Fred Jackson Fantasy News
Bills extend Fred Jackson for two years
Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 2:28pm
RB Fred Jackson signed a two-year deal to remain with the Bills.
Jackson had one year left on a deal he signed in 2009. It averaged $1.87 million a year. His extension, through 2014, includes $8.7 million in new money, and that could rise to $11 million if he hits all incentives, a source with access to the contract told The News. The deal includes a $3 million signing bonus.
Jackson turned 31 in February. He will get paid for two years an average salary about equal to that of the Giants' Ahmad Bradshaw, who is the 15th highest-paid back in the league. Bradshaw got a four-year deal worth $4.5 million a year.
Jackson was second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage when he went down after 10 games with a broken fibula.
Through 10 games, Jackson was on fire, averaging 138 total yards and 0.6 TDs per game. His injury opened the door for C.J. Spiller to get starter's touches, and he didn't disappoint, racking up an average of 106 total yards and 0.8 TDs per game over the final six weeks. The Bills have one of the better rushing games in the league, but Jackson's value is depressed by the presence of Spiller, and vice versa.
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Monday, April 23, 2012, 4:17pm
Fred Jackson here for first day of workouts. Says contract issue "is not a concern at all." He understands Bills are focused on draft.
Steven Jackson: "I feel like I am in my prime."
Thursday, April 19, 2012, 5:46pm
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson feels like he's in his prime going his ninth season in the NFL.
Jackson has rushed for 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons, but he still feels like he has a lot of tread left on his tires.
"I feel like I am in my prime, I feel I am there right now," Jackson said. "I'm excited about what I can do in this offense. Coach (Jeff) Fisher has a track record of having some running backs, and I hope to add my name to it."
Fisher doesn't think Jackson, who will turn 29 on July 22, is wearing down.
"When a big back gets old, you look for one thing," Fisher said. "Is he getting hit? Or, is he getting tackled? Steven is still getting tackled, he's not getting hit. He has a lot left."
Fantasy owners have a tendency to jump the gun when it comes to writing off older RBs in an attempt to avoid the dreaded drop off season. Fred Jackson, Michael Turner and Steven Jackson were examples of this in 2011 and they all finished in the top 15 in total fantasy points. Jackson and Turner would represent good value in the 4th and 5th rounds, respectively, for teams that load up on WRs & QBs in the early rounds.
Monday, January 16, 2012, 6:47pm
Bills HC Chan Gailey on RBs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller: It’s a great situation we have at running back. We have two very good players. Hopefully we’ll end up with a two-headed monster which will be pretty strong.
Monday, January 9, 2012, 7:34pm
Bills GM Buddy Nix on Fred Jackson: "We want to extend Fred. I'd like for Fred to finish his career as a Bill. We're gonna try and get something done.
No progress on new deal for F-Jax
Thursday, January 5, 2012, 5:56pm
It's been a fairly public request by Bills RB Fred Jackson on his wishes to have a new contract in place before next season. A big part of the offense, and perhaps the most valuable player on the team, Jackson told Howard Simon and Jeremy White that there haven't been any negotiations between the two sides just yet.
"Well, as of right now, nothing," Jackson said. "But I have all the confidence in the world in Buddy [Nix] and I look forward to getting something done sooner rather than later. Hopefully we can get something moving here soon."
Still with a year left on his current contract, the Bills' top running back reiterated that he wanted to get a new deal done that would keep him with the franchise for the rest of his career.
"Without a doubt. I love all the guys in the locker room, the front office is great. The people in Buffalo are awesome. This is where I started my career and this is where I want to end it."
If not for an injury that cut his season six games short, Jackson would be coming off his most-productive season as a professional football player. He had 934 yards, 39 receptions for 442 yards and six touchdowns in just ten games this season. There was even a time during the year when he was on the short-list for MVP candidates in the NFL.
Stevan Ridley impresses in his rookie season
Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 7:01pm
It would be easy to overlook the contributions of Stevan Ridley this season in an offense featuring names like Brady, Gronkowski and Welker. After all, 53 running backs had more rushes than Ridley’s 87 carries, and Ridley only scored one touchdown on the season. However, evidence is mounting that the Patriots found a pretty solid player with the 73rd overall pick in last year’s draft. Ridley’s 5.1 yards per rush is 10th among the 56 running backs with at least 85 rushes. Ridley has been among the league’s most powerful runners, averaging 2.6 yards after contact per rush. That trails only Ben Tate, Isaac Redman and Donald Brown among running backs with at least 85 carries. However, Ridley was far more than just a niche power rusher, averaging a 20+ yard run once every 17.4 carries. That was the seventh-best average among backs with at least 85 carries, trailing Darren Sproles, DeAngelo Williams, Darren McFadden, C.J. Spiller, Matt Forte and Fred Jackson.
