Free Agency watch, Redskins style (CSN)

Now that salary cap-gate is over, what's next for the Redskins 53-man roster. There is around $3.8 million of salary cap space left, though some of that coin goes toward signing the remaining draft picks. The rest...

Considering the remaining free agent options are largely backup types, there are few must-have players. Regardless, you never know what happens between now and the start of training camp and the regular season. That is why I've been compiling a list of the viable and rainy day options among remaining NFL free agents.

Offensive tackle/line
Running back
Defensive back
Wide receiver
Tight end

Fantasy Footballing - Podcasts and Profiles

Over the last week I hosted two podcasts and profiled fantasy footballers on four teams. Proof exists below...

Podcasts: First things first. Click here and then subscribe to the podcast via ITunes, Zune or Google Listen. Thay way, whenever I post the latest edition of the handy dandy FFToolbox podcast (always hosted by yours truly), the download happens on your end automatically. Helps me, helps you. Good? Good.

*The first of two episodes. NY Times and CBS Sports NFL writer Andy Benoit talks about the transactional offseason and Dallas Cowboys blogger K.D. Drummond analyzes the fantasy battles in Big D.

* Next up, I called my FFToolbox colleague George Bissell for some pre-preseason takes on an intriguing fantasy players. We talke Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Roy Helu and other notables from 12 NFL teams including the Ravens, Bears, Raiders and the entire NFC South.

Rankings: Click on each team name for the full monty of profiles, which for each includes at least quarterbacks (2), running backs (4), wide receivers (4), tight ends (2), kicker and defense/special teams. Since we all love a good sampler course, I served up one profile for each team below...

Washington Redskins - RB Roy Helu Jr.: Following Tim Hightower's injury, Helu went from deep sleeper to electric fantasy star before his own late season ailments sidelined him. The dual threat topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage and finished with four 100-yard games, one coming as a receiver. Best suited as a situational option. If overworked with 20+ touches, could break down. If used appropriately, could be explosive RB2.

Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones: Bad news for anyone who typically avoids the Felix Jones hype train: many more people are now on your side. After laboring through the Cowboys' first five games last season, injuries slowed Jones (shocker!) and DeMarco Murray happened. Both are training room regulars so a depth chart is possible, but for now Jones is the other guy – and a fantasy reserve.



Philadelphia Eagles - WR Jeremy Maclin: Entered 2011 battling a mystery illness. Ended the season leading the Eagles in receptions. Missed three games or likely would have topped 1,000 yards for the first time as a pro. The safer of the Philly starting receivers and yet his skill set pops. Entering camp healthy should boost Maclin's numbers. Strong second fantasy receiver.

Baltimore Ravens - WR Torrey Smith: The true definition of a home run hitting receiver. Smith blazed onto the scene in Week 3 with five receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Topped the catches and yardage total in Week 10 later. In all other games, went over 80 yards just once. Tremendous potential, especially once he learns how to run routes. Certainly a fun pick and fine as a low-end WR2, better as an all-upside WR3.

Redskins link-o-rama

 
 My recent Redskins links, all on one page. Yeah, we're in a informational lull right now...

* My fantasy football writing duties include profiling players on a certain burgundy and gold team. RGIII, Helu, Royster, Garcon, Hankerson, Cooley, both kickers and more! (FFToolbox)

* While my CSNwashington colleague Rich Tandler profiled the bulk of the Redskins drafted rookies, I focused on the late, late rounders plus some sneaky undrafted types, including:

Safety Jordan Bernstine - Based solely on reading up on the versatile defensive back with 4.4 speed and knack for hard hits, I'm thinking Bernstine has a strong chance to make the 53-man roster. I mean, have you seen the secondary depth chart???

Cornerback Richard Crawford - The slot corner and return specialist is part of the flowing pipeline from SMU to Ashburn

Inside linebacker D.J. Holt - The undrafted rookie out of Cal does the tackling thing, has special teams experience and is will compete with an unsettled group of reserves. (CSNwashington)

Wide receiver Lance Lewis - SI.com dubbed the East Carolina target who likes playing in traffic the Redskins most intriguing undrafted free agent.

* Finally, a look around the NFC East, from Jerry Jones jabbing the Redskins offense to the ongoing spat between a Giants pass rusher and Eagles running back LeSean McCoy. This one has a motherly vibe.

