May 2017 4for4 Player News Articles

Bears RB Jordan Howard is noticeably slimmer than he was last season.

A season spent rumbling for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns didn’t do much damage to Howard’s strong frame. He said four or five massages during the practice week helped last season.

But taking the next step meant some changes were needed. His long runs need to be longer. His breaks during games need to be shorter.

“I don’t want to come off the field as much,” Howard said.

Howard’s offseason plan calls for weight loss but he also needs to maintain his strength and power, which make him imposing at the point of contact.

“I want to be like 225 [pounds] during the season, so I’m still trying to cut weight,” said Howard, who officially weighed 230 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2015.

Howard took over the lead back duties in Week 3. From that point on, he was the #7 fantasy back in the league, averaging 16.1 fantasy points per game. In terms of likely workload, he’s one of the safest plays on the board since he averaged 20.5 touches per game in the second half of the season. He averaged 116 total yards and 0.5 TD in that span.

James White has won over Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady and Co., with his steadiness and continued improvement, elevating from a player who was inactive in Super Bowl XLIX to becoming unquestionably the Patriots' go-to guy in the all-important "passing back" role. White played 30 snaps as a rookie in 2014; upped it to 290 in 2015; and played 425 last season.

As for 2017, White is one of three running backs who are considered locks to make the roster based on contract status, along with Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead. Lewis is also likely to be there, while second-year man D.J. Foster has also shown promise.

Because of how often the Patriots throw the ball, the "passing back" role is vital, with Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen among those who have played it well over the years.

White has now seized the spot with authority.

Coming off of an injury, Lewis played in 10 games last year, including the playoffs, and averaged 11.1 touches (8.9 carries, 2.2 catches) for 49 yards and 0.2 touchdowns, or 8.3 PPR fantasy points per game. He averaged 17.5 PPG in seven games in 2015, so his role was clearly reduced last year. White's role in the running game is minimal -- what's important is his role in the passing game after Lewis returned. In nine games without Lewis, White averaged 3.7 catches for 32 yards and 0.33 TD per game. After Lewis returned, White averaged 3.4 catches for 32 yards and 0.33 TD in the nine games leading up to the Super Bowl, so it appears that his passing down role remained mostly unchanged after Lewis returned. Of course, White had a huge performance in the Super Bowl, turning 20 touches (14 catches) into 139 yards and three touchdowns, and it appears that he's now entrenched as the passing down back. The Patriots don't seem inclined to give him as many carries as they would Lewis, though his 4.3 YPC in 2016 was an improvement. White is currently the 50th RB off the board in early MFL10s (PPR drafts), and he's a fantastic value in that format if this report that he has "seized" the passing down role is true. There’s always the chance that the Patriots turn back to Lewis if White gets a case of fumble-itis, but White should have enough leash to overcome a turnover or two.

As the Bills implement a new offense, questions remain regarding whether running back LeSean McCoy will be able to adjust his running style to the one-cut approach that coordinator Rick Dennison employs. There’s no question about McCoy’s level of excitement regarding the new air attack in Buffalo.

“The running backs getting the ball in the passing game,” McCoy told reporters on Thursday. “That’s something I’ve been a part of, but it’s been a while since I’ve actually got the ball a lot in the air — we do a lot of that. [Rick Dennison is] big on that, you look at all the successful running backs that’s been in his offense, from Arian Foster who I’m a big fan of, he did it on the ground and in the air.”

Dennison's offenses in Denver didn't feature the running back in a big way over the last two seasons, but while he was the OC in Houston, Arian Foster averaged 3.1 receptions per game from 2011 to 2013. That's a 50-catch pace, which happens to be how many receptions McCoy had last year under offensive coordinators Greg Roman and Anthony Lynn. In other words, we're not expecting a sea change in McCoy's involvement in the passing game. (McCoy does have big upside as a receiver -- he caught 78 passes in his second season in Philly.)

Signed to a five-year, $36 million contract last offseason, Coby Fleener was supposed to serve as another dynamic playmaker in an offense full of them. At times he was. Mostly, he was just solid, catching 50 passes for 631 yards with three touchdowns.

Could it have been better?

“I think it absolutely could have been better,” he said. “I would have loved it to be better.”

And he thinks it will. Instead of trying to conquer a new playbook and new verbiage, he’s instead relearning what he already knows and feels comfortable with his role. Fleener believes that should make a big difference heading into his second season with the team.

“I think anytime you’re trying to learn a new offense, trying to learn a language, trying to learn something of that nature, going through it under pressure, going through it for a year really helps,” he said.

