Tag: Theo Riddick

Fantasy football free agency roundup

NFL free agency will drastically help reshape the fantasy football landscape as the new league year begins.

(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

Now that NFL free agency is upon us, here is where we’ll run through the fantasy football outlooks for trades, re-signings, midrange players and tag recipients.

This analysis will be updated as players sign/re-sign in free agency, so be sure to check back regularly.

Signed with new team or traded

Links to individual analysis

TE Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns

WR DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

RB David Johnson, Houston Texans

TE Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons

Re-signed/extensions

QB Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: A four-year, $118 million extension was signed on the eve of the tampering window, securing Tannehill’s role as the starting quarterback for the near future. He developed a rapport with 2019 rookie wideout A.J. Brown and has one of the best running games to keep defenses honest, provided Derrick Henry indeed signs his franchise tender and doesn’t pull a Le’Veon Bell. Tannehill is among the more intriguing back fantasy picks and will be chosen as a rotational starter by gamers willing to wait on the position.

QB Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings: There’s not a lot to say here since he wasn’t facing free agency, and Cousins’ 2020 situation doesn’t change by getting this extension (two years, $66 million). Keep tabs on Stefon Diggs possibly getting dealt, though. Cousins, for now, remains a top-tier backup with matchup utility, especially when it appears the Vikes may struggle to run the ball.

Franchise/TRANSITION tagged

QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: Prescott will not be able to negotiate with any team but the Cowboys, and the goal is to work out a long-term deal. The offensive system will remain the same as in 2019 with Kellen Moore coming back as the playcaller under new head coach Mike McCarthy. Dak is a top-five fantasy quarterback if Amari Cooper returns.

RB Derrick Henry: Tennessee Titans: Unless Henry refuses to sign his tender and holds out most or all of the year, he will be the bell cow once again in Tennessee. There remains a chance he signs a long-term contract before things could get ugly. All things equal, short of losing his right tackle, life appears to be business as usual. RB1 all day long.

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WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals: A rookie quarterback as Cincy’s 2020 starter is all but etched into stone, which is a likely detriment for Green. However, he remains the most gifted wideout in an offense that won’t be scared to throw it when needed, so he has that working for him. Expect WR2 stats as a ceiling, and the combo of age and injuries are conspiring against Green.

TE Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers: This one isn’t as cut and dried as some of the above inclusions, because we don’t know LA’s quarterback for Week 1 yet. Some signs say Tom Brady, others suggest a rookie or even Tyrod Taylor as a stopgap. On talent alone, Henry is a midrange No. 1 in fantasy, but other factors, like an undeniable injury risk and this being the first full year of playcalling responsibility for Shane Steichen, should give owners pause.

RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals: No more David Johnson, or his punitive salary, could lead to this transition tag be little more than formality before a long-term deal is reached. Drake exploded in this system late last year, and now the addition of WR DeAndre Hopkins has to get the juices flowing. Drake is risky, and now the Air Raid system may be fully deployed, which could force the former Miami Dolphin to be overly reliant on efficiency. Those concerns aside, don’t go overboard on draft day for a player whose career has largely been a disappointment, even if not entirely his fault. Give him the old RB2 treatment in all single-year formats.

Remains unsigned

RB Devonta Freeman, free agent:

RB Lamar Miller, free agent:

RB Dion Lewis, free agent:

RB LeSean McCoy, free agent:

RB Theo Riddick, free agent:

RB Peyton Barber, free agent:

RB Frank Gore, free agent:

WR Randall Cobb, free agent:

WR Devin Funchess, free agent:

WR Breshad Perriman, free agent:

TE Jimmy Graham, free agent:

TE Jordan Reed, free agent:

TE Delanie Walker, free agent:

TE Vance McDonald, free agent:

TE Jason Witten, free agent:

TE Tyler Eifert, free agent:

7 RB options for the Falcons in free agency

The Falcons aren’t in the market for any of this year’s top free agents, meaning Titans star running back Derrick Henry is out of the question.

The Falcons aren’t in the market for any of this year’s top free agents, meaning Titans star running back Derrick Henry is out of the question. While the NFL draft is a better option to find a cost effective back, the team will explore every avenue in upgrading its roster.

After previewing some possible targets for Atlanta at wide receiver, cornerback and EDGE, here are seven running backs for the team to consider in free agency.

