NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Dolphins are expected to sign RB Raheem Mostert. The veteran RB, of course, played under new Miami HC Mike McDaniel in San Francisco, where McDaniel spent 2021 as OC after 4 seasons as run-game coordinator. We'll see about the plan for Mostert in a backfield that has already added RB Chase Edmonds in free agency. Mostert is going in the late rounds of early best-ball drafting, which gives him upside at a low-risk price. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports it's a 1-year, $3.25 million deal.
The Bills are signing EDGE Von Miller to a 6-year deal, according to multiple reports. We'd bet against the 33-year-old (as of March 26) defender playing out that whole contract, but the reported $51.5 million guaranteed makes it sound like 3 years would be a solid bet. Most importantly, of course, Buffalo gains the best pass-rusher it will have had in HC Sean McDermott's stint. Miller racked up 82 total pressures last season, 5th most among all edge defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. He leaves behind a void for a Rams team lacking a 1st-round draft pick. Landing in Buffalo should also give Miller DE eligibility (perhaps for the 1st time ever in many fantasy football leagues). If that happens, it'll boost his IDP value.
The Bills signed TE O.J. Howard to a 1-year deal. It has a $3.5 million base value that can climb to $5 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The relative cheapness of the contract points to where Howard's career is at. The 19th overall pick of the 2017 draft dealt with ankle, foot and hamstring injuries over his first 3 seasons but averaged 15.5 yards per catch and scored 12 TDs. A torn Achilles ended his 2020 season in Week 4, though, and Howard caught just 14 balls behind Rob Gronkowski this past year. Still, he's just 27 with a strong pedigree. And he lands in a top-notch Bills offense. TE Dawson Knox is the incumbent in Buffalo, coming off a career-best 49-587-9 line in his 3rd season. But we imagine that this will be an open competition for the starting job this summer.
The Titans are releasing WR Julio Jones, according to multiple reports. The move saves some cap space but also leaves behind $8.4 million in dead cap, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ranked 2nd among Titans (behind A.J. Brown) in targets, receptions, receiving yards and TD catches last season, and stands as the most immediate beneficiary. But we'd be shocked if this offense doesn't make at least a couple of significant pass-catching additions -- either in free agency or the NFL Draft. Jones turned 33 in February and will be heading into his 12th NFL season this fall (assuming he continues playing).
The Raiders are sending DE Yannick Ngakoue to the Colts for CB Rock Ya-Sin. Ngakoue tied for 21st in the league with 63 total pressures last season, his lone year with the Raiders. The 27-year-old (as of March 31) is heading into the final year of his contract and coming off his 1st double-digit sack total since 2017. Indianapolis will be Ngakoue's 5th team since 2019. Pro Football Focus ranked Ya-Sin 34th in coverage among all 236 active CBs last year. He should claim a starting gig opposite Trayvon Mullen in Vegas, with CB Casey Hayward an unrestricted free agent. We'll see whether the Raiders make other moves at the position.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that EDGE Chandler Jones is finalizing a deal with the Raiders that's expected to average $17 million a year. Jones has delivered 10+ sacks in every season since 2013 that has seen him play at least 10 games. His 10.5 sacks last year marked his low for that span, though, and Jones' 47 total pressures tied for just 44th in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. He'll start opposite Maxx Crosby for a Vegas team that is reportedly trading Yannick Ngakoue. Jones turned 32 in February, so we wouldn't be surprised if his production declines further. On the positive side, moving to the Raiders defense should mean DE eligibility rather than LB in fantasy football leagues that rely on those designations. We'll see about Jones' draft price in IDP leagues this summer.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that RB J.D. McKissic has changed his mind on leaving for Buffalo in free agency and instead decided to sign a 2-year, $7 million deal to stay in Washington. It's reportedly the same offer he had originally accepted from the Bills. McKissic figures to again lead Washington RBs in receptions, limiting Antonio Gibson's upside in that area. Gibson trailed McKissic by 1.3 receptions per game last season (3.9 vs. 2.6) and ranked 21st among all RBs in targets. McKissic remains only a later-round PPR consideration. QB Carson Wentz isn't likely to help RB target volume overall in Washington.
The Bucs re-signed WR Breshad Perriman to a 1-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Perriman appeared in 6 games for Tampa last season, catching 11 balls for 167 yards and a score. He'll battle the likes of Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson, Cyril Grayson and Jaelon Darden for scraps behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage this year.
