Quarterbacks

Mike White – QB New York Jets

Thankfully for Jets fans Mike White is set to assume the starting role as Zack Wilson will be relegated to 3rd string backup. This comes as a huge relief to Garrett Wilson owners as White offers the most upside in the passing game and the Jets offense. Expect a decent performance from White against Seattle this weekend.

Running Backs

Tyler Allgeier – RB Atlanta Falcons

It looks like Tyler Allgeier has taken firm hold of the starting backfield in Atlanta. This is something Cordarrelle Patterson owners don’t want to here but this is where we are. Allgeier ran 18 times for 74 yards and also racked up 43 yards in the passing game. He is our #1 priority on the waiver wire this week and surprisingly is still 50% available in most leagues.

Wide Receivers

Richie James – WR New York Giants

Richie James is back on the fantasy radar. We highlighted him a couple months ago as a possible fantasy sleeper and he is now starting to get hot. He was the man for the Giants depleted WR core this past week and saw a generous 12 targets from QB Daniel Jones. Expect him to do well again against the lowly Colts in Week 17.

Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson – TE New Orleans Saints

There is a good chance Juwan Johnson will be available in your league following his dud this past weekend. Many were high on him coming off his 2 touchdown performance in week 15 but he could not keep that momentum going. He is still worth a strong look as the Saints play the Eagles this week and he should be getting some nice garbage time points in this matchup.

The post Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 17 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Brock Wells

When the Atlanta Falcons fought tooth and nail with the New Orleans Saints last week, it surprised a lot of people. Being just Week One of the new season, perhaps that assessment was a bit unfair and premature for people. But with Matt Ryan heading out of town to play in Indianapolis with the Colts leading to uncertainty at quarterback, as well as a general lack of excitement surrounding the team in training camp and preseason, it isn’t surprising that was the case.

By all accounts, this Falcons team is expected to be a rebuilding one in 2022. Their days of being competitive are a couple of years behind them, and they’re putting out a roster that stands as a bit of a mystery to many people. Their best player, Calvin Ridley, isn’t even going to play a single down this season, as he serves his gambling suspension. Kyle Pitts, by all accounts, is the best player taking the field for the team this season.

The Falcons started Marcus Mariota at quarterback, who hadn’t started in an NFL game since 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders. He didn’t look great in the passing game, but he didn’t look bad either, throwing for 215 yards, hitting on 60.6% of pass attempts, but without a touchdown. He did, however, score a touchdown in the running game, as well as going for 72 yards on 12 carries. The running game is where the team’s offense did best throughout the game.

Cordarrelle Patterson rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. For not getting a lot of coverage or fanfare on the national level, Patterson has rather quietly been one of the more consistent running backs in the NFL over the last couple of seasons, after being converted from the wide receiver position he played throughout his career. The Saints had a difficult time slowing him down during the game.

Ultimately, the Falcons were haunted by a familiar issue. They gave up a big lead to lose a game. No Falcons fan wants to be reminded of 28-3, but the team this time gave up 17 points in the fourth quarter alone to the Saints offense. The Falcons did a good job on defense of containing Alvin Kamara, who rushed for just 39 yards on nine carries. They had less success containing Taysom Hill, who had 81 yards and a touchdown on just four carries.

Jameis Winston came up clutch in the fourth quarter, throwing for his two touchdowns and leading the Saints to a victory. But for the Falcons, giving up 17 points in the fourth quarter to lose a game you were clearly controlling up to that point is very disappointing. If this team is going to have any chance at being a competitive squad this season, they need to lock down when they have leads as they did in Week One and avoid falling into the trap that has been their reputation in recent history. If they can do that, maybe this team will have a shot at being underrated. But right now, it appears there’s some extra work to be done.

The post Are the Falcons underrated right now? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Week 1 NFC South showdown between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons was certainly a dandy. The Atlanta Falcons had a fourth-quarter lead of 26-10 until the Saints marched back and finished with a miraculous 27-26 victory. It was simply none other than a Thriller —- by Michael Jackson (yes, you need to watch the catchy, generational video below).

With that said, I’m going to untwine five takeaways from the contest that made each fan base wear an oxygen mask in the last quarter. Let’s begin.

