The Huddle
Matt Ryan - QB - Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan said he has not started contract extension talks with the Falcons at this point. He said he is not concerned about his next contract but is happy that owner Arthur Blank said Ryan will be compensated for his play.
Huddle Up: Ryan threw for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2016 and will have most of his offensive weapons back this season. He will be working with a new offensive coordinator but should be a No. 1 quarterback in most fantasy leagues.
Devontae Booker - RB - Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos RB Devontae Booker had at least 18 carries in four of the first five games following C.J. Anderson's season-ending knee injury in late October. In those four games, he averaged 2.8, 3.2, 3.3 and 1.9 yards per carry. 'I think everybody's fatigued (late in the season). As a pro, you have to push through it. That's part of it. But I feel more ready this time,' Booker said.
Huddle Up: To be fair, Booker was less than a year removed from two knee surgeries and head coach Gary Kubiak's outside-zone running system may have not been the best fit for him. New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy intends to include more power-based concepts in his offense, the offensive line should be improved and Booker has pronounced himself fully healthy, so he should perform better in 2017. Consider him a RB5 with fairly significant upside on draft day.
Geronimo Allison - WR - Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers WR Geronimo Allison was compared to former New Orleans Saints WR Marques Colston as a big, powerful receiver, according to one scout.
Huddle Up: Allison had eight grabs for 157 yards and a touchdown in the final two games of the regular season. The problem for him, though, is the glut of options ahead of him, and the team said they want to utilize the tight end position more. He's worth consideration as a WR5 flyer, but he may need an injury to have fantasy merit.
Davante Adams - WR - Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers WR Davante Adams is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2017. His 12 touchdowns tied for fourth in the NFL last season.
Huddle Up: Adams is plenty motivated to prove he's a No. 1 receiver, and with Jordy Nelson aging and Randall Cobb's injury propensity and a down year in 2016, it's a pivotal year for Adams and the team. What's clear is Aaron Rodgers leans on Nelson first, and Adams is in the mix with everyone else. He's a high-end WR3 target, but it may be tough to select him as such.
Randall Cobb - WR - Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers WR Randall Cobb still has the team's belief in him after his three-touchdown performance in the wild-card game against the New York Giants. 'I think you saw him in those playoff games,' wide receivers coach Luke Getsy said, 'and he wasn't even totally healthy, and you saw who he is. He's an impactful guy. You take the Giants game early in the year, and it's third-and-long, and we throw the ball way short of the sticks and he's the only guy on the football team that makes that play for us.'
Huddle Up: Cobb has battled injuries two seasons in a row, and he slumped to a 60-610-4 line last season. He morphed into a short-route receiver, and maybe that's what he's ultimately used as in order to keep him healthy. He's still just 27 in August, and it's still possible he returns to the WR2 fray. However, taking him as anything more than a WR3 simply adds too much risk.
Jordy Nelson - WR - Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson ran nearly half of his routes from the slot and the perimeter in the final 10 games last season. In 181 routes run from the slot, according to Pro Football Focus, Nelson led the NFL with 2.75 yards per route.
Huddle Up: Nelson dipped to 13.0 yards per reception last season, but he still produced a 97-1,257-14 year. He's 32 now, and this role in the slot could be his norm. It might be tough for him to return to the 1,500-yard plateau, but with good health, he could eclipse the 100-catch mark for the first time in his career. He doesn't have much upside at this stage, but he's still a low-end WR1 candidate.
Breshad Perriman - WR - Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens WR Breshad Perriman has had the most impressive offseason at the position, according to beat writer Jamison Hensley. Perriman caught just 33 of the 66 targets to him last season, which was the lowest success rate among receivers on the team.
Huddle Up: Perriman experienced growing pains, but he missed his entire rookie season and has been playing catch up. He has a ton of speed, but he'll need to show more to be more than a dependable WR4 rotation player in fantasy.
Matthew Stafford - QB - Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford could sign a new deal in the next two weeks as there is internal optimism a deal gets done, according to sources.
Huddle Up: Stafford has turned the corner under offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and was in the MVP race until a finger injury curtailed his production last season. Stafford is among the glut of QBs just shy of the elite tier as a QB1.
Dalvin Cook - RB - Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook may be a candidate to return kicks if special teams coach Mike Priefer has his way, although Priefer acknowledges the decision ultimately lies with head coach Mike Zimmer.
Huddle Up: It is very uncommon for a lead back - much less a potential featured one - to play on special teams, so if reports begin to surface he is returning kicks during camp, it would be a clear sign Minnesota intends to use a split backfield. That is unlikely to happen, however, so Cook should be targeted as a high-upside RB2.
