Fantasy Football: Wrapping NFL Combine with news and notes

Rookies weren't the only thing on display at the NFL Combine as coaches and general managers had plenty to say about current players. Jamey Eisenberg puts a Fantasy spin on it.

The NFL Combine provided a good chance to hear what coaches and general managers had to say about plenty of players. And no, we're not talking about the incoming rookies. While it's fun to watch the 40-yard dash and vertical jumps, the rookies won't fully have our attention until after the NFL Draft.

For a great breakdown of winners and losers from the NFL Combine from a rookie perspective, you can read this column from Will Brinson, one of our NFL writers. And we did plenty of video about the combine with me, Dave Richard, Pete Prisco, Jason La Canfora and former NFL linebacker Kirk Morrison if you want to check it out.

Here, we're going to look at what several teams had to say about prominent players and the impact on their Fantasy value heading into 2016. A lot of interesting things were said about injuries, jobs and general outlook for plenty of guys we will be drafting in 2016.

Quarterback

• What happened: Aaron Rodgers had knee surgery after the season, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy was aware of it and doesn't expect a setback heading into the offseason. Said McCarthy: "The way he's hitting the golf ball, I think he would be ready to go."
• Our take: Rodgers has the chance to rebound in a big way in 2016. He struggled last year without a healthy Jordy Nelson (torn ACL), but Nelson should be fine, which will help the entire offense, including Randall Cobb. I have a hard time keeping Rodgers ranked at No. 2 behind Cam Newton because I expect Rodgers to have a huge year. He's someone to target as early as Round 3 in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: Tom Brady signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the Patriots through 2019 when he will be 42.
• Our take: Quarterbacks don't tend to improve as they get close to 40, but it's hard to bet against Brady, who will be 39 in August. New England needs help on the offensive line, and adding another receiver to Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman would be nice for Brady. But he once again enters this season as a top-five quarterback worth drafting in Round 4 or 5.

• What happened: Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese said Andy Dalton (thumb) will be full go for all offseason work. Zampese also expects a big season for Dalton, saying "His success, my success. We're tied that way, there's no doubt about it. Unless your quarterback plays well, that's tough on the position coach. He'll come back. He'll use it as fuel. There'll be a burning desire to show more when he gets in that situation again and be the guy that actually plays in the playoff game, wins the playoff game."
• Our take: Dalton was great in 2015 before hurting his thumb in Week 14 and missing the rest of the season, including the playoff loss against the Steelers. He had nine games with at least 22 Fantasy points in a standard league out of 12 that he finished, and he should be a Top 10 option again this year. He's worth targeting with a mid- to late-round pick in all formats.

• What happened: Titans coach Mike Mularkey is OK with Marcus Mariota running more this season. He rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries as a rookie in 2015. Said Mularkey: "I stated very early on that I don't have a problem if we're going to design runs for Marcus, because I think you can protect yourself better as a runner than you can as a pocket passer."
• Our take: Running more will only enhance the Fantasy value for Mariota, who ran for 2,237 yards and 29 touchdowns on 337 carries in three seasons at Oregon. He's a great No. 2 Fantasy quarterback to target with a late-round pick in all leagues.

• What happened: Broncos general manager John Elway has plenty of confidence in Brock Osweiler as the starter if Peyton Manning retires as expected. "I think that with the sample size that we got from Brock, we were excited about what we saw," Elway said. "I think when you look at the seven games that he started and the way that he played, he made some good strides. You never know what a quarterback can do until he gets in there, gets underneath the gun. I think he proved a lot to us."

• Our take: Osweiler still has work to do before Fantasy owners can trust him. He only had two games with more than 20 Fantasy points in a standard league in his seven starts, but he would benefit with a full offseason as the starter, especially building a better rapport with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. We expect Osweiler to be the starter in Denver, but he's just a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback heading into the year.

