Saturday, March 2, 2013

Offseason moves of note

Greetings, Fools.  During the long offseason without fantasy football, there's not much news to report until we get to NFL Draft time.  So, in an effort to keep track of the ever-shifting landscape of NFL rosters, we'll keep a running tally of all the free agent moves, trades and cuts that could have an impact on the 2013 fantasy football season.

We won't cover players that re-sign with their current clubs, though.  Just the moves that involve players being released from, or swapping, teams.

As of August 3, here are the moves that matter:

QBs
Carson Palmer, Cardinals -- Traded from the Raiders to take over one of the worst passing attacks in the league.
Matt Flynn, Raiders -- Will attempt to replace Palmer after losing out to Russell Wilson in Seattle.
Alex Smith, Chiefs -- 49ers fans won't have him to kick around anymore.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Titans -- Released by the Bills, who'll now look to the draft for a savior.  Later agrees to serve as Jake Locker's backup on the Titans, who cut Matt Hasselbeck.
Matt Cassel, Vikings -- Flees Kansas City to compete with, or backup, Christian Ponder.
David Garrard, Jets -- Signed to light a fire under Sanchez.  Yeah, that should work perfectly.  Actually, as of May 16, it looks like Garrard is heading into retirement.
Kevin Kolb, Bills -- Cut loose by the Cardinals.  Kolb was a luxury for a team stacked with the elite QB lineup of John Skelton, Brian Hoyer, Rian Lindley and Drew Stanton.  Now he'll lead Buffalo to the Promised Land.  Uh huh...
Matt Hasselbeck, Colts -- Set free by Tennessee to latch on with division-rivals in Indy.
Jason Campbell, Browns -- Will compete for the starting job with Weeden.
Colt McCoy, 49ers -- Browns reject will backup Kaepernick.
John Skelton, Bengals -- With Palmer in place, Skelton goes house-shopping.  Finds a place in Cinci.  Do you care?  I didn't think so.
Brady Quinn, Seahawks -- Former Brown and Chief preparing to be a former Seahawk.
Trent Edwards -- Former backup sent packing by the Eagles.
Tim Tebow, Patriots -- Released by the Jets following the draft. Signed by New England.  Could spell the end of the Brady Era...

RBs
Reggie Bush, Lions -- Trades South Beach for Motown.
Steven Jackson, Falcons -- As expected, the Rams' workhorse was lured away by the contending Falcons to replace...
Michael Turner -- No longer much of a burner, released by the Falcons in a salary cap move.
Shonn Greene, Titans -- Now, instead of two-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust in the Jets offense, he'll underachieve in Chris Johnson's shadow.
Willis McGahee -- Released from the crowded Broncos backfield.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Colts -- Cut by the G-men, also due to salary considerations.  Eventually lands in Indy, which could surely use him.
Beanie Wells -- Cards decide to cut Beanie loose, rather than waiting until Week 2 or 3 to place him on IR.
Rashard Mendenhall, Cardinals -- The solution to Arizona's perennial rushing woes?  I think not...
Leon Washington, Patriots -- Add the former Seahawk to the long list of role players in the New England backfield.
Danny Woodhead, Chargers -- Didn't take long for the shifty back to read the writing on the wall in New England.
Peyton Hillis, Bucs -- Former Brown, Chief and Madden cover boy joins a crowded Tampa Bay backfield.
Mike Goodson, Jets -- Former Raider could finally get his shot at significant carries, since the Jets are thin at the position.
Justin Forsett, Jaguars -- Arian's backup in Houston will now backup MJD.
Rashad Jennings, Raiders -- Former Jag didn't hack it when MJD went down; will he be there for Run DMC?
Chris Ivory, Jets -- Will get his shot to start for a team in desperate need of a reliable bell cow.
LeGarrette Blount, Patriots -- Former Buc will compete for playing time in New England's crowded backfield.
Felix Jones, Eagles -- My (soon-to-be-former) neighbor leaves his backup role in Dallas for a similar position in Philly.

