FantasyGuru.com: Off-Season Report #3 (2015 Free Agency Preview)

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OFF-SEASON REPORT #3
Published, February 24, 2015
Copyright © 1995-2015
Guru Fantasy Reports, Inc. All Rights Reserved 

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IN THIS ISSUE:

• Off-Season Report #3: 2015 Free Agency Preview 

ONLINE NOW:

• 2015 Combine Recap - 2/23
• 2015 Combine Preview - 2/17
• SOS Adjusted WR PPR Scores 2014 - 2/16
• 2015 Coaching Changes - 2/11
• Depth Charts - 2/10
• Keeper/Dynasty League Rankings - 2/4
• SOS Adjusted RB PPR Scores 2014 - 2/4
• 2014's Lessons Learned - 2/2
• 2014 Review/2015 Preview: All 32 teams - 2/2015
• SOS Adjusted RB Non-PPR Scores 2014 - 1/29
• SOS Adjusted QB Scores for 2014 - 1/22 

UP NEXT:

• Off-Season Report #4: Buy-Low Dynasty/Keeper Prospects (Next week)
• Off-season Report #5: 2015 Catch Rate/Yard-Per-Target Analysis (Next week)

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2015 Free Agency Preview

Updated, 2/24/15

Note: For the full article online, check here

While we don’t expect many superstars at the skill positions to change teams in the 2015 off-season, there are still many potential fantasy impact players who are impending free agents this spring. After a three-day negotiating period for teams, the new league year officially begins March 10 at 4 p.m. Eastern, giving the NFL a juicy primetime free agency special, and it’s possible many of the top names in this article are locked up in the days – or even hours – after the new league year starts (there was a flurry of activity as soon as 4 p.m. hit last year).

Under the 2011 NFL CBA, players who have accrued four years of service time are designated as unrestricted free agents – you might remember that only players with six years of service time could be UFAs once the last CBA expired and the league played without a salary cap briefly.

In this article series, we will have an extensive list and analysis of all of the key free agents in the NFL this off-season (and some guys who aren’t so key). Some of these guys will make an impact next year, and many will not. We have you covered either way.

To start, a primer on the 2015 free agency process:

Free Agency Glossary

These are terms you’ll hear a lot in this article and over the next few weeks. These brief descriptions should have you adequately prepared for the whole process.

Unrestricted free agent: Any NFL player who has accrued four or more years of service time and has an expired contract. An unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any team in whatever situation for whatever contract he deems most beneficial, with no penalty to the acquiring team.

Restricted free agent: Any NFL player who has accrued three years of service time and has an expired contract. Restricted free agents are free to negotiate on the open market. Once a player is given an offer sheet, his previous team has a seven-day “right of first refusal” period to match the offer.

If the controlling team declines, the acquiring team could be forced to pay a draft-pick penalty for signing that player to a contract, the cost of which is depending on the RFA tender offered to the player by his previous club. On the flip side, if a player is not offered an RFA tender by his club, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Teams can also work out trades with interested parties, adjusting the terms any draft-pick compensation the player’s RFA tender would require (the Dolphins and Patriots did this in 2007 with Wes Welker).

Exclusive rights free agent: Any NFL player who has accrued two or fewer years of service time and has an expired contract. The term “free agent” is a misnomer, in that the player has no contract, but his rights are controlled by his team unless that team willingly decides to release him. If an exclusive rights free agent is tendered a contract (at the veteran minimum), he must sign it if he wishes to play because he has no negotiating power. For the purposes of this article, we’ll list ERFAs under the “RFA” section.

Franchise tag: Any player who will become an unrestricted or restricted free agent can be designated as his club’s franchise player. If a player is designated as a franchise player, he is tendered a one-year, guaranteed contract. To make a complicated scenario simple (and trust us, it’s complicated), the franchise tag under the new CBA signed in 2011 is calculated as a percentage of the salary cap, using the salaries of highly paid players at the tagged player’s position, which reduces the overall value of the tag (this was a “win” for the owners in the CBA negotiations). Every dollar of the franchise tag is guaranteed.

If a player is designated a franchise player, he can sign the one-year deal immediately, and he can continue to negotiate a long-term deal with his club. However, once a deadline in mid-July passes, the franchise player is no longer free to negotiate a long-term deal and must either sign the franchise tag or hold out (teams can also work out trades). Moreover, if a franchise player holds out past a certain date late in the NFL season, he is no longer free to sign the tag and will go without pay for the entire 2015 season (Vincent Jackson came dangerously close to this date during the 2010 season).

A player can be either an “exclusive” or “non-exclusive” franchise player. A “non-exclusive” franchise player is free to negotiate with other teams, like a restricted free agent, and like in an RFA scenario his previous club is given right of first refusal. If the club declines to match an offer sheet, the player’s previous club is awarded two 1^st-round picks as compensation. Because of this, we won’t often see a “non-exclusive” franchise player sign with another club.

In 2015, teams must designate a player a franchise player by March 2 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

Transition tag: Like the franchise tag, the transition tag is a way for teams to retain their unrestricted or restricted free agents under a one-year guaranteed deal. However, there are some differences, explaining why it is not as prevalent as the franchise tag. First, and most notably, the transition tag is “cheaper” to the offering team, as it takes into account the salaries of the top-10 players at the position instead of five, like in the franchise tag.

However, transitioned players are always free to negotiate with other clubs, like restricted free agents, and their controlling clubs are given right of first refusal. But there is no draft-pick compensation for being unable to match an offer sheet, unlike the two 1^st-round pick compensation on a non-exclusive franchised player.

This has led to very interesting scenarios in the past, in which teams included “poison pill” clauses in their offer sheets to transitioned players, making it essentially impossible for a player’s old club to match the offer (Steve Hutchinson and Nate Burleson were signed with “poison pill” deals in the past). The risk was minimal for offering teams – they didn’t have to pay any compensation, like they would have to under an RFA tender or a franchise tender.

That’s why the tag is little used. While there is less financial commitment, there is a greater risk to the club offering the tag. The Steelers used the tag on Jason Worilds last year, but he signed it quickly and was willing to play under it. So teams could use the tag on players they know will be willing to sign it, or on players whom they don’t believe will be as valued on the open market as the player expects.

In previous years, teams could use both the franchise tag and a transition tag. Under the new CBA signed in 2011, teams can choose only one of the two tags.

Quarterbacks

Unrestricted Free Agents

Mark Sanchez (Phi, 28) – After five tumultuous years with the Jets, including missing the entire 2013 season with a shoulder injury, Sanchez took a ride down the New Jersey Turnpike to join the Eagles as a backup to Nick Foles. Foles went down in Week Nine with a broken collarbone, so Sanchez took over for the rest of the year. In all, Sanchez outplayed Foles, going 198/309 (64.1) for 2418 yards, with 14 TDs and 11 INTs. He also added 34/87/1 rushing. He ranked #12 among QBs over his nine appearances at 21.3 FPG, and if you count just his eight starts, he was #10 at 21.6 FPG over the second half of the year, falling below 20 FP in our site-default scoring system just once in eight starts. Sanchez generally kept the offense on a better schedule than Foles, but the same problems we’ve seen from him in the past crept up. He just played in a better offense in Philadelphia than he did in New York. Sanchez was often inaccurate, and the worst kind of inaccurate – high throws that were prone to picks. He made some bad decisions, turned the ball over a ton, and very rarely took shots down the field. As we expected, Sanchez was able to boost his stock by playing in HC Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense, and his numbers ended up being pretty good, at least compared to his years with the Jets. He had career-highs in completion percentage (64.1) and YPG (268.7), not to mention hitting the 300-yard mark four times in nine games, after doing so just eight times in his first four seasons. With Foles still under contract, Sanchez will likely try to find a starting job elsewhere and in a weak free agent class, he should be able to find work, possibly in Buffalo, where he’d be reunited with Rex Ryan.

Josh McCown, (TB, 35) – McCown was a late addition to this year’s free agent class after the Buccaneers decided to cut him loose in early February. This comes less than a year after signing with the Buccaneers to work with HC Lovie Smith once again. Smith didn’t exactly play his card close to his vest, as it became apparent that McCown would start soon after his signing was announced. McCown started 11 games and didn’t have anywhere near the success he had with the Bears in 2013. McCown went 184/327 (56.3%) for 2206 yards (6.7 YPA), with 11 TDs and 14 INTs. He added 25/127/3 rushing and ranked #29 among all QBs at 16.8 FPG. He missed several starts midseason with a thumb injury suffered in Week Three against Atlanta, but Glennon wasn’t impressive enough to hold off the veteran. But things weren’t much better, if at all, with McCown. Playing behind perhaps the worst offensive line in football, McCown threw for fewer than 200 yards in seven of his 11 starts, while throwing for 1 or fewer TDs in seven of 11 starts as well. McCown completed fewer than 50% of his passes in three starts, and fewer than 60% in three more. The Buccaneers saved more than $5 million by cutting McCown, and he’s already drawn interest from the Bills, Bears, Jets and Browns in mid-February. According to ESPN, McCown has more visits lined up and is in a pretty good position to cash in as a veteran with some recent success in a free agent class that lacks any big talent.

