RADIO
Eagles Officially Pick Up Nick Foles' Option
2/5:The Philadelphia Eagles notified quarterback Nick Foles on Tuesday that they will officially pick up his $20 million 2019 option, according to a source. Foles is now expected to opt out and become a free agent for $2 million, but the Eagles could also place the franchise tag on him and try to trade him. The most likely outcome is that Foles opts out within the next five days and becomes a free agent, where he will be in high demand in a weak QB market after earning Super Bowl MVP last year and leading the Eagles to the Divisional Round with Carson Wentz hurt this season. Foles should land a starting gig on the open market and will surely be in play in two-QB leagues, but his true value won't be determined until we know where he'll be playing in 2019.Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
Greg Olsen Confirms Plans To Play In 2019
2/5:Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (foot), who has two years left on his contract, confirmed that he plans to play in 2019 despite missing half of his last 32 regular season games with foot issues. "My plan right now, I’m in every day doing my foot rehab, trying to get this thing finally back to where I was used to," Olsen said on Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium. "It seems like it’s been a long time since it was. Yeah, that’s what I’m preparing for and that all starts with getting my foot right." Because of the sad state of the tight end position in fantasy, Olsen will be a TE1 if he plays this year, but he'll be a risk/reward low-end TE1 because of his age (34 in March) and recent injury history.Source: ESPN.com - David Newton
Todd Gurley Doesn't Need Offseason Surgery
2/5:Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay isn't aware of any medical procedures that running back Todd Gurley (knee) needs in the offseason. Gurley had a physical exam on Tuesday, but McVay has yet to discuss the results with the team trainers yet. The Rams and Gurley continue to maintain that his knee injury wasn't the result of his lack of touches throughout the postseason after he missed the final two games of the regular season. It's a mystery why the NFL's top running back was used so little in the Super Bowl and in the NFC Championship game, even if C.J. Anderson had proved capable of handling a bigger workload. Whatever the case, it seems as though Gurley's knee will be fine heading into the 2019 season. He'll be the no-brainer first overall pick in fantasy drafts.Source: Orange County Register - Rich Hammond
A.J. Green Sheds Walking Boot
2/5:Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (toe), who is excited to work with new head coach Zac Taylor, has shed the walking boot that he's had on since December surgery on his big toe. Green has been limited by injuries three of the last five seasons, but he's excited about the new offense because it reminds him of the one he played in under offensive coordinator Jay Gruden when he had 97 catches for 1,350 yards. The 31-year-old might miss much or all of the team's offseason program, but he should be good to go for training camp and the regular season. Green's injury will cause him to fall in drafts, but he could be a fine WR2 at a decent price this fall.Source: Bengals.com - Geoff Hobson
Redskins Interested In Re-Signing Adrian Peterson, Josh Johnson
2/5:The Washington Redskins plan on keeping quarterback Alex Smith (leg) around despite the fact that they still don't know if he'll be able to play again. If they were to cut him now, they'd take a salary cap hit of $40 million. Smith would have $32.2 million in dead money if they were to cut him next year. As insurance, they are interested in re-signing quarterback Josh Johnson, who closed out the year under center. Washington could also elect to take a signal caller early in this year's draft. They'd also like to keep Adrian Peterson around as insurance for Derrius Guice, who missed his entire rookie year after tearing his ACL. They have been in preliminary talks with Peterson. Peterson rushed for 1,042 yards in 2018 and averaged 4.44 yards per carry in the first eight weeks. Peterson would be a handcuff option for Guice owners if he returns, while Johnson would retain very little value in two-QB setups.Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Dolphins Will Consider Drafting QB
2/5:Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said on Monday that the team will definitely consider drafting a quarterback this year. He also praised new addition Jake Rudock while saying that no decision has been made on Ryan Tannehill, although the team is fully expected to move on this offseason. Rudock has only thrown five passes in the NFL, so he's unlikely to be the realistic starter in 2019 no matter what. Ideally, the Dolphins want to find their franchise quarterback early in the 2020 draft, according to multiple sources. Owner Stephen Ross is enamored with Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, and the team is also intrigued by Oregon's Justin Herbert. There's a good chance the Dolphins go with a stop-gap option under center in 2019 in what is fully expected to be a rebuilding season.Source: Miami Herald - Barry Jackson
Carson Wentz Won't Change His Personality
2/4:Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said he doesn't plan on changing his personality. “I’m 26 years old; my personality, to some extent, ain’t going to change,” Wentz said during a recent interview. It’s “what’s gotten me here, what’s gotten me successful. I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, now I’m going to have this free-spirited, Cali-guy vibe.’ That’s just not going to change.” A recent PhillyVoice piece painted Wentz as "selfish," "uncompromising" and "egotistical." Wentz knows he has things to work on but refuses to change the competitor inside himself. The young signal caller needs to learn to be a better teammate at times and balance his Type A personality, but he has all the physical skills to be an elite QB in the NFL. Season-ending injuries the last two years have hurt his fantasy value, but Wentz could be a nice value pick as a low-end QB1 in 2019.Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Aaron Rodgers Avoids Knee Surgery
