Fantasy News

The Browns have tendered restricted free agent Rashard Higgins.

It’s an original round tender that has been placed on Higgins, but the bottom line is that he will almost certainly remain in Cleveland next season, as teams would need to a surrender a fifth-round pick to sign him in a deep draft class. The 24-year-old caught 39 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last season, but he probably won’t be anything more than the No. 4 receiver for the Browns in 2019.

3/8/19 - 03:48 PM ET

The Ravens have agreed to trade Joe Flacco to the Broncos, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The first quarterback domino of the offseason falls, as it’s a similar situation to last year when the Redskins traded for Alex Smith from the Chiefs: the trade cannot become official until the start of the new league year on March 13, but it’s going to happen. This could spell the end of Case Keenum’s time in Denver after one season, as Flacco is going to be locked in as the team’s starter in 2019 and likely beyond. The former Super Bowl MVP should bring stability to the quarterback position for new head coach Vic Fangio, and he’s a good fit on a team that’ll look to run the ball and play strong defense. Flacco’s presence is a boost for the skill position players of the Broncos, particularly wide receivers Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, and Emmanuel Sanders (who is recovering from a torn Achilles).

Via: Adam Schefter 2/13/19 - 11:10 AM ET

The Antonio Brown trade between the Steelers and Bills fell through.

Multiple reports say Brown refused to play in Buffalo, which isn’t a surprise after he said he didn’t “need” to play football in an ESPN interview. Bills GM Brandon Beane said in a statement: “We inquired about Antonio Brown on Tuesday, and kept talks open with the Steelers. We had positive discussions, but ultimately it didn’t make sense for either side. As great a player as Antonio Brown is, we have moved on and our focus is on free agency.” It’s unclear what the compensation in a trade for Brown would’ve been, but the Steelers might be running out of teams that are interested in a player that wants a new contract, says he doesn’t need football, and has caused issues about not getting the ball enough even with a Hall of Famer as his quarterback. Frankly, it wouldn’t be that surprising if Brown just doesn’t play anywhere in 2019.

3/8/19 - 07:27 AM ET

Greg Roman says the Ravens offense is “going to be tailored towards Lamar.”

Roman is the new Ravens offensive coordinator after the team parted ways with Marty Mornhinweg, and Lamar is of course starting quarterback Lamar Jackson. It’s been obvious Baltimore was going to tailor their offense towards their young franchise quarterback from the moment Roman was elevated to the team’s OC. Roman was the offensive coordinator for Jim Harbaugh early in Colin Kaepernick’s career, and he helped craft an electric zone-read running game. Jackson’s slightish build might be a concern if he’s going to take so many hits as a quarterback that runs the ball often, but this new offense should be a definite positive for the former Heisman Trophy winner’s fantasy value for 2019 and beyond. Jackson’s development as a passer will be key for Baltimore leading up to next season, though.

Via: NFL.com 2/14/19 - 03:43 PM ET

The Colts have tendered exclusive rights free agent Marcus Johnson.

Johnson was required by Indianapolis last September, and Colts head coach Frank Reich, who spent time with Johnson in Philadelphia, is high on the deep threat. The Texas product will remain in Indy for 2019, and he shouldn’t be counted out of working his way into a starting role as one of Andrew Luck’s top receivers. Johnson is worth picking up or holding in dynasty leagues.

Via: Stephen Holder 3/8/19 - 12:23 PM ET

The Texans have officially released Demaryius Thomas.

This was reportedly set to happen today, and now it’s official. The 31-year-old is facing a lengthy recovery from his torn Achilles suffered in late December, so there’s a chance he might not draw immediate interest and might instead have to wait until he’s closer to 100%. However, it’s worth noting the Patriots reportedly showed interest in the veteran receiver at the trade deadline, so they’re among the teams to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. The Texans are set with DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller (who is recovering from a torn ACL), and Keke Coutee leading the receiving corps in 2019.

2/12/19 - 05:24 PM ET

The Bills are closing in on a trade for All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, according to Ian Rapoport.

Pittsburgh had reportedly set a deadline for Friday to get a deal done, but the landing spot is what makes this a bit of a stunner. The Bills are undoubtedly an up-and-coming franchise with a young signal-caller to be excited about in Josh Allen, but Sean McDermott has largely built things on culture. Perhaps McDermott feels that culture is exactly the reason they will be able to get Brown on board, though, and the team already has a championship-caliber defense in place. However, from a fantasy perspective, this is basically the worst possible landing spot for Brown, as the offense is centered around the running game, and when Buffalo does decide to air it out, Allen will often do damage with his legs—potentially taking away production from AB, who clearly loves his numbers. It will certainly be interesting to see a) what the compensation is, and b) Brown’s next move after recently claiming he doesn’t need football.

Via: Ian Rapoport 3/7/19 - 11:33 PM ET