Jake Locker (Ten, 26) – Unfortunately for both Locker and the Titans, his four years in Tennessee were a major bust after being the #8 overall pick in the 2011 Draft. Locker finished the year on the injured reserve with a dislocated shoulder that required surgery, a fitting ending for his injury-plagued first four seasons. He finished 86/146 for 993 yards (6.8 YPA), 5 TDs, and 7 INTs in seven games, averaging 12.8 FPG. Locker showed some promise in his first two seasons, but he failed to make any progress since then. Locker has so much talent that he’ll likely have at least a few suitors as a potential backup this off-season, but he’s been anything but reliable in his career, which is what teams are looking for from their #2 QB. Locker never played more than 11 games in a season and will likely have to take a prove-it deal to get his career back on track. According to NJ.com, the Eagles have shown interest in Locker, which makes sense in HC Chip Kelly’s offense due to Locker’s athleticism, although there would have to be significant improvement in his accuracy, since Locker never completed more than 60.7% of his attempts during his time with the Titans.

Brian Hoyer (Cle, 29) – Remember when Hoyer and the Browns were supposedly discussing a long-term deal? It seemed laughable last season and even more ridiculous heading into free agency, but that’s what happens when you get the “winner” label like Hoyer did when the Browns had some success in the first half of 2014. Hoyer beat out Johnny Manziel in an ugly QB battle and kept the starting job through Week Fourteen, but his ability to keep the team in the playoff mix in November wasn’t much more than smoke and mirrors, which led to Hoyer’s benching in Week Fifteen. He’d make a short appearance in Week Sixteen after Manziel injured his hamstring, but a shoulder injury kept Hoyer out of the finale and likely ended his time with the Browns. In 14 games (13 starts), he went 242/438 (55.3%) for 3326 yards with 12 TDs and 13 INTs and rand for 39 yards on 24 carries to finish with 15.6 FPG. While we can’t complete rule out a return to Cleveland, Hoyer would be right back in the same circus as last year, although there’s a bit more uncertainty when it comes to Manziel after he entered rehab in February. Hoyer has said he’s open to coming back, but would also be monitoring the off-field issues as it pertains to the front office and wants to meet with GM Ray Farmer before making a decision. According to ESPN, there has been some contract talk between Hoyer and the Browns, and HC Mike Pettine hasn’t ruled out Hoyer returning to Cleveland.

Ryan Mallett (Hou, 26) – Mallett is one of the more intriguing names of this free agent class, but that’s because we saw just a small sample of him in Houston. After trading a late-round pick for Mallett back in August, it was only a matter of time before Texan coach Bill O’Brien got a look at his strong-armed youngster. Benching Ryan Fitzpatrick heading into the Texans’ Week Ten bye, Houston got Mallett ready to start the rest of the season. He was managed and performed well against the Browns, going 20/30 for 211 yards with 2 TDs and a pick. But he regressed big-time in his second start, admitting himself that he was wildly inaccurate against the Bengals, against whom he went 21/45 for a measly 189 yards and a pick. But it was discovered after the game that Mallett injured a pectoral muscle in warmups and played through it, despite the injury eventually costing him the rest of the season. All indications suggest the team wants to bring Mallett back, and according to NFL Network, that could happen on a short-term deal with Mallett getting a chance to win the starting job. In fact, the team’s official site reports that Mallett has been working out at their facilities, so the relations are clearly strong and O’Brien said his top priority is bringing back Mallett. While Ryan Fitzpatrick is still on the roster, he’s not a lock to stay with the team and is coming back from a broken leg. If Mallett doesn’t return to Houston, he should draw interest for some QB-needy teams looking to bring in competition.

Check here for more writeups on: 

Matt Moore 
Michael Vick 
Matt Hasselbeck 
Christian Ponder 
Blaine Gabbert 
Shaun Hill 
Jason Campbell 
Colt McCoy 
Tarvaris Jackson 
Matt Flynn 
Tyrod Taylor 
Scott Tolzien
Jimmy Clausen 
T.J. Yates 
Dan Orlovsky 
Ryan Lindley 
Case Keenum 

Restricted Free Agents

Kellen Moore (Det, 25) – Moore has yet to throw a pass in the NFL and served as the #3 QB in Detroit for the last three seasons. Because the team is short on cap space, he could be non-tendered as an RFA and brought back at a cheaper price, which is what the team hopes to do, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Austin Davis (Stl, 25) – Chances are you had no idea who Davis was when he was promoted to the starting job after Sam Bradford was lost to a torn ACL and Shaun Hill struggled in the opener. Davis looked really good at times early in his eight-game stretch of starts, but he looked pathetic down the stretch once teams got some looks at him on tape. He started eight games and played the second half of another game, and he completed 181/285 passes (63.5%) for 1,998 yards (7.0), 12 TDs, and 9 INTs for 16.8 FPG. After a hot start, Davis took too many sacks and made too many mistakes, including 6 turnovers that were returned for touchdowns. Davis eventually lost his job back to Hill in Week Eleven. Davis flashed a bit last season, but he wasn’t consistent enough to keep his job. He could have a tough time even making this roster next preseason, with the Rams likely to bring in competition for Bradford this off-season.

Running Backs

Unrestricted Free Agents

DeMarco Murray (Dal, 27) – The Cowboys are in a predicament. They’re coming off their best season in quite a while, but their two best offensive players from 2014 – Murray and Dez Bryant – are free agents, and the team isn’t likely to have the cap room to re-sign both to lucrative deals. Murray is still young, just turning 27, but he has an extensive injury history. And although he stayed healthy in 2014, he absolutely piled up the touches. Murray carried a monstrous 393 times for 1,845 yards (4.7 YPC) and 13 TDs, and he added 57 catches on 64 targets (89.1% catch rate) for 416 yards (7.3 YPC). Murray gave this offense a run-first identity with his physical style, and he rarely left the field (played 74% of the snaps) and was a true workhorse. Murray put his name up there with a couple of the game’s all-time best RBs. He passed Emmitt Smith’s single-season team record of 1,773 rushing yards set in 1995, and he also broke Jim Brown’s record for consecutive 100-yard games with eight. So why is it a no-brainer, in our opinion, that the Cowboys should opt for Bryant over Murray if they can only bring back one? Well, first of all, as good as Murray was this year, backs are more easily replaceable than receivers, a fact that’s been established over and over again. Second of all, we feel most talented backs would have excellent success running behind Dallas’ mauling offensive line. That’s not to diminish what Murray did this past year, as he had an incredible season playing a true throwback, three-down role. It’s just going to be fascinating to see what he gets on the open market because we don’t feel he’s the type of back who can have a high level of success in just any environment. In other words, Murray is less important to the team than Bryant or Tony Romo, despite his fantasy dominance.

Mark Ingram (NO, 25) – Ingram may be the most interesting back on this entire list. It feels like he’s been around forever, but he just turned 25 in December, and has under 700 total touches in his career, including playoffs. Of course, a large part of that has been injuries – toe and foot problems cost him 11 games during the 2011 and 2013 seasons, and he missed three games in 2014 because of surgery on his hand. But quite a bit more of Ingram’s lack of production has come from his usage in New Orleans, that rarely allowed him to get into a rhythm. And Ingram, to us, has often looked like a player who needs rhythm. We finally saw what he could do in that respect in 2014. Ingram opened the season with 24 carries for 143 yards and 3 TDs in his first two games before suffering the hand injury that kept him out until after the Week Six bye. He would play every game for the rest of the season (13 total, 9 starts) and finish with 226 carries for 964 yards (4.3 YPC) and 9 TDs plus 29/145 on 36 targets to end up as the #12 RB with 14.9 FPG. He averaged 52% of snaps per game, a number that rose from 42% in the first half of the season to 56% in the second half. Before 2014, Ingram had never run more than 156 times, topped 602 yards, or scored more than 5 TDs in a season. Perhaps the biggest surprise was his involvement in the passing game, as he came into 2014 with a total of 24/143 in three previous seasons. It’s entirely possible Ingram lands a multi-year deal somewhere else, and we’d be surprised if he’s back in New Orleans given the Saints’ cap restraints.

Justin Forsett (Bal, 29) – Forsett was one of the best stories of the 2014 NFL season, and a legitimately game-changing fantasy asset from our perspective, but it should come as no surprise that the career journeyman was on just a one-year deal with the Ravens. Forsett finished #9 among all RBs in a PPR, with 15.3 FPG, and his 1266 rushing yards (more than double his previous career high of 619 yards) ranked him 5^th, ahead of guys like Eddie Lacy, Jamaal Charles, and Matt Forte. Yes, he was ahead of Forte, the back under new Raven OC Marc Trestman in Chicago last year. Forsett told USA Today that he expects the Raven run game to be similar under Trestman as it was under Gary Kubiak, and we could also see Forsett more involved as a receiver (Forte set an NFL record with 102 receptions as a running back in 2014). This day and age with regard to the run game in the NFL, there’s a “devil you know” aspect to player movement. It’s entirely possible that the Ravens will get the best deal by re-signing Forsett rather than pursuing someone like DeMarco Murray to fill their opening in the backfield, and it’s entirely possible Forsett’s best move both financially and for playing time, will be to re-sign with the Ravens. Reading the tea leaves, this seems like a move that will happen.