• Michael Thomas!

Cantguardmike looked rusty and potentially less effective in a Sean Payton-less offense throughout the first three-quarters of the Saints-Falcons game. Nonetheless, it was safe to say he arrived in the fourth quarter by hauling in a pair of critical touchdown catches. I still don’t believe he is 100% just yet.

• Grady Jarrett

The Atlanta Falcons two-time Pro Bowl DT Grady Jarrett certainly showed up on Sunday — as he notched 1.5 sacks. He had his way with the Saints OL that was missing the rookie LT Trevor Penning, to say the least. It’s vital that he continues to shine for a front seven that has Deion Jones on injured reserve.

• Marshon Lattimore

The gifted Marshon Lattimore may have told fellow elite CB Jalen Ramsey, who allowed a perfect passer rating on Thurs. night, to hold his beer. Lattimore made a terrible mistake by holding rookie WR Drake London late in the game and he managed to have an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Falcons last offense drive — which led to the Falcons having a chance to convert a 64-yard field goal.

• Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson did his best Steven Jackson impression today by mowing down the Saints front seven and unveiling 22 attempts for 120 rushing yards. Patterson also had a bull-dozing TD score – as it was clear that he wasn’t going to be stifled by the talented, yet undersized Saints LB Pete Werner.

• Jarvis Landry

I loved the clutch ability by the legendary slot wideout Jarvis Landry today. Landry registered a potent 114 receiving yards on 7 catches. He is clearly going to hurt defenses when they spend a lot of their focus on MT.

The post 5 takeaways from the Saints-Falcons showdown appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Atlanta Falcons had the 16th ranked passing offense in 2021. It’s clear that they need to improve their passing offense in a conference that features Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, and Dak Prescott.

I actually believe Matt Ryan played well given the lack of talent he was supplied with it. Sure, Kyle Pitts was a fine rookie and potential All-Pro player at the TE position (1,026 yards in 2021). Nonetheless, the Falcons were aching at wideout with Julio Jones in Tennessee and Calvin Ridley leaving via mental health issues. Their top WR in 2021 was Russell Gage (770, 4) and he’s actually a soon-to-be free agent. Their top RB (and common WR) Cordarralle Patterson is also a FA this offseason.

It’s clear that the Falcons need to rebuild their WR group this offseason. With that said, who could they look ink in free agency? Well, here are a few profiles that would make a ton of sense.

T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton and Matt Ryan can look to finish their aging careers together on a high note. Hilton, Pitts, and potentially Patterson would be an exciting trio of weapons for Ryan. Hilton had down season with Carson Wentz (331, 3) in 10 games, but he ousted 762 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2020. I feel like Hilton would be a great value pickup and x-factor for the Falcons team that plays in a lot of tight games.

Jakobi Meyers

I expect Jakobi Meyers to be targeted by the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh McDaniels if he doesn’t re-sign with the Patriots. Although, he would be a great, young, speed-demon with the Falcons across from Pitts. Meyers is coming off a season where he ousted an impressive 866 yards with Mac Jones. He is also a mere 25 years old. He might like the idea of playing next to Pitts and dominating for many years to come with the Falcons.

Evan Engram

I may be cheating the system by adding TE Evan Engram to this list, but he is essentially an imposing slot WR. Engram, who runs a 4.42 40 yard dash, would be a very exciting complement to Pitts in the Falcons offense. It’s clear that Arthur Smith isn’t scared to be creative, as Patterson plays RB/WR, and Pitts plays TE/WR. I’d love to see Matt Ryan have another deep-threat TE and a playmaker that can help him be more efficient in the red zone.

The post Wide receiver free agent targets for the Atlanta Falcons appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The former Chicago Bears three-time All-Pro return specialist Devin Hester wasn’t announced as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he was one of the most unique football profiles in NFL history. Here is a close look at how productive he’s been in his career:

• 14 total punt return touchdowns
• 7,333 total kick return yards
• 3,695 total punt return yards

Hester has been a rockstar and arguably the best return specialist in NFL history for the Chicago Bears (2006-2013), Atlanta Falcons (2014, 2015), Seattle Seahawks (2016), and Baltimore Ravens (2016). It should also be noted that Hester hasn’t only played in a Super Bowl, but he played lights out in the big dance. He returned the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown.

