FFToolbox - Week 21: Who To Start Rankings Posted plus 6 more

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Week 21: Who To Start Rankings Posted
HC Bruce Arians 'definitely, desperately' wants WR Larry Fitzgerald to stay with Cardinals
QB Nick Foles, WR Jeremy Maclin expect to play for Eagles next season
Panthers TE Greg Olsen expected to receive contract extension
Report: Falcons will name Seahawks DC Dan Quinn head coach next week
Super Bowl XLIV: The Key Matchups
Super Bowl XLIV: Fantasy Football Weekly

Week 21: Who To Start Rankings Posted

Posted: 31 Jan 2015 05:50 PM PST

We project the point totals for both offensive and defensive players for this week.

HC Bruce Arians 'definitely, desperately' wants WR Larry Fitzgerald to stay with Cardinals

Posted: 31 Jan 2015 04:27 PM PST

Some day, Larry Fitzgerald might find himself enshrined in Canton, Ohio as an Arizona Cardinal. But in present day, Fitzgerald's time in the desert may be ending. The 31-year-old wideout is coming off of what's arguably the worst season of his 11-year career, and he is scheduled to count $23.6 million against the cap in 2015. He is due an $8 million salary next season as well as an $8 million signing bonus in March. If Fitzgerald and the Cardinals can't agree to lower those numbers, the team will probably cut him loose prior to free agency. Such a scenario makes Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians nervous. quot;I'd be lying if I said I wasn't (nervous about losing Fitzgerald)," Arians told the team's official website. "We definitely, desperately want him to stay. He knows that. It's really his decision. ... "I'm hoping and praying every day that (he stays). I've expressed to him personally how much it means to us." Fitzgerald racked up a 63-784-2 line in 14 games this season. The Cardinals selected him with the third pick of the 2004 NFL Draft. FANTASY ANALYSIS: More important than the decline in production was how Fitzgerald looked noticeably slower on the field thanks to a nagging preseason knee injury and sat out a full game for the first time since 2007. Obviously, any franchise wants to retain its face, a player who is a role model and on and off of the field. But at 31 years old and $23.6 million? Nuh-uh. The two sides will pick up contract talks after the Super Bowl.

QB Nick Foles, WR Jeremy Maclin expect to play for Eagles next season

Posted: 31 Jan 2015 03:17 PM PST

Nick Foles and Jeremy Maclin share something in common other than the fact that they are both current Philadelphia Eagles. Both think they will still be playing for the Eagles in 2015. Foles is entering the final year of his contract, and rumors regarding his future NFL home have been swirling. One of the latest has him possibly being traded to St. Louis. Following a breakout 2013 season in which he posted 27 touchdowns and two interceptions, Foles predictably regressed in 2014, totaling an equal numbers of scores and turnovers through eight games (13) before a broken left collarbone did him in. Even if he remains in green next fall, there's speculation that he may not even be the Eagles' starter, especially if they trade way up in the draft to reunite head coach Chip Kelly with one of his former college recruits, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. But Foles isn't paying any attention to the noise. quot;My expectation is to be out there and be the starting guy," Foles said to CSN Philly during the week. "I expect to be out there with my teammates leading them. I've never thought otherwise throughout this whole time. "I know there's been a lot of things said, but the only thing I'm worried about is making myself the best player, the best person to help lead my team." Maclin is about to hit the open market but said his representation is talking with the team about a long-term agreement. A deal worth upwards of $40 million may be tough for the Eagles to pull off, so Maclin may have to settle for the franchise tag, which will be worth close to $13 million in 2015. Regardless, Maclin doesn't seem to be sweating the negotiations. "Once again, both sides have made it known what we want to do," Maclin said via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I think it will take care of itself." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Barring a blockbuster deal for Mariota, Foles is going to be the Eagles' starting quarterback at the start of next season. I'm sure some teams are very interested in acquiring his services, but Philly doesn't have a good Plan B in place -- Mark Sanchez is slated to become a free agent, and only Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne are behind him on the roster. Plus, this year's class of free-agent QBs is less than exciting. Foles doesn't need to keep his interception count to less than three to be a good quarterback in Kelly's offense (although that would be nice). But he does need to take better care of the ball going forward. If he can accomplish just that, he'll be a fine QB1 in fantasy. He was on pace for about 4,600 yards and 27 touchdowns prior to his season-ending injury. It would also help Foles if Maclin re-signed in some form or fashion. The Eagles have proven that they are OK with letting go of top-notch receivers (see: DeSean Jackson). But they would be asking quite a lot of 2014 rookie Jordan Matthews if they let Maclin move on. In the end, I think No. 18 stays put and continues where he left off with Foles: producing like a low-end WR1 in this fantasy-friendly system.

Panthers TE Greg Olsen expected to receive contract extension

Posted: 31 Jan 2015 03:10 PM PST

After churning out a career year, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is expected to receive a contract extension before the regular season begins. Set to become a free agent after 2015, the 29-year-old said after last Sunday's Pro Bowl, quot;I would love to finish my career [in Carolina]. I'd love to be able to get something done going into this season and know that I'll be a part of the team for a while." Olsen closed out 2014 with an 84-1,008-6 stat line. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Given Olsen's productivity, it makes sense for Carolina to firm things up now rather than waiting until this time next year. QB Cam Newton's security blanket for much of the regular season, Olsen proved to still have plenty of gas left in the tank. A top-five fantasy TE, the former Bear put up double-digit fantasy points for the better part of the year in PPR formats. As the Panthers move to build their receiving corps, Olsen's numbers are likely to drop a bit. That said, his consistency at such a fluky position is hard to beat.

Report: Falcons will name Seahawks DC Dan Quinn head coach next week

Posted: 31 Jan 2015 02:17 PM PST

Dan Quinn has basically been the Falcons' head coach in-waiting for the past few weeks. An official announcement can't be made until his duties as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator are done. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the wait will be over very soon. Florio wrote Saturday that, per sources, Quinn will officially become Atlanta's HC on Tuesday. He has served as Seattle's defensive coordinator since 2013. All he's done in two years is put together a unit that has consistently stymied offenses, allowed the fewest yards and points in each season and guided the Seahawks to consecutive Super Bowl appearances. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Quinn better soak up every minute of his last ride with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Michael Bennett, Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, etc. His next job entails rebuilding a D that led the league in yards allowed for 2014. The Falcons also gave up the second-most fantasy points to running backs and a league-high 21 touchdowns on the ground. Seattle, they ain't. For fantasy purposes, an improved defense would presumably cut down on those valuable junk-time points from Matt Ryan and company. But this defense certainly doesn't appear to be a quick fix.