Shane Vereen (NE, 26) – Vereen is coming off a disappointing year, showing how difficult it is to produce consistently in the New England backfield. Vereen played in all 16 games this year, but he had some ankle problems that really limited his output late. Vereen had just seven different games with 10 or more FP in a PPR league, and only twice did he have more than 100 yards from scrimmage. It was generally easy to know after the fact if Vereen had a good fantasy game – he touched the ball 10 or more times in seven different games, and in six of them, he had 10 or more FP. But the aggressive rotation that included Stevan Ridley, Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, and LeGarrette Blount at various times capped that upside. In all. Vereen averaged just 10.4 FPG in 2014, down from 16.8 in 2013 (in eight games). If the Patriots game-planned to get Vereen involved, he usually came through. Heck, look at his 11-catch Super Bowl! But that involvement was so spotty, and we wonder if he can get a multi-year somewhere else where he’ll be used more. Vereen will be entering his age 26 season, and he certainly provides value in a rotational role to the Patriots. But from our perspective, we’d prefer to see him go somewhere he could get a more consistent role.

C.J. Spiller (Buf, 27) – Spiller’s now gone through two consecutive massively disappointing seasons, his only two in Buffalo under Doug Marrone. Spiller limped his way through the 2013 season with an ankle injury that plagued him all year, but he was healthy heading into a contract year in 2014. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean much, with Spiller suffering a broken collarbone in Week Seven, which kept him sidelined until the final two games of the season. Even when he was healthy, Spiller wasn’t very productive, which was a running theme during his five years with the Bills. In nine games (five starts), Spiller ran for 300 yards (0 TDs) on 78 carries (3.8 YPC) and caught just 19/125/1 on 22 targets to finish at 7.5 FPG while averaging just 32% of the snaps on the year. Entering his age 28 season, Spiller hasn’t been overworked, with just two seasons with 200+ carries, and he’s an ideal candidate to just go look for a change of scenery. Hopefully, he lands with a staff that will get an efficient and effective performance out of him. He’s been effective in the past, most notably under Chan Gailey, who’s now back in the league with the Jets.

Ryan Mathews (SD, 27) – One of the league’s most naturally gifted pure runners, Mathews has dealt with one major issue – injuries. He’s now missed 20 games over his five-year career, including 10 in 2014. Mathews suffered an ankle injury just two games into the season, and what looked to be a 4-6 week injury kept him out until Week Eleven. Unfortunately, Mathews would play just four more games before ankle issues sidelined him once again for the final three games of the year. He wound up starting in all six of his appearances, rushing for 330 yards and 3 TDs on 74 carries (4.5 YPC) and added 9/69 10 targets, which put him at 6.7 FPG. He played an average of 39% of the snaps per game. That was after his excellent 2013 season, which should be recent enough in the memories of teams that he should draw the interest of multiple teams in search for an early-down back. But even though Mathews is a skilled three-down player, his injuries mean he’s probably best suited in a rotational role, as the Chargers exhibited in 2013. He will be someone who’s interesting to follow on the market.

Ahmad Bradshaw (Ind, 29) – Bradshaw turns 29 in March and hasn’t played a full slate of 16 games since 2010. He’s a really, really good football player, and had scored 8 TDs in 10 games with the Colts this past year before breaking his leg, but he’s now played just 13 games in two years, thanks to a fractured fibula that cost him six games in 2014 and a neck injury that cost him 13 games in 2013. Still, when he’s on the field he’s a true leader and still effective as an all-around back. An excellent receiver and pass protector, Bradshaw is likely to draw interest on a cheap, short-term deal from teams if he proves he’s healthy, and we’ll be paying attention for fantasy depending on where he lands. His best bet may just be to sign back with the Colts, who may move on from Trent Richardson and who really missed Bradshaw when he went down.

Stevan Ridley (NE, 26) – Ridley looks like the type of player who is going to have to settle for a short-term deal, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him have some success somewhere. Ridley posted just 94/340/2 and 4/20 receiving in six games this year, averaging 3.6 YPC. He had two games of 20+ carries and 100+ yards rushing, but as is typical Ridley/Pats fashion, his fantasy production all was a product of game flow. And that was before his October torn ACL, which he actually didn’t get repaired until November because of swelling. Ridley’s an excellent early-down back, but he’s had minimal receiving production and chronic fumbling issues in his career. We’d be surprised if he’s back in New England, but he could be a productive player in a rotational role elsewhere.

Frank Gore (SF, 31) – The 49ers have a ready-made replacement for Gore in Carlos Hyde, so even though Gore remained productive in the final year of his contract in 2014, the Niners can usher in a new era in their backfield. Gore turns 32 in May, and is unlikely to find a big-money deal, whether in San Francisco or elsewhere. But if he wants to continue playing, he has plenty to go on. He played every game for the fourth straight season and rushed 255 times for 1106 yards (4.3 YPC) and 4 TDs, while posting 11/111/1 on 19 targets to finish as the #30 RB with 10.2 FPG while playing an average of 61% of the snaps per game. Gore should find a role somewhere because, even as his receiving production has tailed off, he remains one of the better third-down protectors in the NFL. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him latch on with a contender as a rotational back, and still find himself effective in that role because he takes such good care of himself.

Roy Helu (Was, 26) – Helu’s been little more than a thorn in the side of Alfred Morris owners over the last couple years, stealing almost all of Washington’s passing-down work and limiting Morris’ fantasy upside without providing much of his own. The #35 RB this season with 9.2 FPG in a PPR league, Helu was more of a waiver-wire add if you were desperate for some sort of production any given week, just hoping for a few catches. And as a receiver, he was excellent, posting 42/477/2 on 47 targets (nearly 90% catch rate), but he had only 40/216/0 rushing. So those of us who hitched our wagons to Morris were pissed that Helu played as much as he did, but apparently Helu is pissed he didn’t play more. That’s why he’s expected to test free agency, and he’s a pretty interesting name on the lower end of the market.

Chris Johnson (NYJ, 29) – It should come as no surprise that the Jets declined CJ’s 2015 option earlier this month, which will officially land him on the free agent market in March. Johnson posted 814 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs on 179 touches this year, making some plays here and there but all in all lacking any sort of big-play ability or fantasy relevance. A player who is notorious for complaining when he doesn’t get his way, our guess is very few teams will have an interest in signing Johnson, and if one does he isn’t likely to be guaranteed a roster spot. He’ll need a special alignment of the stars to ever have fantasy relevance again.

Darren McFadden (Oak, 27) – McFadden was in pretty much the same spot last year, entering free agency coming off a pretty underwhelming season, and he had to settle for a low-cost one-year deal back in Oakland. On that deal, he probably provided a legitimate return on investment, playing 16 games for the first time in his career and posting around 750 yards from scrimmage. However, his presence meant the Raiders waited way too long to get Latavius Murray on the field, and we’d be surprised to see McFadden back in Oakland under a new coaching staff. Perhaps he can go to the open market finally armed with a full season’s worth of games under his belt, but he wasn’t particularly impressive at any time. His best bet would be to try to find a rotational role or competition somewhere, preferably a place where his new club would run McFadden’s preferred power/man blocking scheme.

DeAngelo Williams (Car, 32) – This seems to have been a long time coming, but the Panthers finally released the overpaid and underproductive Williams. The Panthers’ all-time leading rusher, DeAngelo played in just six regular-season games in 2014 and set career lows in attempts (63), yards (219), YPC (3.9), and TDs (0). He also didn’t do anything as a receiver, with just 5/44/0. The Panthers restructured his deal a couple years ago, but there was no reason for Carolina to keep him in 2015 with Jonathan Stewart playing well and Mike Tolbert still under contract, as they continue to rectify the egregious mistakes former GM Marty Hurney made with the roster. DeAngelo may still have some juice left, but he’s not going to get more than a one-year cheap deal to prove it. A team looking for some veteran depth could scoop him up.

Knowshon Moreno (Mia, 27) – Moreno was able to secure only a one-year deal last off-season, and that was coming off a career year. Now what’s his market going to be after a season in which he played just three games, missing a month with a dislocated elbow and the rest of the year after October 12 with a torn ACL? According to ESPN, the Dolphins aren’t expected to have much interest in retaining Moreno following Lamar Miller’s break-out year, and he may have to dredge the depths for a near-minimum deal to try to compete for touches somewhere. By the time free agency comes around, he’ll be five months removed from his injury, but he’s got an uphill climb to continue his career.

Check here for more writeups on: 

Bilal Powell 
Jacquizz Rodgers 
Ben Tate 
Antone Smith 
Cedric Peerman 
DuJuan Harris 
Leon Washington 
Jonathan Dwyer 
Daniel Thomas 
Joe McKnight 
Ronnie Brown 
LaMichael James 

Restricted Free Agents

Dan Herron (Ind, 26) – The Colts have a really interesting decision to make with Herron. A restricted free agent, Herron was a savior for the Colts after the Ahmad Bradshaw injury, given the Trent Richardson fiasco. Herron started six games for the Colts, three in the regular season and three in the playoffs. And from Week Twelve on, Herron was #22 at the RB position with 11.5 FPG. So he did something that was extremely important to the Colts’ run to the AFC Championship Game. But the question the Colts must answer is this: Was Herron so important in the playoffs because he was legitimately good, or was it because he isn’t Richardson? You can make the argument that it’s more the latter. He’s a good receiver and tough runner, but he doesn’t have overly explosive ability. He struggled in pass pro, and had a fumbling problem. Whatever the case, Herron seems like a guy the Colts should focus on bringing back, especially since it’s unlikely he’ll draw serious interest on the open market if the Colts give him a half-decent RFA tender. Richardson may not be back, Bradshaw is coming off a broken leg plus is also a free agent, and Vick Ballard (remember him?) is coming off an Achilles tear. The Colts need to be active in boosting their run game this off-season, but they’d be wise to bring back the versatile Boom if he doesn’t cost too much.

