Its been a slow time around the NFL these days. Things should pick up soon though with mini camps starting up shortly. In the meantime, be sure you check out our 2106 fantasy projections and start preparing for your drafts! Season projections will be updated frequently throughout the summer based on training camp/preseason performance and team news. 

Miami Dolphins: Tight End Jordan Cameron is excited to play for head coach Adam Gase because of his past success with tight ends. (6/5/16)

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags have been running more no huddle offense in OTA’s. They like the way Blake Bortles played in the the 2-minute offense last season and would like to use more of it. Many people around the league believe the Jaguars are going to be much more run heavy this year as opposed to last. I disagree. Their weapons are their receivers and they are going to be getting them the ball often. 

In more news out of Jacksonville, the coaching staff has been impressed with the development of WR Marqise Lee so far in practices. (6/5/16)

New York Jets: Running back Matt Forte wants to be and believes he can still be a 3 down runner, despite his age and injuries over the past couple of seasons. He feels “fresh and ready to go”. In fact, one of the reasons he choose to sign with the Jets is because of their state-of-art training room, that he believes will help keep him healthy during the 2016 season. (6/5/16)

Not that you want to hear more about the Fitzpatrick saga, but obviously there still is no deal between the 2 sides. Negotiations have now been taken outside to the media. In the latest, the Jets have offered him a 3 year $24 million dollar deal with 12 million of that coming in 2016 (only 3 of the remaining 12 million would be guaranteed after this season). Fitzpatrick has yet to sign that deal and word has leaked that he would be willing to sign a one year $12 million deal. Something the Jets have yet to be interested in. Still curious as to how the Jets plan on signing him anyway, with only 3 million in cap space (a little over 1 million after they sign 1st round pick Lee)(6/5/16)

Philadelphia Eagles: Quarterback Sam Bradford isn’t happy and he’s showing that at OTA’s. According to Doug Peterson, Bradford has been “outstanding” and “has been taking this thing and running with it”. Bradford will open the season as the starting QB, but with the pressure of having the #2 overall pick on the bench, the leash may not be too long. (6/5/16)

New Orleans Saints: Keep an eye on WR Michael Thomas. Drew Brees has been raving about the play and development of the wide receiver. (6/5/16)

San Francisco 49ers: If the season started today, Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington would be the team’s starting wide receivers. (6/4/16)

Miami Dolphins: It appears that star wide receiver Jarvis Landry will continue to return kicks for the dolphins. Good news for those who’s leagues reward for individual player return points. (6/4/16)

Los Angeles Rams: So long as he can stay healthy, our 5th ranked running back (right mow) would like to be more involved in the passing game. The more he’s on the field the better for us! (6/4/16)

 

Seahawks: Both head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider have indicated that undrafted rookie Trevone Boykin can be the number 2 QB behind Russell Wilson. (5/12/16)

Giants: Reports from the Giants are stating that Rashad Jennings should remain the lead back to open the season. Shane Vereen will continue to have his third down role and Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News believed that Andre Williams will get first crack at short yardage back, and that Orleans Darkwa and Bobby Rainey will compete to even make the team. In addition, Vacchiano doesn’t believe that 5th round rookie Paul Perkins will have much of an impact this season. Fantasy owners hope for otherwise or at least more clarity after the 4 man attack the Giants employed last season.(5/12/16)

Jets: The Jets remain at an impasse in their contract negotiations with free agent and “incumbent” QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is said to be looking for $12 million with incentives, while the team is currently offering around $8 million. As of this point, neither side is willing to budge from their stance and GM Mike Mcgagnan told the media during draft week that he has not had any contact with Fitzpatrick or his representatives for “a few weeks”. The Jets currently roster Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and rookie second round pick Christian Hackenberg at the QB position. The organization said they are comfortable going with Geno as the starter, but it has been reported that many of the players feel differently.This has been a situation that has been going on since March 9th, and doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. (5/7/16)

Along with Christian Hackenberg, Terron Beckham, cousin of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, is the talk of the Jets rookie mini camp taking place this weekend. Beckham has not played football since high school (6 years), but has demonstrated freakish athletic ability. The current body-builder/ fitness model, is looking to make the team as a running back and has compared himself to former Jets running back Chris Ivory. It will be long shot for someone that is there on a tryout based invite, will make the team, but Head Coach Todd Bowles seemed impressed with the player despite fumbling on his first carry. (5/7/16)          UPDATE: Terron Beckham was not signed by the New York Jets after his tryout. Beckham is not giving up on his dream to play in the NFL, and the Jets have not ruled out the possibility of signing him at a later date if he is still available. (5/12/16)