• What happened: Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter said Jameis Winston will benefit from playing as a rookie in 2015. Said Koetter: "Experience is the best teacher. So the fact that Jameis has a better idea of what to expect moving forward I think will enable him to continue to get better."
• Our take: Like Mariota, we're excited about Winston heading into 2016. He had good moments as a rookie with seven games with at least 20 Fantasy points in a standard league, but he needs to improve. Keeping Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins healthy for 16 games will help, but Winston should be considered a high-end No. 2 quarterback heading into the season.

• What happened: Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer doesn't expect the offense to change for Teddy Bridgewater when it comes to him throwing more. "We want to win games," Zimmer said. "And I don't have a problem winning a game 13-10 and running the ball a bunch of times, and especially finishing the game running the ball. So, I don't know if he'll be throwing the ball more."
• Our take: Bridgewater attempted more than 30 passes just seven times and had one game with more than 40 attempts. By comparison, Brady had just two games with fewer than 30 attempts. The Vikings will run their offense through Adrian Peterson again in 2016, and the receiving corps needs work to help Bridgewater improve as a Fantasy quarterback. He's just a low-end No. 2 option heading into this year.

Running back

• What happened: Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said there's no timetable for Le'Veon Bell to return from his knee injury, which was hurt in Week 8. Colbert said the team's only objective is to make sure Bell is 100 percent ready for the start of the regular season. "He'll be ready when he's ready," Colbert said.
• Our take: This isn't what you want to hear since Bell was hurt Nov. 1 and is still going through rehab. Our hope is he's ready for training camp, but we'll continue to check the reports on his recovery. When healthy, you can make the argument Bell is the No. 1 running back in all Fantasy leagues and the potential No. 1 overall pick. But if he's limited heading into training camp, that will obviously lower his stock and make DeAngelo Williams a must-own player whether you draft Bell or not.

• What happened: Rams coach Jeff Fisher plans to build the offense around Todd Gurley. "What he did in the short period of time to play was extraordinary," Fisher said. "With another offseason between last year and this year we expect him to be even better. He's a special talent."
• Our take: Gurley could easily be the No. 1 Fantasy running back this season and worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. We hope the Rams add talent around him, especially on the offensive line and in the passing game, but he did well last year without much help. He's a slam dunk with a pick in the first seven selections in all leagues.

• What happened: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is high on David Johnson, but general manager Steve Keim said Andre Ellington has to stay healthy. Said Arians on Johnson: "He's got a chance to be one of the all-time best." And Keim on Ellington: "We love his skill set, but it's no secret the guy has had durability problems. As an organization, you have expectations, and if a guy doesn't fulfill those expectations, you may have to move on."
• Our take: It's clear the Cardinals plan to give Johnson the featured job, and we consider him a top-five running back coming into the season. It would not be a shock to see him finish as the No. 1 running back given his role with the Cardinals and their dynamic offense. As for Ellington, he should be No. 2 on the depth chart, but his touches will be minimal if Johnson remains healthy. He's only worth drafting with a late-round pick.

• What happened: Thomas Rawls (ankle) should be fine and is expected to be the new starter for the Seahawks with Marshawn Lynch retired. "He's getting ready for it," coach Pete Carroll said. "It's going to be a haul for him, but he'll make it for camp and be ready to go. And we'll expect a lot out of him."
• Our take: We also expect a lot out of Rawls because he was impressive when he got extended work as a rookie in 2015 when Lynch was dealing with injuries. He had six games with double digits in carries and scored at least 10 Fantasy points in a standard league in five of them. Rawls should be considered a No. 1 running back in all formats as long as his ankle is OK and he's the starter as expected.

• What happened: Jamaal Charles (torn ACL) should be ready for the start of training camp. "I think he may be ahead of schedule in terms of his rehabilitation," Chiefs GM John Dorsey said.
• Our take: Fantasy owners will be monitoring Charles and his recovery closely because he could be a potential first-round pick in standard leagues. He should be considered a No. 1 running back if he's healthy, and hopefully he doesn't suffer a setback heading into training camp.