Matt Asiata (Min, 27) – One of our subscribers had an excellent comparison for Asiata when he was on his “fantasy-relevant” run last year – Peyton Hillis. It made perfect sense. Asiata can play all three downs because he’s a good protector and solid receiver, but man, he is sllllloooooowwwww. Regardless, his blocking and receiver will continue to get him work, whether in Minnesota or somewhere else. In 2014, carried 164 times for 570 yards (3.5 YPC) and 9 TDs, and he caught 44 passes on 61 targets (72.1% catch rate) for 312 yards (7.1 YPC) and 1 TD. He posted 12.8 FPG, so he was absolutely a fantasy asset for Minnesota, which lost Adrian Peterson to the awful child abuse case and rookie Jerick McKinnon to injury. If Peterson is back next year, the Vikings may not have room for Asiata, but he’s probably someone who will draw interest on the open market because of his third-down abilities. One note: he turns 28 in July.

Bobby Rainey (TB, 27) – In 2014, Rainey was the Bucs’ most effective back on a per-touch basis – 94/406/1 rushing (4.3 YPC) and 33/315/1 receiving on 44 targets (9.5 YPC, 75%). But for one reason or another, the Buccaneers simply didn’t like him, holding him without a touch in any of the Bucs’ final three games. He had some fumbling issues, but as a pure runner, he looked better than Doug Martin or Charles Sims. While the Bucs could have been in pure evaluation mode late and wanted to get better looks at Martin and Sims, their handling of Rainey is interesting, to say the least. He’s a restricted free agent heading into 2015, so he may not be too expensive to bring back, but it’s clear there’s something about his game the Bucs don’t love. Don’t be shocked if he goes untendered.

Jordan Todman (Jac, 25) – A rotational player with some juice, Todman posted 32/186/1 rushing (5.8 YPC) and 25/198/1 receiving (7.9 YPR) for the Jags this season, while also serving as their primary kick returner (972 yards). As a guy who averaged 6.7 yards per offensive touch, can block, and can play special teams, Todman is more valuable to an NFL team than he is for fantasy. At just 25, he shouldn’t cost too much on an RFA tender to bring back, and he has some value even if the Jags upgrade at RB over Toby Gerhart, Denard Robinson, andStorm Johnson. His role should be safe. If the Jags don’t want him back, someone will take him.

Chris Polk (Phi, 25) – A true short-yardage back, Polk had only 48 touches on the year, but scored 4 TDs, just one shy of LeSean McCoy, who had 5 TDs on 342 touches (Darren Sproles had 6 offensive TDs on 97 touches). In all, Polk totaled 46/172/4 rushing (3.7 YPC) and 2/16 receiving, also adding a kick return TD. Polk turned 8 runs inside the five into 3 TDs, and had another in the red zone as well. He’s dealt with injury problems throughout his career, as he fell out of the NFL draft entirely with shoulder and hip issues, and he had trouble with his hamstring and ankle in 2014. But Polk is reportedly a favorite of Chip Kelly and the Eagle staff, and it’d be surprising to see the Eagles let the RFA go because he isn’t likely to be too expensive.

Travaris Cadet (NO, 26) – Cadet is someone the Saints may choose to bring back in 2015 just to give them options. While he had only 10/32 rushing in 2014, he showed well as a receiver, catching 38/296/1 on 51 targets. He shouldn’t be too expensive to retain, since he’s unlikely to draw a ton of interest as a restricted free agent. If he’s back in New Orleans, the Saints may have the option of cutting Pierre Thomas, a possibility considering their woeful salary cap situation. With Mark Ingram also a free agent, there could be a lot of touches opening up in this backfield.

Lance Dunbar (Dal, 25) – Dunbar is still really young, turning 25 in January, and he could be important to the Cowboys in 2015 with DeMarco Murray a candidate to leave in free agency. But his 2014 season was a disappointment after a promising preseason. Dunbar finished with 29/99 rushing (3.4 YPC) and 18/217 receiving (12.1 YPC) on 22 targets (81.8% catch rate), while playing 13% of the snaps, as playcaller Scott Linehan didn’t view Dunbar and Murray as a potential Reggie Bush/Joique Bell combo, like he had in Detroit. Still, we like Dunbar’s skillset for PPR leagues, and depending on his situation next year he remains someone to keep an eye on.

Wide Receivers

Unrestricted Free Agents

Dez Bryant (Dal, 26) – The Cowboys’ top priority this off-season is to make sure Dez is in a Cowboy uniform for the start of 2015. Dez still saw plenty of love from Tony Romo last season, even though the offense shifted to more of a run-first focus behind DeMarco Murray. Bryant finished with 88 catches on 133 targets (66.2%) for 1,320 yards (15.0 YPC) and a WR-best 16 TDs. He finished 6^th among fantasy WRs, with 19.8 FPG, and he recorded a ridiculous 6 TDs in the final three games of the season. Dez has now increased his TD total for the fifth consecutive season (6 in 2010, 9 in 2011, 12 in 2012, 13 in 2013, and 16 in 2014), and he has an unreal 41 TDs the last three seasons. Dez saw only 15 red-zone targets last season, but 9 of those targets came from the 5-yard line or closer. He saw double coverage at times, but it didn’t matter because of his size and great hands, and the Cowboys’ great running game did open him up to more single coverage. Dez ran just 15.8% of his routes from the slot and caught 16/249/1 from that spot, according to ProFootball Focus. Bryant’s rookie contract is up, and both sides have stated that they want to get a long-term deal done this off-season. The Cowboys would likely use the franchise tag if they can’t get a deal done, though, so we’d expect to see Dez back in Dallas next year, assuming the report on 2/20 that there’s a mysterious video of Dez that is damning doesn’t come out. Bryant turned just 26 in November, and he’s in the conversation for top WR in the game, so unless there’s an off-field concern we’d be shocked if Dez isn’t with the Cowboys next season.

Demaryius Thomas (Den, 27) – It’s hard to believe that Demaryius will be playing anywhere but Denver next season. The Broncos’ top priority is to bring back Thomas, and they’ll likely use the franchise tag if they need to. It’s hard not to love Demaryius, who is one of the best receivers after the catch, but he also can dominate down the field with his speed or in the red zone with his size. He had his third consecutive monster year in 2014 with Peyton Manning at QB, posting career-highs with 111 catches for 1619 yards and 11 TDs. Thomas averaged 14.6 YPC and was targeted 182 times (61.0% catch rate, and he finished #3 among all WRs at 21.2 FPG). His 182 targets were the most among any player, as were his 39 red-zone targets and 13 goal-line targets. Demaryius fell below 10 FP in a PPR league only three times, including when he played through an ankle injury in Week Fourteen. Occasionally, he dropped too many easy passes on well-designed rocket screens. Thomas shrugged off the notion that he was distracted in a contract year, thus the drops. But most of the time he dominated, going over 100 yards 10 different times, including a stretch of seven consecutive at one point. Benefiting from the versatile and dynamic Emmanuel Sanders opposite him, everything turned up golden. Demaryius is on track to get paid as a free agent, but it would be shocking to see the Broncos let him go, as he’s only 27 and is a prime candidate for the franchise tag. The Bronco passing game could be in flux with Peyton’s status up in the air and new coach Gary Kubiak coming in, but Demaryius should be in line for a monster role as the “X” in Kubiak’s proven offense.

Randall Cobb (GB, 24) – Cobb was limited to just six games in 2013, thanks to a broken leg, but he finished the season strong and was ready to roll in 2014, which happened to be a contract year. He certainly did his best to earn a monster deal by having his best season ever. For the first time, he played in all 16 games and put up 91/1287/12 (14.1 YPC) on 127 targets (71.7% catch rate) and was 10^th at the WR position, with 18.5 FPG while averaging 88% of the snaps per game. He led the league with 501 slot routes, as that made up 87.3% of his routes on the season. Cobb tied Emmanuel Sanders for the 15^th-most routes run at 574, according to ProFootballFocus. Cobb had five games with at least 100 yards and just six games with fewer than 5 receptions. He had double-digit FP in all but three games and dipped below 15 FPG just four times. That’s remarkable efficiency for a WR who has to battle for targets with Jordy Nelson, but it shows just how far Cobb has come in a short time with the Packers. His development has made players like Greg Jennings and James Jones expendable, but now the Packers have to decide if they’re going to pay Cobb, who is easily one of the top free agents available in the 2015 class. Unless the bidding for Cobb gets out of control, we’d expect him to be back with the Packers, since it doesn’t look like they have a suitable replacement, as both Davante Adams and Jeff Janis are young and better suited for the outside. ESPN.com reporter Rob Demovsky believes that Cobb is seeking about $9 million per year, slightly less than Nelson got ($9.75 million per year) last season.

Jeremy Maclin (Phi, 26) – Last off-season, months removed from the ACL injury, Maclin took a bet on himself and signed a one-year deal with the Eagles to try to reestablish some value. Maclin won that bet. In his first season under Chip Kelly, Maclin posted 86/1329/10 receiving on 139 targets (15.5 YPC, 61.9%). He ranked #11 among all WRs with 17.4 FPG, and now he’s primed to land a huge contract, whether in Philly or somewhere else. Very reliable throughout the year, Maclin fell below 10 FP in a PPR league just three times, and just once against teams not named the New York Giants. He had four 100-yard games, but three more with at least 90 yards. He caught 3 or more passes in all but one game, so he was very consistently involved. But his season was a tale of two years. In the eight games Nick Foles started, Maclin averaged 21.8 FPG, #3 among all WRs, and 17.4 YPC. He didn’t exhibit nearly as much upside with Mark Sanchez, and the downfield juice between the two just didn’t exist the way it did with Foles. Maclin slipped to 13.1 FPG (#32 among WRs) and just 13.2 YPC in Sanchez’s 8 starts. Maclin is a tough cover, a versatile and challenging receiver for defenses to handle. Wherever he goes, he’ll be an asset next year. Maclin and the Eagles have been in contract negotiations, and both sides seem to want to reach a deal. The Eagles could use their franchise tag on Maclin if they can’t complete a deal. If he sticks around in Chip’s offense, we just hope Maclin gets more consistent QB play.

