If you've ever won the lottery, you'd know that money changes things. Some people are invigorated to face new challenges and become even bigger success stories. Others are comfortable kicking back on their pile of dough and not putting forth much effort.
But that happens once you've actually landed the cash. Before you get rich, you have to earn it. That's how it is in the NFL most of the time, anyway.
When faced with a "contract year," many players aim to put their best foot forward, play through nagging injuries and in terms of Fantasy Football, being productive statistically. It doesn't always work out that way. Here are examples from last year.
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Danny Amendola: Not in Top 50 WRs* | Shonn Greene: 15th among RBs |
Martellus Bennett: 13th among TEs | Greg Jennings: Not in Top 50 WRs* |
Dwayne Bowe: 46th among WRs* | Rashard Mendenhall: Not in Top 50 RBs* |
Reggie Bush: 14th among RBs | Heath Miller: 4th among TEs |
Jared Cook: 20th among TEs | Matt Schaub: 17th among QBs-x |
Fred Davis: 41st among TEs* | Mike Wallace: 25th among WRs |
Joe Flacco: 15th among QBs | Wes Welker: 12th among WRs |
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Over the past few seasons we've seen fewer and fewer players come through with a smashing season on the brink of a lucrative deal, but it doesn't mean they're not thinking about it. The motivation to play well is what counts here. Yes, every player plays to win and be respected but personal financial gain never hurt either.
We broke down the list of high-profile Fantasy-relevant football players entering into a contract year into three categories. Whether the money they'll get after 2013 is locked in or not, you can be sure that these guys know that they're all playing for something.
The unaffected
Players who will break the bank no matter how they play in 2013.
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
Since the day he was drafted,
Ryan has been all about the team and that doesn't stand to change no
matter what his bank account looks like. Ryan probably would prefer to
have a Super Bowl ring than a bloated bank account anyway (though having
both isn't so bad either). He's not expected to depart from the Falcons
nest and should play well even with a rich contract.
The place to
draft him this summer: Round 4
Chance of changing teams in
2014: Zero percent
Victor Cruz, WR, Giants
Sometimes the more headlines a
player's contract situation gets, the more likely he is to cool off once
he lands a lot of guaranteed dough. Cruz's name continues to be in the
news but that's probably because he's in New York and the media there
makes mountains out of every quote. What they didn't do was make a big
deal out of Cruz working out with Eli Manning
in North Carolina despite not having a contract signed in April. It's
that kind of dedication -- and we've seen a lot of it from Cruz -- that
makes us believe he's going to play well now and beyond this season
regardless of his contract.
The place to draft him this summer:
Round 4 or 5
Chance of changing teams in 2014: Less than five
percent
Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
Graham escalated into a
difference-maker quickly for the Saints and there's no chance he'll be
let go. There's also no chance he'll go hungry as the Saints have to put
a lot of money in front of him this offseason (the franchise tag is the
least of what they'll do). And there's next to no chance he'll struggle
statistically this year or anytime in the near future. Last year's woes
were because of a wrist injury that Graham has since fixed. Even with
the problem he finished as the top tight end in Fantasy.
The place
to draft him this summer: Round 2
Chance of changing teams in
2014: Zero percent
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Player | Position | Team |
Danario Alexander | WR | Chargers |
Anquan Boldin | WR | 49ers |
Andre Brown | RB | Giants |
Donald Brown | RB | Colts |
Scott Chandler | TE | Bills |
Fred Davis | TE | Redskins |
Chad Henne | QB | Jaguars |
Darrius Heyward-Bey | WR | Raiders |
Jacoby Jones | WR | Ravens |
Brandon LaFell | WR | Panthers |
Dexter McCluster | WR | Chiefs |
Brandon Pettigrew | TE | Lions |
Andre Roberts | WR | Cardinals |
Ben Tate | RB | Texans |
Golden Tate | WR | Seahawks |
Joe Webb | WR | Vikings |
Dennis Pitta, TE, Ravens
Pitta saw his star shine
brighter catching passes from Joe Flacco
and might choose to take some career advice from his quarterback. Last
year, Flacco didn't sweat playing out a contract year, he just did his
thing and wound up as the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII. The Ravens rewarded
Flacco handsomely for what he's done for them and Pitta should expect
the Ravens to do the same for him after this season. At the very least
he'll get franchised.
The place to draft him this summer: Round
9
Chance of changing teams in 2014: 10 percent
Playing for a pay day
Players who could break the bank if they prove they are elite at their positions.