2/4:Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee), who suffered a sprained left knee in Week 1 against the Bears, was able to avoid surgery and should be able to fully participate in the team's offseason program. The 35-year-old wore a brace until Nov. 4 and also sustained a concussion in the season finale. "I feel great," Rodgers said on NFL Network. "My body feels really good. Instead of getting surgery postseason, decided to kind of go through a different routine with my knee than I've done in the past, and I'm feeling really, really good. Got a concussion the last game, that's cleared up. I'm feeling really good." It's the same knee Rodgers had ACL repair on in college and he had a cleanup of his left knee a few years ago. 2018 was a down year for Rodgers, mainly because of the injury, but he could easily bounce back as a high-end QB1 in 2019 if he's healthy.Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Todd Gurley Says His Knee Is Fine
2/4:Despite not playing much in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley continues to insist that his knee is fine. He didn't play much at all in the first half and finished with just 10 carries for 35 yards and one catch for a loss of one yard in the game. The star running back missed the final two games of the regular season and didn't look right in the playoffs. “I know there’s been a lot of concern about my knee but I really am fine,” Gurley said. His knee issue is concerning, but Gurley isn't expected to need surgery in the offseason and he should once again be the top fantasy selection in 2019 drafts.Source: Pro Football Talk - Josh Alper
Josh Gordon Could Be Back For Training Camp
2/3:New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon is doing better while in rehab for substance abuse and he could be reinstated and return to the team by training camp this summer. Gordon was suspended indefinitely for another violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. He had 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games for the Patriots before the suspension. Gordon will turn 28 in April and still has plenty of upside, but his off-field issues make him a huge fantasy risk. If on the field for the Pats in 2019, Gordon would have WR2 upside, especially with Chris Hogan set to be a free agent.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Greg Schiano Expected To Join Patriots
2/3:The New England Patriots are expected to hire former Rutgers head coach and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano as their next defensive coordinator on Monday. It's necessary with Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores expected to become the next head coach of the Dolphins on Monday. Schiano is a close friend of head coach Bill Belichick's but hasn't coached in the NFL since he was fired in 2013.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Robby Anderson Could Be Offseason Trade Candidate
2/3:New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson could be a trade candidate this offseason, especially if the team wants to explore a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Anderson will be a restricted free agent and figures to receive a second-round tender for around $3 million. Linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Darron Lee and defensive tackle Leonard Williams could also be trade candidates. Anderson disappointed with 50 catches for 752 yards and six touchdowns in 2018, but he came on strong late in the year as quarterback Sam Darnold's favorite target. Brown would obviously be a big upgrade over Anderson for 2019.Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Eagles Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Nick Foles
2/3:The Philadelphia Eagles are likely bluffing on using the franchise tag on quarterback Nick Foles in 2019. They are expected to pick up his $20 million option for 2019, but the most likely outcome is that Foles then buys his freedom for $2 million and signs with another team. The Eagles have been clear that Carson Wentz is their franchise QB, so Foles will be playing for another team in 2019, but it's unlikely that he's franchised and then traded. He led an improbable Super Bowl run in 2017 and also helped Philly squeak into the playoffs in 2018. Foles has his strengths and weaknesses and has QB1 upside, but his fantasy value for 2019 will depend on which team he's playing for.Source: The Athletic - Sheil Kapadia
Seahawks Haven't Had Contract Talks With Russell Wilson
2/3:The Seattle Seahawks have yet to engage in contract talks with quarterback Russell Wilson as he enters the final year of his deal, according to league sources. If Russell eventually agrees to an extension, it would be expected to be the biggest of the offseason and would likely top the $33.5 million annual average that the Packers gave Aaron Rodgers before 2018. Head coach Pete Carroll said earlier this offseason that an extension for Wilson was "very much in our plans." Wilson wasn't asked to throw all that much in Seattle's run-first offense this year, but he still managed a career-high 35 touchdowns on just 3,448 yards and 427 attempts. His QB1 upside could be limited if Seattle continues to run the ball more, but there's no denying his athleticism at 30 years old.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Cam Newton Could Be Ready For Training Camp
2/3:Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (shoulder) could be ready for training camp after having arthroscopic right shoulder surgery last month. The team certainly expects Newton to be ready for the start of the 2019 regular season, according to a league source. There is no timetable for when he'll return, but one source familiar with the surgery said "it's all positive." He missed the last two regular season games and was noticeably limited with his arm strength down the stretch, but his second surgery in two years seems to have helped him. Fantasy owners might be a little more wary of taking Newton as their QB1 in 2019, but a stronger shoulder could help him bounce back in a big way. He'll surely be a little more risky, but Newton still has high-end QB1 upside.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