Unfortunately, the special team hero couldn’t overcome the opponent on the other team: Peyton Manning. The Bears lost 29-17 and it’s clear Hester was the most gutted after the game.

Hester hasn’t won a Super Bowl, but he does hold many records. He has the most special team return touchdowns of all time and the most punt return touchdowns of all time. It’s clear that Hester is a gifted profile.

Is there a modern-day Devin Hester? Well, We witnessed Cordarrelle Patterson follow a similar path as Hester, as he dominated opponents with the Bears and Falcons. Patterson was a two-time All-Pro returner with Chicago Bears. It will be interesting to see what legacy Patterson portrays if he can have a few more potent years as a special teamer (and RB/WR). The Saints WR/KR Deonte Harris could make another All-Pro team soon, as well.

We know Hester was a gift from the football gods on the field, but he was also a competitor off the field ….

He also entertained the world with a race against Chris Johnson and a cheetah in 2014. It’s strange to say this, but Hester came out with the victory. At least we know the cheetah on the Kansas City Chiefs doesn’t want to risk losing a race in the Pro Bowl, while Hester puts his money on the line against the fastest creature on the planet. Sadly, The world never got to witness Hester run against a race car.

The post Remembering the Bears legend Devin Hester appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Atlanta Falcons brought in Cordarralle Patterson in the 2021 offseason. Patterson has was an electric special team player for the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears notably. He made the All-Pro team twice with the Bears and once with the Vikings. The comparisons between Devin Hester and Patterson were often made.

The Falcons knew he had special team talent, but they didn’t expect him to be a complete force as an all-purpose weapon on offense. He recorded 618 rushing yards (career-high), six rushing touchdowns (career-high), 548 yards (career-high), and hauled in five touchdowns (career-high).

Matt Ryan was clearly pleased to have Patterson transcend into a RB/WR threat in his offense, especially with Julio Jones in Tennesee. Calvin Ridley also retired in the middle of the season for mental health reasons, so it was really a pleasant surprise that Ridley elevated to become a quality pass catcher for Arthur Smith’s offense.

Patterson evolved into being a gifted, unique player in the NFL in 2021. He will be a free agent in 2022, so many teams will have dreams of obtaining the versatile profile. The question is: which team will ink the talented RB/WR/KR? Well, here are the potential suitors for the former Vikings first-round pick.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons really helped Patterson turn around his career at 30 years old (31 in March). He has to be very comfortable with the scheme fit in Atlanta. He may not win a Super Bowl in ATL, but he will be a focal point of their offense for many years ahead.

The Falcons really need Patterson as a RB and WR. The Falcons backup RB Mike Davis is under contract in 2021, but the Falcons could save $2.5 million by cutting him. In theory, the Falcons could use resources aimed at Davis to kelp keep the starter, Patterson, in town. They will likely lose Calvin Ridley this offseason and the WR position is a serious need. Russell Gage is a modest slot weapon, but they need more guns on the outside. They can’t afford to bring in a WR like Michael Gallup or OBJ, too. It would make sense if they hone in on bringing back Patterson to play next to 2021 rookie sensation Kyle Pitts (1,026 yards).

The secret is out: Matt Ryan is the highest paid player in the NFL this offseason. Still, the owner Arthur Blank has made it clear they want him back. They will likely restructure his deal and save a boatload of money. He could also retool his contract beyond what it is expected, so they can keep Patterson onboard, as well.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders really need some speed demon wideouts for Derek Carr. Desean Jackson is infamous for torching defenses, but he is past his prime at 35 years of age (221 yards, 1 touchdown in 2021). Hunter Renfrow was a pleasant surprise in 2021 with 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns last season, but Renfrow and Darren Waller need more help.

