Fantasy Football

Player News More Player News »

• 

  Jake LockerTEN - QB

  Locker will have an opportunity during his first full offseason with the Ti...

  Player Page »

  Locker will have an opportunity during his first full offseason with the Titans to earn the starting quarterback position in 2012, the Tennessean reports. Impacts: Locker enjoyed some success coming into several games during his rookie season for last year's starting quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck. Locker is younger and more athletic, but Hasselbeck is far more experienced and had one of his best statistical seasons in his first year as Titans' quarterback last year. It seems inevitable that Locker will be the Titans' quarterback of the future, but 2012 may be a year premature. At this point offensive coordinator Chris Palmer says that there is no set timetable for the Titans to name their 2012 starting quarterback.

• 

  Matt ForteCHI - RB

  Forte's agent Adisa Bakari thinks it's "absurd" that the Bears' front offic...

  Player Page »

  Forte's agent Adisa Bakari thinks it's "absurd" that the Bears' front office is questioning Forte's durability, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Impacts: "The 2011 season was the first season of his career that he missed any games," Bakari said. "Had the Bears been play-off contenders, he could have returned for the balance of the season. To question his durability at this stage in his career is absurd." Obviously Forte's agent was going to fire back and support his client, but that isn't going to put an end to the Bears' concerns about Forte's health.

• 

  Rashard MendenhallPIT - RB

  Mendenhall (knee) impressed onlookers while running and cutting on the side...

  Player Page »

  Mendenhall (knee) impressed onlookers while running and cutting on the side during OTA practices, and personally thinks he can get back in action early in the season, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Impacts: Mendenhall is still experiencing soreness and swelling in the knee, but said "I just want to get back to 100 percent, and right now, I feel good about it. Everything is going well." We wouldn't expect Mendenhall to say anything different, but it is unlikely he will be ready when the season starts. With Isaac Redman on the roster, the Steelers will not have to rush Mendenhall back before he is ready.

• 

  DeMarco MurrayDAL - RB

  Murray (ankle) has looked good so far in OTAs, the Dallas Morning News repo...

  Player Page »

  Murray (ankle) has looked good so far in OTAs, the Dallas Morning News reports. Impacts: "He doesn't look any slower or more sluggish than he would normally," said Cowboys running backs coach Skip Peete. "He's come back and he's in good shape and he's doing a good job. I don't see any ill effects of his ankle injury from this past season." Murray will open the season as the Cowboys' starting RB, and if he stays on the field for a full season he's got a chance to put up some very nice numbers.

• 

  Eric BerryKC - S

  Berry (knee) is not participating in drills during the Chiefs' organized te...

  Player Page »

  Berry (knee) is not participating in drills during the Chiefs' organized team activities as he continues to work his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2011 season in Week 1, the Kansas City Star reports. Impacts: While his teammates partake in drills, Berry is spending the OTA sessions working with a trainer on the sidelines to rehab his knee. The 2010 Pro Bowler is expected to return in time for training camp and if he can regain the form he displayed as a rookie, there's little reason to think he won't produce as an upper echelon IDP.

• 

  Hakeem NicksNYG - WR

  Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during the Gian...

  Player Page »

  Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during the Giants' OTA's on Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Impacts: Nicks is slated to undergo surgery Friday to have a screw inserted into the broken bone, with the initial estimate being that he will miss 12 weeks. That timetable suggests that he should be ready by Week 1, but it could end up being a race against time on that front if there are any setbacks or delays in his recovery. Nicks' injury creates immediate added opportunities for second-round pick Rueben Randle, who now probably merits sleeper consideration in fantasy drafts.

• 

  Eric DeckerDEN - WR

  Decker (knee) is trying to put on some weight after he lost a few pounds ov...

  Player Page »

  Decker (knee) is trying to put on some weight after he lost a few pounds over the course of last season, the Denver Post reports. Impacts: Decker is trying to get through his first full offseason after injuries and the lockout prevented that in the last two years. He has been working out with new quarterback Peyton Manning quick a bit and Manning has had several good things to say about the young wideout. He will be the No. 2 wideout on the depth chart beyond Demaryius Thomas, although it wouldn't be shocking if he led the team in catches given his quick chemistry with Manning.