WRs
Mike Wallace, Dolphins -- Miami lands the big fish from Pittsburgh.
Wes Welker, Broncos -- Poor guy.  Now he has to fetch passes from Peyton Manning.  Will he ever catch a break?
Danny Amendola, Patriots -- Welker-lite reports for duty to New England.  Whaddya wanna bet that every (other) fantasy "guru" lists Amendola as a sleeper next year?  Sorry guys...when everybody knows it, you're not a sleeper...
Percy Harvin, Seahawks -- Traded by Vikes for a 1st-rounder.  Let the migraines begin in San Fran...
Anquan Boldin, 49ers -- Traded by Ravens for a 6th-rounder after sides couldn't agree on -- guess what? -- money.
Brandon Lloyd -- One-year wonder set loose by the Patriots.
Michael Jenkins, Patriots -- Now that he'll be shagging passes from Brady, Jenkins is sure to...disappear again. 

Greg Jennings, Vikings -- Leaves the Pack and, pfffttttt....just like that...his elite status is history.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Colts -- Former 1st-round pick let his opportunity with the Raiders slip through his fingers.  Latches on with Indy.
Laurent Robinson -- Released by Jags one year after they paid him the big bucks.  Will Dallas come a-callin'?
Devery Henderson, Redskins -- One of Fantasyland's most frustrating, inconsistent, unreliable receivers moved north to Washington. Don't count on RG3 doing what Brees couldn't.
Titus Young -- Troubled but talented speedster signed by Rams after being released by the Lions.  Alas, his stay in St. Louis was short-lived.
Kevin Walter -- Cut by the Texans.  Admit it, you thought they did that a year ago...
Donny Avery, Chiefs -- Leaves Indy for KC.  Can he stay healthy?
Kevin Ogletree, Bucs -- Yawn.
Brandon Gibson, Dolphins -- Former Ram joins Miami's near-complete offensive makeover.
Arrelious Benn, Eagles -- Bucs' former 1st-round pick heads to the City of Brotherly Shove.
Louis Murphy, Giants -- He barely made a ripple in Carolina; so how's he going to make waves in New York?
Domenik Hixon, Panthers -- Former Giant will try to stay healthy in Carolina.
Davone Bess, Browns -- Acquired from Miami.
Josh Cribbs, Raiders -- No, he's not more attractive in Oakland than he was in Cleveland.
Austin Collie, 49ers -- If he can just stay healthy (big if), he could work his way into the #2 WR role in San Fran.
Early Doucet, Seahawks -- Late signee with Seattle.
"The Other" Steve Smith -- Former Giant, Eagle, Ram and, most recently, Buc retires, eliminating the need for us to distinguish him from "The Real" Steve Smith in Carolina.

TEs
Martellus Bennett, Bears -- Lands nice free-agent gig in Chicago after emerging in NY.
Jared Cook, Rams -- Former Titan will try to fulfill his potential in St. Louis.
Delanie Walker, Titans -- Leaves Vernon Davis' shadow to disappear in the Titans' offense.
Anthony Fasano, Chiefs -- Former Dolphin will catch passes from Alex Smith.
Dustin Keller, Dolphins -- Former Jet moves to hated division rivals, providing a solid upgrade for Miami over Fasano.
Brandon Myers, Giants -- Ex-Raider moves cross-country.
Tom Crabtree, Bucs -- Now out of Jermichael Finley's shadow, could be a sleeper with little competition in Tampa Bay.
Kellen Winslow, Jr., Jets -- Former Buc will have a good chance to start in New York.  But that doesn't exactly sound tantalizing, does it?

Ks
Jason Hanson -- One of the best hung up his cleats.
David Akers, Lions -- After erratic season, kicked to the curb by the 49ers.  Picked up by Detroit after Hanson retired.
Josh Brown, Giants -- Attention, Lawrence Tynes.  Time to find a realtor.
Phil Dawson, 49ers -- Cleveland's most tenured player decides it's time to start winning.
Shayne Graham, Browns -- Well-traveled kicker will take a shot at filling Dawson's shoes.
Nate Kaeding -- Retired after suffering groin injury in camp.
Billy Cundiff, Jets -- Signed in late July to compete wiht Nick Folk.