Fantasy Football News | Page 1262

Bills announce that Tyrod Taylor agreed to stay with them on a restructured contract.

HC Sean McDermott: "We are excited about the opportunity to keep Tyrod with the Bills. I've gotten a chance to know Tyrod and study him over the past several weeks and he is both a great person and competitor. Doug and I are confident that this was the best move for the Bills at this time."

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 also a top 8 quarterback on a per game basis in 2015, so he has now produced starter-caliber numbers in two straight seasons. The question in Buffalo is what sort of receiving corps will Taylor have to throw to? If Sammy Watkins can stay healthy it would be a big boost, but the promising Robert Woods is a free agent.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recently underwent surgery on his shoulder, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told The Star at the NFL Combine.

“Trav had his shoulder done — he had it cleaned up,” Reid said Wednesday.

When asked if it was a major injury, Reid shook his head.

“No, I don’t think so,” Reid said. “He’ll probably miss some time throughout the offseason, but he’ll be ready, I believe, for camp.”

After finishing #6 as a rookie and #8 as a sophomore (in PPR formats), Kelce was the top overall tight end in 2016, though he was #2 in per game average behind Rob Gronkowski. Although his usage isn't as consistent as we'd like, he's primed for another big year in Andy Reid's offense.

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.

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.

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.

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports that Teddy Bridgewater is expected to miss the entire 2017 season.

Related players: Sam Bradford

It looks like Sam Bradford will continue to start for the Vikings. He led the league with a 71.6% completion rate and posted a 20-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He was also tied for the lowest yards per completion (9.8) in the league.

Fantasy football players take note: Tyreek Hill could average as many as 70 snaps a game as a wide receiver and returner in 2017.

So says the coach of Kansas City’s rookie sensation.

“He was averaging 35 plays a game (in 2016),” Andy Reid told co-host Kirk Morrison and me Thursday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Maybe he can double that or at least take it up a couple notches and allow him to get in more in a starting role.”

Per 4for4's Player Snap App, among players who played at least 40% of their team's snaps, Hill ranked first in fantasy points per snap in both standard and PPR formats. He was the #11 fantasy receiver (PPR) after his team's Week 5 bye.

Patriots Inactives

WR Michael Floyd
QB Jacoby Brissett
RB D.J. Foster
OT LaAdrian Waddle
CB Cyrus Jones
CB Justin Coleman
S Jordan Richards