Around the NFL
Sometime soon, we hope, there will be an NFL free agency period. And when it happens, it will be pretty wild, especially with indications that all four-year veterans not under contract will be free agents.
Because nobody knew exactly what the rules would be under a new CBA, or even if there'd be one, a lot of big names were allowed to reach this point. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco came up with a primer for the top 50 in a column last week. It's filled with big names: cornerbacks, offensive tackles, defensive linemen, and of course the receivers and runners that are the lifeblood of fantasy leagues.
From Prisco's list, I see 5 that are of the greatest interest to fantasy coaches.
1. Sidney Rice. If healthy, Rice is a dominant wideout who can help an entire offense -- quarterback, other receivers, opening things up for the running. The Vikings would like to bring him back and maybe they will. But if he were to go somewhere new, like Seattle, Cleveland, or even New England, he'd change those teams, and our evaluation of their other skill position guys.
2. Ahmad Bradshaw. He can be a No. 1 back wherever he goes, including if he stays with the Giants. If he leaves, Brandon Jacobs suddenly appears to be an underrated No. 1. I'm considering trading for Bradshaw in my dynasty league just on the chance he goes somewhere else with a chance to be a full-time guy.
3. DeAngelo Williams. This is the big one, since him leaving Carolina -- which makes the most sense -- creates the possibility of two top-10 running backs, him and Jonathan Stewart. All the reports have Carolina wanting to bring him back, however, which we can only hope doesn't actually happen.
4. Lance Moore. Moore could be a PPR steal in a different offense, maybe becoming that team's Wes Welker. Him leaving New Orleans would probably help his fantasy value, while also aiding the value of the players left behind.
5. Doug Free, Jared Gaither, Jermon Bushrod. OK I cheated, this is more than one player. But these three left tackles, should they leave their current teams, will likely negatively affect those teams' offenses, and quarterback protection, while greatly aiding the teams they go too. All three teams would like to bring these tackles back. It will be interesting if they fail.
The latest talk on a new CBA is that it will give teams a short period, perhaps 3 days or so, to attempt to sign their own free agents. That seems likely, and some of these players (e.g., Santonio Holmes with the Jets) will likely be locked up in that timeframe.
But after that, it should be a lot of fun. And who knows, maybe it will start as soon as next week or so.
--Andy Richardson
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