Fleener was the #12 TE in standard formats and #15 in PPR, so he doesn't have to improve too much to get into the TE1 conversation. He's currently going in the 13th round of early PPR drafts after going in the 6th round last season. He looks like a post-hype sleeper.

Laquon Treadwell was in the team's top three-receiver sets during the Vikings' first open OTA on Wednesday, working with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. And after practice, Shurmur sounded impressed with what he's seen from Treadwell since the Vikings welcomed players back into their building last month.

"He’s had a great, in my opinion, five-and-a-half weeks," Shurmur said. "He came back and he was really on point with what he’s supposed to be doing mentally. He’s been out here competing and doing a nice job running routes and catching the ball. Understanding where he fits in the running game and who to block. To this point, we’ve been really pleased with his progress based on a year ago."

Treadwell caught just one pass as a rookie, though it sounds as if he has made a lot of progress as he heads into his sophomore season. Given his disastrous rookie year, we wouldn't expect him to outproduce either Diggs or Thielen, but he'll have a chance to contribute as the team's WR3 if he can beat out Jarius Wright and Michael Floyd.

Charles Clay has had chronic knee trouble since joining the Buffalo Bills as a highly paid restricted free agent in 2015.

The problem has persisted during the team's current offseason workouts, and it is something that coach Sean McDermott is worried about.

"We are concerned with Charles' knee situation," McDermott told reporters Thursday before the Bills took the field for an OTA workout. "It's something we have to manage moving forward in order to have him on the field for us, which is important moving forward. He's a weapon for us."

McDermott did say that Clay has taken part in drills, but the team is being cautious about how much work he receives.

Hobbled by injuries most of the year, Clay finished strong, catching 21 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns in his final four games. He was the #12 TE in the second half of the season and averaged the 9th-most targets in that span. His ADP is unlikely to rise given this report.

In the Redskins' second organized team activity session, Doctson showed how he might be able to help the offense during the season. All offseason, teammates and coaches have singled him out. Nobody doubted his ability last year -- he was the 22nd pick in the 2016 draft after all. But the Achilles' problems limited him to two games. He's now healthy.

"He's been impressive," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "The big thing for him is the confidence in his Achilles, and I think he's got that right now. The past two days he's looked better and better. It looks like he can run down the field. He made a good catch down the sideline today and [he has] strong hands, we know that about him."

The problem last season was that Doctson twice returned after a layoff only to have the issue resurface. That's why, for now, there's some finger-crossing going on at Redskins Park.

"Now we've just got to continue to put one day after another after another," Gruden said. "If he does have soreness, we have got to taper off for him, but right now, so far, so good. I like the way he looks, like the way he runs and love the way he catches."

With Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson gone via free agency, there are a ton of targets up for grabs in Washington. A good portion will go to free agent signee Terrelle Pryor, but it appears that the team is counting on Doctson picking up the rest of the slack. Time will tell if his Achilles is good to go.

Marcus Mariota, who suffered a fractured fibula on December 24 at Jacksonville, was on the field for the first of 10 organized team activities on Tuesday. Mariota did everything in the walk-through, and in individual drills. He also worked in the 7-on-7 period.

“It felt great,” Mariota said after practice. “Four months ago I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to participate in OTAs, and being able to do some of the drills … I was very happy and very grateful. It was fun to be out there with the guys, and I enjoyed it.”

Titans coach Mike Mularkey said he’s getting closer to full speed, but he’s not there yet.

“We’ll take it day by day with Marcus,” Mularkey said. “He’d like to do more. He looks like he can do more, but it’s May, so we have time.”

In his first 27 NFL games, Mariota has averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game, which would have extrapolated to about what Dak Prescott scored last year as the league’s #6 fantasy quarterback. When his six-attempt game against the Patriots (from his rookie year) is removed, his average jumps to 18.3 FP. With the addition of Corey Davis, the #5 overall pick and an instant upgrade over Tajae Sharpe, Mariota now has Davis, Rishard Matthews, Delanie Walker and another draft pick, likely slot receiver Taywan Taylor, to throw to. Mariota looks like a very good value in the 9th round.

When the Ravens jumped on signing running back Danny Woodhead this offseason, the biggest question about the veteran running back was whether he would be healthy.

Fast forward to the start of Baltimore’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs), and Woodhead took the field for the team’s first practice.

“Yes, I’m back. No restrictions,” Woodhead said. “I’m just playing football now. I haven’t been thinking about needing to do stuff to rehab it because I’m healthy now. It’s exciting to get football going.”