The Jets acknowledged they tried to trade up for falling Laremy Tunsil during round one of the NFL Draft. It has come out that it was the Giants whom they contacted for the #10 pick to select Tunsil. The Giants weren’t interested in making the deal in fear that Eli Apple wouldn’t have been there at pick #20. Tunsil selected by the Dolphins with the 13th pick has signed his rookie deal. (5/7/16)

Broncos: John Elway believes that rookie quarterback, Paxton Lynch, will be ready to play sooner than some people think. This could just be a case of the hall-of-famer having optimism for his 1st round draft picks, considering the current starter for the world champions is Mark Sanchez. (5/7/16)

Patriots: Danny Amendola has agreed to a pay cut to remain with the Patriots. Amendola was scheduled to make $12 million over the next two seasons, is now going to be making a little over $7 million. (5/7/16)

April

Brian Hoyer: The Texans have resigned QB Brandon Weeden to a 2 year contract extension, which means the team now has 4 quarterbacks under contract for the 2016 season. Not too anyone’s surprise, it looks like Brian Hoyer will be the odd man out, and the team will look to trade him to clear the 5.25 million dollars off their cap. Reports are suggesting the New York Jets are possibly interested (as is the case with any available QB), and could potentially land him with a late round pick. The Jets showed in Hoyer last season when he was a free agent, before he agreed to a deal with the Texans. As of now, the Jets don’t seem to be moving off their initial offer to free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick. (4/1/16)

 

Detroit Lions: The Lions have signed Stevan Ridley to a contract according to the running back’s announcement on instagram. Ridley, now 2 seasons removed from an ACL tear, spent last season with the New York Jets, playing sparingly and rackeding up only 9o yards on 36 carries (8 games). He’ll join Ameer Abdulah and Theo Ridick in the Lions backfield. (4/1/16)

 

New England Patriots: The Patriots have agreed to sign Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton on a 1 year deal. In addition, the team has also re-signed Patrick Chung, keeping the safety in town until 2018. (4/1/16)

 

New York Jets: According to the New York Post’s Brian Costello, the Jets are shopping defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, despite the team publicly saying they are not. However, there is skepticism that a deal can be reached and finding a team willing to surrender the pick(s) and shell out the guaranteed money, roughly 5o million dollars , that Wilkerson is seeking. The Jets have a month to find a trade partner before the 2016 NFL draft. (3/30/16)

Cincinnati Bengals:  Having lost wide receivers Marvin Jones (Lions) and Mohamed Sanu (Falcons), the Bengals announced that they have signed former New England Patriot Brandon LaFell. LaFell has been unproductive for much of his career, having never to eclipse 75 receptions and/or 1,000 yards. He had a career high 7 touchdowns in 2014, his first year in NE. LaFell failed to find the end-zone last season (11 games), despite the Patriot’s rash of offensive injuries. (3/30/16)

 

Percy Harvin: One NFL source has said that Percy Harvin will “definitely” play in 2016. Harvin hasn’t been productive for his real and fantasy teams in quite some time. There aren’t any known suitors for his services at this time, but it has been reported that the Bills might still have interest. (3/30/16)

 

New England Patriots: The Patriots have officially signed CB E.J. Biggers to a one year deal and have also brought in QB Ricky Stanzi for a visit. (3/30/16)

 

Denver Broncos: Mike Klis of 9News reported that the Broncos would like to trade for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, but want him to take a “reduced contract, and that is what the holdup is in talks. As of now, the Broncos are the lone suitor for Kaepernick with the New York Jets reportedly “not interested” and the Browns signing RG3. (3/30/16)

 

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins had free agent running back Arian Foster in for a visit on Tuesday (3/29). Foster is in no hurry to sign and according to Dolphins vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, “he’s a a little bit away” from being able to play as he can’t go full speed at this point. Look for Foster to find a home sometime near the start of training camp. Keep an eye on the Patriots as a possible landing spot as well. (3/30/16)

 

Houston Texans: What seemed like a possibility when the Texans signed Brock Osweiler, it appears the team and QB Brian Hoyer are going to go their separate ways. Hoyer is due 5.25 million this season and the team will look to trade him before releasing him. The Jets, Broncos and Rams could have interest. (3/30/16)

 

From 3/23/16

 News and notes from around the NFL:

