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The Jordan Cameron hype machine keeps charging forward, this time with the help of the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. Here's what she wrote in her latest mailbag column on Saturday: quot;The Browns really like tight end Jordan Cameron as their starting tight end and plan to throw to him a lot. Cameron was targeted on plenty of deep balls in OTAs." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Everybody's talking about Cameron's opportunity as the Browns' starter this year. The 24-year-old is a former basketball player with a big 6-foot 5-inch frame and natural receiving skills. And he's being coached by a couple of men who know how to get the best out of tight ends: head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Given how mediocre the tight end position was in general last year, Cameron is looking like a TE1 in fantasy this season. I don't play in many leagues, but at this point, I can basically guarantee that I will get him in drafts. I'll reach if I have to. I'm all up on the bandwagon. [...]

Apparently. You would think that some coach -- Dan Reeves? Jim Mora Jr? Andy Reid? -- would teach one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the history of football how to carry the ball while running. But Vick said Eagles head coach Chip Kelly finally got it done. quot;Chip told me how to run with the football the other day," Vick said in a radio interview last week. "He tought me how to run with the football and how to carry the football, and I think it's something that you just have to work on. "The other day, I broke out of the pocket, and the first thing Chip told me was to tuck the football. So I showed him how I was running with it, and he knocked the ball right out of my hands. And he was like, 'Hold it like this.' And what he told me felt comfortable. I had a tighter grip on the football. That should secure that problem as long as I work on it." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Hilarious. Vick has lost 12 fumbles in his last 35 games and is the active leader among all QBs in fumbles (87). Ball security has been a problem for Vick his entire career; I strongly doubt that Kelly is the first to try to teach him how to protect the ball. This is probably a case of a more mature Vick actually listening to his coaches and taking their tutelage seriously. [...]

The Cardinals wouldn't have traded for and then signed 33-year-old Carson Palmer if they believed he could no longer throw the deep ball. So far, head coach Bruce Arians likes what he has seen from Palmer. Most importantly, Arians said Palmer can still launch it. quot;He's tough as nails," Arians said about Palmer on Sunday in an ESPN interview. "As good a deep-ball thrower as I've ever seen. I mean really accurate on the deep ball. He still has it. What he did last year with the Raiders, in a crazy situation, I thought was very, very impressive." FANTASY ANALYSIS: That deep-throw ability is one of the foci of Arians' offense. He loves to throw the ball down the field, and I am really looking forward to seeing how Palmer operates with Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts around him. Palmer could be a stellar QB2 this year. [...]

Houston Texans LB Brooks Reed (groin) said Sunday, May 19, that he is healthy for the beginning of the team's organized team activities (OTAs), and he said he is '100 percent.' Reed said he has been running and lifting weights for the past three weeks and the groin hasn't given him any trouble. [...]

When organized team activities (OTAs) open Tuesday, May 21, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have at least three new faces among the starters. LB Jason Worilds is in for the departed James Harrison (Bengals) at outside lineback, NT Steve McLendon is in for free-agent Casey Hampton at nose tackle, and CB Cortez Allen takes over for CB Keenan Lewis (Saints) at cornerback. [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu has a history of blowing off the voluntary portion of spring drills to train with his guru, Marv Marinovich, in the Los Angeles area. Last season, Polamalu went through most of the spring practice with his teammates - and then missed nine games with injuries. It's uncertain if Polamalu will attend organized team activities (OTAs), which begin Tuesday, May 21. [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders is projected to take over the spot of departed WR Mike Wallace (Dolphins) at split end, at least for one year. [...]

The Washington Redskins have seven running backs on the roster right now, with only RB Alfred Morris guaranteed of a job in Washington this season. Based on the current roster, it appears RB Evan Royster will be battling Jawan Jamison, and RB Roy Helu Jr. will be battling Chris Thompson for the two running back spots behind Morris. [...]