Woodhead’s knee injury came on Sept. 18 last year in a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Woodhead is an elite pass-catcher and an underrated runner. He's likely to form a committee with Kenneth Dixon, once he returns from suspension. Terrance West currently sits atop the Ravens' depth chart, though Woodhead holds more value in PPR formats.

Jay Ajayi is entering 2017 as a full-time starter for the first time in his NFL career. Dolphins head coach Adam Gase recently said Ajayi could get as many as 350 rushing attempts if the running back stays healthy and plays all 16 games, which is 90 more attempts than last season.

"I'm ready for it," Ajayi said Tuesday during the opening of Miami's organized team activities. "I prepare myself every season to take a huge workload and be able to carry the team, and I think I'm ready for that."

Since 2010, 20 running backs have surpassed the 300-carry mark, and they all played at least 15 games, so staying healthy will be key for Ajayi. Those 20 backs averaged 284.3 fantasy points (PPR), or 17.8 FP per game. That's about what Devonta Freeman scored and averaged as last year's #6 fantasy back. From Week 5 on, Ajayi averaged 16.1 FP and 20.2 carries per game. That puts him at a 258-point, 323-carry pace over a full, 16-game season.

Kevin White's status will continue to trigger public consternation until he proves himself durable and, beyond that, capable of being a difference-maker worthy of the seventh overall pick in 2015.

After a stress fracture in his left tibia ruined his rookie season and a left fibular spiral fracture and severe ankle ligament damage cost him 12 games last season, White spent the last few months working to align his stride.

Following two leg surgeries, is he the same downfield threat the Bears expected when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds more than two years ago? The Bears don't know. Tuesday offered no reasons for optimism, and although quarterback Mike Glennon indicated White practiced Monday, Fox declined to say whether White will return to the field during OTAs.

Related players: Cameron Meredith

We already have Cameron Meredith ranked ahead of White, and that will continue, especially if White's injury woes spill into the summer. He needs to be a full go at this point if he hopes to overtake Meredith.

Injured on the first day of rookie minicamp 12 days ago, Los Angeles Chargers first-round pick Mike Williams did not practice for a second straight week due to tightness in his back.

Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn told reporters on Tuesday that he's hopeful the rookie receiver can return to the field next week, but with less than a month left in the team's offseason program, the Clemson product's development is taking a hit.

"I'd like to see him out there next week because he's getting behind right now, and we've got to get him back out on the field," Lynn said. "If he wasn't a rookie it would be different. But he has so much to learn, and some of this you can only learn on the field."

It's not a good sign when a rookie misses the offseason program. Williams has a difficult climb up the depth chart with Tyrell Williams, Travis Benjamin and Dontrelle Inman in the way. MIssing practice won't help.

Ezekiel Elliott will be held out of practice again today after suffering a head injury as a passenger in a minor car accident Sunday night.

This is probably nothing to worry about with regard to Elliot's Week 1 availability, but head trauma is always worth monitoring.

Jets WR Eric Decker in red no contact jersey at start of OTAs.

Decker is coming off of hip and shoulder surgeries so it's a great sign that he's participating in OTAs. He should be fine for camp and Week 1, though the Jets have serious issues at quarterback.

For what it's worth, Doug Martin has been first to go in most of the running back drills at Buccaneers OTAs today. Jacquizz Rodgers second, Charles Sims third.

Martin is suspended for the first three games of the season, but has drawn rave reviews from the Bucs coaching staff and front office, and it doesn't appear that he's lost his spot on the depth chart.

Dolphins beat writer Armando Salguero:

Today, on the eve of the Dolphins beginning their Organized Team Activities (OTAs), there is one player coaches believe has taken a significant jump from what they saw last year. He has become one of, if not the most improved player, in the early part of the team’s offseason conditioning program and coaches are hopeful that will continue and carry over to the OTAs ...

Then to training camp.

And the preseason.

And the 2017 regular season.

DeVante Parker is that player.

I am told by multiple sources Parker has been so impressive this offseason he has coaches hopeful he can finally develop into the dominant threat the Dolphins were expecting when they drafted him in the first round in 2015.

In 15 games, Parker was the #50 WR last season, catching 56 passes for 744 yards and four touchdowns on 88 targets. He was on the injury report for six of those games (3.3-39-0.33, 9.2 PPG in PPR formats) and healthy for nine (4.0-57-0.20, 11.0 PPG). Those "healthy" PPG numbers are about what Anquan Boldin scored as 2016's #41 fantasy receiver. The article discusses how Parker is more mature this offseason and seems to be taking care of his body. If this translates to a healthier season, he should produce at a higher level in 2017.