Kenny Britt, WR, Titans
We've been waiting for Britt to
show that he's an amazing talent on the field, but he's been a head
scratcher off of it. He's spent a lot of time dealing with the police
and surgeons since coming into the NFL and has never had more than 45
catches or 775 yards in a single year. This is his first offseason in a
while where Britt's been seemingly focused on football, not rehab or
getting out of trouble, and it's shown in Titans workouts this spring as
he's impressed teammates. He was equally impressive finishing last year,
netting eight-plus Fantasy points in four of his last six outings. Over
a year removed from a torn ACL, it feels like he could contend for at
least a franchise tag if he puts up big numbers and stays healthy in
2013.
The place to draft him this summer: Round 9
Chance
of changing teams in 2014: 50 percent. If he flames out then the
Titans will walk away and another team will take a chance on Britt. If
he shines, the Titans will double-down on him. Easy to think he's got
the most to gain and lose among the contract-year players.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
Cutler is considered to have one
of the best arms in football, but you wouldn't know it by his stats.
Over the last four years he's failed to reach 4,000 yards in a season,
is averaging 7.08 yards per attempt and had 26 interceptions in the same
year he actually achieved more than 25 touchdowns. Marc Trestman's
playbook is his third in five years (and Trestman is his fourth play
caller in five years), but between the offensive guru leaning on Cutler
and the offense suddenly rich in receiving talent and capable linemen,
Cutler has a chance to post his best stats since his breakout 2008
season. If he can do what Joe Flacco
did, the Bears will back up the Brinks truck to keep Cutler in Navy &
Orange forever.
The place to draft him this summer:
Third-to-last round
Chance of changing teams in 2014: 35
percent. Sure, it would make sense that this would be a make-or-break
year for Cutler since he's underwhelmed so far with the Bears. But he
plays for a franchise that hasn't had a "franchise" quarterback since
Sid Luckman. They might be reluctant to let him go even if he doesn't
pull a Flacco.
Eric Decker, WR, Broncos
Decker wasn't always pretty
last season but getting in sync with Peyton Manning
ultimately led to career-highs across the board with 85 grabs for 1,064
yards and 13 touchdowns. Of the 13 scores, 11 came in the red zone on 24
targets (45.8 scoring pct.). With his big size, Decker provides a
mismatch for the Broncos to exploit, and the team is loaded with weapons
that keep him facing zone coverage versus one defender much of the time.
Surely the Broncos would like to keep Decker, but they have to also
think about making cap space to extend Ryan Clady,
Von Miller and Demaryius Thomas within the next two seasons. That's why he'll make
things tough on their salary cap by having a big year.
The place
to draft him this summer: Round 7
Chance of changing teams in
2014: 40 percent. The addition of Wes Welker
will suck up targets from everyone who played in Denver last year,
potentially hurting Decker the most. If he's frustrated he could walk,
or if he can't get fair market value with the Broncos then he could
walk. Decker is sitting pretty assuming Manning doesn't ignore him; he
only had five games with six or fewer targets last year, but that was
pre-Welker.
James Jones, WR, Packers
Jones might be considered the
most unexciting receiver to own in Fantasy. There aren't a ton of
highlight reel plays from him and he's not exactly an athletic phenom.
All he did last year was set career-bests across the board, including 11
of 14 touchdowns coming in the red zone on 14 catches. He led all
Packers receivers in playing time (1,149 snaps according to
ProFootballFocus.com, 400 more than Randall Cobb)
and caught 66.7 percent of his 108 targets (Cobb had 112). He also cut
down on his drops. Jones is far from a one-year wonder as he had similar
success in the red zone in 2011 while catching 68.4 percent of his
targets. He just had much less of both in 2011 before breaking out a
year ago. Still, many will view him as a touchdown-dependent receiver,
though it's been made clear his quarterback is specifically dependent on
him near the goal line. That's very good for Fantasy numbers.
The
place to draft him this summer: Round 7
Chance of changing
teams in 2014: 40 percent. If Jones really takes off the Packers
might have a hard time keeping him. But they've already extended his
contract once (2010, when Aaron Rodgers
lobbied hard for him) and they're pretty smart with how they spend their
cap space. Rodgers just landed a lot of it over the next few years so if
Jones drives a hard bargain he'll be someone else's red zone target.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
A year ago Jones-Drew
refused to participate in offseason workouts or training camp in hopes
of landing a new contract. By the time Week 1 rolled around he relented
and rejoined the team without a new deal. Six weeks later he suffered a
Lisfranc foot injury and his season ended. Jones-Drew has a lot going
against him this year -- he's coming off a serious injury, he's 28 years
old and he's on a team that features a one-dimensional offense. For
Jones-Drew to truly cash in one more time he'll have to put together
another 1,600-plus-total-yard season and take a contract light on
years and presumably light on guaranteed cash. It doesn't mean he won't
go all-out -- because some guaranteed cash is better than none --
which is what will happen to him if he bottoms out.
