The end is near, or so we think when we discuss the football season, but this is the time of the year where things are just starting to heat up. Sure, fantasy football season is over and you don't have any real reason to root for Jason Witten anymore, unless you are a Cowboys fan, and you can't celebrate Frank Gore every time he breaks a tackle, but hey, all good things come to an end. What do we expect for the future? Miss Cleo couldn't forecast the cloudiness that awaits writers like me, or readers like you, but the fact is many question marks will begin to get answered in the next few months.
Teams are starting to look at their options with their free agents. I will look at every individual franchises' free agent listing and discuss their key players that may leave or stay. Also, I will look upon possible replacements or what to expect with re-signing's or let-go's. Now, this is just for fantasy purposes. For example, the Buffalo Bills may lose key unrestricted free agent Nate Clements, but for general fantasy purposes, Clements doesn't matter to fantasy football because he is a cornerback. For all of your Individual Defensive Players (IDPs) needs, contact my fellow ffLiveWire.com writer Rich McDermott.
Let's take a look at the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills have only 1 meaningful player (remember, these are for fantasy purposes), that will be an unrestricted free agent. Running back Anthony Thomas seems to fit well in head coach Dick Jauron's system in Buffalo, as he was keen to it in Chicago. When Willis McGahee went down with a rib injury earlier this year, the A-Train stepped in and averaged 102 yards over a two week span. Thomas also reached pay dirt once. Will Anthony Thomas be back in 2007? I think so. Buffalo will probably approach him with another one-year deal. Things could get interesting though in 2008, especially if McGahee gets dinged up in 2007, as McGahee will be in a contract year and Thomas could step in and play good enough to make some people forget about McGahee and his injury problems. His fantasy value is slim, but it actually holds more weight than people think in dynasty leagues, mainly due to McGahee's lack of a contract extension and health concerns.
The Dolphins have some fantasy potential on the mend. Quarterback Cleo Lemon and wide-out Wes Welker are restricted free agents and backup running back Sammy Morris are unrestricted free agents. Also, Ricky Williams is said to have passed his drug tests and should be reinstated in 2007 to the Miami Dolphins. Firstly, we do not know what type of offensive direction this team will go until we see who they hire as the new head coach. Cleo Lemon is expected to get tagged at the 1.3 million dollar mark. Wes Welker will probably take a base RFA pay. Sammy Morris' services might still be needed but I do see a number of teams pursuing what he has to offer. Wes Welker has average fantasy value. He is more productive in PPR leagues of course, as well as those scoring systems that allow punt and kick return yardage. Cleo Lemon is liked among the locker room but with a new coach coming in, he may look for something else. Lemon has strong dynasty value because he could land a job as the #1 quarterback in 2007 but his potential is limited. Sammy Morris is the guy I want to talk about. He played effectively in the absence of Ronnie Brown and could attract some attention this off-season. One of my sources gave me what he thinks is a preliminary list of teams that may offer a deal for Sammy Morris. That list includes Green Bay, Denver, St. Louis, Houston, and Minnesota. I do not expect to see Morris back in Miami and he will not land a role as a starter of course, but could be a quality waiver pick-up as a guaranteed handcuff to say, Steven Jackson or Chester Taylor.
That team in Foxboro may be considered fantasy killers but New England's free agency might not have a large impact on the fantasy world. The only key unrestricted free agents will be tight end Daniel Graham and wide receiver Troy Brown. As for Brown, we know what his fantasy value holds and that is very little. Will Troy Brown retire? I don't think so but even Scottie Vines (WR; Detroit) holds more dynasty value than Troy Brown. Daniel Graham couldn't stave off injuries in 2006 and it appears that he has been replaced by Ben Watson. With youngster David Thomas stepping up as a reliable second tight end option for Tom Brady, I do expect to see Graham gone. I don't see much in his future. Personally, I think Graham's value is similar to Marcus Pollard's in Detroit. Dynasty owners may hang on to him but I guarantee that after 2007, you will be dumping the guy. With Eric Johnson expected to be gone in San Francisco, and from what a little birdie told me, Daniel Graham would fit in well with the 49ers behind Vernon Davis.