Michael Crabtree (SF, 27) - Crabtree didn’t look all the way back from his torn Achilles when he returned from the injury for the final five games of 2013, and while he played every game in 2014, he didn’t look like the dominant player we saw in 2012. In 16 games, Crabtree posted 68/698/4 (10.3 YPC, a career-low) on 108 targets (63% catch rate) to finish tied for 56^th among WRs with 10.1 FPG while playing about 69% of snaps per game. He never had more than 85 yards in any game and had at least 5 receptions just six times. He had just six games with double-digit FP and hit 20 FP just twice. Crabtree, who turns 28 in September, has battled a plethora of injuries during his six-year career, including a knee issue that nagged him this past season, so that lengthy injury history could hurt him in free agency. He did have to play with an inconsistent QB in Colin Kaepernick, but Crabtree also dropped too many passes and didn’t get into any kind of rhythm during the season. Crabtree admitted that he may not be back in San Francisco next season, but he’s likely to draw some attention this off-season because of his talent level. It will be interesting to see if he tries to land in a more pass-friendly offense after playing the last couple years in this 49er offense that’s ranked near the bottom of the league in pass attempts.

Torrey Smith (Bal, 26) – Torrey ended up posting good numbers for fantasy players, but a disastrous start to the season really hurt his bottom line. Torrey had just 49/767/11 receiving on 91 targets (53.8%) in 16 games, finishing #34 among WRs with 12.0 FPG. He also saw more slot time than we’re used to seeing from him, but unfortunately for him, he was typically the “Z” receiver, usually way behind the “X” for targets in Gary Kubiak’s offense. Torrey started extremely slow through five weeks, posting just 11/176/1 on 29 targets for 6.9 FPG. Over that same span, new teammate Steve Smith was the #6 receiver at 18.9 FPG. From Week Six on, Torrey was the #20 fantasy receiver, with 14.3 FPG, while Steve fell to #40 at 11.6 FPG. No receiver drew more pass interference calls than Torrey, and while those are big plays for his offense, they don’t do anything for fantasy. On the flip side, his fantasy owners were fortunate that he scored 11 TDs on just 49 catches. No other WR with fewer than 50 catches had more than 8 receiving TDs. He also didn’t have a single 100-yard game in 2014, and twice posted a goose egg (once while playing on a bad knee). Torrey is unlikely to ever be a consistent receiver, but he’s still one of the best deep threats and the top one available in this free agency class. Smith went to the University of Maryland and is a perfect fit with Joe Flacco’s big arm, so it makes the most sense for Smith to return next season.

Kenny Britt (Stl, 26) – Britt revitalized his career a bit by reuniting with his old Titan coach Jeff Fisher. Britt actually stayed healthy and out of trouble last season, as he stayed on the field for all 16 games for the first time since his rookie season in 2009. Britt caught a career-best 48 passes on 82 targets (58.5% catch rate) for 748 yards (15.6 YPC) and 3 TDs for 8.9 FPG in 16 games. He played 79% of the snaps last season, so he emerged as the team’s #1 WR after Brian Quick went down in Week Seven. Britt said after the season that he wants to stay in St. Louis, which would be a wise decision, considering he’s had his most success under Fisher. If Britt re-signs this off-season, he could form a nice tandem of big receivers with Quick for whoever is at quarterback next season. Britt will be entering his seventh season in 2015, but he still will be only 27 years old in September, so it’s not out of the question that he could put it all together at some point. Still, he’s unlikely to get much guaranteed money on the open market, so his best bet is to likely stay in St. Louis.

Cecil Shorts (Jac, 27) – So much for a contract-year bump for Shorts in 2014. It looks like Shorts may have played his final game with the Jaguars unless he’s willing to come back to Jacksonville on the cheap for almost no guaranteed money. Shorts became just another guy in this offense with talented rookie WRs Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, and Allen Hurnsaround him. Shorts didn’t make any big plays in this Jaguar offense, averaging a measly 10.5 YPC, and he scored just 1 TD all the way back in his first game of the season. He finished the year with 53 catches on 110 targets (a pathetic 48.2% catch rate) for 557 yards and 1 TD in 13 games, averaging 9.3 FPG. Shorts did play on 87% of the snaps when he was in the lineup. He once again dealt with hamstring issues last season, and he’s had concussion issues in the past, so Shorts is unlikely to generate heavy interest on the open market. Shorts is originally from Cleveland and went to college at Mt. Union in Ohio. He could be a relatively cheap option for the WR-hungry Browns, a franchise that could also use some positive publicity.

Eddie Royal (SD, 28) – Royal actually had his best season since his rookie year, posting 62/778/7 (12.5 YPC) on 90 targets (68.9% catch rate) to finish tied for 37^th among WRs, with 11.5 FPG. He averaged 71% of the snaps per game, but saw his snaps rise from 62% in the first half of the season to 81% in the second half. Royal has been known as a slot receiver, so it was no surprise to see that he ran 86.2% of his routes from the slot. His 445 slot routes were the 3^rd-most behind just Randall Cobb and Jordan Matthews, according to ProFootballFocus. Royal is a free agent and coming off his best season in six years, and he could be a nice piece for a team looking for a veteran to be a #3 WR, so he’s not a lock to be back in San Diego if they can’t afford him. Royal will be 29 in May and is entering his 8^th year in the league, but he should have a decent market for teams looking for an experienced slot receiver.

Hakeem Nicks (Ind, 27) – Nicks signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Colts, and he failed to make much of an impact. While he played every game - a minor miracle for him - he started just six times, catching 38/405/4 (10.7 YPC) on 68 targets (55.9% catch rate), which put him at just 6.4 FPG. He was somewhat active in the red zone, with 14 targets, but he was ultimately pretty useless, despite getting to play with standout Andrew Luck. Nicks’ snaps dropped from 55% in the first half of the season to 46% in the second half, as rookie Donte Moncrief started to come on a little more. If Nicks returns to the Colts, it’ll likely be a team-friendly deal, since we doubt the market will be strong for the disappointing veteran. Wayne is a free agent, and there’s a chance he could retire, which does help Nicks’ chances of returning next season as the #3 WR.

Check here for more writeups on:

Nate Washington 
Wes Welker 
Reggie Wayne 
Denarius Moore 
Miles Austin 
Jerrel Jernigan 
Mike Williams 
Jason Avant 
Vincent Brown 
Brandon Lloyd 
Leonard Hankerson 
Donnie Avery 
Dwayne Harris 
Santana Moss 
Brandon Tate 
Derek Hagan 
Josh Morgan 
Robert Meachem 
Eric Weems 
Dane Sanzenbacher 
Greg Salas 
Darrius Heyward-Bey 
Seji Ajirotutu 
Josh Cribbs 

Restricted Free Agents

Andre Holmes (Oak, 26) – After flashing in 2013, Holmes looked like an intriguing prospect for the Raiders in 2014, especially since there appeared to be a clear path for him to carve out a large role. While he appeared in every game and started every game after Week Three, we never saw Holmes contribute at a consistent level, despite having great size for an outside receiver at 6’4”, 210 pounds. He wound up with 47/693/4 (14.7 YPC) on 97 targets (48.5% catch rate) and just 8.8 FPG (tied for 67^th). Holmes averaged 73% of the snaps per game, including 77% in the second half of the season. We’re still intrigued by Holmes, especially with a solid QB in Derek Carr under center, but he is a restricted free agent who could actually get some attention because of the big-play ability that he’s flashed. The Raiders are unlikely to lose him, but we’ll be curious to see if another team jumps in on him.

Rod Streater (Oak, 27) – Streater barely got out of the gate before landing on the designated-to-return IR after Week Three. Unfortunately, he had a setback in mid-December and the team never activated him. Streater, who had shown steady improvement through his first two seasons, ended up with just 9/84/1 on 13 targets in three games. We’re hoping the foot surgery and eventual setback doesn’t hurt Streater for the long term. Still, with a new coaching staff, his future is up in the air, even though he looked like a pretty solid option in 2013. The Raiders will likely give Streater another look next season with so little still settled at the WR position.

Cole Beasley (Dal, 25) – Beasley helped to open this Cowboy passing game in the second half of the year as a slippery WR out of the slot for QB Tony Romo. Beasley caught 37 passes on 49 targets (75.5% catch rate) for 420 yards (11.4 YPC) and 4 TDs in 16 games (6.4 FPG). He was very useful from Week Twelve on, recording 21/277/4 on 28 targets for 12.1 FPG in six games, and he added 7/99 in two playoff games. Beasley emerged in the second half of the year as a #3 WR as Terrance Williams faded for a stretch. Beasley actually played more in the first half of the season (43%) compared to the second half (38%), but Romo clearly started looking for him more later in the year. Cole can get open out of the slot, as he creates space in tight coverage or finds soft spots in zones. Beasley ran 91.2% of his routes out of the slot and caught 29/342/4 from that spot, according to ProFootballFocus. Beasley is fully expected to be back as a restricted free agent, and the two sides could even work on a long-term deal.