The place to
draft him this summer: Late Round 2
Chance of changing teams
in 2014: 55 percent. At this point you have to figure the odds are
against MJD having another monster campaign. He's always a tough guy to
rule out -- he's been proving people wrong since he was in high school
-- but the Jaguars coaches might opt to go in a new direction at running
back instead of reinvest in a 29-year-old. Maybe it depends on how much
the Jaguars offer and how badly Jones-Drew wants to cement his legacy
with the franchise. It just feels like Jones-Drew could pull a Steven Jackson and bolt for a Super Bowl contender in 2014.
Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants
This might be the season that
affixes a permanent label to Nicks' chest. It could read "Pro Bowler" if
he posts his third 1,000-yard, seven-plus touchdown season in four
years. Or it could read "injury prone" if he misses playing time as he
has in each of his first four seasons. Poor Nicks broke a bone in his
foot last May, hurt his knee in September and gutted out the season
before having surgery. It looks like he'll be ready to go this year but
bolted from OTA workouts in late May and might hold out in an attempt to
land a long-term deal before the season starts.
The place to draft
him this summer: Round 7
Chance of changing teams in 2014: 55
percent. The Giants not only have to worry about his contract but Cruz's
too as well as running back Andre Brown,
guard Kevin Boothe and defensive lineman Justin Tuck. If he can't stay upright and won't accept a modest deal,
they'll let him hobble to another team and let Rueben Randle land more playing time.
Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers
Williams is on the brink
of landing a big contract if he has a big year or a modest contract if
he has a modest year. The difference is that it seems like his head
coach isn't lining up replacements for him already like Greg Schiano is
for Freeman. Williams wasn't reliable as a second-year player but
rebounded from that and put up nice numbers for the second time in three
seasons. He's in a great spot opposite Vincent Jackson in a capable offense, so it only makes sense that he
puts up some numbers. That's expected to continue, which means he'll
give the Bucs every reason to extend him.
The place to draft him
this summer: Round 8
Chance of changing teams in 2014: 25
percent. The Bucs have the cap space to cut a deal now if they wanted
to, plus Williams might not command as much money as a top-tier receiver
because, well, he doesn't have the rep of a top-tier receiver. Just
seems like he'll stay in Tampa Bay but also seems like he understands
his role and that he can't loaf after doing so in 2011.
Playing for their careers
Players who could be in a reduced role if they don't step up in 2013.
Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
When you're the tight end
on a pass-happy team like Green Bay and you can only muster up 667 yards
and two touchdowns, you know you have work to do. Those were Finley's
2012 stats, fresh off of signing a two-year extension with the Pack.
Maybe he got lost in the Packers' shuffle (they do have plenty of great
receivers) or maybe he took it easy after signing said extension, but
those troubling numbers nearly pushed Finley off the roster this
offseason. Instead he's in a contract year for the second time in three
years. The last time he was in such a position (2011) he had a
career-best 767 yards and eight touchdowns, but even that's misleading
as he had only six games with eight-plus Fantasy points and four came in
his final five that season. In 2012 he had two games with eight-plus
Fantasy points and wound up scoring as many cumulative numbers as Marcedes Lewis.
The place to draft him this summer: Round 11
Chance
of changing teams in 2014: 50 percent. It's already likely the
Packers won't overpay to keep Finley over a long period of time. Maybe
they'll offer another two-year deal if he plays well this coming
season. But his lack of consistency has to drive the Packers' brass
crazy. Green Bay has a pair of raw but talented tight ends on the roster
in D.J. Williams (who we'd love if he
saw more playing time) and Ryan Taylor.
They could be the future at the position.
Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers
Freeman figured to be in
the same boat as Jay Cutler -- good
enough to pilot a team devoid of a franchise quarterback -- until head
coach Greg Schiano started talking. While he made it clear Freeman was
his starter for 2013, he never gave a rousing recommendation on Freeman
for the long-term. What Schiano did do, however, was draft a quarterback
he's been high on for at least the last five years in Mike Glennon. Schiano once recruited Glennon to play at Rutgers but
couldn't woo him. In April, Schiano didn't have to woo him, he drafted
him in the third round. It remains to be seen if Glennon can be as
capable of a passer as Freeman has already shown, but at the very least
the Bucs have a Plan B in place in case they don't love Freeman.
The
place to draft him this summer: Third-to-last round
Chance of
changing teams in 2014: 51 percent. Freeman's offensive line is
great, his targets are great and he himself is ... not bad. He just
needs to take the next step. But there's just something about Schiano's
unwillingness to laud Freeman that makes us think he's on a short leash.