The Cleveland Browns feel confident WR Travis Benjamin and RB Dion Lewis can handle the return duties, which is why fan favorite WR Joshua Cribbs (Raiders) (knee) was allowed to leave via free agency without much effort to re-sign him. Plus, Cribbs is 30, and there are concerns about his knee. [...]

The Cleveland Browns like the speed of RB Dion Lewis, especially as a third-down back. Lewis might also be in the mix to return kicks. [...]

Cleveland Browns QB Thaddeus Lewis is not expected to make the team following the signing of QB Brian Hoyer. QB Brandon Weeden is expected to be the starter, with QB Jason Campbell as the backup and Hoyer as the third QB. [...]

Buffalo Bills QB EJ Manuel, the team's first-round pick at No. 16 overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, is the club's only unsigned draft pick following the agreement with WR Robert Woods Sunday, May 19. [...]

The Buffalo Bills reached a four-year deal with WR Robert Woods Sunday, May 19. Woods was in California for the NFLPA's rookie premiere this weekend, and is expected to sign the contract with Buffalo in the next few days. [...]

The Buffalo Bills nearly have their entire 2013 rookie NFL draft class under contract. Buffalo reached a four-year agreement with second-round pick and rookie receiver Robert Woods, a source tells ESPN.com's AFC East blog. Woods was in Los Angeles for the NFLPA's Rookie Premiere this weekend, and is expected to sign the contract with Buffalo in the next few days. Woods, a USC product, is considered one of the most NFL-ready receivers in this year's draft. [...]

New England tight end Rob Gronkowski will undergo a fourth surgery on his left forearm Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Boston Herald reports Sunday. Dr. Jesse Jupiter is expected to perform the surgery. A new plate is expected to replace the one already in his arm and he will begin a new 10-11 week recovery period. [...]

A fantasy football preview of the New England Patriots this season. Profiled players include Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and LeGarrette Blount. [...]

The Boston Herald confirms Rob Gronkowski's fourth left-forearm surgery will take place Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital. [...]

The Chargers have signed linebacker Dwight Freeney to a two-year contract, NFL.com reports. [...]

Recommended video: ESPN's Merril Hoge sat down recently with new Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians for a discussion covering Carson Palmer, Tyrann Mathieu, calling plays and taking over for Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano on an interim basis last season. Jim Irsay, the Colts' owner, asked Arians to take over once doctors diagnosed Pagano with cancer. Arians agreed, with one stipulation: that the Colts leave on the light in Pagano's office until the coach returned. [...]

Back in the United States after a life-altering experience last fall, Husain Abdullah allowed himself to take a glimpse back at the world he temporarily gave up. “I’d watch some NFL games on television last November,” Abdullah said. “I missed the game, but I was not upset or sad. I was at peace with what I did. I wouldn’t change it.” A safety who worked his way from undrafted rookie to starter in Minnesota, Abdullah surprised many in NFL when he hit the pause button on his football career at the age of 27 to fulfill a spiritual and family commitment last year. [...]

After Scott Feldman dominated the Mets on Saturday, can Barry Zito cap off a perfect weekend in the streamer department? [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have competition at running back and outside linebacker this year, although I believe rookies Le'Veon Bell and Jarvis Jones will win those jobs. The most wide-open battle in Pittsburgh is in the return game. The release of Chris Rainey in January forces the Steelers to find another kickoff returner, and the promotion of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to the No. 1 and No. 2 wide receiver spots, respectively, likely means Pittsburgh will go with a new punt returner. [...]

Coach Greg Schiano believes third-round pick Mike Glennon was the best quarterback in the draft, and is "not against" him beating out Josh Freeman for the Bucs' starting job. [...]

Average auction values (AAVs) both overall and broken down by position. [...]