The Browns are re-signing LB Anthony Walker on a 1-year, $5 million deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. That's not a guaranteed-starter level of commitment, but it points to Walker likely remaining in the 2022 lineup. His 2021 playing time dipped later in the year after 2nd-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah emerged as a starter. Walker looks like a LB4-level IDP option for 2022 fantasy football drafts.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Commanders are expected to re-sign WR Cam Sims. The 5th-year wideout caught just 15 balls for Washington last season but 32 the year before. Ben Standig of The Athletic said on our podcast earlier this month that HC Ron Rivera has indicated they want to get Sims the ball more going forward. Sims has a ways to go to become fantasy relevant, but he's a free stash across fantasy football formats right now. Sims turned 26 in January.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Jaguars will be signing CB Darious Williams to a 3-year, $39 million deal. Williams spent most of the past 2 seasons starting for the Rams. After snagging 4 INTs and tallying 14 passes defensed in 2020, he went without a pick in 14 games last season -- navigating around injury. Williams should be IDP relevant in Jacksonville but doesn't look like a high-level factor.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Browns are releasing TE Austin Hooper (with a post-June 1 designation). That will send Hooper to a free-agent market that has seen little TE movement in the early days. His departure leaves room for David Njoku to take over the lead TE spot, with 3rd-year TE Harrison Bryant behind him. Njoku has remained a solid value in best-ball drafting since re-signing with Cleveland. We'll see how much his ADP climbs with the Hooper news. Fowler says the Browns planned to keep Hooper but that acquiring WR Amari Cooper and pursuing QB Deshaun Watson changed the cap situation.
The Browns are signing WR/returner Jakeem Grant to a 3-year deal worth up to $13.8 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That seems like a lot of money for a guy to primarily just be counted on in the return game, but Grant's offensive skill set also seems to align with 2nd-year WR Anthony Schwartz. We're not betting on Grant proving fantasy relevant outside of return-yardage leagues this year.
The Saints have agreed with S Marcus Maye to a 3-year, $28.5 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. With Malcolm Jenkins still under contract, Maye looks like the replacement for Marcus Williams. That's a downward move for his IDP value, as Williams posted weak tackle numbers in New Orleans.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reports that each of the teams meeting with QB Deshaun Watson -- the Saints, Panthers and Browns -- 1st had to present a trade package to Houston for approval. That indicates a Watson trade is merely waiting on the QB to select his destination. We'll be watching for the announcement. If you're drafting in the meantime, D.J. Moore, Michael Thomas and Amari Cooper -- along with later pass-catchers for each potential suitor -- are stackable with Watson on best-ball tournament entries.
CB Levi Wallace is joining the Steelers on a 2-year, $8 million deal, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Wallace started 52 games over 4 seasons with the Bills, including all 17 last year. Wallace has been relevant for IDP leagues, especially those that require CBs. But he's not a special fantasy football option -- and likely won't be with the Steelers.
LB Jordan Hicks is expected to sign a 2-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, according to multiple reports. NFL insider Adam Caplan reports that it has a max value of $12 million and carries $6.5 million in guaranteed money. The Cardinals released Hicks this offseason, but the money from Minnesota points to him landing a starting gig next to Eric Kendricks. Expect LB Anthony Barr -- also a free agent -- to land elsewhere.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Giants are expected to sign QB Tyrod Taylor to a 2-year, $17 million deal, with $8.5 million of that guaranteed. Taylor will back up Daniel Jones, and his work with Houston last year -- where he lost the starting job to 3rd-round rookie Davis Mills -- points to Taylor not being a threat to Jones' job. So this move looks like good news or Jones' chances of making it through 2022 as the Giants starter.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that RB D'Onta Foreman is signing with the Panthers. the quick move (ahead of Wednesday's official opening of the new league year) points to Carolina prioritizing the former Titans RB. Foreman, of course, had his best stretch in the pros last year with Tennessee after RB Derrick Henry went down. He now looks like the best bet to lead the Panthers in carries should Christian McCaffrey go down. Foreman's quick arrival also looks like bad news for 2nd-year RB Chuba Hubbard, who saw his workload decrease late in his rookie campaign.
The Lions are re-signing WR/KR Kalif Raymond, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Raymond caught a career-high 48 balls in 2021, his 1st year with Detroit. We wouldn't bet on a repeat, though, with T.J. Hockenson and D'Andre Swift returning from injuries, Amon-Ra St. Brown having broken out late in the year and D.J. Chark arriving in free agency. (Plus, we'll see what the team does in the NFL Draft.)
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