Fantasy Football Impact: News Around the NFL

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and with it, so, too, has the unofficial start of summer, which means that it’s time to start thinking about fantasy football. Fortunately for you, here at Bruno Boys Fantasy Football.

We believe it’s always time to think fantasy football. So, as we begin the unofficial start of summer, let's take a look at some of the news around the NFL this week and analyze it’s fantasy football impact.

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Boldin fires agent, still looking for contract extension

Disgruntled Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who has been at odds with the Cardinals' management team since looking for a contract extension last offseason, has fired super-agent Drew Rosenhaus.

He is expected to sign with Creative Arts Agency (CAA) after a mandatory five-day waiting period ends on Thursday.

This should not have a huge fantasy football impact, unless this somehow leads to a lengthy holdout by Boldin from Cardinals camp.

In 2008, Boldin was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL as he compiled 89 receptions for 1,038 yards with 11 touchdowns in 12 games played. Pretty good numbers for a player in the middle of a contract dispute, especially when you consider he missed four games due to injury.

Even after firing his agent and demanding a trade (which appears unlikely), Boldin should be considered a WR1 heading into the 2009 season. He should be one of the first 10 wide receivers picked on draft day and will likely be drafted somewhere between rounds two and four of fantasy drafts.

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Winslow reports to Buccaneers camp, has first workouts with new team

After missing voluntary workouts the past two weeks, tight end, Kellen Winslow, reported to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers OTA workouts on Tuesday. Winslow reportedly missed the voluntary workouts because he had been getting his family settled following his trade to Tampa Bay from the Cleveland Browns for multiple draft picks this offseason.

Winslow signed a new contract with the Buccaneers after being traded from Cleveland, which makes him the highest paid tight end in NFL history. If he can remain healthy, Winslow should be a big part of the Buccaneers new offensive system under new head coach Raheem Morris and new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.

They will run an aggressive version of the West Coast Offense and will look to get Winslow involved at tight end and could even run some plays with him lined-up as a wide receiver.

Consider Winslow a mid-level TE1 with upside if he can remain healthy. But, be aware that injuries did plague him throughout his career in Cleveland, including 2008 when Winslow had 43 receptions for 428 yards with three touchdowns in 10 games played.

His history of injuries should keep you from drafting him in rounds four or five with the other elite tight ends, but he has a chance to become a steal if drafted a round or two later after the elite tight ends are off the board.

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Hasselbeck not limited in practice, looks to rebound from injury plagued 2008

For all intents and purposes, the 2008 season was a disaster for the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Injuries ravaged the offensive unit the entire season, including Hasselbeck, who finished the season with 1,216 passing yards, five touchdowns and 10 interceptions in just seven games played.

Heading into 2009, it appears that Hasselbeck is fully recovered from the back injury that plagued him last season. Reports out of Seahawks' camp this week are that Hasselbeck has been able to practice with the team without limitations.

This is great news for Seahawk fans and fantasy owners alike. Remember, Hasselbeck is only one year removed from posting nearly 4,000 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2007.

From a fantasy standpoint, you should consider Hasselbeck a QB2, available in the middle-to-late rounds of 2009 fantasy drafts. Draft him as a backup, but with a healthy receiving core and the addition of free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh from Cincinnati, he could become a spot starter and solid bye week replacement.

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Rookie Robiskie looking good at Browns minicamp

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns' rookie wide receiver, Brian Robiskie, has looked real strong in his first few minicamp practices with the team. Robiskie is a second round pick from Ohio State University and has a chance to start for the Browns opposite Braylon Edwards this season.

It is obviously a little early to tell whether or not Robiskie will be a starter for the Browns or not, but the Browns are a little thin in the receiving core.

They traded starting tight end Kellen Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the offseason, while wide receiver, Donte’ Stallworth, whom the Browns signed as a free agent has legal issues following an accident this winter in which the car he was driving struck and killed a pedestrian.

Robiskie is no more than a WR4 heading into the 2009 season, but he is worth a late round flier in fantasy drafts this summer and he could exceed expectations.

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Tom Brady reports to Patriots OTA, practices with the team

As expected New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady has reported to the team’s four-day OTA and practiced with the team on Tuesday. This is of course Brady’s first team workout since he had season ending knee surgery after Week One of the 2008 season. This is great news for the Patriots, their fans and fantasy football owners alike.

This is a good sign that Brady will be healthy heading into the 2009 season, though, keep an eye on his progress throughout the summer. If he does not have any setbacks, Brady should once again be considered a top-five fantasy quarterback, who will likely be drafted in the first two rounds of most fantasy drafts.

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