Matt Breida

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

2019 Stats: 123 rushes, 623 yards, 1 TD; 19 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: The 49ers ran their way to a Super Bowl behind three productive running backs. Matt Breida, 25, rushed for 5.1 yards per carry and racked up 743 all-purpose yards for head coach Kyle Shanahan. Breida is a good all-around runner, showing a nice mix of vision and power. He looks like a potential sleeper, but you have to wonder how much teams will be willing to pay the free-agent RB without yet proving he can be a lead back. If you were wondering about Breida’s speed, though, watch him take it to another level in this 83-yard touchdown run below.

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Broncos will make changes to backfield this offseason

The Broncos’ backfield will undergo several changes this offseason.

Phillip Lindsay will be one of the Denver Broncos’ top running backs in 2020 and he might even get a pay raise this offseason. Beyond Lindsay, though, the team’s backfield could look significantly different this fall.

Denver is expected to bring in a notable running back either through free agency or the draft, which could demote Royce Freeman to RB3 duties. The two players who served as the backup RBs in 2019 — Devontae Booker and Theo Riddick — won’t be re-signed this offseason.

Riddick was injured in preseason or else he could have won the RB3 job over Booker. Riddick has since recovered but the Broncos do not plan to re-sign him or Booker, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

This marks a disappointing end to Booker’s time in Denver. He was selected by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2016 draft and was expected to eventually become the team’s starter. He never quite lived up to the hype, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry over the last four seasons.

Denver fans should expect to see a revamped backfield in 2020.

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Could the Lions pursue a Theo Riddick return in free agency?

Theo Riddick will be a free agent and could interest the Detroit Lions in a reunion after spending his first 6 seasons with the team

Could the Detroit Lions bring back an old friend to help bolster and diversify the offensive backfield?

Former Lions RB Theo Riddick is going to be a free agent. The Denver Broncos indicated on Friday they will not try to bring him back after just one season in Denver, a season which Riddick missed with a shoulder injury.

Riddick was more of a receiving weapon than a runner in his six seasons in Detroit. He caught 285 passes in those years, working primarily as the No. 3 RB and third-down back. And Riddick was very good at it, arguably the best receiving back in the league.

Riddick is an accomplished back and has chemistry with Matthew Stafford, but a return to Detroit seems unlikely. He was dumped just as training camp began last season under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who preferred the more familiar J.D. McKissic in that role. Riddick’s value as an actual runner is negligible; he averaged just 12 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry in his Lions career.

The Lions can find younger, cheaper, fresher legs than Riddick to play the more ground-oriented role in Bevell’s offense. Now if Riddick wants to get back to playing as a slot wide receiver — which was his primary role at Notre Dame under Brian Kelly — the Lions should have some interest. Detroit has just Danny Amendola on the depth chart as a quick, middle-of-field receiver.

4 backup running backs the Jets should avoid in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at four running backs the Jets should steer clear of when searching for a backup for Le’Veon Bell.

The Jets are set at the top of their running back depth chart with Le’Veon Bell, but there’s not much behind him right now.

Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery, the Nos. 2 and 3 running backs on the depth chart last season, are unrestricted free agents. That leaves New York with no established depth behind its star tailback. Fortunately for first-year general manager Joe Douglas, free agency will provide him with the opportunity to fill those voids.

Buyer beware, though. There are some running backs available on the open market that could wind up making Douglas look bad down the road. Who are those backs? Let’s take a look.

Lamar Miller

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Miller is a backup at this point in his career, but he is not one the Jets should be targeting. The 29-year-old tore both his ACL and MCL last preseason and it remains to be seen if he will ever get back to 100 percent.

The injury risk alone makes Miller worth staying away from. The Jets need a reliable backup for Bell, not one who is coming off major knee surgeries. Factor in Miller’s dip in production prior to his injury and that makes him a running back Douglas should wipe off his free agency big board.

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6 pending free agents Broncos should re-sign this offseason

The Denver Broncos should strongly consider re-signing these six players during the NFL offseason.

The Denver Broncos, coming off a disappointing 7-9 2019 season, have a lot of work to do this offseason in order to get back to being the regular contenders many fans have come to expect.

But like with any team looking to rebound from a poor season, the first questions that have to be asked are those concerning the players already on the roster.

