FFToolbox - Former Falcons OC Dirk Koetter jumps ship to Buccaneers plus 10 more

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Former Falcons OC Dirk Koetter jumps ship to Buccaneers
Vikings OC Norv Turner calls WR Cordarrelle Patterson's year 'frustrating'
Ravens WR Steve Smith expected to be covered by Patriots CB Darrelle Revis
Broncos TE Julius Thomas (ankle) practicing in full
Chiefs sign QB Terrelle Pryor, WR Da'Rick Rogers
Report: Alabama WR Amari Cooper, RB T.J. Yeldon are going pro
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers goes through limited practice despite reported calf tear
Colts RB Trent Richardson now working on special teams
Steelers extend OC Todd Haley through 2016
Browns part ways with OC Kyle Shanahan, fire QBs coach Dowell Loggains
Ranking the Quarterback Tiers

Former Falcons OC Dirk Koetter jumps ship to Buccaneers

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 10:51 PM PST

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found the man to mentor their young offense in their own division. The Bucs hired Dirk Koetter on Thursday to be their offensive coordinator, a job he held with the Atlanta Falcons from 2012 through 2014. During those three years, the Falcons finished among the top 10 in yards per game twice. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Falcons' lowest total offense ranking under Koetter was 14th in 2013. But even that finish should be commended since Koetter turned a unit with a horrible offensive line and a bunch of injured skill players into a statistically above-average group. The Bucs would take above-average right now. They finished 29th and 30th in points and yards gained, respectively, this season. That came one year after they slotted 30th and 32nd in those areas. Koetter has his work cut out for him, but surely one reason why he took the job was to work with a likely No. 1 overall draft pick at quarterback, either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. Either selection under center with 21-year-old Mike Evans on the outside and 22-year-old Austin Seferian-Jenkins at tight end would constitute a suitable foundation for Koetter's reclamation project.

Vikings OC Norv Turner calls WR Cordarrelle Patterson's year 'frustrating'

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 10:40 PM PST

Expected by many analysts to break out in 2014, WR Cordarrelle Patterson didn't start a game after the Vikings' Week 10 bye. Finishing the season with fewer receptions than RB Matt Asiata, Patterson was one of the biggest busts of the year. OC Norv Turner called the 2013 first-round draft pick's lack of progression quot;frustrating" and added that "he's got to put the work in." In total, Patterson caught 33 passes for 384 yards and one score this season. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Patterson's loss was WR Charles Johnson's gain. Once C-Patt was benched, Johnson's opportunities -- and numbers -- began to climb. The two receivers possess similar size and skill sets. However, Johnson's football IQ is clearly more developed. Finishing the season with a 31-475-2 stat line, Johnson leapt to the top of Minnesota's depth chart. The Grand Valley State product should continue to ascend, especially with a full offseason under his belt.

Ravens WR Steve Smith expected to be covered by Patriots CB Darrelle Revis

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 09:49 PM PST

Because New England's secondary plays on assigned quot;sides," left cornerback Darrelle Revis is expected to shadow right wide receiver Steve Smith while right cornerback Brandon Browner should follow left wide receiver Torrey Smith in this weekend's playoff game. Playing on a one-year, $12 million deal with the Patriots, Revis has nothing but respect for the elder Smith, calling him an "electrifying player." Smith returned the compliment, admitting that Revis is "a corner that you have to prepare for." The two vets will duke it out at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon. FANTASY ANALYSIS: With both Smiths on lockdown, it's very likely that QB Joe Flacco will feed TE Owen Daniels the ball. After all, Daniels was his most consistent checkdown option in the Wild Card round last week. Plus, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak likes using tight ends -- especially ones he has a nine-year history with -- in red-zone situations.

Broncos TE Julius Thomas (ankle) practicing in full

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 02:42 PM PST

Broncos TE Julius Thomas rolled his left ankle nearly two months ago when Denver lost its third game of the season at St. Louis. He returned for Weeks 15 through 17 but was a shell of his former self, catching just three balls for 63 yards. While the 6-foot-5 and 250-pound tight end has practiced in full all week, there is concern that his ankle is still not at 100 percent. The former college basketball player has dealt with ankle injuries in the past and will likely need the offseason to fully heal from the sprain. FANTASY ANALYSIS: A huge red-zone target, Thomas can never be counted out. However, the Broncos have found ways to win without him. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase has turned C.J. Anderson into a matchup-proof back. Considering the Colts can be had on the ground, Thomas may not be looked to much anyway. Furthermore, with QB Peyton Manning's arm strength in question, Thomas may exist more as a decoy than a real threat in Sunday's divisional round matchup. The third-most expensive tight end on DFS sites, Thomas' current risk doesn't seem worth his potential reward.

Chiefs sign QB Terrelle Pryor, WR Da'Rick Rogers

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 02:24 PM PST

On Wednesday, the Chiefs added a couple of intriguing athletes to their roster: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor and wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers. Pryor spent this past season with the Seahawks. He hasn't appeared in a game since 2013 while with the Oakland Raiders. By adding him, the Chiefs currently have five quarterbacks. Rogers didn't play in 2014 after the Colts cut him in late September following a DUI arrest. The 23-year-old was a workout warrior at the 2013 combine and flashed his big-play skills during a 107-yard, two-score performance in his NFL regular-season debut on Dec. 8 of that year. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Will either of these players have any fantasy value in 2015? I feel comfortable saying quot;no" regarding Pryor, who's big, tall, fast ... if only he wasn't a quarterback. He just isn't an NFL-level passer, and he won't see any meaningful action unless he changes his position. Rogers carries more interest because of how thin the Chiefs are at wide receiver, and they are reportedly likely to cut Dwayne Bowe before next season. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, with 4.52-40 speed and close to a 40-inch vertical, Rogers physically possesses what a WR-starved team is looking for. He's raw, but there's no doubt that he has a ton of talent. However, he is sort of in the Josh Gordon class of WRs: lots of talent, lots of issues. Rogers transferred the University of Tennessee after getting suspended in 2011 for failing at least three drug tests. Then he had the DUI stop a few months ago. He has no room for further error, but the Chiefs are smart to take a low-risk look at him. If Bowe is released, their "No. 1" wideout would probably be Albert Wilson or Donnie Avery.