Jermaine Kearse (Sea, 25) – Kearse managed just 38/537/1 on 68 targets (14.1 YPC, 55.9%), despite playing around 80% of Seattle’s offensive snaps. Kearse posted 6.7 FPG in 15 games - he missed Week Seventeen because of a hamstring injury - which tied him for 79^th among WRs. Kearse was actually Seattle’s second-best fantasy asset at the WR position. Kearse, who stands 6’1”, has exceptional leaping ability and makes some spectacular catches, but he struggles to separate on a consistent basis, which limits his upside. Only four times all year did Kearse top 10 FP in a PPR league, and until the playoffs, he never had more than 12.8 FP in a single game. He actually scored more TDs in the playoffs than in the regular season. The Seahawks try to get Kearse favorable matchups because they like his chances on jump balls, and he ran nearly half his routes out of the slot, according to ProFootballFocus. But he’s proven he’s more of a #3 or even #4 in a good receiving corps, who has had the good fortune of showing up in big moments because of some elite improv skills from QB Russell Wilson. Seattle desperately needs to upgrade at WR, but he’s a restricted free agent, so expect him back at a reasonable number.

Damaris Johnson (Hou, 25) – The Texans continue to be extremely thin at WR behind top-30 guys DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson, as no other Texan WR finished in the top 100 of FPG among WRs. Damaris was the best of the group, with 31/331/1 receiving on 49 targets. But he averaged only 4.5 FPG, while also dabbling in the return game. A talented but undersized player who hasn’t really found a consistent role in the NFL, he at least showed more in 2014 than DeVier Posey or Keshawn Martin in a slot-receiving role. HC Bill O’Brienwill look to upgrade his depth at WR this off-season, but the Texans should tender Johnson to compete for a WR spot next preseason.

Kamar Aiken (Bal, 25) – It took Aiken four seasons to make a NFL catch, but he finally found a role with the Ravens this past season. He caught 24 passes on 33 targets (72.7% catch rate) for 267 yards (11.1 YPC) and 3 TDs in 16 games, and he also added a TD in the playoffs against the Patriots. Aiken proved to be a weapon in the red zone (7 RZ targets), so the Ravens should bring back the restricted free agent to compete for one of their last WR spots.

Brian Tyms (NE, 25) – Tyms showed up in 11 games but didn’t catch a single pass outside of his first appearance in Week Six (1/43/1) and in the final game of the year in Week Seventeen (4/39). He missed the first four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancement drug policy. Tyms got rave reviews from the Patriot coaching staff for his preseason performance (11/188/2 in four games), so we suspect they’ll give this project another chance to refine his craft this off-season. Tyms is big (6’3”) and fast but still a work in progress as a UDFA WR out of Florida A&M in 2012.

Jarrett Boykin (GB, 25) – Boykin looked like he could carve out at role as the team’s #3 WR, but he struggled in the preseason and quickly lost his spot to rookie Davante Adams after suffering a groin injury early in the season. Boykin ended up playing 13 games, but he had just 3/23 on 12 targets in what was a very disappointing year. He’s probably best known as the sacrificial lamb fed to Richard Sherman in the season opener against the Seahawks. Boykin is a restricted free agent but is far from a top priority, since the team needs to figure out how to sign Randall Cobb after Cobb’s monster season. The Packers might not even make Boykin an offer with more intriguing WRs behind him like Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis. 

Kris Durham (Ten, 26) – Durham isn’t a regular rotational NFL WR despite getting the chance for some starts in the Lion offense in 2013. He could barely crack the active rosters on Sundays in 2014, as he appeared in just 4 games and caught 6/54. Durham is huge at 6’6”, but that’s about the only attribute he possesses for a professional WR. He’ll struggle to find an NFL roster spot next preseason no matter where he lands.

Tight Ends

Unrestricted Free Agents

Julius Thomas (Den, 26) – Thomas had a grand total of 1 reception in his first two seasons, but we believed he could be a breakout player in 2013 and that’s exactly what happened, so expectations were very high coming in 2014, but things didn’t go as planned. His season hit a high point in Week Six, in the midst of his third multi-TD game in the Broncos’ first five games of the year. That week against the Jets, Julius went for 51 yards and 2 TDs on 4 catches, which meant he had 9 TDs through his first five games. Unfortunately, his season went in the tank after that. Through Week Six, he had 24/277/9 receiving on 30 targets, and averaged 21.1 FPG, which easily ranked him #1 at TE and would have ranked him #3 among WRs over the same span. But after that, Julius played just eight of the Broncos’ remaining 11 games, and posted 19/212/3 on 32 targets, a span over which he averaged with 7.3 FPG. Obviously, he dealt with a bothersome ankle injury, which apparently wasn’t of the “high ankle” variety, but his lack of production sure falls in line with one. After he posted 6/63/2 in Week Ten, Julius totaled 5/66 in four games over the rest of the season. He had 6 catches for 53 yards in the Broncos’ playoff game, which surely helps to indicate that he was legitimately banged-up during his late-season slump, but now we’re talking about a player who has had multiple injuries in his two most productive years and ankle issues in his first two seasons. He’s an excellent athlete, but he isn’t in the 99th percentile of TEs, like a Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski. He’s benefitted from Peyton Manning and his offense. While the Gary Kubiak offense will ostensibly be a good fit for him, will he be back? According to ESPN, Thomas believes he’s in that top tier of TEs and wants to be paid as such. The Broncos also have to figure out what to pay Demaryius Thomas, who is clearly their top FA priority, but it doesn’t mean Julius is a goner. Because he’s at the top of the free agent TE class, Thomas should get the big money he’s looking for, but that won’t necessarily come from the Broncos. According to the Denver Post, Thomas’s agent and the Broncos tried to work out a deal last summer, but there were issues with the structure. The Jaguars, Raiders, and Falcons are expected to be amongst the suitors for Thomas, so the bidding for his services should be competitive.

Jordan Cameron (Cle, 26) – Coming into the season, the biggest question for Cameron was whether or not he would do enough to earn a sizeable long-term deal or get the franchise tag heading into 2015. Unfortunately, shoulder and, more important, concussion issues have totally changed Cameron’s future prospects and likely cost him a lot of money. The shoulder injury popped up in the preseason, and while Cameron initially tried to play through it, he missed Week Two and was somewhat hindered by it after returning. Just when it looked like he was starting to get healthy, Cameron suffered a concussion (his third in three seasons) in Week Eight. It looked like Cameron’s season might be in jeopardy, but he was able to return for the final four games, although he was far from dominant. Cameron would appear in just 10 games (9 starts), catching 24/424/2 (17.7 YPC) on 47 targets (51% catch rate), which put him 22nd at the TE position with 7.8 FPG. Cameron is still relatively young at 26, but the concussion issues are scary and will hurt his chances of getting a big-money deal this off-season. However, the Browns have one of the worst receiving corps in the league, so Cameron may have some leverage in that aspect, especially with Josh Gordon suspended for all of 2015. According to CBS Sports, Cameron isn’t interested in returning to the Browns, so he’ll have a chance to test the market for the first time. HC Mike Pettine said the Browns would bring Cameron back at “the right price,” which isn’t exactly the way to lure Cameron back to Cleveland. At his best, Cameron is one of the most dangerous players at his position, and we still believe he can return to top form and be a dominant player in the future.

Charles Clay (Mia, 25) – Clay followed his breakout 2013 season with an injury-plagued 2014 season. He suffered a knee injury before the season, and he never quite got over the injury and struggling with a hamstring injury as well. Even with all his injury woes, Clay finished with 58 catches on 84 targets (69.0% completion rate) for 605 yards and 3 TDs in 14 games, good for 13th among TEs, with 9.8 FPG. The good news is that he excelled in the second half of the season, ranking 4th among TEs, with 12.6 FPG from Week Nine to the end of the season. Clay is one of the best H-back/tight ends in the league when he’s at full strength, but the Dolphins will have to make a decision on Clay this off-season. Backup Dion Sims showed that he’s more than a capable replacement in his second season, and the Dolphins could decide that Clay is expendable with little cap flexibility. Clay played on 76% of the snaps while Sims saw time on 54%. Clay would be a sought-after player if he hits the open market because of his versatility. It sounds like both sides want Clay to stay in Miami, and he’s one of their top priorities in free agency. According to the Miami Herald and the Palm Beach Post, the Dolphins do want Clay back and he could get in the area of $6 million/year. If he stays in Miami, he could have slightly less fantasy value as the Dolphins could use more 2-TE sets with Clay and Sims next season, although Clay has shown a strong rapport with QB Ryan Tannehill over the last two seasons. The Buffalo News reported that the Bills also have interest in Clay, but it sounds like they’ll have to pay up for him to leave Miami.