The Broncos have several key players set to become unrestricted free agents. Recently, we discussed a handful of those players the team should allow to move on, but here, the focus will be on the players to sign.

Each of the players listed below is a player that the team should recognize as one that is integral to the team’s future success.

1. Connor McGovern, center

(Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports)

The last time the Broncos had their center hit free agency, Matt Paradis signed with a new team.

The offensive line needs to have continuity and having a long-term starter at the center position is important to any offensive line. In addition, if the Broncos are going to add pieces along the offensive line, the team should concentrate on depth at the tackle and guard spots rather than having to look around for a new center.

McGovern should be brought back.

2. Theo Riddick, running back

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Bringing Riddick back into the fold has been talked about before, but it must be reiterated. The Broncos saw something in the shifty running back and signed him after he was released by the Detroit Lions last year but a preseason injury forced him out the entire regular season.

The Broncos can move forward with Phillip Lindsay as the feature back and Royce Freeman as the guy to spell him. But Riddick, who is a fantastic receiver out of the backfield, can add a dimension to Denver’s offense that no one has had a chance to see yet.

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Broncos should bring back RB Theo Riddick for 2020 NFL season

The Broncos signed Theo Riddick this past offseason but a preseason injury cut his 2019 season short. Denver should bring him back in 2020.

One of the more disappointing elements of the Denver Broncos’ 2019 season was the fact that Theo Riddick ended up missing the entire season, his first with the team.

The Broncos had multiple free agent signings that didn’t pan out this season such as Ja’Wuan James and Bryce Callahan. Both of those players were brought in for much more money and were expected to be much bigger contributors than Riddick, but he would have been able to contribute this season and help out young quarterback Drew Lock.

Riddick only signed a one-year deal with Denver after being released by the Detroit Lions in what was somewhat of a surprise move. As such, he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The Broncos should bring him back and it should be an easy decision.

Riddick has the ability to be one of the league’s top receiving running backs. He’s one of those running backs that is a better receiver than he is a runner, similar to what the Los Angeles Chargers have in Austin Ekeler.

He had 285 receptions in six seasons with the Lions, including 80 catches in the 2015 season. He was signed to bring the same element Denver’s offense, but a shoulder injury in the preseason cut his year short.

The Broncos clearly wanted to throw the ball to the running backs this season. Royce Freeman had 43 receptions and Phillip Lindsay hauled in 35 catches. Both players are capable receivers out of the backfield, but neither averaged more than six yards per reception.

For his career, Riddick averages 7.9 yards per catch and is just a more shifty guy out of the backfield and a more natural pass-catcher. That could be big in third-down situations next year and the inclusion of Riddick on the team could allow the Broncos to move on from Devontae Booker, who is also set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Broncos had a plan in mind when they signed Riddick following his release and unfortunately, they weren’t able to see that plan through. But that plan can still work going into next season and the Broncos have a need for a guy like Riddick, particularly as a safety net for the developing Lock.

The Broncos should re-sign Riddick. Hopefully, the running back still sees the team as a good fit for his on-field abilities.

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Broncos TE Jake Butt, RB Theo Riddick will remain on reserve for rest of season

Broncos tight end Jake Butt and running back Theo Riddick are ineligible to play this season.

NFL teams are allowed to bring back two players from injured reserve per season. This year, the Denver Broncos used those two return-from-IR spots on wide receiver Tim Patrick and quarterback Drew Lock.

So that means even if tight end Jake Butt and running back Theo Riddick get healthy, they won’t be eligible to play this season. Butt (knee) and Riddick (shoulder) will remain on reserve for the final four games of the year.

Patrick returned three weeks ago and has caught five passes for 80 yards. Lock was activated from IR last week and started against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lock threw for 134 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception in Denver’s 23-20 win over Los Angeles.

Butt was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Michigan and has struggled to stay healthy in the NFL. He missed his rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered while in college. Last year, Butt played in three games before suffering another season-ending ACL injury. He wasn’t able to get healthy in time for the 2019 season.

Riddick spent the first six years of his career with the Detroit Lions before signing with Denver in August. He suffered a shoulder injury during preseason and was placed on IR before the start of the regular season.

Butt, 24, has one year remaining on his contract — he’s set to earn $735,000 in 2019. Riddick, 28, will become a free agent in March.

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