Report: Alabama WR Amari Cooper, RB T.J. Yeldon are going pro

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 01:48 PM PST

A couple of playmakers, wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back T.J. Yeldon, are reportedly taking their talents from the University of Alabama to the NFL. Both will forgo their senior season. Cooper, who is expected to be the first wideout drafted in April, caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, setting a host of single-season and career records for an Alabama receiver in the process. Yeldon probably won't hear his name called on the first night of the draft, but in 2014, he fell just 21 rushing yards short of his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Yeldon is built like a lead back at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, but he doesn't really use that size to his full advantage. He is a quick player and a big-play threat, but NFL teams will want him to show consistent explosion between the tackles. Cooper should already be on the minds of every fantasy owner out there. Following a unprecedented 2014 season, there isn't nearly as much fear in investing a high pick in a rookie WR, especially one as pro-ready as Cooper. The Jets could be interested at No. 6 overall. Cooper has speed, quickness, good hands, solid route-running ability and decent size.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers goes through limited practice despite reported calf tear

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 12:08 PM PST

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers went through team drills during Thursday's practice, taking 50-60 percent of the reps, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy also said Rodgers' mobility looked good during the session. Rodgers' mobility has been under much scrutiny for the past few weeks due to his calf injury, which he aggravated in Week 17. That scrutiny ramped up today following a report that Rodgers actually has a quot;slight tear" and a significant strain in that muscle. FANTASY ANALYSIS: However, Rodgers remains fully expected to play Sunday versus the Cowboys. Rodgers, McCarthy and many Packers beat writers have been saying for a while that the All-Pro quarterback won't be 100 percent healthy for the playoff game, and that certainly appears to be the case. The frigid temperatures in Green Bay this weekend may give Rodgers trouble in keeping that muscle loose, but he'll play through the pain and probably play well. This smells like a setup so we can all talk on Monday about how "heroic" Rodgers' divisional round performance was. But if you're looking at Rodgers in a daily league, understand the high risk of re-injury here.

Colts RB Trent Richardson now working on special teams

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 11:33 AM PST

Trent Richardson, the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, is No. 3 once again. It appears he's the Colts' third running back. That's what you can draw from a sight during the Colts' practice Thursday: Richardson working on the punt-coverage team. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Richardson was basically a healthy scratch for last week's playoff game aside from one snap. He came into the game listed as questionable due to an quot;illness," but the Colts are no longer hiding their dissatisfaction with T-Rich. He has received fewer than 10 carries in each of the past six games, and Dan Herron just put up more than 140 yards against the Bengals. Zurlon Tipton is now assumed to be Herron's direct backup. Richardson is under contract through 2015. This demotion is deserved and probably took so long to occur only because the Colts' brass didn't want to give up on a player for whom they traded a first-round pick. But after a rookie season that saw him gain more than 1,300 total yards despite a bunch of injuries, Richardson has continued to run as if he is hurt. He still breaks a good number of tackles, but he shows complete apprehension to hit the running lane at full speed and can no longer turn the corner. He just slogs. It shocks me how quickly the 24-year-old's talent, which was very evident in 2012, has seemingly evaporated. But the Colts have finally realized this and did the only sensible thing: Keep a running back who has averaged barely 3 yards per carry through 29 games with them far away from sabotaging their playoff hopes.

Steelers extend OC Todd Haley through 2016

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 10:50 AM PST

Todd Haley has earned a two-year extension from the Steelers after coordinating an offense that ranked second in 2014. He is now under contract through 2016. Under Haley's guidance, the Steelers finished in the top 10 in points and yards per game for the first time since 2002. FANTASY ANALYSIS: On the fantasy side, Haley turned Antonio Brown into the most productive wide receiver in the NFL. He helped Le'Veon Bell become arguably the best overall running back in the league. And, after two years with a reportedly frosty relationship, Haley worked with Ben Roethlisberger to help him become a top-five fantasy quarterback. You better believe fantasy owners will take two more years of that, definitely. Next, we'll see if Haley can get Martavis Bryant to tap fully into his sky-high talent.

Browns part ways with OC Kyle Shanahan, fire QBs coach Dowell Loggains

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 10:34 AM PST

The Browns' offense was an abject mess during the final month of this season, and a large part of the blame can be placed upon the quarterback play. It will be the job of two new voices to turn that unit around in 2015. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains are no longer a part of the Browns as of Thursday. Shanahan reportedly asked for his release, which was granted. Loggains was fired due to those QB failings down the stretch, multiple sources told FOX Sports. Cleveland's offense ranked 27th in points and 23rd in yards this season. The Browns scored two touchdowns in their final three games. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Shanahan is reportedly interviewing to be the Bills' head coach today, so of course he knew that he wouldn't be out of a job for long if he could just get out of Cleveland. His departure follows rumors and reports that Shanahan quickly grew tired of Johnny Manziel, did not have a good relationship with Brian Hoyer, was dismayed that the team didn't try to trade for Kirk Cousins, and received texts from team execs during games that told him what plays he should call. Just a week into 2015, the Browns currently have no offensive coordinator, an elite wide receiver who is seen as too much of a distraction to be worth the trouble, a thick quarterback quagmire and general dysfunction between their coaches and the higher-ups.