Freeman was very erratic last year, particularly toward the end of the
season. Another skid like that should seemingly seal his fate in Tampa
Bay. And if said skid comes sooner than later, Glennon could get under
center.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles
Injuries and other physical
difficulties turned Maclin's once-promising career into something less
appealing. Statistically, Maclin has been fine over the last two years,
averaging 66 catches for 858 yards (13.0 avg.) with five touchdowns in
2011 and seven in 2012. Those numbers don't make him a Fantasy gem but
more of a very reliable backup when he has even a decent matchup. But
those are stats that came in Andy Reid's pass-heavy West Coast offense,
not Chip Kelly's run-heavy up-tempo, quick-hitting offense. It's not
known just how many long passes Maclin will get a chance at catching
this season. That makes his chances of seeing a big pay day shrink even
more -- between a lack of opportunities and the injury bug potentially
costing him a game or three, Maclin has an uphill battle to register
what would be his first 1,000-yard season.
The place to draft him
this summer: Round 9
Chance of changing teams in 2014: 60
percent. If Maclin fizzles with the Eagles then Kelly will have no
problem saying goodbye to him. In turn, Maclin could either make a dash
to Kansas City (he's a native Missourian) and reunite with Reid or find
another team. But even if he shines, the Eagles might not consider him
so vital to their operation that they pay him huge money. Again, that's if
he shines. Getting 850-ish yards and 5-7 touchdowns isn't exactly
shining.
Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders
The Raiders are already in
salary cap purgatory so it stands to reason they'll have a hard time
paying McFadden what he wants if he manages to impress this season. Of
course, the most impressive thing McFadden could do is play 16 games,
something he's never done. Everyone is chalking up last year's weak
numbers (3.3 rush avg., three total TDs) to the Raiders' move to a
zone-blocking scheme, which is fair. Oakland responded with reverting to
a more power-based run game that better suits McFadden's downhill
running style. It all sounds good until you realize McFadden has sounded
good every offseason before putting on pads and eventually injuring
himself. The Fantasy owners who drafted him before are too shy to draft
him again and the owners who passed on him in the past are smart enough
not to change their ways now. McFadden has to prove to Fantasy owners
he's trustworthy in lineups while also proving to the Raiders he's worth
a contract extension.
The place to draft him this summer: Late
Round 3
Chance of changing teams in 2014: 50 percent. What are
the odds McFadden averages 80 total yards per game and scores nine or 10
times? Maybe 60-40? Maybe?! Anything short of that kind of
reliable production for even 12 or 13 games will push the Raiders to
look for a new running back. No team will look at McFadden as a bell cow
and as a result he'd land a part-time role, which he might be best
suited for to be honest.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Cardinals
The Steelers had
enough of Mendenhall last year. Between mediocre play along with some
disappointing commentary and decisions he made, they had no problem
letting him walk. But Bruce Arians opened his arms wide for him in
Arizona, giving him a one-year deal. Many will chalk up Mendenhall's
2012 as a rehab year from a torn ACL suffered very late in the 2011
season. His inability to pull an Adrian Peterson
put him in a one-year "prove-it" situation with the Cards. But which
Mendenhall will show up: The one who rumbled for 29 touchdowns and well
over 1,000 total yards from 2009 to 2011 or the one that mailed it in
last year?
The place to draft him this summer: Round 7
Chance
of changing teams in 2014: 70 percent. Mendenhall was one of three
running backs Arizona added this offseason (the other two are notable
rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington). This is in addition to confident young back Ryan Williams being a part of the roster. While we like Mendenhall's
potential to be a very busy rusher in Arizona, the reality is that if he
struggles he'll be shown the bench promptly because the Cardinals have
several other choices. A favorable early-season schedule might help
Mendenhall get off to a good start with his new team.
Michael Vick, QB, Eagles
Vick's time as a starter in the
league might very well be on the line in 2013. Tasked to run Chip
Kelly's offense, Vick added some muscle and has worked on delivering
passes quicker than before. He'll be asked to make snap decisions and
throw with accuracy, something he's struggled with over the balance of
his career. He'll also have to stay on the field, a problem for him
since he's gotten hurt each of his four seasons with Philadelphia. Vick
has averaged just under 1.5 passing touchdowns per game over his last
three years while his rushing totals have declined over those seasons.
The
place to draft him this summer: Round 10
Chance of changing
teams in 2014: 70 percent. The drafting of Matt Barkley pretty much locked the soon-to-be 33-year-old Vick into
a do-or-be-done situation. For him to get paid well by any team,
Vick will have to play efficiently for at least 13 games in 2013. With
more and more teams solving their quarterback issues and others looking
at younger talent for help, Vick's days of being a starter are probably
limited to the number of games he actually plays in 2013.
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter @CBSFantasyFB . You can also follow Dave at @daverichard .