• 

  Demaryius ThomasDEN - WR

  Thomas (finger) is down to 228 pounds from 232 at the end of last season an...

  Player Page »

  Thomas (finger) is down to 228 pounds from 232 at the end of last season and said he wants to get down to 222 for the start of the season, the Denver Post reports. Impacts: Thomas also acknowledged that he has been tagged with the "injury prone" moniker, something he's hoping he can avoid moving forward at his lower weight. He hasn't been able to go through a full offseason and training camp without some kind of injury, so it will be progress if he can do so this year, especially with Peyton Manning in town. Until the OTAs, he had been working out at Georgia Tech with Calvin Johnson and Cam Newton and said he got some good advice on route-running from Johnson, arguably the best receiver in the game. Thomas has the size and speed to be a dominant receiver and with Manning now throwing to him, he could make the leap.

• 

  Rashard MendenhallPIT - RB

  Mendenhall, who has been able to run as he rehabs from his torn ACL, admitt...

  Player Page »

  Mendenhall, who has been able to run as he rehabs from his torn ACL, admitted Wednesday that he has no real timetable for a return to action, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Impacts: Mendenhall noted that he feels good and adds that he is doing more than just running in a straight line at this point, but given that he went under the knife in January, he'll be hard-pressed to be ready for Week 1. It wouldn't surprise us to see Mendenhall start the season on the PUP list, with Isaac Redman in line to head the Pittsburgh backfield in the meantime.

• 

  Sam BradfordSTL - QB

  Bradford, who suffered an ankle injury back on Oct. 16 last year, acknowled...

  Player Page »

  Bradford, who suffered an ankle injury back on Oct. 16 last year, acknowledges that he is still dealing with some lingering soreness, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "It's getting there," Bradford said. "It seems to feel better every week. There's less soreness, more things I can do. I think it's definitely on the right track." Impacts: It's slightly concerning that his ankle is still tender this far removed from his original injury, but Bradford still has plenty of time to get up to speed, barring any setbacks. In the meantime, he has a new offense to absorb and chemistry to develop with a wideout corps that is both fluid and a work in progress.

• 

  Mike ThomasJAC - WR

  Thomas reportedly will not be a training camp cut despite being knocked dow...

  Player Page »

  Thomas reportedly will not be a training camp cut despite being knocked down the depth chart this offseason, according to the Florida Times-Union. Impacts: Thomas is due $6 million from the Jaguars over the next two years whether he is on the roster or not, so expect him to be in Jaguar teal at least this year. Still, the arrival of Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson has made Thomas' fantasy value nearly obsolete.

• 

  Johnny KnoxCHI - WR

  Knox (back) acknowledged that he may not play in 2012, the Chicago Tribune ...

  Player Page »

  Knox (back) acknowledged that he may not play in 2012, the Chicago Tribune reports. Impacts: It sounds like Knox will play it safe, as he probably should with a spinal injury. The Bears traded for Brandon Marshall and drafted Alshon Jeffery in the offseason, but Knox almost certainly will have a significant role in the offense if he returns at full strength. He was easily Chicago's most effective receiver last year, averaging an impressive 10.5 yards per target. That said, it sounds like there is a solid chance Knox won't play in 2012. Unless something changes between now and when you draft, Knox is not somebody to target, even in the late rounds of deeper leagues.

• 

  Mike WallacePIT - WR

  Wallace, a no-show at OTAs, is working out on his own, ESPN.com reports.

  Player Page »

  Wallace, a no-show at OTAs, is working out on his own, ESPN.com reports. Impacts: OTA absences aren't unusual, but the Steelers are implementing new offensive terminology and certainly wouldn't hurt for Wallace to attend. "It won't be significant in the big scheme of things hopefully," said head coach Mike Tomlin. In the meantime, offensive coordinator Todd Haley did send Wallace the new playbook.

• 

  Plaxico Burress - WR

  Burress is reportedly interested in playing for the Dolphins, Manish Mehta...

  Player Page »

  Burress is reportedly interested in playing for the Dolphins, Manish Mehta of The Daily News reports. Impacts: Interest in Burress has been cool in free agency and the report notes that the Dolphins would like to see what they have in their younger wideouts before potentially pursuing a veteran to help fill the void created by the departure of Brandon Marshall.