Talk about skyrocketing value. Jordan Cameron’s ADP and trade value have ballooned over the last few weeks. He’s gone from a player commonly ranked around the 20th to 25th tight end to a guy comfortably slated in the 10th to 15th range. The rise is mostly due to recent comments from the Browns’ coaching staff that have led fantasy owners to speculate about Cameron’s ceiling given his athletic ability, as well the Browns’ new offensive scheme under head coach Rob Chudzinski. Specifically, Coach Chudzinski recently spoke about the Browns’ new offense stating, “This is an offense that has featured tight ends and tight ends have always been a big part of it. [Cameron] has the skill set that fits.” The offensive scheme that both Chudzinski and new offensive coordinator Norv Turner run is very favorable to tight ends. Historically, it highlighted the skills and facilitated premium production from players like Tony Gonzalez, Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow and Antonio Gates. Based on this, Cameron’s situation and fantasy prospects are trending upward.  The rise in value doesn’t come without its skeptics, though. Some suggest to cash in on an “inflated” value speculating that Cameron is not likely to meet lofty expectations. I believe he’s worth every bit of the price he currently commands and may even still be a bargain given his upside. Here’s why: The Continued Hybrid Tight End Trend Thanks to the likes of Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski, pass catching tight ends continue to become fixtures of NFL offenses. A wide receiver in a tight end’s body is gold. The ability to create mismatches across the middle against linebackers who are unable to keep up and safeties who can’t compete from a size perspective is invaluable – it creates another dimension for teams. Offenses continue to exploit this and, in turn, this type of player is [...]

NFL Free Agency starts March 12th. This page will track all the player signings and trades. -Harvin to SEA, Boldin to SF, M Wallace to MIA, M Bennett to CHI, [...]

Bruce Irvin's suspension from the Seattle Seahawks for the first four games of the 2013 NFL season will force additional shuffling early in the season. The team was already expected to be without starting defensive end Chris Clemons, who is recovering from knee surgery and could miss part of the season. Backup defensive end Greg Scruggs could miss the full season after suffering a knee injury more recently. 2012 Sacks for Current Seattle DL Seattle was already expected to alter its rotation after adding Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel through free agency, plus defensive tackles Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams through the draft. [...]

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Chargers agreed Saturday to a two-year deal with aging star pass rusher Dwight Freeney that could be worth $13.35 million. [...]

Keep it up, Manti Te’o. Showing he has a sense of humor and showing he is not hiding from the embarrassment, the San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker is embracing his notoriety. Maxim Magazine had some fun at Te’o's expense by naming his fake dead girlfriend, who was at the center of a hoax, among Maxim's Hot 100 women of the year. Yes, it was piling on. But Te’o responded great – he attended the party to honor the list the magazine threw. [...]

Give the San Diego Chargers credit. They were forced into a bad situation and they answered it by securing arguably the best player remaining on the free-agent market. Pushed into a corner, rookie San Diego general manager Tom Telesco responded with his highest-profile acquisition of the offseason by signing pass-rusher Dwight Freeney on Saturday. He agreed to a two-year contract according to ESPN’s Ed Werder. Telesco and Freeney were together in Indianapolis since 2002. [...]

Evan Silva from Rotoworld and NBC Sports joins Tim Stafford and Jarrett Behar on this week’s special Friday Night podcast.   It’s the best, most focused dynasty discussion you’ll find as they cover all the following this week: Latest News and Notes Thoughts on the rookie class Draft Strategies Input on Titus Young’s erratic behavior If you like what you hear, have any questions for the hosts, or just want to chime in with your opinions on the topics they discuss, feel free to post below or reach out to our regular hosts Jarrett Behar on Twitter @EyeOfTheGator or Tim Stafford at @dynastytim. You can download the show from here on BlogTalkRadio, or from iTunes once it becomes available. Make sure you follow Evan Silva on Twitter as well. [...]

There is some disturbing news coming out of Buffalo this weekend, where text messages from star defensive end Mario Williams were released by his ex-fiancée's attorney. Williams is currently in a legal battle over an engagement ring worth more than $780,000, and new details emerged that Williams allegedly had "dramatic mood swings” last year during their engagement. "No money in the world should leave me with suicidal thoughts," Williams said in the text to his ex last November. [...]