Tight end Ladarius Green signed a four-year contract with the Steelers last March, but he won’t be seeing the final three years of it.

The Steelers announced on Thursday that they have released Green. The move, which will clear just over $2.6 million in cap room, came with the failed physical designation, which isn’t a great surprise given how Green’s one season with the team played out.

Green had ankle surgery last March and did not play his first game with the Steelers until Week 10 of the regular season. He then suffered a concussion in Week 15 and missed the rest of the year. That concussion came after concerns were raised during the offseason about how long it took Green to recover from a previous head injury.

Related players: Jesse James, Xavier Grimble

This leaves the Steelers with Jesse James, Xavier Grimble and David Johnson at tight end. James averaged 7.2 PPG (PPR) in the 10 games that Green missed last season. Those are low-end TE2 numbers in 12-team leagues.

The early signs were encouraging from Bills second-round pick Zay Jones. But Jones sustained an injury in Tuesday’s OTA practice and did not participate Wednesday and again today (Thursday).

The Bills have confirmed that Jones sustained a knee injury and is week to week. It has been described as a knee sprain.

Jones has a great opportunity to see big snaps immediately, but missing multiple weeks due injury is obviously not a good thing.

Eagles and RB LeGarrette Blount agree to terms on a one-year deal.

It looked like Blount might return to New England, but he'll join Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey in Philadelphia. Ryan Mathews is still on the roster, though the working assumption is that he'll eventually be a cap casualty. Blount is a good fit personnel-wise for the Eagles, and his arrival is bad news for Smallwood and Pumphrey, who are vying for touches alongside Sproles. In New England, the signing is very good news for Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead, who figure to replace Blount's production in the lineup. Gillislee looks like a terrific value since he's likely the goal line back.

Redskins RB Samaje Perine makes his strength and downhill running ability immediately obvious, but he can turn a corner remarkably well for someone 5-foot-11 and 234 pounds. If he can prove himself as an asset in the passing game, Perine could challenge Rob Kelley for the top running back job in the fall.

“You see him out there running around – were you impressed?” Jay Gruden asked after practice Saturday. “Yeah, so was I. I like guys who come in here and love football and he does. He’s a very smart guy. You can tell that he’s going to be a very hard worker and, of course, he runs hard.

“You can’t see that in shorts, obviously, but you could see that his pad level is always down, he’s got good vision, he’s got good feet in the hole and he caught the ball well.”

ESPN beat writer John Keim predicted that Perine would usurp Rob Kelley and be the RB1 by Week 1. If so, he'll be a terrific value at his current draft position in the 9th round.

Back on the field as the Cardinals begin preparing for the 2017 season, John Brown is out to prove he's the same receiver who had 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015. It hasn't taken long to convince coach Bruce Arians, who said Brown was running routes Tuesday that he never ran last year because of his health issues.

"He doesn't look like he looked last year," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "He just has a different energy about him. He's heavier. He's stronger. He looks more explosive than he did last year, I think, with all the health issues he had last year.

"He's got that smile to him. He's having fun. He's enjoying it. It's not a grind just getting through routes on air. I'm looking forward to having him back healthy and the way he is right now because he's a special player for us. Dealing with all the things he did last year was tough emotionally, obviously physically, but he just seems emotionally just in a better place."

Heading into the 2016 season, Brown was one of the best up-and-coming receivers in the league. He was 25 years old and coming off of a 65-1003-7 season. If he’s fully healthy again, he’s going to be a great value in the middle rounds. He’s currently going in the 9th round after having an ADP in the 5th round at this time last year.

ESPN beat writer John Keim projects that Samaji Perine will start Week 1:

Samaji Perine: Rob Kelley ended last season as the starter, but he’ll be a complementary piece to Perine, a fourth-round power back who averaged 6.0 yards per carry at Oklahoma.

Perine is a bulldozer when he gets a head of steam going and is one of the strongest running backs in the draft. He put up 30 reps on the bench press at the combine and punishes would-be tacklers. He’s had some issues with his ankles that could be concerning for him, but he flashes the ability to be a three-down back with advanced pass-blocking skills for a young player and soft hands. Perine isn’t going to be a downfield threat and won’t ever be a guy who threatens teams with his speed, but his size and natural running instincts should make him a starter in the league, and it looks like he'll have a chance to usurp Kelley this summer.

The NFL has denied Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon's application for reinstatement, a league source told ESPN's Pat McManamon, confirming a report by USA Today Sports.