• What happened: The Bears were OK to let Matt Forte leave as a free agent because they have faith in second-year running back Jeremy Langford. Coach John Fox said Langford is a "complete back," and general manager Ryan Pace said, "we still feel he's an ascending player. I have a lot of confidence in his physical ability, his speed, his vision, his acceleration."
• Our take: Langford has plenty of flaws, but he should get a great opportunity to step in as the starter for the Bears. He will share time with Ka'Deem Carey and likely another addition to the backfield, but he's a solid No. 2 running back to target in Round 4 in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: McCarthy is confident Eddie Lacy will bounce back in 2016 and come into training camp in shape. "Eddie will take care of business," McCarthy said. "I have great confidence that he will. I think we'll see definitely a different guy in April, and more importantly in July."
• Our take: Lacy is going to fall in drafts in 2016, which should end up resulting in him with a great value pick. We'll see what the Packers do with their backfield, and James Starks is a free agent this offseason. But if no one of significance in brought in to compete with Lacy he could once again be a Top 10 Fantasy running back in all leagues, especially if he's in shape.

• What happened: Jaguars coach Gus Bradley is confident T.J. Yeldon can be a three-down back. "We put a lot on him, and I thought he handled it really well," Bradley said. "We anticipated him being a first- and second-down back. We didn't know about him as far as a third-down back, but he really picked up our protection scheme. There were some errors that were made, but for the most part he was very clean in all the protections. I think you can continue to see him grow."
• Our take: Yeldon only had four games with double digits in Fantasy points, but he should improve in 2016 as the Jaguars offense continues to develop. Fixing the offensive line is a concern in Jacksonville, but Yeldon should dominate touches and prove to be a solid No. 2 running back. He's someone to target beginning in Round 4 or 5 in all leagues.

• What happened: Niners general manager Trent Baalke said Carlos Hyde is a good fit for new coach Chip Kelly's scheme and that the foot injury that sidelined Hyde last year should be fine by training camp. On fitting in Kelly's offense, Baalke said "I think coach would tell you he's the ideal fit for what coach wants to do. Very similar to what he did at Ohio State. A big back that runs with power, runs with a little anger. How can you not like that?" And on Hyde's foot, Baalke said "He's not game-ready yet by any stretch, but all indications are that it's healing very nicely and we look forward to having him full speed as soon as possible."
• Our take: Hyde struggled in 2015 with just two games with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league before going down in Week 7 with the foot injury. If healthy, he should rebound and do well under Kelly, and he's worth re-investing in as a No. 2 running back with a pick in Round 4 or 5.

• What happened: Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said Latavius Murray needs help and would be better off with a reduced workload. "He had some good moments, and there were things he'll want to do better going forward," Del Rio said. "He's an explosive young man with long speed. He's still growing as a player, so there's an opportunity to go back and work on some things this spring that will allow him to come out and have a better year next year."
• Our take: We don't disagree with Del Rio since Murray had just two games with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league in his final nine outings after doing that four times in his first seven games. We don't want Murray in a full tandem, but losing some playing time (he had 307 total touches in 2015) could keep him fresh and help him perform at a higher level. We'll see what Oakland does to provide competition for touches, but Murray should be considered a high-end No. 2 running back coming into the season.