Jermaine Gresham (Cin, 26) – If you want to separate individuals from teams, Gresham’s contract year came at a pretty good time, at least when you consider the numbers. TE Tyler Eifert suffered an elbow injury in the only game he played and never returned, which put Gresham into a much bigger role, especially when WRs A.J. Green and Marvin Jones had to miss time with injuries, as well. Because of all that, Gresham actually became a somewhat useful fantasy asset. In 15 games (he missed Week Fifteen with a toe injury and the Bengals’ playoff game with a back injury), he posted 62/460/5 receiving on 80 targets (7.4 YPC, 77.5%). In PPR leagues, he ranked #16 among TEs with 9.2 FPG. Often catching the ball close to the line of scrimmage and doing little after the catch, Gresham’s receiving numbers looked like that of a running back’s. He had just six games of 10 or more FP in a PPR league, but three of those came in Weeks Fourteen, Sixteen, and Seventeen, so he actually helped TE streamers win championships. He just never had a ton of upside. He didn’t score a single TD until his two-score game in Week Eleven, and only once all year did he average 10 or more YPC (6/68 receiving in Week Seven). Eifert had a shoulder issue cleaned up in addition to his recovery from the elbow injury, but he’s expected to be ready for training camp, so there’s no real concern with him, which leaves Gresham in an interesting spot. It’ll be his first chance to test the market, and according to the team’s official site, Gresham isn’t expected to get much interest from the Bengals because of his “inability to play through injury” and with Ryan Hewitt likely getting more opportunities in 2015. HC Marvin Lewis, the team and Gresham are at a “crossroads” and Lewis noted that it’ll be up to what Gresham wants next. Gresham has never had more than 64 catches, 737 yards, or 6 TDs in a season, so he’s not a major receiving threat, but is considered one of the best blockers at the position. He may not draw huge interest or a big-money deal, but he should have no problem finding a starting gig elsewhere.

Owen Daniels (Bal, 32) – Signing a one-year deal to follow OC Gary Kubiak to Baltimore, Daniels was thrust into a bigger role than expected following the scary hip injury to Dennis Pitta. In 15 games, missing one with a knee scope, Daniels posted 48/527/4 receiving on 78 targets (61.5%), ranking #19 among TEs with 8.3 FPG. He scored 2 TDs in Week Two alone (with Pitta active), but he scored just 2 TDs the rest of the season combined. He had just five games of 10 or more FP in a PPR league, only four of which in 12 games came after Pitta’s injury, so it’s not like he was particularly effective once he was the starter. At age 32, Daniels can’t move nearly as well as he once did, and Kubiak bailed to take the head-coaching job in Denver, which means Daniels could follow since he’s always played under Kubiak during his nine-year career. The move would make sense if Julius Thomas doesn’t return to the Broncos and Daniels told the Ravens’ site he has a “couple more” years left in his career. Daniels can still contribute somewhere, as long as he’s not asked to play a major role.

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Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

Larry Donnell (NYG, 26) – Donnell had an up-and-down season in 2014, but for a guy most had never heard of at this point last season, it’s hard to really fault him for that. Playing all 16 games, Donnell posted 63/623/6 receiving on 92 targets (9.9 YPC, 68.5%). He averaged 10.1 FPG, which ranked him #11 at the TE position, which meant he should have been owned in most leagues. Unfortunately, it was mostly a hot start and one huge game that carried Donnell. His breakout game was his 7/54/3 showing on 8 targets against Washington in Week Four, including 5 red-zone targets. Through that game, Donnell was the #4 fantasy TE at 18.2 FPG. Afterward, he totaled 38/387/2 in 12 games, and was the #22 TE with 7.4 FPG. Donnell had problems with ball security, fumbling 4 times on the year, and he never had more than 55 yards receiving after Week Seven. A solid athlete who played the Jermichael Finley role in coordinator Ben McAdoo’s offense, Donnell is 26 but still has a lot to learn, which the Giants believe he will, if reports are any indication. He may be a better football player next year, but he might not be as productive overall. Donnell is an exclusive-rights free agent and would cost the team just $585K to keep him, which is fully expected to happen, as the team believes he can develop into a very good TE, according to ESPN.

Demetrius Harris (KC, 23) – Harris was clearly going to be a project player in 2014 after spending 2013 on the practice squad. The former basketball player has great size at 6’7’’, 260 pounds and was considered to be dangerous with his speed, but he ended up appearing in just eight games with 3 catches for 20 yards before fracturing his foot during warmups in Week Ten, which landed him on the IR. The Chiefs have a big-time talent in Travis Kelce, so Harris’ chances of being a significant contributor won’t happen any time soon in Kansas City, but he’ll be just 24 in July, so we’d expect him to come back on the cheap, especially since HC Andy Reid loved using 3-TE sets.

Top Non-Skill Players

Note: Obviously, this list is not as comprehensive as our skill position lists, but there are some very intriguing players on the offensive line and defensive side of the ball to watch. We will cover more OL/IDP signings in our Free Agency Review.

Top Offensive Linemen

Mike Iupati (SF, 27) – Iupati will be the most coveted offensive guard in free agency this off-season. He’s made the Pro Bowl the last three seasons, but the 49ers might give rookies Marcus Martin and Brandon Thomas chances to replace him. Iupati, who will turn 28 in May, is one of the best run blocking guards in the league, ranking second in rankings done by ProFootballFocus for offensive guards. Iupati missed a game because of a concussion last season, and he played this season after breaking his ankle in the NFC title game in the 2013 season. The 49ers could still use their franchise tag on Iupati, as this offensive line started to fall apart at the end of the season.

Bryan Bulaga (GB, 25) – This Packer offense looked much better last season with Bulaga anchoring the line at RT. Bulaga played in 15 games last season after missing the entire 2013 season with an ACL injury and having his 2012 season cut short by a hip injury. He’s a solid all-around player and has done well as a pass blocker for QB Aaron Rodgers. Bulaga, 25, will be sought after as one of the best offensive tackles on the market, and Rodgers said after the season that re-signing Bulaga should be a top priority.

Rodney Hudson (KC, 25) – Hudson is the top center on the market this off-season, and there aren’t many other great options, so Hudson should have some suitors. He’s started 31 games over the last two seasons, and he’s very athletic for the position and can get to the second level. Hudson, who will turn 26 in July, is expected to look for more money than top-paid center Eric Wood, who is paid $6.3 million per year by Buffalo. The Chiefs don’t exactly have a lot of cap flexibility, and Jamaal Charles could take another hit if yet another lineman leaves. Hudson met with Chief officials at the Combine, but his future could depend on what the Chiefs do with Justin Houston.

Doug Free (Dal, 31) and Jermey Parnell (Dal, 28) - The Cowboys will likely have to choose between Parnell and Free this off-season, as they have several key free agents like Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. Free started the first 11 games at RT but missed the end of the season because of foot and injuries. Parnell filled in for Free in the final five games and in the playoffs, and the Cowboy offense played arguably better. Free and Parnell excelled as run blockers, helping Murray to lead the league in rushing, and both players do a solid job as pass blockers. Free is considered the leader of the Cowboy offensive line, but Parnell is the younger and potentially cheaper option.

Orlando Franklin (Den, 27) – The Broncos have a number of big decisions to make this off-season among Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, and Terrance Knighton, and they also want to get LG Franklin under contract. Franklin played in 63 of his first 64 games in the NFL, and he played RT in his first three seasons before sliding to LG this past season, so he has some versatility along the offensive line. Franklin excelled as a run blocker this past season, opening up some big holes for RB C.J. Anderson. Franklin’s future with the Broncos could depend on what the Broncos do with Thomas and Thomas in free agency.

Derek Newton (Hou, 27) – Newton, a former 7^th-round pick, is still inconsistent at times, but he is coming off his best season in his fourth year. The Texans allowed the 4^th-fewest sacks (26) in the league last season and ranked 5^th in rushing. Newton played in all 32 games the last two seasons, and he’s missed just two games in four years. The Texans don’t have a viable replacement for Newton on the roster right now, but they could decide he’s expendable because of a solid draft class for tackles, and the Texans pick #16 this May.

Michael Roos (Ten, 32) – Roos is considering retirement after 10 strong seasons with the Titans. He’s missed just 12 games over the course of his career, but 11 of those games came in 2014 after he needed right knee surgery in October. The surgery is a variation of microfracture surgery, which could make his recovery a little more difficult. The Titans drafted his replacement Taylor Lewan last May, so there is a chance that Roos could look to play for a contender next season with his career winding down and having never won a playoff game in Tennessee. Roos is still playing at a fairly high level, so he will be an interesting player to track this off-season.

Clint Boling (Cin, 25) – The Bengals and Boling seem to have a mutual interest in keeping the young LG in Cincinnati. He started all 16 games last season, and he’s one of the top free agent offensive guards this off-season. Boling is also versatile, playing some at RT when Andre Smith went down with a triceps injury. Boling played well last season coming off ACL surgery after the 2013 season, excelling in the run game in particular. He did struggle in pass protection at times last season, but the Bengals do want to re-sign him, since they need to run effectively with Andy Dalton at QB.

Stefen Wisniewski (Oak, 25) - Wisniewski is one of the more intriguing free agent O-linemen, as he’s been inconsistent throughout his four-year career but has flashed some upside for potential suitors. He’s played on some bad O-lines in Oakland, so he could improve with a better cast around him. Wisniewski has missed just three games in his four seasons - all as a starter - and he’s a versatile option, as he can play at center or guard and in zone or power schemes. The Raiders are planning to let Wisniewski test the open market after failing to come to an extension during the 2014 season. Wisniewski will be a cheaper option than C/OG Rodney Hudson, as he’s expected to be seeking around $3 million a year.

