Fantasy Football News

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.

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.

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.

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.

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos are trading for quarterback Joe Flacco. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The details of the trade have yet to been released, as the trade cannot become official until the new league year begins on March 13th. But the fallout of this trade suggests that Case Keenum's immediate future with the team is in jeopardy. You'd also have to think the Broncos are going to get some sort of compensation for taking on Flacco's contract, which has over $60 million on it over the next three years, though there is an out in the contract after the 2019 which would only cost an $8 million cap hit. There has been speculation on whether the Broncos will select a quarterback in this year's draft, though this move doesn't make much sense, as Keenum was well-suited to be a one-year stop-gap. As for Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton, this move doesn't raise their stock. If anything, it would negatively impact their dynasty stock, because it suggests the Broncos may not be selecting their future quarterback in this draft.

Antonio Brown has requested a trade from the Steelers, according to Adam Schefter. He also tweeted out a thank you to Steelers fans, stating that it was "time to move on and forward." (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: There were obviously doubts that Brown would be back with the Steelers, and this development certainly seems to suggest that he will be on the move one way or another. There's still plenty of time for a reconciliation, but if you own Brown in a dynasty league, expect a change of team, and a likely drop in value, prior to the 2019 season.

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports Kyler Murray is probably "too small" for the Giants to consider drafting as their quarterback. (Source: SNY)

Fantasy Impact: The Giants haven't started a QB shorter than 6'0" since 1966, which shows how dated their decision making process is. This doesn't mean New York definitely won't take Murray in April's upcoming draft, but they might prefer Dwayne Haskins or Drew Lock if they choose to draft a signal caller. Murray announced earlier today he has chosen football over baseball.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN writes the Ravens could target Mark Ingram in free agency. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Ingram's fantasy value would be on the rise if he actually landed in Baltimore. He would pair well with run-first QB Lamar Jackson and OC Greg Roman. The 29-year-old Ingram ran for 4.7 YPC last year while totaling seven touchdowns in 12 games.

Doug Kyed of New England Sports Network writes pending free agent Trent Brown might cost too much for the Patriots to bring him back. (Source: NESN)

Fantasy Impact: The 25-year-old LT is set to enter free agency as one of the best tackles available. Brown started every game for New England this past year and was a monster during the team's Super Bowl run. Returning to the Patriots would only mean good things for Sony Michel and company.

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY suggests Eli Manning will open the 2019 season as New York’s starting quarterback. (Source: SNY)

Fantasy Impact: Manning is due a $23.2 million cap hit, which is a big cost for someone of his current ability. One would have to imagine the Giants at least draft a QB this year. Manning had plenty of talent around him last season and still looked as bad as he ever has.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Los Angeles Rams "absolutely want back for 2019." (Source: NFL.com)

Fantasy Impact: Since joining the Rams, Anderson has played a tremendous role in the team's success with Todd Gurley banged up. So much so that the Rams are not only expected to feature him in the Super Bowl, but they are also hopeful to retain him for 2019. Prior to Anderson's arrival, the Rams were short on experienced depth behind Gurley. Anderson clearly adds that and seems to fit well with the team.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting the Packers are expected to retain TE Jimmy Graham for 2019. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Although Graham is rumored to fall victim to offseason cap cuts, Rapoport is contradicting those sentiments stating that the aging tight end will indeed remain a member of the Packers for 2019. Graham, who is due to earn a $5 million roster bonus on March 15, is coming off of a bust season from a fantasy football perspective with his value plummetting to the lowest its been in some time -- if it has ever been this low. Perhaps the implementation of new Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur's system could help resurrect Graham's fantasy stock. Nevertheless, I wouldn't expect his ADP to be as high as it has been in the past, which would make him a value if he can ever figure it out with Aaron Rodgers.

Mark Kiszia of The Denver Post writes Broncos GM John Elway is "smitten" with Missouri QB Drew Lock. (Source: Denver Post)

Fantasy Impact: Kiszia adds Elway loving Lock was the worst kept secret at the Senior Bowl. Lock performed well this past weekend. Peter King of NBC Sports wrote earlier on Monday that Lock should be a first round pick. The Giants, Jaguars, Raiders, and Dolphins are another teams that could take a quarterback early in the first round.

The New York Daily News reports the Jets are not expected to have interest in signing Kareem Hunt. (Source: New York Daily News)

Fantasy Impact: Jets GM Mike Maccagnan did not consider drafting Joe Mixon after he physically assaulted a woman. He's now going to take the same stance with Hunt. The Jets do appear eager to make a run at Le'Veon Bell, however.

Tom Brady tells ESPN's Jeff Darlington that there is "zero chance" he retires after Super Bowl 53. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brady has consistently said he wants to try and play until 45, which is something he reiterated in the interview with Darlington. It sounds as if there will be no storybook ending for Brady should the Patriots beat the Rams. Perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time will still walk away after a Super Bowl victory, but it won't be this year.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports Patrick Mahomes could be in line to sign the NFL’s first $200 million contract. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The Chiefs are expected to give Mahomes an extension after next year, which is the earliest they can do so. It obviously makes sense for Kansas City to try and lock up the 23-year-old superstar. Mahomes threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns this year. He faces the Patriots in the AFC Championship tonight.