• What happened: Broncos coach Gary Kubiak is still behind C.J. Anderson as his No. 1 running back. Ronnie Hillman is a free agent and Kubiak would like him back in Denver, but Kubiak said "keeping C.J. healthy I think is the key moving forward."
• Our take: Anderson was bad to start the season, but he wasn't healthy and it showed. To close the year, he had double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league in three of his final five regular season games and two of three playoff outings. He's a prime rebound candidate, especially if Hillman is gone, and he's worth drafting in Round 4 or 5 in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: Koetter said Charles Sims can be an every-down back, which is important since Doug Martin is a free agent and could leave Tampa Bay. "Charles had a nice year for us, and we think the world of Charles," Koetter said. "Charles is a guy who can do a lot of good things, not only if you hand it to him but if you throw it to him. When Charles was drafted in Tampa I know the feeling was he could be an every down back if need be. We'll see how that plays out."
• Our take: Sims would see his Fantasy value skyrocket if Martin leaves the Buccaneers and no one of significance is brought in for competition. We doubt that would happen, but if Sims does get the starting nod that would put him in the conversation of being a No. 2 Fantasy option in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Justin Forsett can still be the featured rusher in Baltimore, which would put him ahead of Buck Allen. "The featured back will be the best back, and to me Justin Forsett certainly fits the bill," Harbaugh said. "He's proven that already." Harbaugh also said Forsett's wrist "is good" after a broken wrist forced him to injured reserve last year in Week 11.
• Our take: We'd like to see the younger Allen get more of the featured role, with Forsett working on passing downs. But it will be a competition to monitor in training camp, and the winner has the potential to be a No. 2 Fantasy running back in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: New Browns coach Hue Jackson is looking forward to using Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell in tandem this season. "I'm really excited about those two young players," Jackson said. "Obviously, Duke Johnson was a draft pick a year ago who kind of burst onto the scene and had a ton of catches and made some unbelievable plays. I think he's very talented. Isaiah Crowell obviously had a good year last year, and I think he has the characteristics of a back that can be a big-time runner, but he needs to do it very consistently and kind of in the way that we want it done, so I think he's up to the challenge. ... Those two young players you just mentioned have a bright future ahead of themselves."
• Our take: Jackson has a good history of working with running backs, including some big seasons from guys like Darren McFadden, Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. We like Johnson's upside more than Crowell this season, but both have the chance to be Fantasy relevant this year. Keep an eye on their battle in training camp, and Johnson and Crowell are worth drafting with a mid-round pick in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Matt Jones can be a featured back, which is relevant since Alfred Morris is a free agent and isn't expected back in Washington. "We drafted him with that intent," Gruden said. "He's a big, powerful runner. The big thing about Matt is, we've got to keep him healthy and work on ball security -- those are the two things in the offseason." Jones had groin surgery this offseason, but he's expected to be fine for training camp.
• Our take: We'll see what the Redskins do to add competition to their backfield because it's doubtful they will lean on just Jones and Chris Thompson. We like the upside for Jones, but health will be a key for him becoming a starting Fantasy option. Keep an eye on what happens with the running back depth in Washington, but Jones is worth drafting as a No. 3 Fantasy option with a mid-round pick.

Wide receiver

• What happened: Packers general manager Ted Thompson said Nelson should return at a high level after suffering last year's torn ACL. "He's a workout, rehab freak like you would imagine, any of you guys who have been around him," Thompson said. "That was a hard thing for him to do sitting out the season, but he looks great. You sometimes wonder if he was really hurt. I'm just kidding."
• Our take: Nelson should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy receiver despite missing all of last year. In 2014, he had 98 catches for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns, and it sounds like he's ready to go once training camp starts. He's worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2 in all leagues.

• What happened: Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman expects Kelvin Benjamin to be ready to go for the start of training camp after last year's torn ACL. "Kelvin has been working his fanny off," Gettleman said. "He really has taken the bull by the horns. Like any other young kid it took him a couple of weeks to get over the woe-is-me stuff and understand it's time to go. He'll be doing some things this spring and he'll be ready to go for training camp."
• Our take: Like Nelson, Benjamin should be primed for a big season after sitting out 2015. He was great as a rookie in 2014 with 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns, and he could easily be at 80 catches, 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016, especially since Ted Ginn just caught 10 touchdowns as the No. 1 receiver for Cam Newton. Benjamin should be drafted by Round 4 in the majority of leagues.

• What happened: Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said Keenan Allen (kidney) is healthy and will be ready for the offseason program. Allen was lost for the season after being hurt in Week 8.
• Our take: Allen was great in his third season in 2015 before going down with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league in four of eight games and only two games with fewer than eight points. The Chargers won't have Malcom Floyd back, and Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green are free agents, although Gates is expected to return. Philip Rivers will once again lean on Allen, who had five games with double digits in targets. He's a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver to target beginning in Round 5.