Redskins: Hightower plus other two yards and a cloud of dust free agent RB options

Just about the only pending topic not asked of Mike Shanahan following Sunday's rookie camp practice involved the running back situation. Granted, both the Redskins head coach and Tim Hightower expressed a mutual interest in having the free agent return for the 2012 campaign. Should the team and veteran runner agree to terms, the backfield would largely be set, Hightower reuniting with second-year runners Roy Helu and Evan Royster.

Then again, the draft has now come and gone and Hightower, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered last October, remains on the open market. Plenty of time exists between now and the start of training camp - though OTA's start this month - so there might not be a calendar issue for the Redskins. They drafted a runner for depth in the later rounds of the just completed NFL draft, but the need for an inside runner remains.

However, should another team make Touchdown Timmy an offer he can't refuse - or the recovery period moves slower than expected or the missing cap space stays missing - then what?

This recent article on NFL.com ranks Hightower as the top free agent RB on the market. That distinction is hardly impressive. The top-five list also could use a scrubbing since one listed option signed elsewhere, another one is on the verge of doing the same, another is talking retirement and the remaining two are Cedric "rap sheet" Benson and Thomas "3.1 ypc" Jones.

I wonder what the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions think about such rankings. Former Colts RB Joseph Addai just signed with the AFC Champion Patriots, who also reportedly worked out Hightower last month. Meanwhile the Lions are reportedly moving closer to adding former Packers star Ryan Grant.
 
One question that emerges from that transactional scenario is what do these signings or near-signings say about Hightower status. For now, not much; neither Addai nor Grant are considered big gets at this point of their career.


Why Hightower and the Redskins have yet to put pen to paper, unclear. What is incredibly obvious is that the other options are hardly interesting, but some veteran will be added. Considering Shanahan stated rookie Robert Griffin III is his starting quarterback, it would be nice for a more concrete ground game outlook.

Maybe Hightower is letting teams know he is Ashburn-bound. Maybe his penchant for two-yard runs is limiting his market. Maybe his outlook shines no brighter than the other available backs.

FFToolbox podcast: John Keim; fantasy rookies

Did the podcast thing this week..

* Redskins beat writer John Keim (Washington Examiner) talked about the offense surrounding RGIII

* Whether Pierre Garcon  has No. 1 receiver skills and where Leonard Hankerson fits into the team's WR hierarchy

* If Roy Helu enters the season as the primary runner

* And yes, what was up with that Kirk Cousins pick

* Also weighed in on the NFC East outlook post-draft (Outside of the Nick Foles pick, we both liked what Philly did)

* Plus before and after the Keim interview, I did the solo talking thing with a look at NFL rookies and their fantasy outlook. Here's a taste - I explain why based on value, Doug Martin (Bucs) is my fave first-round RB; why Rams RB Isaiah Pead, Jets WR Stephen Hill and Steelers RB Chris Rainey have that sleeper kind of look.

Click it here for the podcast goodness.

Kiper: Cousins pick 'can divide a team'

One of if not the main post-NFL Draft water cooler topics centers on the Redskins quarterbacking situation - but not simply Robert Griffin III. Rather, how the drafting of Michigan State's Kirk Cousins impacts the start of the RG3 era.

I weighed in here, offering my take on the puzzling other quarterback pick. Some like Sports Illustrated's Peter King and Don Banks have set up camp on my side of the aisle, others go the other way.

During his post-draft conference call on Monday, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper voiced his opinion.

It's not favorable. We're talking the pick for the Redskins on the heels of going all in for Robert Griffin III, not the upside of Cousins.

As anyone who has listened to Kiper knows, he talks fast and he talks a lot. I transcribed it all. Here are the raw quotes, followed by his thoughts on the Redskins non-QB picks.

"I wouldn’t have taken Cousins in the fourth round if I’m the Redskins. I would have loved to have had him for a team that needed a young quarterback that could be the starter in a year or so. I would have loved him in the fourth round. He could have been a second-round pick. We could have been sitting here saying he was a decent second-round pick. No problem with them saying we had him rated as the third quarterback, we had to take him.

"But does this cause any problems? It’s easy to say he understands [Cousins] role, RG3 is the starter. [Cousins is] coming into compete, he’s not coming into understand a role. How can you tell someone to be a backup? You can’t tell a kid, coming in the fourth round you just be satisfied to be the backup. No matter what you do you’re our backup. He’s not going to buy into that.