ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Chargers are expected to use the franchise tag on WR Mike Williams. The deadline for teams to do so is 4 p.m. today, so we'll know Williams' status soon. We'd guess the 2 sides are working toward a longer-term deal, but the Chargers rank among league leaders in projected 2022 salary-cap space. So they have some flexibility here. For fantasy football draft purposes, expect Williams to remain a Charger.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins have placed the franchise tag on TE Mike Gesicki. That keeps him from reaching the free-agent market. Gesicki finished 9th, 7th and 12th among TEs in PPR scoring the past 3 years and should be well set up for TE1-level production for at least the near future. We'll see whether he and Miami agree to a long-term deal ahead of the season. Gesicki is a solid value in early fantasy-football drafting, carrying a TE11 ADP on Underdog.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports that the Buccaneers are working on a long-term deal with WR Chris Godwin. She adds that if the 2 sides don’t reach agreement by today’s 4 p.m. franchise-tag deadline, the team is expected to tag the WR. For fantasy football purposes, you should expect Godwin to remain with Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. His end-of-season ACL tear, of course, challenges his 2022 outlook
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Browns plan to keep TE Austin Hooper around, despite using the franchise tag to keep TE David Njoku of the free-agent market. Hooper has 1 year left on his contract at a $13.25 million cap hit, according to Spotrac. Even cutting him, though, would mean $7.5 million in dead cap space. Having Hooper, Njoku and Harrison Bryant all on the roster once again would make it tough for any to provide consistent fantasy production. Don't overrate any of them in early fantasy football drafts.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid said from the Combine that he was encouraged by WR Mecole Hardman's growth last season. "Mecole did a good job, continually got better throughout the year and worked hard and it paid off for him," Reid said. "We found that groove as coaches of things that he did best and tried to utilize him in those positions." Hardman set career highs in 2021 with 59 catches and 693 receiving yards. But he still finished just 47th among WRs in PPR points -- and his best fantasy outing came in Week 18. In 3 playoff games, Hardman never topped a 57% snap rate and totaled just 9 targets. Reid's comments make it sound like the Chiefs like him in that limited role. We'll see if we hear anything to the contrary.
The Patriots are releasing LB Kyle Van Noy, according to multiple reports. It marks the 2nd straight year that Van Noy has been dumped in the middle of a multi-year contract. The Dolphins cut him last offseason. Van Noy will turn 31 later this month. He remains productive enough to get another shot elsewhere. Just don't expect Van Noy to become more than a sporadic fantasy producer.
The Bengals are applying the franchise tag to S Jessie Bates III. The move keeps the star safety from hitting unrestricted free agency. We'll see whether the 2 sides can reach agreement on a long-term deal, though. Bates admitted during the 2021 season that distraction over his lack of a contract extension was inhibiting his play. His performance rebounded. Now we'll see about the relationship. Bates posted his worst fantasy season among 4 years in 2021, with the primary culprit a lack of coverage plays. He averaged 10.3 passes defensed through his 1st 3 campaigns, snagging 3 INTs each year. Last season found Bates collecting just 1 INT and 4 passes defensed.
Colts TE Jack Doyle announced his retirement on Monday. The 31-year-old turned in top-14 fantasy seasons in 2016 and 2017 but hasn't been much of a factor since. With TE Mo Alie-Cox set to hit the free-agent market, 2021 4th-rounder Kylen Granson is currently atop the Colts' TE depth chart. We'll see what else the teams adds at the position, but Granson is an intriguing late-round flier in fantasy drafts right now.
The NFL has suspended Falcons WR Calvin Ridley for at least the 2022 season for gambling on NFL games while he was away from the team last year, according to multiple reports. The league says Ridley placed bets during a 5-day window in November. He will not be allowed to apply for reinstatement until February 2023. Atlanta now has a large hole to fill at wideout without the benefit of whatever the team might have gotten back in a potential Ridley trade. With Russell Gage headed for free agency, the Falcons' passing game has significant questions to answer.