Rule Changes: The Competition Committee has adopted the following rule changes for the 2016 season:

  • Extra points to remain from the 15 yard line. Defenses allowed to return any missed kick.
  • All chop blocks are illegal.  Cut blocks to remain legal. The difference? A cut block is a when a player is not engaged with another player at that time. A chop block is when a player is already engaged with another player. 
  • Horse collar rule expanded to include the jersey at the name plate and above. 
  • 2 personal foul penalties will result in an automatic ejection. 
  • Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.
  • Eliminates the 5-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself in-bounds, and makes it a loss of down. 
  • Offensive and Defensive play callers and coaches will now be allowed to use coach-to-player communication system, regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches booth. 
  • The spot of the next snap after a touch-back will be at the 25 and not the 20 yard line (more incentive for the returner to take a knee and not run it out)   03/23/2016

Roger Goodell will not return the Patriot’s draft picks. He’s also not giving up his power in handling discipline issues at this time.  03/23/2016

The Los Angeles Rams will appear on HBO’s Hard Knocks. 03/23/2016

New Orleans Saints and Head Coach Sean Payton have agreed on a 5 year contract extension…..the team and Drew Brees are currently working on a 4 year agreement. 03/23/2016

Cowboys: Dallas has agreed to sign Alfred Morris. Those that know me and were part of our community last season, know that I am not the biggest fan of Morris. Ok, I’m not a fan at all. Will those feelings change now that he’s in Dallas? Check out our Fantasy Impact on Morris to be posted in the coming days. 03/23/2016

Bengals: Owner Mike Brown won’t entirely rule out the possibility of trade for backup quarterback AJ McMarron. “Every football player is for sale if the right offer comes along” is what Brown said to Jim Owczarski of the Cininnati Enquirer. From all indications, that “right offer” seems to be at least a 1st round pick. A very high price for a player with as little experience as McCarron. Then again, Brock Osweiler did receive 18 million dollars. Head Coach Marvin Lewis wasn’t as open to the idea of a trade, as he told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk  that he would have to decline if any teams call with an offer for McCarron. 03/23/2016

Browns: There are many indications that the Browns are going to sign RG3. This signing won’t preclude them from drafting a QB with the #2 overall pick, and that sentiment was discussed with Griffin during his visit. What that signing could do, is make Josh McCown expendable and Jets beat writer Rich Cimini has said that the Jets do have interest in McCown, but would rather wait until he’s released rather than trade for him. I understand the Jets situation at quarterback, but of all the potential players available either via free agency, trade, or the draft, McCown would probably be the last on that list. 03/23/2016

Broncos: The defending champions are still players in the QB carousel game. While they do like Mark Sanchez and believe he can succeed in their system, they would like to (and will) bring in another player to compete with Sanchez. I mentioned in my “Fitzpatrick Day” article that the best situation for the Broncos and Fitzpatrick would be to get together. 03/23/2016

Dolphins: Miami didn’t resign Lamar Miller and failed to sign C.J. Anderson and Chris Johnson so far in free agency. They are obvious in the hunt for a running back and head coach Adam Gase has said that he wants a “stable” of running backs in their backfield to pair with Jay Ajayi. There are still some interesting names available such as Arian Foster, Ronnie Hillman, LeGarrette Blount, Bobby Rainey and Stevan Ridley. They are also looking at the trade market which may include a Charcandrick West or Spencer Ware from Kansas City. They may also be able to get Tre Mason from the Rams or even Tevin Coleman from the Falcons. Picking at 13, they are also in a good position to have a shot at number 1 RB draft prospect Ezekiel Elliot. 03/23/2016

Johnny Manziel: Just stop Johnny. Stop. So you hired super-agent Drew Rosenhaus to represent you. That’s great and all, but unless he’s also a Psychologist and a life coach, it’s not going to make any difference. Sure, it came out that the teams have expressed interest in you, but are waiting for your DV situation to play out before signing you. I don’t think that’s the case. Manziel can get “cleared” by law enforcement tomorrow and he would still be waiting a while before his phone rings. Jerry Jones wants to help him get his life back in order, and that is exactly what Manziel needs to do before he even gets a chance to answer a call. This guy, as talented as he may be, and I for one do believe he has enough talent to be an NFL quarterback, has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons ever since college. Stay away from football. Stay far away from anything and anyone football related. The atmosphere and lifestyle is one that a Johnny Manziel can not handle at this time, or perhaps at any time. 03/23/2016