Fred Jackson Fantasy News

Monday, January 16, 2012, 1:47pm

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, 2:34pm

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, 12:56pm

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, 2:01pm

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.

Thursday, December 8, 2011, 10:59am

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, 10:41am

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."

Bills place Fred Jackson on IR
Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 6:15pm

According to Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News, Fred Jackson has been put on IR. Season over. He has a fracture to fibula bone.

Fred Jackson may be out for the year
Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 12:51pm

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.

Fred Jackson ruled out against the Jets
Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 12:30pm

Bills HC Chan Gailey just confirmed Fred Jackson is OUT this week.

Monday, November 21, 2011, 5:00pm

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.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 9:04pm

Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson has been one of the most underpaid performers in the NFL this year and has been vocal about wanting a new contract.

Jackson told a national radio show that he's had a face-to-face meeting with Bills general manager Buddy Nix.

The meeting was said to be a healthy one between the two, and Jackson came away confident that a deal would get done.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 11:17am

Running back Fred Jackson is in some pretty exclusive company, statistically speaking, through the Buffalo Bills' first seven games.

Jackson's total of 1,074 scrimmage yards is the second most in franchise history over that time period, trailing only O.J. Simpson, who had 1,106 in 1975. Only Simpson, who also had 1,073 in 1973, and Thurman Thomas, who had 1,032 in 1991, have topped 1,000 yards in seven games.

"That's great company to be in. As football players, nobody did it better than those guys on this team," Jackson said.

"That's a great breath to be mentioned in, two guys of that caliber. Hopefully I can continue to perform at a high level."

In two of the previous three seasons when a Bills running back has cracked 1,000 yards in seven games, they went on to be the league's MVP: Simpson in '73 and Thomas in '91.

Jackson's 1,074 scrimmage yards are just 17 behind the league-leading 1,091 compiled by Bears running back Matt Forte.

"I think it's all been said before. He catches, he runs, he protects. He's doing an amazing job for our football team right now," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "We wouldn't be where we are without him, I know that."

Gailey said he's never coached a player before playing as well as Jackson has for such an extended period of time.

"Not doing everything that he is doing, no. I've never had one," the coach said.

Saturday, October 22, 2011, 10:47am

Buffalo Bills running back/wide receiver C.J. Spiller had a season-high in last week's game against the New York Giants. Not in yards, but plays.

Spiller was on the field for 35 snaps, by unofficial count, by far his most this season. He figures to get that many or more snaps at least the next several weeks as he fills in at wideout due to injuries.

Spiller's move to receiver was precipitated by the injury to starting receiver Donald Jones, out four to six weeks with an ankle sprain. Jones said he's healing fast. The Bills figure to need Spiller to see extended action at receiver at least the next two games and maybe more.