The Browns are using the franchise tag to keep TE Davis Njoku from reaching free agency, according to NFL Network. It’s not a surprising move, given recent reports they were hoping to resign the TE. Njoku’s best statistical season to date came back in 2018, when he caught 56 balls for 639 yards and 4 TDs. He hasn’t otherwise exceeded 36 receptions or 475 yards. Cleveland still has Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant on the roster as well, though Hooper looks like a cut candidate. Njoku looks ok as a late best-ball pick in early drafting. He’s a high-ceiling athlete for the position and is heading into just his age-26 season
WR Odell Beckham could be out until early November as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in the Super Bowl, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. OBJ is expected to be on the "later end" of the typical 6-9 month rehab timeline for ACLs, Rapoport adds. That means Beckham figures to miss the first half of the 2022 season. Rams HC Sean McVay said in a Friday radio interview that he'd like to re-sign Beckham, who's set to hit free agency later this month.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Chiefs have entered contract talks with WR Tyreek Hill. The 28-year-old is scheduled to count ~$21 million against the cap in 2022, a contract year. 2021 produced 1,239 yards and 9 TDs on a career-high 111 catches. He carries a Round 1 ADP in early best ball drafting.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Commanders made an offer to the Seahawks for QB Russell Wilson that included "multiple" 1st-round picks. Seattle reportedly rejected that, and talks don't seem to be ongoing. That tells us a couple of things, though: 1) Washington seems serious about upgrading at QB, and 2) The Seahawks just might be serious about keeping Wilson. For now, at least, we're drafting (and projecting) as though Wilson will remain in Seattle for 2022. We'll see how both situations develop.
In addition to the rumored nearing deal with WR Michael Gallup, the Cowboys also believe they can retain WR Cedrick Wilson in the wake of moving WR Amari Cooper and his contract. Like Gallup, Wilson is set to hit free agency this month. Wilson set career highs with 61 targets, 45 catches, 602 yards and 6 TDs in 2021, benefitting from Gallup losing half the season to injuries. If he does re-sign with Dallas, Wilson should be the front-runner for the #3 role -- likely settling in as the primary slot guy. Wilson spent 90% of his pass snaps in the slot last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Cowboys are "close" to a new deal with impending free agent WR Michael Gallup. This news, of course, comes alongside the expected trade/release of WR Amari Cooper. We'll be curious to see how much Gallup commands in his extension, coming off his Week 17 ACL tear. We'll also see about Gallup's progress through the offseason in judging his 2022 outlook. He certainly carries risk as an early best-ball selection. It at least appears that you should assume he'll remain in Dallas.
Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bills have allowed WR Cole Beasley to seek a trade. Coming off back to back 82-catch seasons, Garafolo reported that “there is interest” in the 33-year-old slot target. GM Brandon Beane said “no door has been closed,” so it’s not a lock that Beasley plays elsewhere in 2022. Ultimately, we’d be shocked if Buffalo netted anything more than a late-round pick in a potential deal. According to Spotrac, Beasley’s slated to count $7.6 million against the cap in 2022 — a contract year.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are “likely” to release WR Amari Cooper. It's a matter of money, as the veteran is scheduled to count $22 million against Dallas' salary cap. (If cut, he’ll carry a figure of only ~$6 million.) Coming off an inconsistent year 2, CeeDee Lamb would project as the big winner here. Note that Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson and Dalton Schultz are all impending free agents.
Update: According to multiple reports, the Cowboys will try to trade Cooper but are expected to release him if that doesn't work out. Multiple reports also have the team planning to try for a long-term deal with Gallup.
Cowboys TE Blake Jarwin had hip surgery in late February that's "very uncommon for an active NFL player," a source tells The Athletic's Michael Gehlken. "He is not expected to be available for the start of the 2022 season, clouding his Cowboys future," Gehlken adds. Jarwin tore his ACL in September 2020. He was ready for the start of the 2021 campaign but went down with a hip injury in Week 8 that ended his season. We'll monitor his rehab this offseason, but he's not worth a pick in early best-ball drafts. Jarwin's situation probably makes it more likely that Dallas does what it has to do to bring back impending free-agent TE Dalton Schultz.
Former Rams OC and new Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell wants to use WR Justin Jefferson in a role similar to the one Cooper Kupp played last year. “The one thing about Cooper Kupp this past season is he lined up in a lot of different spots. It was hard for defenses to really know where he was," O'Connell said. "I see that with Justin. I see an incredible, incredible skillset, but I also see a player we can move around. We can make it hard for defenses to know where he’s going to be. He doesn’t have to line up in the same spot all the time. He doesn’t have to run the same type of routes all the time. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s willing in the run game. This guy’s a special, special player." It's no surprise that O'Connell will make Jefferson the focal point of his passing game. But it's exciting to hear about a more diverse role -- especially considering the season Kupp just had.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Packers are negotiating with QB Aaron Rodgers on a deal that would be expected to make him the league's highest-paid player. Rapoport also added, however, that the team is simultaneously giving Rodgers room to decide whether to stay in Green Bay or seek a trade. The situation obviously remains unresolved. If you're jumping into early best-ball drafts right now, though, we'd lean toward treating Rodgers -- and other Packers -- as though he's staying in Green Bay.
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