February 2017 4for4 Player News Articles

The Chiefs are releasing RB Jamaal Charles, the expected move given his cap number and their signings. He’s healthy after two surgeries.

Charles is on the wrong side of 30 and is coming off of two knee surgeries. Still, other than 2016, he has averaged at least 5.0 YPC every season and should receive a good amount of attention on the free agent market. The move boosts Spencer Ware's stock, as he's the likely RB1 in Kansas City, pending the draft and free agency.

Vikings announce they will not exercise the option on Adrian Peterson's contract.

Peterson turns 32 in March, so it remains to be seen how much gas he has left in the tank at this point in his career. He gained just 72 yards on 37 carries (1.9 YPC) in 2016, but gained 1,485 yards (4.5 YPC) the year before.

Steelers and Antonio Brown have reached agreement on deal to make him highest paid WR in NFL, per sources.

Brown has finished as the #1 WR (PPR) in three straight seasons.

Titans HC Mike Mularkey was asked about the team's running back situation.

“(Derrick Henry) is an important part of our offense,’’ Mularkey said of Henry, a Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama who was a second-round pick by the Titans in last year’s draft. “Obviously DeMarco Murray is the guy. He has shown he is the guy and he will continue to be that guy.

“But I will say this: Each week we put a different game plan together. We spend a lot of hours preparing to play the opponent. And Derrick, and as you saw, some games he was more involved than others. And a lot is based on how we are going to attack the opponent. We know (Derrick) is very special. He is going to have a long, great career here and he is going to be a big part of our offense next year, as he was this year.

“I like we have a one-two punch to smash it down peoples’ throats to be honest with you.”

In the first eight games, Murray averaged 116 total yards and 1.0 TD per game (21.4 PPG), but in the second half of the season he averaged just 89 yards and 0.5 TD (15.0 PPG). Part of the reason was Derrick Henry’s expanded role down the stretch (6.6 rushing attempts in Weeks 1-8 and 9.5 attempts from Weeks 9-17). Murray’s numbers are still solid, but he doesn’t look like a 1st round pick in 2017.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who underwent season-ending back surgery in December, told ESPN's Cari Champion that he "no doubt" will be ready for the start of the 2017 season.

It remains to be seen whether Gronkowski will truly be ready to go Week 1. Last season, he was seemingly expected to play at the start of the season (after suffering a hamstring injury in mid-August), but ended up missing the first two games and was limited for two additional weeks once he returned. He's the #1 fantasy tight end when healthy, but he can't seem to stay healthy.

The Chiefs have signed RB C.J. Spiller.

Spiller has bounced around the league since leaving the Bills. If he makes the team, he'll serve as depth behind Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles.

Bills' Tyrod Taylor, who has $27.5M option bonus due March 11, has been medically cleared from last month’s groin surgery, per team source.

Taylor was a 4for4 favorite in 2016 until Sammy Watkins’ injury and he STILL produced top 8 numbers with Watkins in and out of the lineup. He was a top 10 quarterback on a per game basis in 2015, so he has now produced starter-caliber numbers in two straight seasons. His age 26-27 numbers closely compare to Russell Wilson’s, so we’re very interested to see where he lands this offseason.

The Dolphins are acquiring TE Julius Thomas for a late-round 2017 draft pick.

Thomas is reunited with his former offensive coordinator, Adam Gase, in Miami. While in Denver, Thomas averaged 4.2 catches for 49 yards and 0.92 TD (14.6 PPR fantasy points) in 26 games under Gase. Since then, he has averaged 3.6 catches for 35 yards and 0.43 TD (9.7 PPR fantasy points) in 21 games. Injuries have been an issue, but Thomas is entering his age-29 season and is a major threat in the red zone.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is walking on a treadmill, but will probably be held out of OTAs as he continues to recover from a broken fibula suffered late last season, according to head coach Mike Mularkey.

Mike Mularkey spoke on 104.5 The Zone’s “Mid-day 180” show on Wednesday, giving an update on his quarterback’s health. Mariota suffered the injury on a sack in a December loss to Jacksonville, and underwent surgery. A plate was inserted into the leg around the ankle area to help the healing process. His recovery time was projected to be around five months.

Mularkey said the Titans would be overly cautious in how they handle Mariota’s return from the injury.

“I can’t give you specific dates. I think we’re gonna be really smart about how we handle him and probably be over-cautious. The later probably the better. We need him for September,” Mularkey said. “You guys know Marcus like I do. He’s probably gonna over train to come back as quickly as he can, and we’re probably gonna have to put the reins on him to hold back a little bit.”

Mularkey said he did not expect Mariota to be a participant in OTAs from a precautionary standpoint.

“Probably camp (for his return). I don’t really see OTAs right now, unless he has a quick recovery,” the coach said.

Mariota has averaged 17.6 fantasy points through his first two seasons, which is the 7th-highest average for a quarterback in his first two seasons.

Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates underwent sports hernia surgery, according to a source, repairing an injury that was not listed on the team's injury report in 2016.

The source, however, said the injury did not affect Coates' practice participation throughout the year and was more of a nuisance.

On Monday night, Coates tweeted his displeasure at undergoing surgery on his pelvis, then confirmed to inquiring fans that his surgery repaired a groin injury.

Coates was the #16 WR in PPR formats through the first five weeks, thanks in large part to his 6-139-2 outing against the Jets in Week 5. (He was the #44 WR through Week 4.) He then struggled with two broken fingers and apparently a groin injury for the remainder of the season, reeling in just two of 18 targets for 14 total yards. With Martavis Bryant likely to return in 2017, Coates will be in a reserve role for the Steelers.

The Giants’ salary cap cuts will include running back Rashad Jennings, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan reported Monday.

Per previous reports, the Giants will also cut veteran wide receiver Victor Cruz.

Related players: Paul Perkins

Jennings' release opens the door fully for Paul Perkins to become the RB1 in 2017. He averaged 15.4 touches for 67 total yards over the final five games of the year.

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer confirmed that he will return for the 2017 season.

Palmer finished as the #19 QB (#18 in PPG) after a #5 finish the year before. He threw nine fewer touchdowns and three additional interceptions. It appears that Palmer's best fantasy days are behind him.

Alabama OC Steve Sarkisian is poised to replace Kyle Shanahan as Falcons' new OC, as @Schultz_Report reported.

Among 128 FBS schools, Alabama was 34th in average yards and 16th in points per game in 2016, though Sarkisian only took over the OC job after Lane Kiffin left in January.

Just spoke to Larry Fitzgerald, who said he's definitely returning in 2017 to play the final year on his contract.

Fitzgerald finished #10 in PPR formats, but averaged just 13.0 FP over the final eight games after averaging 17.9 in the first half of the season. Early ADP has him going in the 5th round, so he should continue to be a good value at that point in fantasy drafts, especially in PPR formats.