Needing to fortify their pass rush following OLB Melvin Ingram's knee injury, the Chargers and free agent Dwight Freeney have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract. No longer an elite sack master, the 33-year-old still had five in 2012 for the Colts. Freeney spent the 11 seasons of his career in Indianapolis and had at least 10 in seven of those campaigns, the last time in 2010. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Arguably the Chargers could have taken a pass rusher high in the draft, but the Bolts really need help when Ingram tore his ACL. Now the question is how does Freeney, who spent his clear play end in a 4-3 defense adjusts to San Diego's 3-4 defense. Ultimately, Freeney is no longer an IDP beast or even a middling option, but hopefully his presence can bolster the front-7 which also is integrating rookie Manti Te'o. [...]

In this video, John Clayton discusses Dwight Freeney's new deal in San Diego. AFC West blogger Bill Williamson will have more thoughts on this upcoming on the blog. [...]

Football Outsiders, a statistics-based analysis service, has been producing division-by-division Insider files on remaining team needs. You'll need a subscription to read the entire NFC North post , but below I've taken a few excerpts and written a few things about them. Chicago Bears Football Outsiders' issue: Receiver Football Outsiders comment: "When we pointed to wide receiver as a major flaw for the current Bears early in the offseason, it was to the consternation of a lot of Bears fans who saw the offensive line as the larger issue. [...]

Chargers agreed to terms with DE/OLB Dwight Freeney, formerly of the Colts, on a two-year contract. [...]

Scott Feldman of the Chicago Cubs has been dominant at home this season, earning him FFToolbox [...]

Last year, I read an impassioned article by Tim Stafford about why vetoing trades should be disallowed, found here. The point of the article is that owners should be responsible enough to decide the fate of their team. After all, the NFL allows every trade and fantasy football is based on what a professional team would do (wink, wink). Remember this isn’t the NFL where every team is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. A dynasty league usually only requires a yearly fee or perhaps a two-year investment. Let’s explore a recently vetoed trade in one of the leagues I am in as I show why vetoes should be allowed. Less than a week ago, the trade of Matt Forte for Daryl Richardson, Jacquizz Rogers, Jarius Wright and 2013 rookie draft pick 4.23 got challenged. In this league, the protocol is to have both owners explain why they made the trade as it should give insight into their decision process before people decide to veto it. One of the owners (we will call him “Mike” to protect the innocent, received Forte) and posted Tim’s “Veto the Veto” article as his defense. The other owner (we will call him “John” to protect him as well) responded on the message board with, “I talked and traded offers with a number of teams and felt this was the best offer. Others seem to disagree and have the right to.” Their trade was reversed by a 23-8 vote. There were some great points brought up in the previous article. No owner knows any other owners long-term plans. Yes, this is true, but as with anything you need to look at the trade from both sides of the aisle. Forte is a top ten dynasty running back according to our site and without a doubt many other sites and [...]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Bills defensive end Mario Williams isn't any closer to getting back his $785,000 diamond engagement ring from his former fiancee, Erin Marzouki. [...]

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- The Chicago Bears and first-round draft pick Kyle Long agreed to a four-year contract Friday. [...]

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- New York Jets running back Mike Goodson is facing drug and weapons charges after he was found in a car with an acquaintance early Friday morning on Interstate 80 in New Jersey. [...]

If you didn't notice, the Cincinnati Bengals tipped their hand by drafting more offensive weapons to diversify their attack. This will benefit Andy Dalton in his third season. [...]

RENTON, Wash. (AP) -- Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season on Friday after the league announced he violated the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. [...]

The ongoing buzz regarding Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was that a fourth surgery on his forearm would be required. At this point that surgery is scheduled for Monday and barring any infection that would require a fifth surgery, Gronk is expected to be ready for Week 1. However, new reports state the fantasy football stud will quot;probably" also go under the knife for back surgery 3-4 weeks after Monday's procedure. FANTASY ANALYSIS: There are too many moving parts at this moment to gauge what all of this means for the 2013 season, but obviously there are concerns. It's worth noting that Gronkowski missed the entire 2009 season at Arizona because of a back injury. Of course Gronk also sat out five games last year and owners will need to make a major investment if they want the touchdown scoring weapon this upcoming campaign. [...]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Charles Woodson pushed back a visit to Oakland to pursue a reunion with the Raiders because extending his career in the NFL isn't his only mission. [...]

