade. It seems as if the Lions are going to be as frustrating as the Patriots running backs, but in a lower-scoring offense. It's looking like a situation to avoid in fantasy football.

Bills beat writer Vic Carucci is reporting that offensive guard Richie Incognito will retire from the NFL after playing 150 games since 2006. (Source: Vic Carucci on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Apparently Incognito was upset that the Bills asked him to take a pay-cut, saying "I'm, done. That's it. It's been a long career. Went to the doctor. My liver and kidneys are shutting down. The stress is killing me. It's just about doing what's right. I just want to be in the Hall of Fame." While there has been some off-the-field stuff that may prevent him from getting into the Hall of Fame, Incognito's play on the field was very deserving, ranking among the best at the position for the last decade. This is another knock to LeSean McCoy and the Bills run game, who just lost Eric Wood to retirement and offensive tackle Cordy Glenn to a trade. The Bills offensive line is in clear rebuild mode and should start looking at the possibility of trading away McCoy, who likely has one or two years left.

The Boston Herald is reporting New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick "chastised" TE Rob Gronkowski in front of the team for being a client of Alex Guerrero and TB12 during the early portion of the 2017 season, (Source: Boston Herald)

Fantasy Impact: It is crystal clear that there is disdain amongst the Patriots organization, primarily between Gronkowski and Belichick. Per reports, Gronkowski was "chastised" in front of his teammates last season by the Hall of Fame head coach for being a TB12 client, which is the foundation of all their animosity. Reports further suggest that because of the methods of the diet and training that goes along with the TB12 program, the Pro Bowl tight end has shed too much weight and "might be getting a bit too lean for a tight end." However, while there have been rumblings around the league that Gronkowski could be on the trade block, they have seemed to die down for the moment, especially since Gronkowski recently told the press that he fully expects a New England return in 2018. No matter where he ends up, Gronkowski is proving that he is not only committed to playing football this season, but he is also poised to do what it takes to remain healthy.

According to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, he has sources telling him that the Browns will draft Josh Allen at No. 1 and Saquon Barkley at No. 4 in the upcoming NFL Draft. (Source: Peter King on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: We've now heard the Browns linked to Allen, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield. The reports about Allen and Darnold likely hold water, considering they traded the first pick in the third-round for Tyrod Taylor, which was clearly a sign that they want to groom someone for a year. Allen may have the most arm strength in the draft, but this would be a high-risk pick for the franchise that was set up to have one of the easiest drafts possible. They had six of the first 65 picks in the draft, which should fill a lot of needs immediately. Knowing they already moved one for Taylor and that they're now considering throwing all their eggs in the Josh Allen basket, this could end badly for those hoping for an immediate turnaround. While this is still a rumor, is disconcerting that we've heard rumors of Allen at No. 1 for quite some time now. As for Barkley at No. 4, we suppose they could do worse, but they have a lot more holes than the Jaguars did when they selected Leonard Fournette at No. 4 last year. Barkley should be the least of Cleveland's fans worries at this point.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It wouldn't be the first time Burfict was suspended by the NFL, though it is the first time under the drug policy. Just recently, Burfict's name came up in trade rumors with the Raiders, though this may put an end to them. When on the field, Burfict is a difference-maker, but has played just 36 of a possible 64 games over the last four years. The Bengals as a franchise are nearing a rebuild, it seems.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Lions have released former first-round pick Eric Ebron. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is somewhat shocking, as Ebron is likely better than anyone available in free agency at this point. The Lions lost Darren Fells on a three-year deal earlier today, so that can't be the solution. The former No. 10 overall pick Ebron should have a few options in free agency, as he's just 24 years old. The Lions did use him a lot more down the stretch, tossing him 32 targets over the final four games. Something tells us that Ebron will bounce back onto the fantasy scene somewhere soon. It wouldn't shock us if the Saints were the first team to reach out.

Dion Lewis intends to sign a four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, according to Adam Schefter. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: That groan you hear is the collective disappointment from fantasy owners, as Lewis's expected deal with the Titans has a significant negative impact on Derrick Henry. The two will likely split work a la DeMarco Murray and Henry, hurting both backs' fantasy value. Each will obviously still be in play as weekly starts, but the deal is not great news for either back's fantasy stock.

Mike Glennon is expected to sign with the Cardinals on Wednesday, according to Tiffany Blackmon of NFL Network. (Source: Tiffany Blackmon on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: First Sam Bradford, now Glennon - the Cardinals are collecting mediocre quarterbacks at an astounding rate. Glennon played poorly last year with the Bears before being replaced by Mitchell Trubisky, with a 4:5 TD:INT ratio in four games. Given Bradford's contract, it seems likely that he'll start, and Glennon will simply be backup and not worthy of fantasy consideration in any league.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting the impending free-agent WR Albert Wilson is drawing substantial interest from the Miami Dolphins. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Rapoport said that the Dolphins are the frontrunners to land Wilson, who is coming off a career year. However, his career year -- a 42-554-3 stat line, all career-bests -- isn't mindblowing, but he did play in Kansas City who does not feature the No. 2 and No. 3 wideouts as much as other teams since they heavily target their tight end, Travis Kelce. While the Dolphins moved on from Jarvis Landry, there is a need at wide receiver. But they're also a team in shambles and throwing a bunch of money at a high-priced wideout would hinder them from properly addressing their other needs, especially since they are in the red (negative) in terms of cap room as of this writing.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero is reporting that the Vikings have reached out to free agent Drew Brees to gauge interest. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It was a shocking development to see Brees and the Saints not strike a deal prior to the legal tampering period, meaning any team could make a pitch to Brees. The Vikings are a team built to win now and they know it, which is why they are reportedly willing to give Kirk Cousins a three-year fully-guaranteed deal. Whatever the hold up is, Brees would be an even better solution to win now, though he is now 39 years old. We'll continue to update any developments on Brees' contract status.