Eric Decker is one of the biggest names set to hit the free agent market next month, and "big" also describes the money which at least one team is certain to throw at him. In various stories circulating online, reporters have speculated $9 million a year, $10 million a year, and other huge numbers are headed the 26-year-old's way.
Those numbers seem a little outlandish for a former third-round pick (though he'd have been drafted higher but for a foot injury) whose two 1,000-yard seasons have come as a No. 2 in a Peyton Manning-led passing attack. Should Decker, for example, sign with a receiver-needy team like the Jets, who can afford to spend big, would he really be expected to approach those numbers? Doubtful.
Other teams that have been tossed about, though, are New England and San Diego, both with top-flight passing attacks and uncertainty on the receiving depth chart.
Listening to Decker himself, it's tough to figure out where his future lies. He says he "needs to do what's best for his family," which could be interpreted as chasing the money, but also that "it's not all about the money...it's about going to work and having fun every day." Decker probably won't command the biggest contract from the Broncos, but he'll have more fun working with Manning in Denver than joining the media circus in New York with Geno Smith throwing to him.
Fantasy-wise, best-case for Decker is returning to Denver, even as the No. 2. Second-best would be signing as the No. 1 with a pass-happy team like the Patriots (who aren't certain to bring back Julian Edelman). Realistically, though, he'll go where the money is greenest, which might be neither of those teams.
As far as mining fantasy value, it could be most interesting to see who replaces Decker in Denver. That player probably isn't currently on Denver's roster. Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and ? That's the player whose fantasy value will see the biggest uptick once Decker signs somewhere.
--Andy Richardson