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent punter Chris Kluwe as a possible replacement for the departed Shane Lechler. [...]

Seattle defensive end Bruce Irvin has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances, the team reported Friday. Irvin will be eligible to return to the Seahawks' active roster on Monday, Sept. 30 following the team's Sept. 29 game against the Texans. Irvin is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. "I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said in a statement. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return." [...]

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys have significantly reduced right tackle Doug Free's salary after a difficult season that ended with him as a part-time player. [...]

A source with knowledge of the situation tells Profootballtalk.com that Rob Gronkowski will "probably" require back surgery after receiving a second opinion from Dr. Robert Watkins. [...]

NFL suspended Seahawks DE Bruce Irvin four games for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing substances. [...]

Robert Griffin III's (ACL, LCL surgery) father says his son has been throwing footballs since April and insists RG3's recovery remains "on cue." [...]

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Rob Gronkowski's potential back operation is considered "minor," and wouldn't necessarily sideline him any longer than his arm surgeries. [...]

The Bills official team website reports that new general manager Doug Whaley was asked in an appearance on the NFL Network about the chances of rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel being ready to start Week 1 of the regular season. Whaley didn’t rule out the possibility. “Time will tell,” said Whaley. ”He does have the work ethic and the leadership qualities that he’ll have a chance. But we believe competition brings out the best in everybody. Between him, Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson, even Jeff Tuel, we’re excited to see who comes out on top of that position battle.” Buffalo’s season opener is a home game against New England. [...]

Colts NT Josh Chapman has been deemed "completely healthy" after missing his rookie year with a torn left ACL and meniscus. [...]

New Bills GM Doug Whaley said he's keeping an open mind about starting No. 16 overall pick E.J. Manuel as a rookie. [...]

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Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug and weapon charges early on Friday morning, reports News 12 in New Jersey. According to the report, Goodson and another man were found intoxicated in a parked SUV along Route 80 in Denville, New Jersey, which is about 15 miles northwest of the Jets' headquarters in Florham Park. A loaded .45-caliber handgun with hollow-point bullets was found in the SUV and when the 25-year-old running back was transported to a hospital for evaluation, marijuana was discovered in his possession. The Jets signed Goodson to a three-year, $6 million contract on March 15 to compete for a starting job this season. Goodson's deal with the Jets included a $1.93 million guaranteed. CBSSports.com blogger Will Brinson researched that illegal possession of hollow point bullets is a "crime of the fourth degree" in New Jersey, which appears to be among the states with the strictest laws regarding the ammunition. [...]

The latest news, rumors and injury updates on key fantasy football players. [...]

Matt Ryan's receiving threats are well documented and the Falcons' run game got a strong upgrade in Steven Jackson. But the offensive line is undergoing some changes as center Todd McClure retired and Tyson Clabo was released. Ryan says not to worry about it. "We've got a guy in Peter Konz that played guard for us last year, but during practice, I got a lot of snaps with Peter. Joe Hawley has played a little bit for us when Todd’s been out for a series or two throughout games the last couple of years. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine with those guys in terms of the snap," Ryan told 790 The Zone in Atlanta. "It’s a little different and that takes some getting used to so it becomes something you don’t even think about. ... We've got Mike Johnson who has played a number of different roles for us. Then a young guy like Lamar Holmes, he’s a guy we drafted high last year that we feel really good about. He’s extremely talented and I think he’s beginning to learn the offense more and more and this offseason has been productive for him. I’m excited about those guys. I think they’re fully capable of coming in and playing good football for us. They just need to do it." [...]