Top Defensive Linemen

Ndamukong Suh (Det, 28) – Suh certainly comes with plenty of baggage, but there is no denying that he’s one of the most talented players at any position. The Lions have made extending Suh their top priority this off-season, and team president Tom Lewand has said the team has a very good chance of retaining him with a multiyear deal. Suh may be a handful at times, but he makes every player around him better and can fit any scheme, much like J.J. Watt. Suh finished with 49 total tackles and 8 sacks for an average of 4.5 FPG in 16 games. He’s a three-time All Pro in five seasons and his 36 sacks in that time leads DTs. Suh could pass Watt as the highest-paid defensive player, as he’s said to be looking for a deal in the range of seven years and $120 million.

Greg Hardy (Car, 26) – Hardy obviously has plenty of red flags because of a possible suspension from his since-overturned conviction for domestic abuse. Still, he’s one of the league’s best pass rushers and will draw some attention from at least a couple teams that think they can keep him on the straight and narrow. Hardy would be one of the top free agents if he didn’t have the baggage of his domestic violence case hanging over his head. Hardy finished as the #4 fantasy DL in 2013, averaging 5.8 FPG over 16 games. He racked up 26 sacks in 26 starts during 2012-12, and only four players had more in that span. Hardy is a great pass rusher but can still stop the run. He’s ideally a 4-3 end who would have a difficult time fitting into a 3-4. The question now is has Hardy changed or is he going to be more trouble than he’s worth.

Jason Pierre-Paul (NYG, 26) – JPP is an all-or-nothing player, but he is coming off one of his strong years. Pierre-Paul is coming off a monster year, racking up 77 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. He finished behind only J.J. Watt among fantasy DL, as JPP averaged 6.9 FPG in 16 games. Pierre-Paul is one of the absolute best when he’s completely healthy, which hasn’t been often enough for Giant fans. Back issues have slowed him throughout his career, including two consecutive disappointing campaigns from 2012-13. He’s recorded 12+ sacks twice and finished with fewer than 7 sacks in his other three seasons. The Giants are said to be making every effort to keep JPP around, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Giants will use the franchise tag on him if they can’t reach a long-term deal.

Jerry Hughes (Buf, 26) – Hughes formed a formidable pass-rushing tandem with Mario Williams the last two years. But a question many teams will ask is just how much of Hughes’ success has been tied to playing across from Williams? Hughes started out as a bust in his first three NFL season in Indianapolis, but the light flicked on for him once he got to Buffalo in 2013. Hughes posted 9.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, and only J.J. Watt and Williams had 9.5+ sacks the last two seasons. Hughes recorded 53 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble-recovery TD for 4.9 FPG in 16 games last season. Hughes is best suited to play in a 4-3 defense but he can play OLB in a 3-4. He could be the top pass rusher available if the Chiefs lock up Justin Houston, and the Bills could be hard-pressed to keep Hughes with Marcell Dareus set to hit free agency next season.

Nick Fairley (Det, 27) – Fairley is awfully talented, but he’s been far too inconsistent during his first four seasons with the Lions. The team’s top priority is bringing back Ndamukong Suh, which could make it tough for the Lions to retain Fairley. He had just 14 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in eight games this past season. Fairley struggled with a knee injury this past season, and the Lion defense played well without him, so they could elect to move on without him. Fairley has had weight issues throughout his career and his play has been sporadic, so there are some trust issues. At least he was found not guilt of a DUI in mid-February, and some team will roll the dice and try to get the most out of Fairley the next couple years.

Top Linebackers

Justin Houston (KC, 26) – A lot can change in a few weeks, but as we stand now, it’d be a surprise to see Houston land anywhere but in Kansas City next year. According to our friend Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com, both parties in the negotiation between Houston and the Chiefs are keeping open a line of communication in hopes of securing a long-term deal. But if not, Houston is expected to receive the franchise tag (for around $11 million), and he is expected to be completely content with playing for that guaranteed salary. Houston just turned 26 in January and is coming off a ridiculous 22-sack season, so there’s an argument to be made that he’d be the most coveted free agent if he hit the open market. There just doesn’t look to be a way he gets there.

Pernell McPhee (Bal, 26) – McPhee has got to be a favorite of defensive coordinators around the NFL, given how multiple and versatile many of them like to be. A valuable weapon who can play all over the defensive line and at outside linebacker, McPhee posted 7.5 sacks this year despite playing in a rotational role. There’s no way we can fault McPhee for wanting to cash in, and it’s likely he’ll find a team to pay him a ton of money and play a lot more snaps. As it stands now, he isn’t expected back in Baltimore, as the Ravens tend to move on from these types of players before they get too expensive. A source told the Baltimore Sun that McPhee could command $8-$10 million per year.

Jason Worilds (Pit, 27) – Worilds was expected to get paid on the open market last year, but the Steelers authored a minor surprise when they gave him the less expensive transition tag, and Worilds signed it quickly. Playing under the tag, Worilds posted a 7.5 sack season, down from 8.0 in 2013, but still a solid number. This year, Worilds is expected to test the open market, and it’s very possible the same team that was very interested in him last year – Philadelphia – harbors similar interest. Our guy Adam Caplan reported this past summer that the Eagles were planning a big offer for Worilds, but the Steelers tagged him before he hit the open market. It doesn’t appear the cap-strapped Steelers will be able to do the same this year. Worilds would provide teams with a nice combination of youth and positional versatility, so expect him to draw interest.

Brian Orakpo (Was, 28) – As of now, it doesn’t appear that Orakpo is going to be back in Washington. He played in 2014 under the team’s franchise tag, but a torn pectoral muscle (in addition to other injuries) limited Orakpo to seven games and only half a sack. Obviously, there’s no way Washington is going to tag Orakpo again, considering he’s played just 24 of 48 games the last three seasons combined, while tearing each of his pectoral muscles in that time. This is a scenario when both parties are likely to move on. But Orakpo could be the type of player who looks to reestablish value for himself by signing a cheap short-term deal elsewhere, and that could be an appealing option for a cap-strapped contender looking for rush help. Orakpo had a poor 2014, but he did have 10 sacks in 2013.

Jabaal Sheard (Cle, 25) – The Browns attempted to convert Sheard to a 3-4 OLB this past year, but his pass rush production went way down, as he tallied just 2 sacks after totaling 21 in his first three seasons combined. Sheard at least can go to the open market with some OLB experience on his resume, but we feel he’ll draw more interest from teams as a defensive end. Typically regarded as a balanced player who can both set the edge in the run game and get to the passer, Sheard may get a surprising contract from a team looking for some youth on the perimeter. He turns 26 in May, so he has plenty of football left in him.

Top Defensive Backs

Darrelle Revis (NE, 29) – Revis signed a complicated contract with the Patriots last year that essentially amounted to a one-year deal, but was a two-year deal for salary cap purposes. The second year of the deal is an option year, and if the Pats pick it up, Revis will be owed $20 million in 2015. That is not expected to happen, for two reasons: 1) the Patriots have a tricky salary-cap situation, and 2) Revis doesn’t want it to happen. Here’s the skinny – if Revis is on the Patriots’ roster come March 9, according to CSN New England, he will be owed a $12 million roster bonus on top of his salary, which pushes him into the $20 million range. All off-season, the Patriots have talked about their desire to sign Revis to a long-term deal, and he earned it, playing like an elite corner. But he’s going into his age 30 season, and if he hits the open market, it’s entirely possible the Patriots will decide they can’t afford him.

Byron Maxwell (Sea, 27) – Let’s just get this out of the way – Maxwell is going to be paid. He’s big at 6’1” and is coming off a huge season, in which he made throwing the ball away from Richard Sherman a dangerous proposition in its own right. And at just 27, he remains young. While the Seahawks would certainly like to bring him back, they have to re-sign Russell Wilson soon and it appears like they’ll have to move on. Signing Maxwell would be considered a “splash” signing for any corner-needy team on the market, considering his size and ability to press at the line. Some teams may be scared away from paying him like a #1 outside of Seattle’s stout defense, but he now has two very good years under his belt to assuage those concerns. It’s possible he gets more guaranteed money than any other corner, even if Darrelle Revis hits the market. The Jets and Eagles are two teams that are reported to be interested in Maxwell.

Kareem Jackson (Hou, 26) – Jackson’s been around for five years, and to his credit he’s seriously improved after struggling in the early going as a first-round pick out of Alabama. Now Jackson’s in line to get a big contract as he heads into his age 27 season. A versatile corner, Jackson doesn’t have the size of some others on the market (5’10”), but he has youth on his side and could be a more affordable option than guys like Byron Maxwell. The Texans want to keep Jackson and Jackson told the Houston Chronicle he wants to stay, but the franchise tag does not appear to be an option, and Jackson may price himself out of the Texans’ plans.

Brandon Flowers (SD, 29) – Flowers is one of those veteran corners who will likely come cheaper than some other options on the market. He just turned 29, and is coming off a solid season in San Diego after betting on himself with a one-year deal. While Flowers’ size (5’9”) will be a red flag in this day and age of big corners, Flowers plays a lot bigger than his size and is capable of playing inside and outside. Flowers is also well-regarded for his tackling, a key tidbit for those looking to upgrade against the run. The Chargers are expected to make an effort to bring the veteran back.

Devin McCourty (NE, 27) – Probably the best safety available in 2015, there’s one problem: McCourty isn’t likely to be “available” at all. According to ESPN Boston, there seems to be little chance the Patriots let their versatile center fielder go, and it appears he’s more likely to be back in a New England uniform than CB Darrelle Revis. If McCourty doesn’t sign a long-term deal with New England, he appears to be a candidate for the franchise tag.

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