He applied in early March. He can reapply for reinstatement in the fall.

Gordon's saga continues, but it may be nearing its end. He hasn't played since 2014, and doesn't look like he's any closer to returning to action. This news is a boost for both Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman, who should see the majority of targets in Cleveland.

Michael Floyd's short foray into unemployment has ended.

The maligned former first-round pick is signing with the Minnesota Vikings after a quiet free agency, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the situation. Floyd, 27, most recently played with the New England Patriots. He was dismissed from the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 14 -- two days after he was arrested on drunken driving charges in Scottsdale, Arizona.

At one point, Floyd was a 24-year-old receiver with good size (6'3") and speed (4.47 40-yard dash) who was coming off of a 65-catch, 1,041-yard sophomore season with the Cardinals. Since then, his targets dropped for four consecutive seasons and the Cardinals ultimately cut him. He'll get a fresh start in Minnesota, though he'll have to compete with another first round pick (Laquon Treadwell) for playing time.

According to a report from Andy Slater of WINZ-AM, Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is being charged with resisting arrest with violence and also obstruction of justice after an incident at a music festival in Miami.

Anderson had a solid season for the Jets after making the team as an undrafted rookie from Temple. He caught 42 passes for 587 yards and two touchdowns.

Anderson is expected to play starter's snaps this year with Brandon Marshall gone. We'll have to wait and see how serious this incident turns out to be.

I think there will be a shift from last season, which is to say Bilal Powell will become the lead back.

Powell rushed for 411 yards over the final four games, third in the NFL, opening a lot of eyes around the league -- and probably some on his own coaching staff. Curiously, he was an afterthought at the start of the year as Matt Forte was used as the workhorse, but Powell -- perhaps because his legs were fresh -- came on strong when Forte went down with a knee injury.

Forte finished with more offensive touches than Powell -- 248 to 189 -- but Powell was on the field more than Forte -- 51 percent to 47 percent.

Look for the "touches" to flip in the coming season, with Powell moving ahead.

Powell was the #32 RB through Week 13, before he took over as the lead back, so he should have flex value even if Cimini's prediction doesn't come true. In the final four games, he averaged 23.7 fantasy points (PPR) and was second only to LeVeon Bell at his position. Powell is currently the 30th RB off the board, so there's quite a bit of value here.

Jay Cutler has decided to transition from the field to the broadcast booth, and will now work for Fox Sports.

According to Adam Schefter: "Before deciding to go to FOX, Jay Cutler had real discussions with Jets, and less-promising ones with Texans. Cutler opted for analyst role."

John Brown’s health issues in 2016 plagued him beyond the football field. That’s where it was noticeable to the world, with his yardage falling in half from his breakout 2015 campaign and eight games where he had one or zero catches. But his problems wouldn’t even let him take walks with his daughter, which drove him crazy, and he wasn’t the happy guy his family knew him to be.

It wasn’t just exhaustion but pain that was bothering him. The long-talked about sickle cell issues figured into the equation. But then, Brown said, they found a cyst on his spine after the final game of the season. Once the cyst was taken care of, “I was back to normal,” he said.

“I most definitely feel confident,” Brown said of the upcoming season. “Since they found out the situation, my body has been feeling better. I am doing the usual, which I couldn’t do when I was going through this process.”

Heading into the 2016 season, Brown was one of the best up-and-coming receivers in the league. He was 25 years old and coming off of a 65-1003-7 season. If he’s fully healthy again, he’s going to be a great value in the middle rounds. He’s currently going in the 9th round after having an ADP in the 5th round this time last year.

Broncos and Jamaal Charles now have agreed to terms, per source.

Charles wasn’t too efficient in 2016 (40 yards on 12 carries in three games), but he was coming off of a torn ACL, and eventually had to undergo another operation to get the meniscus trimmed in the same knee. He also had a “clean-up” procedure on his right knee. In his previous 20 games from 2014-15, he averaged 93.6 total yards on 16.9 touches en route to 18.1 FP per game. That’s more than what Devonta Freeman averaged as last year’s #6 RB. Charles turned 30 last December. If he's reasonably healthy, he'll serve as C.J. Anderson's backup. If he's fully healthy, he could easily win the job outright.

Giants Ben McAdoo said, surprisingly, that Paul Perkins is the starting running back. That is not a surprise, but McAdoo saying it is a surprise.

Perkins averaged 15.4 touches for 67 total yards over the final five games of the year, and with Rashad Jennings out of the way, Perkins will have the chance to be the starter heading into 2017.