If he played for a different team, we'd be high on Ridley as a keeper/dynasty grab, but the Patriots have a reputation for shuffling their backfield around at a moment's notice.
Thursday, December 8, 2011, 3:59pm
Though Fred Jackson's injury has derailed the Bills' postseason chances, it allows the team to get a lengthy look at what C.J. Spiller can do.
"He's really shown us something," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "We're expecting a lot of big things out of him. And hopefully, we've just seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of his production and his explosiveness."
It helps that Spiller finally has a set role. A rash of injuries had Spiller splitting time at receiver, where the Bills lacked a bona fide deep threat. He struggled making the adjustment and has 21 catches for 116 yards.
Spiller's been far more comfortable lining up in the backfield.
"We're trying to find ways to improve our team. We're trying to find ways to propel us into next season," receiver David Nelson said. "Having C.J. and Fred back there, that one-two punch is going to add some things to our offense."
Bills WR Brad Smith promoted to WR2
Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 3:41pm
The Buffalo Bills have waited -- and waited -- for Brad Smith to provide a return on investment since making him one of their marquee free agent additions in the offseason.
In his homecoming Sunday against the New York Jets, Smith had his biggest impact of the season, finishing with four catches for a team-leading 77 yards and a touchdown.
With the season-ending injury to Donald Jones, Smith will have a new role the rest of the season: that as the No. 2 receiver. Gailey said this week there was "no question" Smith had shown him enough to stay in that role.
"For him to be able to practice all [last] week and really get a chance to understand the game plan and run those routes in practice, and for me and him to get on the same page, that was big for us," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "It's the first time he's gone into a game knowing he was going to get extensive time at receiver and that was a positive for us. As you saw, he's a playmaker. He's a guy that, being a quarterback, he's very quarterback-friendly. He's smart. He understands defenses and how to get open. That'll help us in the long run."
Smith is filling Donald Jones's role on the outside, while David Nelson will stay in the slot. We're expecting the Bills to throw the ball more with Fred Jackson out for the season, so Smith is worth a look in deep leagues.
Bills place Fred Jackson on IR
Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 11:15pm
According to Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News, Fred Jackson has been put on IR. Season over. He has a fracture to fibula bone.
C.J. Spiller gets first crack to replace him, with Johnny White backing him up. The Jets aren't a good matchup for Spiller, but if he produces a decent fantasy line, he would be startable against the Titans in Week 13.
Fred Jackson may be out for the year
Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 5:51pm
The Buffalo Bills' season took a major turn for the worse today with the news that star running back Fred Jackson may be out for the year with an injury to his lower right leg.
Bills coach Chan Gailey said Jackson is out for Sunday's key AFC East game against the New York Jets. And Gailey said Jackson might be done for the year.
"Fred's not good, and I know he'll miss this one," Gailey said. "Then we'll have to decide what happens from there."
Asked if there was a chance Jackson could be back before the end of the season, Gailey said: "I don't know about that. We'll have to wait and see."
Jackson could be placed on injured reserve due to the injury, which came late in the third quarter in Miami Sunday when the running back was hit hard from behind on his calf.
C.J. Spiller is the biggest beneficiary of this news, and his 5.5 ypc in 2011 is much better than his rookie season production (3.8 ypc). He's not a good start this week against the Jets, but has matchups with the Titans and Chargers in Weeks 13-14.
Fred Jackson ruled out against the Jets
Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 5:30pm
Bills HC Chan Gailey just confirmed Fred Jackson is OUT this week.
C.J. Spiller will get the start against an improving Jets rush defense. Spiller is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, but it's tough to get excited about his prospects for Week 12 given the matchup and his history of disappointment. Still, he is in line to get 15-20 touches, so that's something.
Monday, November 21, 2011, 10:00pm
The Bills are taking it day by day with Fred Jackson and he won't practice Wednesday, so that means CJ Spiller moves back to running back.