With the Jets of New York, only one player with fantasy significance will be on the mend this off-season. Unrestricted free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery could draw a lot of interest from teams but I expect the Jets to show Cotchery some money. Cotchery fell just 39 yards from 1,000 yards receiving and looked like a gamer with potential to blow past Laveraneus Coles as the #1 wide receiver. He has been in the league only 2 years and is ranked 23rd overall among all wide receivers in fantasy value. He wasn't drafted in many leagues but was a popular waiver pickup. He has great numbers for being most owners' third option at wide-out. Will he be back in New York? Of course. Will he be a gamer on Sunday's for fantasy geeks? As a #3, hell yes. It doesn't matter who is at quarterback, I am sold on his route running, ability to hang on to the ball, and sell his routes.
Now, let's move on to the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals do not have any major fantasy players on the mend in 2007. But, wide receiver Bryant Johnson could leave due to a clause in his contract but I don't think he will be going anywhere unless a trade is involved. Let's not get over our heads though.
The St. Louis Rams have some possible diamonds in the rough on the mend in 2007. Unbeknownst to me, wide receivers Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald will be unrestricted, not restricted, free agents. Also, their two backup running backs will be unrestricted free agents, Stephen Davis and Tony Fisher. As for Curtis, I think the Rams will let him walk as he will be one of the more targeted free agent wide-outs this off-season. If he lands in Detroit with Mike Martz, the sky is the limit, and his fantasy value could take off. I do not expect Curtis to be back in St. Louis, as I previously stated, because they might not be willing to give him a higher end offer like someone else could. As in higher end offer, I am not talking #1 WR money, but more money than the Rams would be willing to shell out. Shaun McDonald will get to work out with a variety of teams but he reminds me of Jabar Gaffney. He will land an active roster spot with someone but the chance to get cut is very strong, so McDonald still has little fantasy value until he proves on the field otherwise. Stephen Davis has just about as much fantasy value as Vinny Testaverde. That's all I have to say about him! Tony Fisher, he could return with a one-year deal depending on how the market plays out with backup running backs. He still has limited value. So, who will replace Kevin Curtis or Shaun McDonald, or both? Wide-out Dane Looker will return and will play as an efficient slot receiver but I expect St. Louis to target a wide receiver on the first day of the draft. If the opportunity is there, they could wind up with a guy like Sidney Rice, Steve Smith,or Jason Hill. As for backup running backs, I previously stated that Sammy Morris might wind up to be the best option for Scott Linehan and company. Duce Staley is another option. Whoever plays behind Steven Jackson has little value anyways, but is considered a great handcuff in deep leagues for that "just in-case scenario" of an injury to Jackson.
The Golden Gate Bridge may start rusting before all is said and done with Antonio Bryant. Bryant will not be a free agent in 2007 but is walking a thin line with hard nosed coach Mike Nolan. I do not see Bryant returning to San Francisco in 2007. He will be a Koren Robinson-like casualty in my analysis. If he lands anywhere, the list should start with either Oakland or Kansas City though. As for who will replace him, Arnaz Battle will step into that #1 role as he should be completely recovered from previous injuries in 2007. The 49ers will also target a wide receiver in both free agency and the draft. Now, Eric Johnson is an unrestricted free agent with some fantasy value. Johnson is almost a definite lock to not be re-signed. He did help teach Vernon Davis blocking techniques and such but he could be gone. As I said earlier, Daniel Graham could be a viable replacement for Johnson. Johnson's fantasy value is limited as the number of teams willing to sign him will be slim, but he will get snatched up in a hurry. Running back Maurice Hicks is a restricted free agent but I am not too sure about his status. I can't get anything concrete on him from any of my contacts. If anything of value does prevail, I will update this later in the off-season.
The Seahawks will be on the mend with wide receiver Bobby Engram. His health issues may put an end to what was a contributive career fantasy-wise. Engram is slated to be an unrestricted free agent and will be replaced by restricted free agent D.J. Hackett. Yes, I do not think Hackett is going anywhere, for one year at least. As for Engram, it does seem feasible that he will land a roster spot with someone like the Giants, Vikings, or Buccaneers.
With 2006 contracts to expire this March, a lot of free agents will be snatched up quickly. I do not expect this year to be full of big moves like last year when Drew Brees, Daunte Culpepper, Aaron Brooks, Terrell Owens, or Donte Stallworth were making headlines. I will be updating you with these listings over the next week or so doing two divisions at a time. Stay tuned while I am "On the Mend."