• What happened: Josh Gordon is waiting to find out if he will be reinstated from last year's season-long suspension, but Jackson said he still needs to see if Gordon is the right fit in Cleveland. "Obviously he's a very talented individual, but at the same time, it's got to fit right for us as we move forward in this situation," Jackson said.
• Our take: We'd be shocked if the Browns didn't use Gordon as their No. 1 receiver if he's allowed to play in 2016 as expected. Cleveland is expected to lose Travis Benjamin as a free agent, and this is an offense that needs talent. Remember, in 2013 we saw Gordon dominate the NFL with 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns, and he has the potential to be a solid starter in all leagues. If he's reinstated and has a full offseason then Gordon should be drafted by Round 5 or 6 in all leagues.

• What happened: Keim said Larry Fitzgerald's future has to be addressed soon, and he also heaped plenty of praise on Michael Floyd. On Fitzgerald, Keim said "Does Larry want to play another year or two? He's probably is going to reassess and evaluate where his body is at. How does he feel? I know there is no doubt the one thing that drives him is to win a championship. There is no doubt, in my opinion, he is a Hall of Fame player already, so what drives Larry Fitzgerald is to win that trophy, win that ring. Until he does that it's hard for me to see him calling it quits, so hopefully we can answer that question this year." And on Floyd, Keim said "Mike has made tremendous strides, particularly this past year, not only from a skill-set standpoint but from a maturity standpoint. His work ethic, his passion for the game, I think he took it to another level."
• Our take: Along with John Brown and J.J. Nelson, who is someone Arians talked about at the Combine, the Cardinals have one of the best receiving corps in the NFL. Our pecking order for them is Floyd, Brown, Fitzgerald and Nelson. You should consider Floyd a No. 2 Fantasy receiver worth drafting in Round 5, Brown will come off the board around Round 7 and Fitzgerald should be in the same range, although someone will likely reach for him sooner based on name recognition. He played well last season, but his best stats came when Floyd and Brown dealt with injuries. Nelson is just a flier at this point, but he does have upside, especially in dynasty leagues if Fitzgerald does plan to retire soon.

• What happened: New Dolphins coach Adam Gase is excited to work with DeVante Parker this season. Gase said Parker is someone the Bears considered drafting last year before taking Kevin White instead. "Those two guys were neck and neck," Gase said. "We liked them both, and our decision was to go with Kevin. But DeVante was a guy who was high up on our board. I love his skill set. He has great hands, a big body. A guy that can go get the ball down the field. So I'm excited to see what he can do in this offense."
• Our take: Gase also had high praise for Kenny Stills because of his speed, and we know Jarvis Landry will be a vital part of this passing game as Ryan Tannehill's favorite target. But Parker has the chance to be a difference maker for Fantasy owners, and he's worth looking at with a pick in Round 7 as a high-end No. 3 receiver. He could be a special talent if Gase and Tannehill feature him this year.

• What happened: Mularkey has high expectations for second-year receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who could be a star for the Titans in 2016. "He's got all his notes, he knows everything that we did last year, so he has the ability to study and do the things we already were doing, and you'll know right away whether that's taken place," Mularkey said. "I think he knows that's been a point of emphasis for him. He'll have a lot to say on whether he's that guy or not."
• Our take: Green-Beckham has the chance to be a standout option in 2016 for the Titans, who need help with their receiving corps. Mariota would obviously like to see Green-Beckham step up as well. Like Parker, he could be a difference maker for Fantasy owners, and we would target him in all leagues around Round 7 as a high-end No. 3 receiver.

• What happened: Zimmer said Stefon Diggs has the chance to be the No. 1 receiver for the Vikings this year. "I think Stefon has done a lot of good things," Zimmer said. "He's still got a long way to go. He's got to continue to prove himself. I think he continues to get better. There's still a lot of things he's got to work on. I think this next year, that will really determine how good he ends up being."
• Our take: Diggs should be considered the No. 1 receiver for Minnesota with Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright and Cordarrelle Patterson the other choices currently on the roster. Diggs had some good moments last season with four games with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league, but he needs to be more consistent. We like him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver worth drafting in Round 8 or later.