The Raiders could get aggressive for Patterson, as they have roughly $21 million in cap space. They don’t have to swing big for a top-shelf WR, but they could bring in a talented WR that can be an x-factor in many ways (RB/WR/KR). Plus, a backfield exhibiting Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake (free agent in 2023), and Patterson, could prove to be one of the best in the league.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins new head coach Mike McDaniels will look to bring the Miami Dolphins back to the playoffs in 2022. He’s a very creative coach and he would fantasize about having Patterson in his offense. The Dolphins also have the most cap space in the NFL (roughly $64 million). The value of adding Patterson has to be very tempting for McDaniels. They could opt to ink Patterson and still swing big at a few other positions if they desire.

The deep threat Will Fuller and RB Duke Johnson are also a free agents in 2022, so they need to replace them. Patterson could help fill in two pair of shoes at once. The Dolphins need to get over the hump and Patterson would be a big assist in that direction. Jaylen Waddle, who unveiled 104 receptions, 1,015, and six touchdowns, could formulate a dangerous WR combo with Patterson.

Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson is still singing “Somebody to Love” by Queen in the 2021 offseason. He has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but they could use another spark to their 21st ranked passing offense. Freddie Swain wasn’t an earth shattering prescense with 343 yards and four touchdowns last season. Patterson could be another valuable deep threat for Wilson and he could also bring value to their rushing attack.

Rashaad Penny was a stud with 749 yards, while averaging 6.3 YPC. Although, there’s a serious question mark after Penny. Chris Carson underwent neck surgery in November, was placed on IR, and he is a 2022 free agent. It seems very likely that Carson isn’t reuniting with Seattle in the near future. They could ink Patterson to be a much needed RB2 and third WR for Wilson to help him return to MVP form.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars first overall pick in 2021 had nightmare season in year one. Trevor Lawrence saw his rookie RB and former Clemson teammate Travis Etienne suffer a season ending injury before the season. He would proceed to witness his head coach Urban Meyer get fired before the end of the season. It was a year to forget for Lawrence, as he threw 17 interceptions and only 12 touchdowns. He will hope that former Super Bowl champion Doug Pederson has a plan to turn it around.

The Jags signed Marvin Jones last offseason, but he can’t solve all of their problems. Jones was still a quality WR in the chaotic Jags offense (73, 832, 4). They could use an all purpose weapon in the pass game and the running game to help Lawrence cut his turnovers down and be a more efficient passer. The Jags also have roughly $60 million in cap space, so they could bring in a couple of toys for T-Lawrence.

Honorable mention:

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals don’t need Patterson, but they could have a plan and money for him. The AFC Champions have roughly $50 million in cap space. Plus, they would have to be towards the top of the best cultures to potentially land him. He may not have a superb offer from Cincy, but he could chase a ring and be a part of an elite, ascending team in the Bengals. Joe Burrow is one of the best young QBs in the league and Ja’Marr Chase hauled in 81 receptions, 1,455 yards, and 13 touchdowns as a rookie in the NFL.

The Bengals could benefit from his talent in the special teams area and as a backup to Joe Mixon. The Bengals backup RB Samaje Perine unleashed a mere 246 yards and two touchdowns. It’s safe to say Patterson could be a better partner to Mixon and help the Bengals have more speed in the backfield. The Bengals also aren’t perfect, as they will aim to take revenge against an NFC foe in aims of winning their first ever Super Bowl.

The post Landing spots for Cordarrelle Patterson in 2022: Falcons top the list appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams bravely defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI. Cooper Kupp shined in the Rams victory with two touchdowns and 92 yards. Kupp clearly deserved the MVP award as he nicely received it on the podium following the big win.

Sean McVay has finally won a Super Bowl and he proved to be the youngest coach ever to win a SB (36 years old). McVay, Kupp, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Odell Beckham Jr. notably boosted their legacy with their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams will enter the offseason with euphoria and goals to win more championships. With that said, they will face serious obstacles to repeat similar heights of success. The Rams are 28th in cap space with roughly -14 million, according to “Over The Cap”. Nonetheless, trust in Les Snead and McVay to get creative to acquire some players on a cheaper contract. Here are three free agents that the Rams should take a close look at this offseason.