• 

  Michael JenkinsMIN - WR

  Jenkins says the torn meniscus in his knee has fully healed and he will joi...

  Player Page »

  Jenkins says the torn meniscus in his knee has fully healed and he will join Minnesota's Organized Team Activities that begin May 30, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Impacts: Jenkins missed the final five games of last season due to the injury and had surgery over the winter. He'll battle Devin Aromashodu, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright for the third receiver role. He could also start opposite Percy Harvin the first three weeks of the season while Jerome Simpson sits out due to a suspension. However, his role in the offense is uncertain as there will be an open competition for all the receiver roles after Harvin.

• 

  Beanie WellsARZ - RB

  Wells isn't being forthcoming about the nature of his knee injury, but note...

  Player Page »

  Wells isn't being forthcoming about the nature of his knee injury, but noted his offseason surgery "was a little more complicated" than just a scope, the Arizona Republic reports. Impacts: Though it was initially reported to be nothing more than an arthroscopic surgery and Beanie isn't deviating much from that narrative, one has to wonder if there wasn't a little bit more at play with his knee, especially for a back who's tended to be injury-prone during his career. Either way, Wells isn't expected to do much work during OTAs as he continues to rehab from his surgery.

• 

  Kevin KolbARZ - QB

  Kolb opened OTAs working with the first-team offense Tuesday, Adam Green o...

  Player Page »

  Kolb opened OTAs working with the first-team offense Tuesday, Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com reports. Impacts: This is likely the first of many times you'll hear about the QB situation in the desert and certainly Day 1 of OTAs won't mean much if John Skelton outperforms Kolb in training camp and preseason. Kolb, for his part, understands the pressure to perform, noting "You might not be able to win a job, but you'll probably be able to lose a job in an offseason like this."

• 

  Dexter McClusterKC - RB

  McCluster is lining up primarily at wide receiver during the Chiefs' organi...

  Player Page »

  McCluster is lining up primarily at wide receiver during the Chiefs' organized team activities, the Kansas City Star reports. Impacts: With Jamaal Charles returning from a torn ACL and the additions of free agent signee Peyton Hillis and rookie Cyrus Gray, there will be few extra carries to go around in the Kansas City backfield, so moving McCluster back to receiver (where he played as a rookie) may be the best way to get the ball into the hands of one of the team's more electric playmakers. However, improved depth in the Chiefs' receiving corps might also make it difficult for McCluster to find significant reps in the passing game as well, and ultimately it's unlikely he'll come anywhere near the 160 combined touches he saw in 2011.

• 

  Kellen WinslowTB - TE

  Winslow was traded to the Seahawks late Monday night for a seventh-round dr...

  Player Page »

  Winslow was traded to the Seahawks late Monday night for a seventh-round draft pick, the Seattle Times reports. Impacts: Tampa Bay wasted little time dumping Winslow after he got into a dispute with new coach Greg Schiano over offseason workouts. The pick could be upgraded to a sixth-round selection, though that's still little price for the Seahawks to pay for a Pro Bowl tight end. Even though it's an easy move for the Seahawks who lost John Carlson in free agency, it's still a little curious because the team used its tight ends so infrequently last year. Seattle targeted its tight ends just 81 times last season, with Zach Miller receiving a team-high 44. The good news for Winslow is Miller is a better blocker, so if the Seahawks suddenly involve the tight end more, Winslow is likely to get the majority of targets.

• 

  Dallas ClarkTB - TE

  Clark has indeed signed with the Bucs as of Monday night, Howard Balzer re...

  Player Page »

  Clark has indeed signed with the Bucs as of Monday night, Howard Balzer reports. Impacts: Clark would presumably take over as the starting TE in Tampa once they dispatch of Kellen Winslow. He offers a similar good-hands but no-block type skillset as Winslow at a cheaper price with less drama. Though his durability has been an issue of late, Clark has a chance to carve out some fantasy value with the Bucs, though it's unrealistic to expect the sort of elite production that he enjoyed while teamed up with QB Peyton Manning in Indianapolis.

From the Forums