The Raiders official team website reports that newly signed receiver Josh Cribbs hopes to have a role on offense as much as just being a return man. "Definitely. I feel like it’s a definite possibility for competition at that position," Cribbs said. "At this point, my job is to come in and be a special teams' guru to help solidify our special teams unit in the NFL and to raise our goals and our standards. If we do that, we will become an elite unit." Cribbs also addressed the health of his knee. "I’m doing well," Cribbs said. "If we were lining up to play football in June then it would be a hot topic. I will be ready to play football when it’s time to play football, and I think that is the important thing." [...]

News 12 New Jersey reports Jets RB Mike Goodson was arrested for marijuana and weapons possession early Friday morning. [...]

The Titans official website reports that receiver Kendall Wright has never felt better physically. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been,” Wright said. The second-year receiver is tipping the scales around 187 pounds, approximately 14 pounds lighter than when he arrived last year. Wright attributed part of the transformation to workouts at Baylor after his rookie campaign ended. A bigger difference maker, however, may have been his routes through grocery stores that passed by junk food. “For the most part, it wasn’t about the running,” Wright said. “I just started taking care of my body and eating right. I wasn’t eating right at all. I was eating a lot of junk food because that’s what I like and that’s what I’d buy, but I cut down on that and just started eating right. When you don’t buy it, you’re not going to eat it, so I just stopped buying it.” [...]

Days after his release from the Panthers, the Chargers have signed linebacker Thomas Keiser. [...]

For the better part of the past three and half seasons, Arian Foster has been a one-man fantasy football wrecking crew for the Houston Texans. Over that 51-game span, he’s posted 4,521 rushing yards (on 4.5 yards per carry) and scored a ridiculous 44 rushing touchdowns. When you add in his 167 catches, 1,531 receiving yards and six additional scores through the air, you have the definition of a fantasy stud. Owners who were lucky enough to land him late in their 2009 rookie draft or as an undrafted free agent later that Summer likely have at least one dynasty championship to show for it. While Foster is still just 26 years of age, there are some alarming signs of a deterioration in his skills, most notably his decreasing yards per carry average over the past three years. In fact, it took Foster a whopping 351 carries to get his 1,424 rushing yards last season. While he’s still firmly entrenched as the starter in Houston for the foreseeable future, we’ve all seen running backs decline rather quickly, so it’s wise to take a look at the roster of the Texans to see who may be next in line to be the lone star in Houston. With the Texans commitment to the run and success with previously unknown players like Foster and Domanick Davis (Williams), ignoring the depth chart behind Foster would be foolish. With that in mind, we break down the backup running back battle in Houston to see just who may be worth a proactive pickup in the case Foster continues to decline over the next few seasons. Ben Tate Tate is the obvious candidate to fill Foster’s shoes in the future.  After all, he was supposed to be the next big thing in Houston back in 2010 before a leg injury ended [...]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- A warrant has been issued for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson in South Florida. [...]

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Doug Whaley was promoted to take over as Buffalo Bills general manager, making the team's near top-to-bottom offseason overhaul complete. [...]

The latest news, rumors and injury updates on key fantasy football players. [...]

Rewind to a week before the draft and the number one rookie pick was Eddie Lacy in most instances.  Ever since an injury induced draft slide found him landing on the Green Bay Packers roster alongside Jonathan Franklin, he’s been slowly trickling down the dynasty rankings.  On the other hand, Montee Ball has seen his stock skyrocket since being selected in the second round by the Denver Broncos.  In March, he was being picked in mocks as the eighth rookie off the board.  Now, he’s a consensus top ten rookie pick with some taking him as early as second or third overall.  Chris Rohrer and I will debate the two for another edition of rookie dynasty debates. Chris’ Argument for Montee Ball It’s no use pretending Eddie Lacy is all bad and Montee Ball is all good.  We are talking about two running backs with successful college careers selected within three picks of each other in the NFL Draft.  In the interest of being fair and reasonable, I will just be as straightforward as possible and sum up why I think Ball is the better running back selection for your fantasy team. I will start by stating I respect a lot of what Lacy has shown on the football field.  He runs with a great combination of power, speed, balance, vision and even exudes some elusiveness with his patented spin move.  I know Mark is prepared to tell you all about his upside and positives, so let me share some of my concerns. Let’s start with injuries.  Mark will surely address these concerns and try to downplay their significance, but let’s take a closer look. While training for the NFL Scouting Combine, Lacy experienced a hamstring strain and later a small tear was found in the tissue of the surrounding area.  He was prevented [...]