Tre’Quan Smith

The New Orleans Saints third-string WR took a step back in 2021, but it didn’t help that he was playing on the 32nd ranked passing offense. It feels like yesterday Taysom Hill missed Smith for a wide-open touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Tre’Quan Smith will likely seek more sound opportunities in 2022. The 26-year-old who recorded 377 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games last season could look to go to LA on a one-year prove-it deal. Smith could be seen as the great value version of OBJ, but he is still an ascending wideout looking for his best season.

Jared Cook

The Rams will most likely not retain Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason. The Pro Bowl WR isn’t only on a team getting Robert Woods back, but he also unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl. So, the “cap-strapped Rams would be making a high-risk deal” with OBJ. I’d like to see the Rams bring in a cheaper weapon and a big body target for Matthew Stafford. They could have their guy with Jared Cook, who reeled in 564 yards and four touchdowns. Cook would be a nice complement to Tyler Higbee and McVay would be able to dream up matchups with the tight ends in the play-action game.

Cordarrelle Patterson

The Atlanta Falcons WR/RB ousted a career year in receiving yards (548), rushing touchdowns (6), receiving touchdowns (5), and rushing yards (618). Patterson, who is also a two-time All-Pro returner, is the ultimate swiss army knife-free agent target. It would only be fitting if the most versatile free agent joined the most creative offensive coach in the NFL. Patterson would cost more than Tre’Quan Smith and less than OBJ. His money figure is worth 6-7 million per season, which would be about half of Odell’s contract number per season. Nonetheless, everybody should expect McVay to get more out of Patterson than any other team with his unique presence.

The post 3 free agent targets for the LA Rams appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Buffalo Bills lost in gut-wrenching fashion against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL divisional round. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes went blow for blow with each other, but the non-underdog, Ivan Drago-like figure Patrick Mahomes captured victory in overtime. The Bills yielded the NFL’s top defense and Allen, who threw four touchdowns and 328 passing yards in the contest, yet they couldn’t muster out a victory against the Kansas City Chiefs to advance in the playoff gauntlet.

An NFL fan could ask the following: what could the Bills Mafia possibly have done differently to beat the Chiefs and push for Super Bowl glory? Well, there still is room for improvement for the Bills offense and team. The Bills certainly could jolt their RB position and this would really open up the Bills offense with Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Dawson Knox.

The Bills had a surprise performance from Devin Singletary in 2021, who ousted 870 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and averaged 4.6 YPC. Still, the Bills could benefit from more juice in the backfield. The Bills will likely add a talented RB that won’t bring more fuel to the RB room, but also push Singletary for the starting gig. So, who could they target this offseason? Here are many profiles that would fit in well in Buffalo.

Cordarrelle Patterson – Atlanta Falcons

I don’t believe there is a playoff contender that needs the swiss army knife, Cordarrelle Patterson, more than the Buffalo Bills. Patterson was an absolute menace and eye-opener for the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. Patterson had a career-high 1,166 total yards and personal best 11 total touchdowns for the Falcons offense. Patterson proved to be quite the late bloomer at 31 years of age last regular season. The Bills could desperately use Patterson at RB and WR, as Emmanuel Sanders is considering retirement. Cole Beasley is also a potential cap casualty and he could be out the door in 2022.

Patterson doesn’t only offer big play ability from the RB and WR spot, but he has also made three Pro Bowls as a return man. He is truly the ultimate x-factor for the very motivated AFC squad. If the Bills want to get a value pickup, who can play many positions, they should key in on Patterson. The former Viking did state that he would like to return to Minnesota, but the Bills could prioritize him and convince him to go up north east.

J.D. McKissic – Washington Commanders

The pass-catching machine from the RB position J.D. McKissic would be a fine complement to Devin Singletary. Prior to coming to Washington, McKissic had a career-high 453 total yards in a season. In 2020, the Washington skat back unveiled 954 total yards in 16 games. McKissic showed his production wasn’t a fluke, as he knocked out 609 total yards in 11 games last regular season.

McKissic could look to oust a career season on a one-year deal in Buffalo. The Bills need a pass-catching RB and the 28-year-old RB could fit in well, to say the least.