• What happened: Fisher said Tavon Austin has proven he deserves more touches after the way he played in 2015. "He has done everything we have asked of him," Fisher said. "I think we have to do more as a staff to get him the football. ... Keep in mind, there's only one ball, and we've got good players on offense. But I think the combination of Tavon and Todd and the rest of the guys, I think it provides us an opportunity to be very explosive."
• Our take: Austin definitely improved as a receiver in his third season with career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns. He also added 52 carries for 434 yards and four touchdowns. He only had 86 targets, which needs to go up for him to a better Fantasy option, and he was boom or bust with four games with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league and seven games with five points or less. We would only draft Austin with a late-round pick in the majority of leagues, with his value higher in leagues that reward return yards.

Tight end

• What happened: Carroll said Jimmy Graham (knee) could return by the end of training camp, but he said "we will not rush him" in his recovery. Graham suffered a torn patella tendon in Week 12.
• Our take: Graham struggled in his first year with the Seahawks in 2015 with only three games with double digits in Fantasy points before getting hurt. And with this injury, it will be tough to trust him as a starting Fantasy option coming into the season. Two guys who have dealt with this injury in the past are Cadillac Williams and Victor Cruz, and this is a tough injury to overcome. We would only draft Graham as a No. 2 Fantasy tight end with a late-round pick.

• What happened: Jackson has high expectations for Gary Barnidge. "He's a tremendous football player," Jackson said. "He had a sensational season, and I don't see him going backwards at all. I see him even getting better and playing really well for us."
• Our take: Barnidge was a revelation for Fantasy owners and came out of nowhere with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league in eight games. He will likely regress a little now that teams will game-plan for him, and he had just one game with double digits in Fantasy points in his final six outings. Still, given his role, he's worth drafting as a top-10 tight end with a mid-round pick.

• What happened: Koetter said Seferian-Jenkins has the chance to be a quality tight end if he can stay healthy. He has dealt with ankle and shoulder injuries during his first two seasons, which has kept him from playing on a high level for a consistent basis. "I think Austin is an extremely talented player," Koetter said. "There are not very many tight ends coming into the NFL anymore that are prototypical tight ends, guys that can do everything -- they can block, they can catch, they play half wide receiver, half offensive tackle. I think Austin is one of those guys, can be one of those guys, but No. 1 thing he's got to do is stay healthy."
• Our take: We couldn't agree more with Koetter, and we hope Seferian-Jenkins can stay on the field for the majority of the season. He could emerge as a breakout candidate this year, and he's definitely worth drafting with a late-round pick in all formats. If he plays at least 13 games this year, he will finish as a top-10 Fantasy option.

• What happened: Telesco said the Chargers would like Green to stay in San Diego as a free agent, even with the plan to bring back Gates as well. "He's someone we'd like to keep," Telesco said. "We'll see how it goes."
• Our take: Green might want to leave the Chargers and look for a starting job. He played well in 2015 when Gates was suspended for the first four games with 14 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns over that span, and he could emerge as a standout Fantasy option with the right team. If he's back with the Chargers then his Fantasy value will be limited, but keep an eye on what he does in free agency with the hope he can be a sleeper in 2016.

• What happened: Giants general manager Jerry Reese said the team will proceed with caution with Larry Donnell's recovery from last year's neck injury. "He's coming back and hopefully he'll be able to continue to play," Reese said. "We're expecting him to be back, but necks can be tricky, so we'll have to wait and see where that goes. ... Hopefully he can get healthy and come back and continue his career."
• Our take: Reese didn't sound optimistic about Donnell being ready for the start of the season, which would allow Will Tye to have increased value this year. Neither tight end has a ton of upside when both are healthy, but Donnell did have 63 catches for 623 yards and six touchdowns in 2014. Tye also played well once Donnell went down with at least seven Fantasy points in five of the final six games. We'll see what happens with Donnell, but if he's out for the start of the season then Tye could be worth drafting with a late-round pick in deeper leagues.