Tim Heaney may be excited for Ryan Tannehill to Mike Wallace, but Cory has a man-crush on Lamar Miller's tantalizing upside. [...]

The latest news, rumors and injury updates on key fantasy football players. [...]

Welcome to another installment of “Over/Under” where I highlight a player and determine some projections based on past tendencies and then state whether I think they will go “over or under” those projections. The criteria will be different for each player based on position and situation. This week’s debate will focus on Redskins running back Alfred Morris. For our debating purposes we will put his line at 1,300 yards rushing and 9.5 touchdowns. If you’re active on Twitter, you have undoubtedly come across one of those debates that just flood your timeline. A debate that borders on being heated, but is well presented by both sides. One that sways the masses with each new tweet that pops up. That is what I’ve seen a few times now when someone brings up Alfred Morris’ value. People either completely buy-in and unequivocally support him or they view him as the most recent beneficiary on the long list of “system runners.” So. what can cause a heavily featured, second year running back who rushed for 1,610 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in his rookie year to have doubters? In a simple two word answer: Mike Shanahan. “Shananigans” have derailed more seasons than Terrell Owens in year two of his contract. The constant tinkering of ball carriers, evident by looking at his leading rusher each year since taking over as Head Coach of the Broncos in 1995, and his almost arrogant attitude of proving to everyone he’s smarter than them has ruined countless fantasy seasons as well. The names Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns, Tatum Bell, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Selvin Young, Ryan Torain, and Roy Helu are all cemented in fantasy football history because of him and none were first round picks. With the exception of Clinton Portis, who he traded for cornerback Champ Bailey after back-to-back 1,500 yard seasons, none were considered “special” talents [...]

The career of a player in a dynasty league can have an amazing number of both highs and lows. Some players seem destined for stardom during the early stages of their careers, then sink down into the nexus of the oblivion before you know it. Some of them show flashes that give you hope, if only to seemingly tease you enough to keep them on your roster . Such is the case with Felix Jones. Jones was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as the 22nd pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. You know, the same one that saw Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson, Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles all taken after that pick (in defense of the Cowboys, Darren McFadden and Jonathan Stewart were both taken ahead of Jones and neither has put together the type of consistency anyone is happy with so far). In his five year career with the Cowboys, Jones has shown both flashes of brilliance and a maddening tendency to get injured. In his 64 games played, he was able to post 2,728 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 569 carries for Dallas, good for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. On the surface, that looks pretty solid, but anyone who saw Jones play over the past few seasons can plainly see he’s lost that trademark burst that made him look like the next big thing at the position just five short years ago. The Eagles signed Jones to a one-year deal today in order to shore up their running back position. While some could point to this as a sign Chip Kelly may not be happy with Bryce Brown as the backup to LeSean McCoy, that’s likely not the case. McCoy is still just 24 years old and will be the unquestioned featured back in this new up tempo [...]

The latest news, rumors and injury updates on key fantasy football players. [...]