The Commanders running backs coach, Randy Jordan, nicely explained the magic of McKissic to the Washington Post. He stated, “To me, he’s probably one of the best pass-catching running backs, or I would just say football players, off of the catch and transitioning”. McKissic is one of the most under-the-radar all-purpose players in free agency and the Bills should look to ink McKissic if Patterson returns to Atlanta or Minnesota.

James Conner – Arizona Cardinals

If the Bills want to add a quality pure running back and play smash-mouth football with their running game, they should look to add James Conner to the RB group. The former Steelers RB opted to take a one-year prove-it deal with the Arizona Cardinals and it’s safe to say his decision served him well. Conner was a hammer with the Cardinals in 2021 and that was evident with his 15 rushing touchdowns and 752 rushing yards. Conner had 18 total touchdowns which is a very impressive touchdown tally from the RB position.

Conner did state that he would love to return to the Cardinals and I do expect a reunion to occur, but he would be an intriguing partner to Singeltary if he’s available. Singletary and Conner could be thunder and lightning.

Conner also has a few years left of quality play at least in this stage in his career (26 years old). Conner could really grow with the other key Bills offensive members and push for a Super Bowl appearance in the upcoming years.

Leonard Fournette – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl-winning RB Leonard Fournette would be a nice spark to the Bills offense. Josh Allen could have used “playoff Lenny” in the 2022 playoffs. Fournette unleashed 812 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and continued his dominance in the 2022 playoffs. The Bucs halfback had two rushing touchdowns against the LA Rams and one of the touchdowns came on a pivotal 4th down. Fournette had a career-high 4.5 YPC in 2021 and a personal best 454 receiving yards. It’s moving to see the former LSU Badger reclaim his magic after being cast out of Jacksonville on a bad note.

Fournette should test free agency and the fit with Buffalo would make a lot of sense. Fournette is the most talented downhill RB in free agency, but I expect him to get overpaid by a squad not named Buffalo. He is the most coveted free agent RB and it would be hard for him to pass down the opportunity of getting paid a hefty amount at this stage in his career. The Bucs have Ronald Jones, so they may not pay him the money he desires as a quality starting RB. They also don’t have the seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady to convince the key free agents to stay for another season.

Isaiah Spiller – Texas A & M

The Texas A & M ball-carrier was a bowling ball for the Aggies in 2021, as he unveiled 1,011 rushing yards, a career-high 5.6 YPC, and six rushing touchdowns. Spiller, who isn’t related to C.J. Spiller, could be a nice late second-round selection for the Bills. Spiller undoubtedly holds the most potential out of all RB options in the 2022 offseason.

Spiller has excellent size (6’1, 220) and he’s been consistently productive in the ultra-competitive SEC. He was second-team SEC in 2021 and first team SEC in 2020. Although, he doesn’t possess quality quickness and he isn’t a home run threat. He can certainly be a 1,000 yard RB and starting RB for the Bills in year one. The Bills could really deliver their will on opposing defenses late in playoff games with Spiller, Singletary, and Allen from the QB spot.

Trade for Christian McCaffrey

If the Bills want to make a splash move this offseason, while filling a position need, they could look to strike big with a trade for Christian McCaffrey. CMAC is coming off two disappointing seasons and he’s in a rebuilding situation. The Panthers are a couple of seasons at least away from being a playoff contender. It would make a ton of sense if the Panthers opted to move on from the household name and receive draft capita in the process.

CMAC should have a couple of elite seasons left if he can stay healthy. The former Stanford RB may not bounce back and win MVP as Adrian Peterson did, but he should return to Pro Bowl form. If the Bills brought in McCaffrey to join Allen and Diggs, there is no reason that the Bills aren’t seen as Super Bowl favorites. The Los Angeles Rams made a few big moves to push for Super Bowl glory with the acquisitions of Odell Beckham Jr, Sony Michel, and Von Miller. They are now in the driver’s seat to win Super Bowl LVI. The Bills could look to make a similar leap in 2022 by bringing in a couple of shiny profiles.

Trade for Alvin Kamara

The New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl RB Alvin Kamara will likely face a six-game suspension in 2022. It’s a grim outlook for Kamara and the Saints, who have a new head coach and a question mark at QB. I’d be surprised if the Saints traded AK, but the new leader Dennis Allen could look to make an example of the big-name RB by sending him out of the Big Easy.

