Fantasy Football News | Page 1261

Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is back.

"This was my first time actually sprinting and actually doing full movement things," Taylor, who had groin surgery shortly after the 2016 season, told the team's official site after voluntary workouts on Monday. "I've felt great since the surgery and the doctors here and the training staff have done a great job of getting me to 100 percent and I feel real good. I feel very explosive."

His comments are good news on multiple levels. Taylor wasn't treated like a face-of-the-franchise quarterback down the stretch in 2016 and the new regime dragged their feet on re-working his deal for 2017. He is still paid less than Mike Glennon, Brock Osweiler, Sam Bradford and others despite one Pro Bowl season under his belt.

Mine [expectations for a Kirk Cousins deal] are rather low. Some people I know think it should be even lower. Maybe it changes, but that's the feeling now. I know the Redskins say they'll get a deal done, but I also think they've waited too long to make an offer that tempts Cousins. That said, they've still been willing to pay him $44 million over two years. It's not as if he's been done wrong financially thanks to the franchise tag. Still, at some point it won't be about the money for him; if free, he can get a similar deal elsewhere.

The story said their is really no update on the contract. Word surfaced the team offered Cousins around $20 million per year for five years on top of the 2017 franchise tag but the guarantees were low. The story went on to say at this point, there's more incentive for Cousins to wait and see how things play out in Washington -- the direction of the franchise, how he meshes with coach Jay Gruden as a playcaller, etc. Cousins can become a free agent next offseason (unless the Redskins tag him for a third and final time).

Tyler Lockett (leg) is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery and should be ready to go for Week 1, ESPN's Mike Clay reports.

There's been plenty of optimism that Lockett, who's on the mend from a compound fracture to his left fibula suffered in late January, will be ready to go for the start of the 2017 campaign, and this report only reinforces that notion. However, there doesn't seem to be any certainty in regard to his return date. Seattle enters the offseason program with the starting job opposite Doug Baldwin "wide open," according to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia, but Lockett likely won't even have a shot if he's out of commission most of the summer. Thus, the third-year wideout has plenty of incentive to return to the field as quick as possible in order to join Paul Richardson, Jermaine Kearse and potentially a draft pick or two for what could evolve into a heated competition for the No. 2 wide receiver spot.

Lockett averaged 12.9 PPG (PPR) from Week 10 to Week 15, before breaking his leg in Week 16. In that span, he converted 21 of 35 targets for 345 yards and a touchdown. He also added four carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. Paul Richardson stepped up in his absence, so the two, along with Jermaine Kearse, will compete for snaps alongside Doug Baldwin.

Big restricted free-agent deal:

Vikings and WR Adam Thielen reach agreement on three-year deal, per source.

Thielen stays in Minnesota.

$17 M deal that could get to $27 M with incentives, including $11 M guaranteed.

Thielen broke out in his third season with 69 catches for 967 yards and five touchdowns. He scored more fantasy points than Stefon Diggs, yet he's going seven rounds later in early MFL10s. In fairness, Diggs missed three games, but these two are closer in value than their ADPs would indicate.

The New England Patriots acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints on Friday for a first- and third-round pick in the upcoming draft, multiple sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.

The Patriots also will receive the Saints' fourth-round pick (No. 118 overall). New England's draft selections headed to the Saints are 32nd and 103rd overall.

The Patriots love receivers who can turn a short catch into a long gainer and with his speed, Cooks fits the bill. The signing is great for Tom Brady, but it's a downgrade for Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell. Cooks figures to rank as a WR2 in early projections since the Patriots have several mouths to feed. In New Orleans, it's a small downgrade for Drew Brees while Michael Thomas, Willie Snead and newcomer Ted Ginn will pick up the slack.

It’s a 2-year deal for 49ers and QB Brian Hoyer. Fair to say, this makes it unlikely they bring in Kirk Cousins in a trade with Redskins.

This is a good landing spot for Hoyer, who is a fringe starter in the league at this point in his career. He's playing for a sharp offensive mind (HC Kyle Shanahan) and the 49ers figure to throw a lot as they try to stay competitive during a rebuilding year. In 25 career games where Hoyer has started and attempted at least 25 passes, he has a 12-13 record while averaging 268 yards passing (59.6 Cmp %), 1.48 TD and 0.84 interceptions (or 15.1 fantasy points per game). That's a bit more than what Sam Bradford and Alex Smith averaged last year. If he's the starter, he'll be in the streaming conversation in 2017.