Fantasy Football News

National Football League Matters

Major fantasy football news, like coaching changes, affect how you’ll draft and manage your fantasy football team. These changes and analysis from experts can be found at various Fantasy Football Web Sites. Another example of an NFL league matter that can affect your fantasy football outlook is Labor Negotiations. Average fantasy football owners might never consider the impact of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement on their fantasy football teams. The outcome of these negotiations is very important, though, to your success as a fantasy football team owner. The impasse between the NFL and the Players Association will mean that the current team salary cap will remain at $95 million. National Football League teams will be greatly affected, because raises in player contracts will put many teams over the cap. What does this mean to fantasy football owners? Basically, it means that many good veteran players will be changing teams, because they will be given their outright release from their current teams, in order for these organizations to remain under the cap. These cuts will impact many players in a positive or negative way. Pro football stars like offensive linemen Brad Hopkins of the Texans and the Chiefs’ Will Shields are likely victims of the unchanging salary cap. These all-pro caliber veterans make huge salaries and have too many years in the league for their respective teams to risk keeping them over younger players with smaller salaries. Some teams, like the Cleveland Browns, will benefit from these cuts, because they are well-below the current cap. With tens of millions in cap room available, teams like Cleveland will be able to add a star or two to their rosters, improving each team and impacting the performance of other potential fantasy football picks. For example, if the Browns were to sign a player like Hopkins or Shields, the fantasy football value of running back Reuben Droughns would increase dramatically. So, keep an eye on these and other key veterans changing teams. Consider how the change affects them and surrounding fantasy football players you might be interested in drafting in the future.

Player News

Fantasy football news that might seem obvious in terms of its impact, but still eludes many weak competitors, is off-season player news. Due to the previously-mentioned salary cap issue, many players are attempting to restructure current contracts. They are not always successful, forcing the team and/or the player to make a difficult decision. Bills Pro Bowl wide receiver Eric Moulds is currently attempting to rework his contract with Buffalo, but he may also fall victim to the salary cap and be released. If Moulds, a 10-year veteran with nearly 10,000 yards receiving and 48 career touchdowns, is let go, another team with cap room will certainly sign him. It’s important for fantasy football owners to pay careful attention to how the system of a different team will impact players like Moulds who may change teams. Other players have different issues. Terrell Owens, for example, was suspended for much of the 2005 season, when he made comments that were detrimental to his Philadelphia Eagles franchise. The Eagles have released the All-pro wide receiver, and other teams are now considering signing him. Although Owens is a great player and a touchdown machine, he is a huge risk for fantasy football owners. Not only will you have to consider how he may perform for a new team, but it is equally important to think about his impact on other receivers on the team he joins.