The Bills could send their late first-round pick for Kamara and the Saints may like the thought of the extra first-round pick. If the Saints want a QB in round one, they could select a QB with the extra first-round pick, or use both first-rounders to trade up for the right QB. The Bills may prefer to have Kamara in place of selecting a RB like Spiller in round one. The Saints could have their future QB in the 2022 draft and they could still have Michael Thomas in their offense to impose their will on defenses.

The post Buffalo Bills: running backs to target this offseason appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

When Arthur Smith was hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he came into the role with a great reputation for improving players after a two-season spell as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

One player he helped improve was quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The former first-round pick arrived after a mixed spell with the Miami Dolphins. Tannehill improved massively, earning the award for Comeback Player of the Year after his first season with the franchise despite starting the season as the backup to Marcus Mariota. When Smith was promoted to offensive coordinator, he only got better.

Smith was predicted by many to help Matt Ryan get back to his former MVP self after what he did for Tannehill. Ryan has not improved or regressed in 2021. Instead, it has been Cordarrelle Patterson that has been the biggest improver under Smith. 

Here is why Patterson is Smith’s new Tannehill. 

Overcoming Expectation

The Falcons experimented with the idea of bringing Todd Gurley back to his best in 2020 but this only lasted one season. Instead of giving Gurley a new deal, they went for the versatile Patterson in Free Agency who signed a one-year $3 million deal. 

Patterson has been seen as somewhat of a journeyman during his NFL career, with the Falcons his fifth organisation since being drafted 29^th overall in 2013. For a while, he was seen as a great return specialist at best, with the occasional snaps as a running back or wide receiver.

He is a Super Bowl champion, earning a ring with the New England Patriots after their 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53. However, he had just two rushing attempts for 7 yards and two receptions for 14 yards as well as a 38-yard kick return. He did not exactly have a big role in the game, in what is the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history. 

Patterson has started eight games this season. This is tied for the most games he has started, alongside his 2016 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings. The growth of Patterson and improvement made under Smith can be seen when you compare these two seasons.

In 2016, he recorded 43 rushing yards from 7 attempts and 453 yards from 52 receptions. In 2021, he has so far recorded 489 rushing yards from 106 carries and 518 receiving yards from 44 catches. He is having the best season of his career by some distance. 

The Falcons need to make sure he is at the franchise for more than one season. Giving him a new contract should be number one on the list of priorities for this team. He has been a brilliant addition to the Falcons offense. Kyle Pitts leads the team in receiving yards this season (770), but Calvin Ridley announced midseason that he would take a break from the sport for personal reasons. With the offseason departure of Julio Jones, Patterson’s rise in form has come at the perfect time. They currently sit at 6-7 with a chance of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.

Smith’s Influence

The aforementioned Tannehill spoke about Smith during the 2021 offseason.

“He’s a great coach. Everything you look for in a coach and a leader and a great offensive mind.”

It is not just Tannehill that saw massive improvement under Smith. Running back Derrick Henry was seen as just a good running back during his first three seasons but saw his best two seasons alongside Smith. He recorded 2,293 rushing yards across his first three seasons in the NFL. His next two (2019 and 2020) saw him combine for 3,567 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns, becoming just the eighth player in NFL history to record over 2,000 rushing yards in a single season when he had 2,027 in 2019. 

Smith clearly knows how to work with running backs, as can be seen with Henry. The same is happening again with Patterson. After their 21-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in November, Smith was in high praise of Patterson.

“He’s a warrior. He’s a big physical presence that can do a lot for us.”

This was proved when he was listed as a back safety earlier this month.  It is a sign of a good coach when they can get the best out of a player and see their potential. Not even the greatest head coach of all time in Bill Belichick realised Patterson’s potential. Smith has taken a player seemingly on the wrong end of his career, to now being one of the best players this season. Some are even viewing him as an outside MVP candidate.

Patterson has a lot to thank Smith for. 

The post Is Cordarrelle Patterson Arthur Smith’s New Ryan Tannehill? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.