Welcome to the latest edition of the weekly mailbag. Send me your questions using the DLF Mailbag Form and I’ll include the best in future articles.  Remember the guidelines to have the best chance at seeing your question get posted: 1.) Dynasty questions only, no start/sit questions 2.) Help me help you by providing sufficient information about your league (e.g. line-up requirements/PPR or non-PPR/etc.), and include your first name and where you’re from. 3.) Your chance of getting your question answered is inversely proportional to the length of the question. Let’s get to it! 1.) In my 12-man, half-PPR keeper league, my final keeper comes down to one of Ryan Mathews, Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danario Alexander, Torrey Smith, Knowshon Moreno or Antonio Brown.  I have been thinking Mathews, as he still has a chance of being a three-down back, but he’s so fragile.  Nicks burned me last year, so my trust is thin.  I love Alexander, and Smith and Brown are looking like the go-to guys on their respective teams, but consistency worries me.  Any thoughts? – The W in Canuckistan Whenever I face a dilemma such as this, I always find it helpful to work backwards.  In other words, instead of directly picking one of these seven players to keep, let’s start by whittling the list down a bit.  Ahmad Bradshaw doesn’t currently have a team, so he’d be my first cut.  Knowshon Moreno likely just lost his job to incoming rookie Montee Ball, and Danario Alexander has yet to put together more than a half-season’s worth of fantasy relevance – therefore, they’re the next to go.  That leaves us with a much more manageable four-horse race. Next, I want to more closely scrutinize Antonio Brown and Torrey Smith.  Thus far in their brief careers, both have shown promise as complementary receivers, deferring to the respective veteran presences of [...]

Cory has assembled a preliminary release of a fantasy football player rankings for your viewing pleasure. They will be updated throughout the next few days to account for NFL Draft selections. [...]

The latest news, rumors and injury updates on key fantasy football players. [...]

The draft has come and gone and rookie camps are getting under way around the NFL.  Even more exciting is that new start-up dynasty drafts (as well as rookie drafts) are underway as well.  Below you’ll find my brief report on what I’m seeing in these drafts, from around the league and anything else that seems somewhat relevant in regards to the 2013 rookie class. Here at DLF we’ve kicked off two new DLF Dynasty leagues, one of the IDP variety and one of the non-IDP variety.  If you have already listened to our most recent DLF Dynasty Podcast, hosted by Ken Kelly and myself, some of this information will be rather redundant as we covered some of the information there.  However, I will be touching on some news and notes items not covered in the show as well. Without rehashing that which I’ve droned on about in depth already, the lack of top tier talent is playing out just as I expected in drafts thus far.  Tavon Austin has been chosen anywhere from rookie pick 1.01 to 1.06.  In a new start-up, I’m seeing him taken beginning in round five – this goes to show that even in rookie drafts, valuations are all over the board in 2013.  More than any other year in the recent past, it seems team need will be the primary determining factor as to where to draft a rookie, as opposed to the usual marquee value that normally defines the top spots –   that’s not a bad thing and it will make for a very interesting exercise in three years when we look back upon the 2013 class. Giovani Bernard, the rookie running back for the Bengals is coming off the board as early as 1.01, or as late as 1.05, in rookie drafts.  Even more [...]

For many people, May means springtime. If you live in parts of the country that receive snow, this means the color green is once again seen outside of your window, yard work begins and you can stop wearing so many clothes that you look like the “Stay-Puft” marshmallow man. May also means we are right in the middle of rookie fever. This is the time of year when every dynasty owner worth their DLF tee shirt should be able to name you 30 rookies who they are drooling over. For many of us, we’ve been able to name you 30 rookies that we’ve been drooling over for months, if not years! Most of us on staff have our personal favorites – guys who we love more than the rest. These often spark some serious debate as well because sometimes guys I love, others hate and vice versa. This mix of opinions and the debates about player value is what makes fantasy football and dynasty leagues so great. This year, one of the most debated players is Montee Ball. I’m here today to profess my love for the former Badger (as much as it hurts coming from a former Gopher) and state my case. I know I’m higher on him than most, which is why he’s been one of my picks in every single DLF Team mock rookie draft we have done. That’s fine by me! Let me start by saying this isn’t a new affliction for me that resulted from him being drafted by Denver. I’ve been on the Ball bandwagon ever since the middle of his 2011 season – let me tell you five reasons why. Reason #1: College Production Ball didn’t just produce in college. He is one of the most productive college running backs in the history of college football. Let me [...]

The latest news, rumors and injury updates on key fantasy football players. [...]

The Arizona Cardinals added a veteran passer this offseason to bolster their offense. Savvy fantasy owners will also add Carson Palmer to their rosters late in drafts this year. [...]