Kirk Cousins - QB - Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins' first choice is to stay with the Redskins despite both sides not agreeing on a long-term deal. Cousins said he would love to stay in Washington long term and has hope for getting a deal done next offseason.
Huddle Up: The bottom line is that Cousins will still play for the Redskins in 2017. He's set to make a lot of money next year, though, whether that's from the Redskins or someone else. As for fantasy, Cousins has QB1 appeal after averaging 4,541.5 yards and 27 touchdowns the last two seasons, not to mention he's scored nine times on the ground in that span.
Greg Olsen - TE - Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen can become just the fourth tight end ever to gain at least 1,000 yards in four seasons. Not only that, but achieving 1,000 yards this season would mark the fourth straight year in which Olsen has reached that mark.
Huddle Up: Aside from Rob Gronkowski, Olsen is arguably the best tight end in the NFL. He's certainly the most consistent at his position. View him as an early- to midround pick.
Le'Veon Bell - RB - Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell was given an offer that would have averaged $12 million per year. He would have earned $30 million over the first two years and $42 million over three years, according to sources. The franchise tag he will play under in 2017 is worth $12.1 million.
Huddle Up: Bell apparently wants more over the next several years of his career. He deserves it as arguably the best running back in the NFL. He does have a history of suspensions, but he remains a No. 1 overall pick candidate.
Jordan Howard - RB - Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears RB Jordan Howard recorded seven runs of 25 yards or longer as a rookie in 2016, but four of those possessions ended with field goals. It's part of the reason Howard spent parts of his offseason working on his acceleration. 'It's training. When you get to that (quality), it's more about track speed than football speed,' head coach John Fox said.
Huddle Up: Howard has been busy this offseason, also undergoing eye surgery in an effort to improve his ability as a pass-catcher. Considering he has no viable threats to his workload, Howard should be one of the few true workhorses for owners to rely on in fantasy. He should be considered a midrange to low-end RB1 in most leagues.
Calvin Johnson - WR - Free Agent
Former Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson was a guest of Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing during organized team activities earlier this summer. He also played golf with Downing, head coach Jack Del Rio and QB Derek Carr.
Huddle Up: Johnson disclosed recently that the Lions' futility was the main reason for retiring. He could force his release from the Lions if he came out of retirement because his old $11 million salary cap number would be reinstated and put the Lions over the threshold. It's still a long shot he returns. He turns 32 in September, and after a year away to heal, he could serve as a quality possession receiver. If so, he'd be a low-end WR3 with some PPR luster in fantasy.
Le'Veon Bell - RB - Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell may not sign his franchise tag tender until the Steelers break training camp, in the opinion of an unnamed teammate.
Huddle Up: Bell was not able to agree to a long-term extension, so he may not report to the team until close to the start of the regular season. Bell will continue to be a main part of the Steelers offense and is a first-round pick in all fantasy leagues.
Anquan Boldin - WR - Free Agent
Free-agent WR Anquan Boldin (Lions) said he has talked with several teams about the possibility of signing and is scheduled to meet with an undisclosed team Sunday, July 23.
Huddle Up: Boldin should find a new team during the early part of training camp and can be a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver for a team. His fantasy value likely will depend on his team, but he could be a late-round option in deeper leagues.
Kirk Cousins - QB - Washington Redskins
Updating a previous report, Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins was offered $53 million guaranteed as part of the Redskins' offer in early May, according to team president Bruce Allen.
Huddle Up: We don't know who Cousins will be playing for next season, but we do know that team will need to break the bank in order to sign him. He has quickly turned into one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL over the last two years. View him as a low-end QB1 heading into 2017.
Kirk Cousins - QB - Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins was not given a new deal prior to the deadline Monday, July 17. He will play under the franchise tag for a second straight year.
Huddle Up: Cousins will be the beneficiary of a significant payday next offseason. As for this season, he remains a QB1 candidate despite losing both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.
Le'Veon Bell - RB - Pittsburgh Steelers
Pitssburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell will play the 2017 season under the franchise tag if/when he signs it. He is not obligated to show up for training camp since he has not signed the tag.
Huddle Up: Bell will show up eventually. Missing training camp and time with the team is expensive. This does not affect his draft stock, at least not for this year. He should be one of the first players off draft boards.
Calvin Johnson - WR - Detroit Lions
Retired WR Calvin Johnson was invited to training camp by the Detroit Lions, team president Rod Wood told WJR Radio.
Huddle Up: Megatron has stated that he was physically taxed and hasn't seemed willing to return. With the Lions in contention now, there could be hope that he returns. It's a long shot, he will be a fine WR2 if he returns.
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